Low Cost ELM Scantool
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From: SW Va
I have little to no info on the Scan Gauge series that's worth posting about, other than a number of folks on the net seem to be using them, but if we want a near full up scantool for very little of our gold, a good quality ELM327, running FORScan software that's tweaked for our Fords, sure is hard to beat for the money & performance right now.
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Mikeman, I did a google for "LYL WiFi ELM327" w/o the quotes, and got several listings that indicate that the ELM will work with an iPad. I won't bet my paycheck, but it's worth checking out.
tom
tom
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From: So. Cal.
I have a Scangage on my Ranger and it works fine. If I remember right, any particular X-gauge you want is vehicle dependent, so it's hard to make a generic statement about whether something you want might work. I experimented with them some years ago, but I couldn't give you any useful information except to say to try them, it's free (provided you already have a Scangage).
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From: SW Va
BUMP:
A FTE link to mods we can do to our ELM327 that'll allow more access to newer vehicle controllers. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...scan-tool.html
A FTE link to mods we can do to our ELM327 that'll allow more access to newer vehicle controllers. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...scan-tool.html
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From: SW Va
Yah I'm limited to OBD-1 on my 94 Taurus too, but I have an Actron CP9150 that allows me to scan live data feeds from the Taurus engine computer & that helps, but it didn't help for the computer problem I ran into with it a couple of years ago. Scantool wouldn't do squat, because the computer wasn't designed to self monitor, so the problem wouldn't cause it to display any trouble code clues.
That was a fun trouble shoot!!!! Car would randomly, without any warning, just smoothly stop running, but when cranked, would start right back up & run like nothing had happened. It might run without any problems for days, weeks, months, then just suddenly cut off again without warning. I was never able to catch it acting out with any of my diagnostic equipt hooked up, or on board.
Dealer Techs hate those kinds of problems, because to diagnose them, you need to be monitoring fuel & spark before & during the stall, before you know which system to trouble shoot.
Finally caught that puppy cutting off on my way to have its State inspection, was on a down hill run to the gararge, so I drifted in & stopped, Then noticed that the fuel pump was still running, so that gave me my final clue that it was the computer, as it controlled the output to the ICM which makes spark, so the problem was that spark was randomly going missing. Hooking up a timing light to check for spark never showed anything, as it would always be there on a restart & would run fine, like nothing had happened. Anyway a Advance Auto reman computer has put things right on that OBD-1 system.
The newer vehicles with OBD-2 & CAN diagnostic systems are Way more sophisticated, monitor Way more things, But require a rather advanced scan-tool & software to query all of the vehicles controllers/computers & the low cost ELM327 scan-tool with a laptop, smart phone, or i-pad viewing device, running something like freeware FORScan software sure is a good bang for our diagnostic bucks. Problem for you & I, is that the ELM327 won't work with OBD-1!!!! So your stuck with your cost effective paper clip & I'm stuck with my Actron CP9150, which is only slightly more sophisticated!!!! lol
That was a fun trouble shoot!!!! Car would randomly, without any warning, just smoothly stop running, but when cranked, would start right back up & run like nothing had happened. It might run without any problems for days, weeks, months, then just suddenly cut off again without warning. I was never able to catch it acting out with any of my diagnostic equipt hooked up, or on board.
Dealer Techs hate those kinds of problems, because to diagnose them, you need to be monitoring fuel & spark before & during the stall, before you know which system to trouble shoot.
Finally caught that puppy cutting off on my way to have its State inspection, was on a down hill run to the gararge, so I drifted in & stopped, Then noticed that the fuel pump was still running, so that gave me my final clue that it was the computer, as it controlled the output to the ICM which makes spark, so the problem was that spark was randomly going missing. Hooking up a timing light to check for spark never showed anything, as it would always be there on a restart & would run fine, like nothing had happened. Anyway a Advance Auto reman computer has put things right on that OBD-1 system.
The newer vehicles with OBD-2 & CAN diagnostic systems are Way more sophisticated, monitor Way more things, But require a rather advanced scan-tool & software to query all of the vehicles controllers/computers & the low cost ELM327 scan-tool with a laptop, smart phone, or i-pad viewing device, running something like freeware FORScan software sure is a good bang for our diagnostic bucks. Problem for you & I, is that the ELM327 won't work with OBD-1!!!! So your stuck with your cost effective paper clip & I'm stuck with my Actron CP9150, which is only slightly more sophisticated!!!! lol
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so i got on ebay and there are a bunch of these which one is the correct one? for example this link? which ond will work?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ELM327-V1-5-OBD2-CAN-BUS-Bluetooth-WIFI-Car-Auto-Diagnostic-Interface-Scanner-/281544664015?hash=item418d5ea3cf&item=281544664015&pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&var=&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ELM327-V1-5-OBD2-CAN-BUS-Bluetooth-WIFI-Car-Auto-Diagnostic-Interface-Scanner-/281544664015?hash=item418d5ea3cf&item=281544664015&pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&var=&vxp=mtr
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I have a Scangage on my Ranger and it works fine. If I remember right, any particular X-gauge you want is vehicle dependent, so it's hard to make a generic statement about whether something you want might work. I experimented with them some years ago, but I couldn't give you any useful information except to say to try them, it's free (provided you already have a Scangage).
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pawpaw have found out if this will work with a tablet or the chromebook yet? thanks
Anyone interested in a low cost scantool interface, should check out ELM327 scantools, available in USB corded models, or now wireless WiFi, or Bluetooth models, for about $25 in round numbers, depending on source, shipped. Some are China knock offs, so be careful where you order. I used Amazon to order from.
These scantools plug into the vehicles DLC & query the vehicles various computers/controllers, to scan for set trouble codes in more than just the engine computer & display streaming/live feed sensor PID feeds if we wish, to our laptop, or smart phone, via a corded USB, or wireless WiFi, or Bluetooth connection.
I recently had an ABS light suddenly show up on my 99 Ranger that has 4WABS, so I first suspected the rear ABS speed sensor, as its a common problem part in Ranger ABS woes. After a trouble shooting test drive, monitoring the speed-o, cruise control & tranny shifting & All working ok, No problems at all, caused me to move the rear ABS speed sensor Low down my suspect list. So I moved on to other trouble shooting, like pulling & cleaning both front wheel ABS speed sensors, inspect wiring, fuses, ect, but all that work led me to a trouble shooting dead end!!!!!
Thus I researched & at the posted suggestions of Tech folks on the TCCA forum, I opted for an ELM scantool. I opted for a LYL WiFi ELM327 scantool off Amazon & using FORScan, a free software tweaked for Fords & recommended by the TCCA forum Tech gurus, using my laptop, I connected to the plugged in ELM via WiFi & was thus able to sit in a warm house & scan my 99 Rangers ABS & other computers/controllers while it idled 40ft away in the driveway, to determine why my ABS light suddenly turned on.
Found two ABS codes, one in the ABS computer & later using the latest Dec 25th 2.1.13 version of FORScan, found another ABS code in the GEM controller, both indicating the rear ABS speed sensor belonged High up, not Low down on my suspect list, as the codes were indicating its circuit was either open, or shorted to ground!!!! Also found 3 other codes for other things in other systems, two of which were body codes I didn't know I had!!!!
The ELM scantool will scan 145 pramaters just in the 99 Rangers engine computer alone & that doesn't include things accessible in the Tranny, GEM, ABS, SRS/Airbag, PATS, Body, ect, computers. So the ELM combined with the FORScan freeware thats tweaked for Fords, make it a powerful & Very good bang for the trouble shooting buck!!!!
Right now using FORScan, I have a choice of up to 19 of the 145 monitored engine parameters, that can be displayed at once on the Dashboard window, in numerical live streaming data form, for comparison, or in Ocillscope mode, displaying line drawing form, or in Table numerical form, & am told more mind blowing things are to come in FORScan!!!!!
After the weather warmed up I pulled & replaced the rear ABS speed sensor Sat & yup it was open circuit!!!! The new one measured 1.91K ohms across its winding contacts. How in the world things like the speed-o, cruise control & tranny shifting, that use the rear ABS speed sensors PID output to do their thing & did so without fault, with the rear ABS speed sensor winding open circuit, is beyond me, but the ELM got me back on track trouble shooting & all is now well, the rear ABS speed sensor is replaced, the ABS trouble light is out & the Ranger is ready for its yearly State inspection!!!!
All this cost $28.50 for the WiFi ELM shipped, + $8.21 for the rear ABS speed sensor, with an online Advance Auto 40% discount code, so for $36.71 my ABS is put right & I have a powerful & nifty new scantool, that can be used Wireless, with my laptop running FORScan software, while I was in a warm house 40ft away as the vehicle idled in the driveway, or can be used with a WiFi, or Bluetooth smart phone display running the appropriate software, to trouble shoot our vehicles remotely!!!! Whats in your electronic tool box???!!!!
These scantools plug into the vehicles DLC & query the vehicles various computers/controllers, to scan for set trouble codes in more than just the engine computer & display streaming/live feed sensor PID feeds if we wish, to our laptop, or smart phone, via a corded USB, or wireless WiFi, or Bluetooth connection.
I recently had an ABS light suddenly show up on my 99 Ranger that has 4WABS, so I first suspected the rear ABS speed sensor, as its a common problem part in Ranger ABS woes. After a trouble shooting test drive, monitoring the speed-o, cruise control & tranny shifting & All working ok, No problems at all, caused me to move the rear ABS speed sensor Low down my suspect list. So I moved on to other trouble shooting, like pulling & cleaning both front wheel ABS speed sensors, inspect wiring, fuses, ect, but all that work led me to a trouble shooting dead end!!!!!
Thus I researched & at the posted suggestions of Tech folks on the TCCA forum, I opted for an ELM scantool. I opted for a LYL WiFi ELM327 scantool off Amazon & using FORScan, a free software tweaked for Fords & recommended by the TCCA forum Tech gurus, using my laptop, I connected to the plugged in ELM via WiFi & was thus able to sit in a warm house & scan my 99 Rangers ABS & other computers/controllers while it idled 40ft away in the driveway, to determine why my ABS light suddenly turned on.
Found two ABS codes, one in the ABS computer & later using the latest Dec 25th 2.1.13 version of FORScan, found another ABS code in the GEM controller, both indicating the rear ABS speed sensor belonged High up, not Low down on my suspect list, as the codes were indicating its circuit was either open, or shorted to ground!!!! Also found 3 other codes for other things in other systems, two of which were body codes I didn't know I had!!!!
The ELM scantool will scan 145 pramaters just in the 99 Rangers engine computer alone & that doesn't include things accessible in the Tranny, GEM, ABS, SRS/Airbag, PATS, Body, ect, computers. So the ELM combined with the FORScan freeware thats tweaked for Fords, make it a powerful & Very good bang for the trouble shooting buck!!!!
Right now using FORScan, I have a choice of up to 19 of the 145 monitored engine parameters, that can be displayed at once on the Dashboard window, in numerical live streaming data form, for comparison, or in Ocillscope mode, displaying line drawing form, or in Table numerical form, & am told more mind blowing things are to come in FORScan!!!!!
After the weather warmed up I pulled & replaced the rear ABS speed sensor Sat & yup it was open circuit!!!! The new one measured 1.91K ohms across its winding contacts. How in the world things like the speed-o, cruise control & tranny shifting, that use the rear ABS speed sensors PID output to do their thing & did so without fault, with the rear ABS speed sensor winding open circuit, is beyond me, but the ELM got me back on track trouble shooting & all is now well, the rear ABS speed sensor is replaced, the ABS trouble light is out & the Ranger is ready for its yearly State inspection!!!!
All this cost $28.50 for the WiFi ELM shipped, + $8.21 for the rear ABS speed sensor, with an online Advance Auto 40% discount code, so for $36.71 my ABS is put right & I have a powerful & nifty new scantool, that can be used Wireless, with my laptop running FORScan software, while I was in a warm house 40ft away as the vehicle idled in the driveway, or can be used with a WiFi, or Bluetooth smart phone display running the appropriate software, to trouble shoot our vehicles remotely!!!! Whats in your electronic tool box???!!!!
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From: SW Va
The guys over on the Taurus forum give the ELM327 from vendor BAFX a thumbs up. Here is a link to the multi-page TCCA thread, that got me started on FORScan freeware & which vendors ELM327 scantools have been ok for them. I've not had reason to use mine on anything but my laptop using WiFi & it worked really good on the vehicle 40 feet away idling in the driveway, while I sat in my Lazyboy in a warm house scanning the vehicles computer!!!!
http://www.taurusclub.com/forum/82-m...e-forscan.html
EDIT: Here is a link to BAFX Bluetooth ELM327 on Amazon. yah I know its more than the ones you found on EBay, but your ordering an unknown from China. Might be ok, might not, who knows, let us know what you do & how it goes.
http://www.taurusclub.com/forum/82-m...e-forscan.html
EDIT: Here is a link to BAFX Bluetooth ELM327 on Amazon. yah I know its more than the ones you found on EBay, but your ordering an unknown from China. Might be ok, might not, who knows, let us know what you do & how it goes.
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this one looks like a much better item. but i don't have a smart phone i wonder if this one works with the tablets like the Polaroid tablet? or the kindle? i think they are android types, anyone have an idea. i did not see the contact for that company on this site.
so what might the difference be here 12.00 difference and they sure look the same and the list of what they doo and the devices they work with look impressive and they have a 14 day money back warranty. go to ebay and past this into the search bar 291136834981
or copy this into the browser search bar
http://www.ebay.com/itm/V1-5-OBD2-OBDII-OBD-II-ELM327-Bluetooth-Auto-Car-Diagnostic-Scanner-Tool-Black/291136834981?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131003132420%26meid%3Ddef25eadac3d40a3abcea03daf6e44e3%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D381 190201281&rt=nc
i'm curious they both look the same and the seller is from Arizona. and you can contact them
i don't get items from amazon i don't use a credit card.
so what might the difference be here 12.00 difference and they sure look the same and the list of what they doo and the devices they work with look impressive and they have a 14 day money back warranty. go to ebay and past this into the search bar 291136834981
or copy this into the browser search bar
http://www.ebay.com/itm/V1-5-OBD2-OBDII-OBD-II-ELM327-Bluetooth-Auto-Car-Diagnostic-Scanner-Tool-Black/291136834981?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131003132420%26meid%3Ddef25eadac3d40a3abcea03daf6e44e3%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D381 190201281&rt=nc
i'm curious they both look the same and the seller is from Arizona. and you can contact them
i don't get items from amazon i don't use a credit card.
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From: SW Va
They're all made in China, but who knows to what spec????
It's not that they look similar on the Outside that counts, its whats on the Inside, how it works & if we can contact the vendor if the product is faulty when received, or goes belly up within the warranty period, do we have a vendor that'll stand behind & warranty the product, or be there if we need technical assistance, etc, all that costs bucks to support. Call BAFX Tech support with your questions & see what they have to say.
It's not that they look similar on the Outside that counts, its whats on the Inside, how it works & if we can contact the vendor if the product is faulty when received, or goes belly up within the warranty period, do we have a vendor that'll stand behind & warranty the product, or be there if we need technical assistance, etc, all that costs bucks to support. Call BAFX Tech support with your questions & see what they have to say.
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From: SW Va
Whatever you get will need a software program like Torque, or FORScan, etc, to communicate with the ELM via Bluetooth, WiFi, or USB cable, model of the ELM of your choice.
So its important that we use the right software for our viewing device choice & that the software can communicate with the model ELM we choose & display the parameters we want to monitor & in the format we want on our choice of viewing device. The more things we want to monitor & the more complicated the signal & faster / energy dense the data rate, the stronger the signal needs to be received from the ELM to our viewing device, so we don't loose any of the data being sent by the ELM to our viewing device. An example would be if we're viewing a high data rate signal that's rapidly changing, like monitoring say all of the O2 sensors & choosing to having their readings displayed on the viewing device dashboard all at once, in say the moving oscilloscope line drawing display, on our viewing device. Or monitoring all of the fuel injectors changing trigger pulse widths as the computer tries to control fuel trim. All those displays require a lot of info to be sent without any data drop out corruption, lest we get a messed up display, or numbers put up on our choice of dashboard display.
I chose the WiFi model as its reported to have a longer range so it could reach out to my driveway without signal strength problems for the things I wanted to remotely view & ran FORScan software on it & so far its done just fine for what I needed it for.
Take your time to research & decide, so that you get the tool & software that'll do the best job for your needs & let us know how it goes.
So its important that we use the right software for our viewing device choice & that the software can communicate with the model ELM we choose & display the parameters we want to monitor & in the format we want on our choice of viewing device. The more things we want to monitor & the more complicated the signal & faster / energy dense the data rate, the stronger the signal needs to be received from the ELM to our viewing device, so we don't loose any of the data being sent by the ELM to our viewing device. An example would be if we're viewing a high data rate signal that's rapidly changing, like monitoring say all of the O2 sensors & choosing to having their readings displayed on the viewing device dashboard all at once, in say the moving oscilloscope line drawing display, on our viewing device. Or monitoring all of the fuel injectors changing trigger pulse widths as the computer tries to control fuel trim. All those displays require a lot of info to be sent without any data drop out corruption, lest we get a messed up display, or numbers put up on our choice of dashboard display.
I chose the WiFi model as its reported to have a longer range so it could reach out to my driveway without signal strength problems for the things I wanted to remotely view & ran FORScan software on it & so far its done just fine for what I needed it for.
Take your time to research & decide, so that you get the tool & software that'll do the best job for your needs & let us know how it goes.