USB OBD II Scanner

purplecatty

purplecatty

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I am thinking about getting USB OBD II Scanner cuz it's cheap and use USB connect to laptop. My truck popped engine check light again and I am just fed up and wanted to narrow down what's really wrong. I've replaced couple of Oxygen Sensor last spring. It seem that when weather is cold, Engine check light lit on and stays on all day..

I thought OBD II Scanner would cost around $100 and up until I looked through Ebay and found out there's cheap one out there using USB. I thought why not!! :hmm:

I could afford "least used" tools addition for my toolbox. I can use Netbook or any old junk working PC w/ USB laying around in garage to use it as a simple automotive diagnostic viewer and reset MIL (engine check light). USB OBD II scanner works the same way as hand held OBD II Scanner. It includes software.

(This info copied and pasted from USB OBD II Scanner in Ebay, all are the same as different seller's listing that sells same thing.)

OBD II V1.3 USB AUTO Scanner Auto Code Reader

The program lets you perform the following operations:

Read diagnostic trouble codes, both generic and manufacturer-specific , and display their meaning (over 3000 generic code definitions in the database).

Clear trouble codes and turn off the MIL ("Check Engine" light)

Display current sensor data, including:
Engine RPM
Calculated Load Value
Coolant Temperature
Fuel System Status
Vehicle Speed
Short Term Fuel Trim
Long Term Fuel Trim
Intake Manifold Pressure
Timing Advance
Intake Air Temperature
Air Flow Rate
Absolute Throttle Position
Oxygen sensor voltages/associated short term fuel trims
Fuel System status
Fuel Pressure
Many others...

Multi-Protocol Support:
SAE J1850 PWM (41.6 kbaud)
SAE J1850 VPW (10.4 kbaud)
ISO 9141-2 (5 baud init, 10.4 kbaud)
ISO 14230-4 KWP (5 baud init, 10.4 kbaud)
ISO 14230-4 KWP (fast init, 10.4 kbaud)
ISO 15765-4 CAN (11 bit ID, 500 kbaud)
ISO 15765-4 CAN (29 bit ID, 500 kbaud)
ISO 15765-4 CAN (11 bit ID, 250 kbaud)
ISO 15765-4 CAN (29 bit ID, 250 kbaud)

Supported Software :
Scantool_net113win
EasyOBDII
OBD2Spy
ScanMaster-EL

It is compatible with MOST American automotive after January 1st 1996 including European and Japanese model that have OBD II and EOBD II.


On Ebay I could get it for $25 bucks w/ Free Sh/H. Knowing that I don't plan on using it often. I could help friend fix their car as well. I bet that my deafie friends would line up to borrow it :rofl: They complained that OBD II Handheld scanner are expensive and don't use much and it's not worth blowing buck on that. They wish they can borrow someone else's OBD II Scanner but no one they knew owns it. So that'll be me. I don't care if they fried my OBD II scanner as long as they will be willing to pay for replacement. :roll:

Catty :cool:
 
Yes, I saw it last week when changing oil on my 2007 Honda SUV at Lube Shop. They used handheld scanner for checking. Man showed it to me that battery is not good and require to replace new battery. I don't un why original battery is short life. :(
 
Hey, you could easily pay NOTHING, how? Just go to AutoZone, they offer free ODB II reading for you.

I have ODB scanner, yes it includes both ODB I and II, and I thought I would use seldomly but ended up used few times a year. I use them before the inspection due, I do not want hassles for them to reject inspection only to find out that I could fix minor without costing me anything.

Sometimes MIL won't illuminate, and you may have no idea and drive around losing money on gas. Having scanner alerts you of any problems EVEN if MIL lights is not on. Hell worth it owning one. OFC it wasnt cheap, I bought about 3 years ago.
 
diehardbiker said:
Sometimes MIL won't illuminate, and you may have no idea and drive around losing money on gas. Having scanner alerts you of any problems EVEN if MIL lights is not on. Hell worth it owning one. OFC it wasnt cheap, I bought about 3 years ago.
Click to expand...

Wondering if MIL light burned out or disconnected by previous owners :confused::scratch:

I didn't want to bother driving over to Auto part store to have them check it for free. I prefer to scan on OBD II myself.. :lol:



Catty
 
Chevy57 said:
Yes, I saw it last week when changing oil on my 2007 Honda SUV at Lube Shop. They used handheld scanner for checking. Man showed it to me that battery is not good and require to replace new battery. I don't un why original battery is short life. :(
Click to expand...

It could be defective Lead grid inside of the battery. Happens to me that 2005 Jeep Liberty battery went bad within 3 years. It turned out that the (-) side of battery terminal was damaged. I realized that I left my tool on top of it when I shut the hood. It cracked the battery plastic top cover where (-) Terminal poke out (oops!!).

Catty
 
Not every error code will cause MIL to illuminate.

For instance, one error code for gas level sensor, won't cause the MIL to illuminate, but would show up at Inspection.

purplecatty said:
Wondering if MIL light burned out or disconnected by previous owners :confused::scratch:

I didn't want to bother driving over to Auto part store to have them check it for free. I prefer to scan on OBD II myself.. :lol:



Catty
Click to expand...
 
purplecatty said:
It could be defective Lead grid inside of the battery. Happens to me that 2005 Jeep Liberty battery went bad within 3 years. It turned out that the (-) side of battery terminal was damaged. I realized that I left my tool on top of it when I shut the hood. It cracked the battery plastic top cover where (-) Terminal poke out (oops!!).

Catty
Click to expand...

Cheap Japanese battery is junk?
 
purplecatty said:
I am thinking about getting USB OBD II Scanner cuz it's cheap and use USB connect to laptop. My truck popped engine check light again and I am just fed up and wanted to narrow down what's really wrong. I've replaced couple of Oxygen Sensor last spring. It seem that when weather is cold, Engine check light lit on and stays on all day..

I thought OBD II Scanner would cost around $100 and up until I looked through Ebay and found out there's cheap one out there using USB. I thought why not!! :hmm:

I could afford "least used" tools addition for my toolbox. I can use Netbook or any old junk working PC w/ USB laying around in garage to use it as a simple automotive diagnostic viewer and reset MIL (engine check light). USB OBD II scanner works the same way as hand held OBD II Scanner. It includes software.

(This info copied and pasted from USB OBD II Scanner in Ebay, all are the same as different seller's listing that sells same thing.)

OBD II V1.3 USB AUTO Scanner Auto Code Reader

The program lets you perform the following operations:

Read diagnostic trouble codes, both generic and manufacturer-specific , and display their meaning (over 3000 generic code definitions in the database).

Clear trouble codes and turn off the MIL ("Check Engine" light)

Display current sensor data, including:
Engine RPM
Calculated Load Value
Coolant Temperature
Fuel System Status
Vehicle Speed
Short Term Fuel Trim
Long Term Fuel Trim
Intake Manifold Pressure
Timing Advance
Intake Air Temperature
Air Flow Rate
Absolute Throttle Position
Oxygen sensor voltages/associated short term fuel trims
Fuel System status
Fuel Pressure
Many others...

Multi-Protocol Support:
SAE J1850 PWM (41.6 kbaud)
SAE J1850 VPW (10.4 kbaud)
ISO 9141-2 (5 baud init, 10.4 kbaud)
ISO 14230-4 KWP (5 baud init, 10.4 kbaud)
ISO 14230-4 KWP (fast init, 10.4 kbaud)
ISO 15765-4 CAN (11 bit ID, 500 kbaud)
ISO 15765-4 CAN (29 bit ID, 500 kbaud)
ISO 15765-4 CAN (11 bit ID, 250 kbaud)
ISO 15765-4 CAN (29 bit ID, 250 kbaud)

Supported Software :
Scantool_net113win
EasyOBDII
OBD2Spy
ScanMaster-EL

It is compatible with MOST American automotive after January 1st 1996 including European and Japanese model that have OBD II and EOBD II.


On Ebay I could get it for $25 bucks w/ Free Sh/H. Knowing that I don't plan on using it often. I could help friend fix their car as well. I bet that my deafie friends would line up to borrow it :rofl: They complained that OBD II Handheld scanner are expensive and don't use much and it's not worth blowing buck on that. They wish they can borrow someone else's OBD II Scanner but no one they knew owns it. So that'll be me. I don't care if they fried my OBD II scanner as long as they will be willing to pay for replacement. :roll:

Catty :cool:
Click to expand...


Go already to buy it since it is only $30 from ebay that I found so far. It is great and you can read all engine's spec.


Here a pictures and you get a idea.

256vgw8.jpg


The ECU+ [ECU+ Win Screen Shots]

I will let you to know when I find the right software for generic.

For me, I plan to buy Kiwi Wifi and use app from rev
DevToaster - Rev - iPhone app development, Great iPhone apps, and more



Chevy57 said:
Yes, I saw it last week when changing oil on my 2007 Honda SUV at Lube Shop. They used handheld scanner for checking. Man showed it to me that battery is not good and require to replace new battery. I don't un why original battery is short life. :(
Click to expand...

Bad luck. My Subaru finally replaced the new battery after 7 years.

diehardbiker said:
Hey, you could easily pay NOTHING, how? Just go to AutoZone, they offer free ODB II reading for you.

I have ODB scanner, yes it includes both ODB I and II, and I thought I would use seldomly but ended up used few times a year. I use them before the inspection due, I do not want hassles for them to reject inspection only to find out that I could fix minor without costing me anything.

Sometimes MIL won't illuminate, and you may have no idea and drive around losing money on gas. Having scanner alerts you of any problems EVEN if MIL lights is not on. Hell worth it owning one. OFC it wasnt cheap, I bought about 3 years ago.
Click to expand...


Free alway suck because they do not have real-time data. That's all they can read is DTC and freeze data. That's it!
 
The Highlander said:
Go already to buy it since it is only $30 from ebay that I found so far. It is great and you can read all engine's spec.


Here a pictures and you get a idea.

256vgw8.jpg


The ECU+ [ECU+ Win Screen Shots]

I will let you to know when I find the right software for generic.

For me, I plan to buy Kiwi Wifi and use app from rev
DevToaster - Rev - iPhone app development, Great iPhone apps, and more
Click to expand...

Sure ok, I would go ahead and buy it. I thought it would be useful. The only issue is that how do you know if one of 4 Oxygen sensors are bad? Can this software tell you that?


As for iPhone and any mobile phone with Bluetooth. There's a Bluetooth OBD II Scanner on sale in Ebay. That explained why.

Catty
 
purplecatty said:
As for iPhone and any mobile phone with Bluetooth. There's a Bluetooth OBD II Scanner on sale in Ebay. That explained why.

Catty
Click to expand...

No, iPhone and iPod touch do not use bluetooth to connect OBD II. Only WIFI.

Trust me, bluetooth OBD II really SUCK BIG TIME due slow, short range, and drop. WIFI is much better.

[yt]o91DX4ODgbU[/yt]
 
The Highlander said:
No, iPhone and iPod touch do not use bluetooth to connect OBD II. Only WIFI.

Trust me, bluetooth OBD II really SUCK BIG TIME due slow, short range, and drop. WIFI is much better.

[yt]o91DX4ODgbU[/yt]
Click to expand...

Agreed. Bluetooth don't go that far. Also it is finicky to set up.

catty
 
purplecatty said:
Sure ok, I would go ahead and buy it. I thought it would be useful. The only issue is that how do you know if one of 4 Oxygen sensors are bad? Can this software tell you that?


As for iPhone and any mobile phone with Bluetooth. There's a Bluetooth OBD II Scanner on sale in Ebay. That explained why.

Catty
Click to expand...

You can read O2 sensor's volt thru real-time data only. If you see OS2 range from .1volts to .74volt like .1 .40 .70 .20 .40 (up/down/up/down volts) that's mean it's good. (Not sure what exactly range of volt for OS2) If you see volt dont change anything or volt change very SLOW then OS2 is bad.


O2-sensors-dialog.gif
 
The Highlander said:
::Off-topic::

PicoScope Automotive Diagnostic Software - the easy answer to vehicle diagnostics

This is better tool ever! It can check any sensors, fuel pump motor, fuel injection,etc for any years of cars but cost $2k-$600 for device.

Download free automotive diagnostics software
You can download the free software and play around thru free tutorial.

IF you know how to use the oscilloscopes before then you will understand.

This is not for OBD-II.
Click to expand...

Yup I know how to use Oscilloscope, I own 20Mhz oscilloscope. Never use it since I left school 19 years ago. It's sitting in basment collecting dust. :lol:

Nice software. Shoot that I can't use it on OBD II Scanner device.

Catty
 
purplecatty said:
Yup I know how to use Oscilloscope, I own 20Mhz oscilloscope. Never use it since I left school 19 years ago. It's sitting in basment collecting dust. :lol:

Nice software. Shoot that I can't use it on OBD II Scanner device.

Catty
Click to expand...

You own the oscilloscope? That's great! You can use the current clamps to OS2 sensor. I will find the info for volts/div, time/div, and voltage range for you soon.
 
The Highlander said:
You own the oscilloscope? That's great! You can use the current clamps to OS2 sensor. I will find the info for volts/div, time/div, and voltage range for you soon.
Click to expand...

I don't have Current clamp :( :shrug: I was planning on purchasing in the past but I didn't.

Go ahead and provide me time/div and voltage range in case If I decide to get one on Ebay. It'll be a good future reference for me.

Catty
 
purplecatty said:
I don't have Current clamp :( :shrug: I was planning on purchasing in the past but I didn't.

Go ahead and provide me time/div and voltage range in case If I decide to get one on Ebay. It'll be a good future reference for me.

Catty
Click to expand...

volts/div +/-2v, sec./div 200ms/dv, voltage range 0-0.8 voltage.

Remember high wave = rich and low wave = lean.
 
The Highlander said:
volts/div +/-2v, sec./div 200ms/dv, voltage range 0-0.8 voltage.

Remember high wave = rich and low wave = lean.
Click to expand...

Thanks! That'll be my future reference!! I will look into the Current Clamp on Ebay to see how much it cost. It shouldn't cost much tho..

I believe that USB OBD II Scanner as well as hand held OBD II scanner may not be able to read all 4 of O2 sensors. Your info would help me to narrow down to faulty O2 sensor.

I will still buy USB OBD II scanner so I can monitor rest of other info of automotive's sensor activities. And reset the MIL (Engine check )

Thanks a ton!

Catty
 
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