those OBD2 bluetooth readers

[bowlofturtle]

I know they are cheap like $20-40.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004KL0I9I/?tag=atomicindus08-20

looks something like this. Works with your smartphone or bluetooth laptop.

I have a legit elmscan cable version of thing but i now want a bluetooth unit and play with my smartphone. From what i read there are a lot of bootleg versions of this and some dont work very well. Just wondering if anyone here bought a working one and from which seller/vendor.

Saying "go on ebay" doesn't help much because there are plenty of ebay vendors selling the units. Thanks in advance, also how is the Torque app?

 

[docjake]

This guy was happy with it. Only setup for the droid right now though.
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/performance-tuning/183560-write-up-torque-app-obd2-reader.html

 

[diesel research]

You want the real elm or the chinese stolen bootleg version?

Real one cost 10x as much, but built much higher quality, much less risk of frying vehicles control modules or simply being DOA and also comes with tech support...

http://www.scantool.net/scan-tools/smart-phone/obdlink-bluetooth.html

 

[Jeeper]

I have one that I use with the Torque app on my Android Samsung Galaxy tablet. Its very useful as it does ODB2 including logging and displaying live data. Great value when you consider it was $5 for the app and $20 for the bluetooth ODB2 dongle.

 

[pipsters]

I own the cheapie ebay one, and have the Torque app. Works fine. Pulls/clears codes and basic info on my '95, does a lot more on my '98, and my '10 Prius has profiles that can be downloaded that can even pull more info than normal.

For $30-$40 minus the phone or tablet, it's a good deal. Only issue is by being bluetooth, a lot of laptops won't be able to read it, so you can't use your laptop with it. There is a wifi version if you plan to use your laptop exclusively.

 

[kruegdr]

Interesting to hear success stories with the Chinesium bluetooth adapters. I've heard nothing but bad news from them until reading this thread. What vehicles are you guys using them on?

 

[Jeeper]

I bought mine off of amazon figuring if it was bad, I'd send it back. I have used mine with two f150s (04 & 05), 04 grand prix, '97 jeep wrangler. No problems so far. I had a thread on it a while back where i loaded some of the data logging into a spreadsheet. Pretty handy for comparing and graphing the data.

 

[Jwrightkustomz]

I have one that I bought from :
http://myworld.ebay.com/interfuse-motors/?_trksid=p4340.l2559
So far so good. I do a lot of emissions readiness at the dealership I work at, and got tired of lugging around a scanner. Also works well for scanning cars at auctions to make sure the codes haven't been cleared, etc. I have used it on everything from a '98 Audi A6 to a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I use torque on my Android, overall for the price of all the products combined I'm happy with it.

 

[shampoop]

I have one of the cheapie ebay ones and use the torque app. It's awesome when it works and works flawlessly, but on some cars it just doesn't work not sure why.

 

[bowlofturtle]

I have one that I bought from :
http://myworld.ebay.com/interfuse-motors/?_trksid=p4340.l2559
So far so good. I do a lot of emissions readiness at the dealership I work at, and got tired of lugging around a scanner. Also works well for scanning cars at auctions to make sure the codes haven't been cleared, etc. I have used it on everything from a '98 Audi A6 to a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I use torque on my Android, overall for the price of all the products combined I'm happy with it.

I just ordered one from him. Its a big plus that he is just one state above me. Hopefully all goes well. Will post up once i get it.

 

[Original Man]

I have one of the cheapie ebay ones and use the torque app. It's awesome when it works and works flawlessly, but on some cars it just doesn't work not sure why.

Any particular makes or just certain vehicles?

 

[Jwrightkustomz]

I just ordered one from him. Its a big plus that he is just one state above me. Hopefully all goes well. Will post up once i get it.

Let us know for sure, I have been wondering if I just lucked out and got a decent one, or what.

 

[shampoop]

Any particular makes or just certain vehicles?

Not sure, have only used it a few times so far.

1995.5 and 2003 tacoma worked, 96 maxima and 04 srt4 didn't work.

 

[jweller]

I've got a knockoff china one that works fine with a terminal program, like putty or hyperterm, but torque on android won't recognize it. I haven't fiddled with it too much for torque. Works with mazda, honda, subaru, pontiac, and chevy, probably more but I haven't tried. It gets the job done.

 

[bowlofturtle]

Let us know for sure, I have been wondering if I just lucked out and got a decent one, or what.

just got it in today, tested on my g35 and its a go. I was an idiot tho, i kept pairing but my phone would say "pairing but not connected" that ment it was connected and i should use torque to connect. LOL i realized that after 15 minutes and pairing

Other then that it works great, no issues via android. Came with a BT dongle, but i'm waiting for my brother to get home with his 98 maxima and my laptop to try to laptop based one.

Not sure, have only used it a few times so far.

1995.5 and 2003 tacoma worked, 96 maxima and 04 srt4 didn't work.

I have a older REAL elmscan serial to OBD cable. I has trouble working with the 98 maxima. it connects but disconnects often, if i remember correctly it never connected with just the key on, car had to be on. All other cars i could do key on to scan for codes.

So far 05 G35x, 96 camry, 03 GTi, 03 Lancer. Only cars i can get my hands on today.

 

[not-required]

I have a Chinese one that I use for the torque app and it works on my Tacoma, dads dodge 2500 diesel, and brothers 4runner. I didn't try it on moms BMW

 

[db130]

i have the ebay one that was purchased march 2011 for $20.99 with shipping from an ebay vendor named aimishop. looks like the price is now down to 15.99 with shipping.

despite the claims of spotty quality, it works well on my 1998 and 2000 volvos. i'm running it on an android smartphone with the paid version of the app torque.