Car diagnostics with Torque App/OBDII scanner

[Simon Pieman]

Got a cheap bluetooth OBD-II scanner tool from Amazon and this Android app

Can do the same diagnostics as what a garage would charge you £50 or £60 quid a go for and it cleared the stored fault code I had from a gunked up throttle body.

[Bewster]

Got a cheap bluetooth OBD-II scanner tool from Amazon and this Android app

Can do the same diagnostics as what a garage would charge you £50 or £60 quid a go for and it cleared the stored fault code I had from a gunked up throttle body.

Nice one Si, cheers

Just ordered one. Pity it wasn't earlier in the day before I forked out 50 quid at my local Honda garage

[Simon Pieman]

Nice one Si, cheers

Just ordered one. Pity it wasn't earlier in the day before I forked out 50 quid at my local Honda garage

There's so much you can do with the app it's actually quite tricky to set up the realtime information dashboards. Amazing how much difference a brand new air filter makes to the MAF readings, didn't think the one it replaced was that dirty either.

But for scanning for fault codes and clearing them it's a piece of piss, just select the fault codes option, let scan and you can then view the details of each of them. Within this the menu allows you to clear fault codes by just selecting the option

[Bewster]

There's so much you can do with the app it's actually quite tricky to set up the realtime information dashboards. Amazing how much difference a brand new air filter makes to the MAF readings, didn't think the one it replaced was that dirty either.

But for scanning for fault codes and clearing them it's a piece of piss, just select the fault codes option, let scan and you can then view the details of each of them. Within this the menu allows you to clear fault codes by just selecting the option

Superb - cheers

[Samdy Gray]

Got a cheap bluetooth OBD-II scanner tool from Amazon and this Android app

Can do the same diagnostics as what a garage would charge you £50 or £60 quid a go for and it cleared the stored fault code I had from a gunked up throttle body.

I've just ordered one. I've got a recurrent fault code, which I'm 99% sure is a glow plug fault, but it'll be good to know.

I used to have a handheld scanner, but it got pinched when some little scrote broke into my car.

[Bewster]

Got a cheap bluetooth OBD-II scanner tool from Amazon and this Android app

Can do the same diagnostics as what a garage would charge you £50 or £60 quid a go for and it cleared the stored fault code I had from a gunked up throttle body.

Just an aside note to this. I have an Airbag warning light that comes on, usually in wet weather thanks to a dodgy sensor (£214). Apparently if your airbag warning light is on the airbags won't work - they are effectively deactivated in order they don't go off by chance. Certainly made me think a little differently.

[Honkytonk]

Just an aside note to this. I have an Airbag warning light that comes on, usually in wet weather thanks to a dodgy sensor (£214). Apparently if your airbag warning light is on the airbags won't work - they are effectively deactivated in order they don't go off by chance. Certainly made me think a little differently.

I've just got a car (MOT'd early Jan...) which, whilst I was driving home, noticed the airbag/seatbelt tensioner light come on and go off intermittently. 2 things:

Does a OBD scanner count as a modification for insurance purposes (sounds a stupid question I know but then insurance companies are utter utter wankers), and can you easily remove it for a service?

I ask because the car's got full main dealer history up until now, and I'm kind of in two minds whether it's worth in resale to continue down that route or not bother- don't want some snotty vauxhall mechanic going 'Errr, what's this and why is it here?'

[Samdy Gray]

I've just got a car (MOT'd early Jan...) which, whilst I was driving home, noticed the airbag/seatbelt tensioner light come on and go off intermittently. 2 things:

Does a OBD scanner count as a modification for insurance purposes (sounds a stupid question I know but then insurance companies are utter utter wankers), and can you easily remove it for a service?

I ask because the car's got full main dealer history up until now, and I'm kind of in two minds whether it's worth in resale to continue down that route or not bother- don't want some snotty vauxhall mechanic going 'Errr, what's this and why is it here?'

The OBD2 scanner isn't a modification AFAIK. They just plug into the socket, so are easily removed. It's usually beneath the ashtray in most cars.

An airbag warning light (or any other safety warning light) is an instant fail on an MOT these days. If you just bought the car, I'd be taking it back.

[Honkytonk]

Hmm, see I was given the car as opposed to buying it (family member upgraded and didn't like the part ex offer), so can't really take it back.

Looks like an OBD scanner for me!

[Simon Pieman]

I'd be seriously worried about resetting/deleting faults which relate to the ABS, Traction control, EPS, Airbags etc.

Really you should only remove the codes once you have corrected the problem. For example, I unplugged my MAF to see the effect and this threw up 2 error codes. Once I plugged the MAF back in I knew I had rectified the problem so deleted the codes.

All of my codes are pending i.e. the ECU has logged the fault but is monitoring it before turning on the Engine Management Light. Usually if you get an Engine Management Light it will turn itself off when the fault is corrected, but the ECU still stores the fault as pending for another 30 ignition cycles, or at least with my car.

[Bewster]

I'm not ignoring the Airbag light. The garage have now reset it off twice and charged me for the privilege. It’s a dodgy sensor that will probably need to be replaced.

[4D]

I have a faulty abs wheel sensor, diagnosed for free 

Going to be booking the car in for a service soon and will get them to replace it.

[Samdy Gray]

I'm not ignoring the Airbag light. The garage have now reset it off twice and charged me for the privilege. It’s a dodgy sensor that will probably need to be replaced.

Have you tried just smothering it in contact cleaner? Usually does the trick with sensors that can be a little temperamental to damp.

[Bewster]

Have you tried just smothering it in contact cleaner? Usually does the trick with sensors that can be a little temperamental to damp.

Good shout Sam - I will if I can find it 

I was last reset 18 months ago and has been fine ever since so I am reluctant to get it replaced without a try.

[Chubbs]

What can Bewster? Same happens on my old mans citreon c4