Which OBD2 Android app to buy

[Mollydog]

I've used the search facilities but most post are old or not related to my question

I've been using a Chinese copy of the Delphi ds 150e diagnostic thing for a number of years now, it woks OK and provides far more information than I know what to do with, two niggly  things (not having a garage yet) I have to sit in or stand out the car with a laptop  on my lap or on the roof when using it and as I use Mac's I went out and bought a cheap Dell lap top to use with it (it was cheap for a reason)

That said the Delphi works fine and shows lots of live data, my only reason for buying it in the first place was that it can also read data from my Lotus Elise with a MEMS1.9. though it has the 16 pin connector this ECU predates OBD2 and it isn't OBD2 compatible but the Delphi is able to extracts lots of live data from it

For Christmas I was bought one of those OBD2 dongles, this one in fact



On and off for a few days I've been sitting in the MR2 with my Samsung Android tablet in hand and downloading a few (many) OBD2 apps some making connections easy other not so easy, there are so many I don't know which one I should buy to get the full features and was hoping others on here have opinions on what works well with the MR2, mine is a 2005 UK spec model (not a Japanese import)  all opinions welcome

 

[Joesson]

@Mollydog
I believe I have a very similar OBD2 reader to yours but for Apple. I set the device up with a free app - Car Scanner, once set up they offer a more "advanced" programme at a cost that I haven't taken up as all seems well.
I'm sure there are several , free apps, that would suit your reader and I would  be inclined to try those first, perhaps find one that connects well with your reader and then decide if you need to pay to upgrade.

[normanh]

I paid about a five for my plug in reader and about £4 for the full version of the software Car Scanner which works really well. The reader is just a generic one, unbranded off ebay.

Norman

[Gaz mr-s]

A very popular app is Torque Pro.  It's about £5.  Lots of mentions on here.

[1979scotte]

Torque Pro for me.

[Ardent]

As above

[paulj]

I have Car Scanner (free version) and Auto Doctor (paid).  The paid version includes the functionality to reset the engine light and delete codes.  In fact you can delete codes for free by disconnecting the battery!  I am another fruit-based user so cannot vouch for android or have access to torque pro.

[normanh]

The Freebie version of Car Scanner will delete codes but limits the live data monitoring for about £4 you can upgrade to the Pro version, well worth it and easy to use. In tried Torque Pro and still have the Freebie version on my phone but dint find it so easy to use.

Norman

[Mollydog]

I've been playing with a few apps these past few days and I've been drawn to both "Car Scanner ELM" and "EOBD Facile - OBD" (thanks for the tips)

Of the two I can't make my mind up, if I'm still not sure by Monday, for the price I'll buy both, it's been interesting playing with DashCommand but with my limited use of these three I'm not drawn to DashCommand as much as the other two

I also played with Torque light, again the first two caught my eye more

In passing for those that have used EOBD facile, when in  complete list mode,  the right side of the screen shows the values and every now and then one of the readings momentarily flashes green, dose this signify anything?

My eventual plan is once the navipod I've ordered arrives I'll be able to work out what size of Android head unit it will accept and have the OBDII app run on the head unit, to make it easier taking out the OBDII reader out when not driving the car for a few days (Covid) I've ordered a short OBD extension cable approx 20cm

I've also ordered a cheap wifi OBD reader to use with my iPone on the other cars, I know I'll have to pay twice if I decide to use the full same apps on the Android and the iPone 

[Mollydog]

As I mentioned on my last post, my intention is to have (when the Navpod gets here) the OBDII app running on the head unit of the MR2, as I'm not going to be using the car everyday I wanted an easy way of plugging the OBD2 reader in and out without fumbling blindly under the dash

So I bought this little extension cable to allow me to easily plug in the OBD2 reader (when needed) and unplugging it when exiting the car if I'm not going to be used the car for a few days

I didn't know they were going to be sending me a yellow one



I thought they were all black, obviously not





So straight to the car and luged the lead in



For now I only used double sided tape but a more permanent fixing will be needed, this was just a test run for now











This was more a test run to see if the OBD2 reader in this location would impede my entering/exiting the car, I found it wasn't an issue, another location I m might try is closer to the steering wheel cowling I do think in that location it stands a better chance of getting knocked on entering and exiting the car, especially if in a rush

[Bossworld]

There is a Toyota specific Android app that Patrick has mentioned before, ELMscan I think.

I couldn't get it to work with my cheapo dongle, annoyingly the free version did connect before I paid for it.