[dishe]

In the past I've borrowed a friend's OBD2 reader to read and reset codes.
Now, I'm being told they are so cheap I'm just considering getting one.

This one seems to do what I need (read, clear, and check readiness test status) and is super cheap for what it is.
http://www.amazon.com/Autel-MaxiScan-MS300-Diagnostic-Vehicles/dp/B001LHVOVK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357246041&sr=8-1&keywords=obdII

But then I started thinking about those live USB and Bluetooth links.

From what I understand, running those linked up with my Android phone over bluetooth would give me all that the functions of the previous linked item, plus more, such as MPG and RPM. Since my Sentra is actually a 5-speed XE model, I don't even have an RPM guage on my dashboard, so this could be kind of cool I think.

But the original linked device seems so straight forward to use. Trying to figure out if this is worth it. Opinions?

 

[maximuscoolimus]

That Amazon thing is ****ty

I bought that same OBD scanner from Amazon a few months ago... for my GXE Sentra.

It worked like it should for about ~7 scans and code clearings.

Now though, it just gives "link error". Out of nowhere! I had it in my closet for a month -- and now its somehow broken. FML

Used it on a friend's Nissan Altima but it does "link error" on his car too!

Buy the scanner but don't be overly disappointed when it craps out on you sooner or later. Its still a handy thing to have for our old cars.

I'm still pissed about my 20 dollars though.

 

[dishe]

I bought that same OBD scanner from Amazon a few months ago... for my GXE Sentra.

It worked like it should for about ~7 scans and code clearings.

Now though, it just gives "link error". Out of nowhere! I had it in my closet for a month -- and now its somehow broken. FML

Used it on a friend's Nissan Altima but it does "link error" on his car too!

Buy the scanner but don't be overly disappointed when it craps out on you sooner or later. Its still a handy thing to have for our old cars.

I'm still pissed about my 20 dollars though.

LOL- that does suck. The point here would have been that I don't want to borrow my friends anymore, so I would keep my own. If I just wanted it one time, that would be silly.

Was the cable wrapped around itself or anything like that? Sometimes these cheap wires have weak connection points- I had similar things happen to cheap headphones that were wrapped around an mp3 player for months. Not used much at all, then suddenly the sound is all crackly for no reason. Wires don't like to wrapped around hard edges I guess.
Funny that the reviews are mostly positive, no one saying it stopped working. Maybe your experience was unique?

Anyway, what about one of the BT thingies? I guess the advantage is that there isn't a cable- it's just a dongle.
It'd be cool to finally have an RPM gauge- I kind of miss having then when driving a 5-speed manual. But I don't see myself going through the hassle of pulling out and using my Android phone everytime I drive. I'm sure it would get in the way of using my phone for other things (GPS, talk, etc).

Anyone have experience with the BT?

 

[i68k]

there are many programs you can use, like data loggers, tuners, etc. some of them do have apps already for smart devices, normally you need to get an adapter or something. similar to nissan datascan, you need to get a blazt adapter. datascan works only with the nissan ecu, but there are other programs like it that work for your nissan, i just dont remember the names of the programs.

 

[dishe]

I ended up getting this one because the extra capability and monitoring seems like fun to play with:

When it arrived, my Sentra was out getting new tires so I plugged it into my other vehicle, an 07 Mazda5. Paired with the Torque app on my Android phone, it was able to read fault codes (there were none on that car) and reset the ECU, tell me exactly what readiness tests were currently being processed, as well as monitor all kinds of cool data in real time (RPM, pressure gauges, engine load, air/fuel intake, etc). I got a kick out of revving the engine and watching all the dials move.

But plugging it into my 01 Sentra was less exciting. It seems to not do as much as it did plugged into the Mazda. In fact, I was kind of excited to have the RPM gauge because my XE model lacks one on the dashboard, yet that dial was red as if unsupported by the ECU. Maybe back in 01 the OBD system didn't do that yet?
I have to test it out more, but meanwhile I have a very peculiar problem: MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS BURNT OUT.

I discovered that 2 years ago when I went to pass inspection, which was rather embarrassing (I thought the error had cleared itself because the light turned off one day). Torque doesn't seem to have a function to indicate if the MIL/CEL is on or off, and I don't blame them honestly- most people can SEE that on the dash. But not me, I need an OBD computer to tell me.

So, is the light directly connected to fault codes? That is, if I have no fault codes, can I assume the light is off? And if so, and a fault code comes up, does it trip the light if it is just pending? Or only once it reaches stored status? I can't seem to get a straight answer on this.

 

[dishe]

UPDATE: After testing about 4 different OBD2 apps for Android, I found that some of them work perfectly with my Sentra. I'm not sure if it has anything to do with the adapter anymore, although perhaps different adapters communicate better with different vehicle types and software combinations.

While Torque seemed rather buggy and unstable with the Sentra (despite being rock solid on the Mazda5), ScanMaster Lite from WGSoft.de interfaced beautifully, reports everything quickly and accurately, and even- get this- has an MIL status indicator!! This is exactly what I was looking for!

The only downside to it is that the UI is pretty simple. Live data can only be monitored one at a time, and it does so with admittedly boring numbers and graph data. Since my XE lacks an RPM gauge, I thought it would be kind of cool to have a dial representation I can mount near my dashboard. Torque lets you set up screens like that, which respond in real time. But with ScanMaster, I just get numbers which is honestly distracting. But, it works and can be useful for logging data and experimenting with the inner workings of my vehicle.

I also found Car Guage Lite/Pro (by OBD ScanTech) offered an MIL indicator and seemed to talk to the Nissan with my cheap ELM327 adapter as well. It was able to read the RPM numbers and display them on a dial, however it seemed more buggy than ScanMaster, and even randomly disconnected on me a couple of times.

All in all, I'm very happy with my purchase, the cheap adapter works and does more than a standalone OBD2 scanner would have! It's just a shame that there isn't any one piece of software that does everything I want with it yet.

I'll use ScanMaster for rock solid debugging, getting through emissions tests, and general fault code related things. For an impromptu RPM dial, I'll use Car Gauge Lite. And on my Mazda, I'll play with Torque and all it's flashy fun stuff. For the price of this adapter, I'll deal.

 

[i68k]

youd have to check for current ses codes, also pending ses codes, usually when they are pending the light isnt on yet, but will be seen when getting inspection thru the obd2. the ses light only goes on for stored codes. also, you can have a major malfunction, which may not store codes, where the ses light would normally blink, but this you should feel/hear something is very wrong.