Does OBD Adopter + OBD reader Apps helps to detect hidden issues? (vehicle, hybrid vehicle)

[GNCamry99]

Does OBD Adopter + OBD reader Apps helps to detect hidden issues?
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Thanks for your replies to my thread.

I did find many threads talked about OBD Adopter + OBD reader Apps to detect hidden issues in the car.

How far this can go?

What are the limitations between these apps and traditional OBD reader?

Will it help for Hybrid and non-hybrid vehicles ?

What are the issues these OBD reader cannot detect ?


Thanks for sharing.

[LesLucid]

I’ve used one when I was having an issue with one car. It didn’t show any problems on the device despite the issue. I think I figured out what it is and it eventually resolved itself. So, it can help but apparently only if it’s a problem that is sufficient to throw a code. Issues can occur that are not covered by the car’s built in sensors.

[BostonMike7]

You need software that can read trouble codes on the various modules in the vehicle. These are not usually available to a standard OBD2 reader.

For example, Ford's typically use HSCAN to run your standard OBD2 reader and read normal P codes. They use a difference set of pins for MSCAN that will allow typically Ford propriety software to read trouble codes on the various modules.



You can purchase an ELM327 OBD2 device that will allow you to switch between the two different setups and run module codes using a free software called Forscan. (www.forscan.org) So for about $15 (the cost of the ELM327) you can pull trouble codes from every module on the car, program modules, reset modules, and change as_built data on the car. For instance, if yout heated seats aren't working, the seat module may display a cushion overtemp condition and tell you which cushion is in error. These codes are not available through a typical OBD2 code reader (which is looking for engine codes) because theyt aren't designed to read from the other pins on the OBD2 vehicle interface

That's for Ford/Lincoln. Other makes may have similar products available but i don't know about those

[SAAN]

The more you spend, the more it can read. most cheap scanner can read the basic OBD2 codes, once you get $50-100, some can read Mode 6 data and other live data and $2-300 and up can read Airbag and ABS codes, reset the oil light, or program the TPS, or even get into the vehicles communication system to test the electronics.


Once above $4-500 and the right software you can read alot of info on the car.

[LesLucid]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

You need software that can read trouble codes on the various modules in the vehicle. These are not usually available to a standard OBD2 reader.

For example, Ford's typically use HSCAN to run your standard OBD2 reader and read normal P codes. They use a difference set of pins for MSCAN that will allow typically Ford propriety software to read trouble codes on the various modules.



You can purchase an ELM327 OBD2 device that will allow you to switch between the two different setups and run module codes using a free software called Forscan. (www.forscan.org) So for about $15 (the cost of the ELM327) you can pull trouble codes from every module on the car, program modules, reset modules, and change as_built data on the car. For instance, if yout heated seats aren't working, the seat module may display a cushion overtemp condition and tell you which cushion is in error. These codes are not available through a typical OBD2 code reader (which is looking for engine codes) because theyt aren't designed to read from the other pins on the OBD2 vehicle interface

That's for Ford/Lincoln. Other makes may have similar products available but i don't know about those

Good info; thanks for that.