OBDII Scan Tool

[DHalbrooks]

Looking at getting an OBDII scan tool. I live in Alaska and do a lot of camping in the sticks during the summer. Most places are not conducive to calling for help or getting to a dealer. My thoughts are that will have it so that i can check what the code is, how destructive it can be and then reset if needed. I don't want to be way out there and be goverend down to 5mph trying to tow a 12k travel trailer with wife and kids. I have narrowed it down to the Kiwi # and/or BlueDriver. Looking for any insight to if this is a good idea and if anyone else is doing the same. Also if anyone has used either of the two listed what are the good and the bad. thanks

 

[Newsa]

Cen-tech brand is less than $100 if you find it on sale. It gives more info than i need including fuel pressures. I bought mine on sale at Harbor Freight Tools. They make a couple of models. I got the nicer one for less than $100. It interprets the codes for you in plain english so you don't have to look them up

 

[photowrite]

Kiwi 3

Too early for me to give detailed feedback but...

I've had a Kiwi 2 wifi for about one year, used it a couple times to clear codes (I also travel very remote places). I use an Edge Insight for gauges on my fourth gen, so I don't leave an OBDII interface connected all the time, but still find the larger/extra size of the Kiwi 2 a bit clunky.

I preordered a Kiwi 3, have had it for more than a month but used it today for the first time to clear a stored "unknown trouble code" with check engine light symbol. Didn't connect the first time, but did a few minutes later and the code was cleared. The small size of the Kiwi 3 does it for me.

Watch the Turbo Diesel Register magazine for more info.

 

[RVTRKN]

Doesn't your CTS Insight read and clear codes?

 

[photowrite]

Doesn't your CTS Insight read and clear codes?

If it matters it's a CS not a CTS (not a touch screen).

But yes, it is supposed to clear codes. However, every time I direct it to read codes it hangs up and freezes on a 'retrieving codes' screen...for several minutes.

The Kiwi with Dash Command app works better (where the Insight is not at all). The Insight was updated with the latest firmware/etc. just a few months ago.

 

[dcs1968]

You can get a bluetooth OBD2 adapter on amazon for $20-$25 and download a program called Torque for Play Store for Android for $5 and have all the functions you are looking for. Here is a link to the Torque website.

http://torque-bhp.com/

 

[dcs1968]

This is the Play store link

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.prowl.torque&hl=en

 

[photowrite]

You can get a bluetooth OBD2 adapter on amazon for $20-$25 and download a program called Torque for Play Store for Android for $5 and have all the functions you are looking for. Here is a link to the Torque website.

http://torque-bhp.com/

Might depend on which devise one has? I bought a cheap Bluthooth OBDII reader a few years ago and could never get it to synch and work with my iPhone, eventually buying the Kiwi2. But if the cheapie works, I'm all for it.

 

[RVTRKN]

I didn't want to buy some cheap POC, only to short out when connected to the OBDII. At the time the options were a code reader only @ $250.00, when I found the Kiwi Wifi II. Inexpensive compared to the other options, but a lot more to them when used with the right APP. Dashcommand was a lot more when I purchased it @ $50, and the free was crap, at the time. I'm very happy with my setup and the Dashcommand has paid for itself, although there is a learning curve with it. The settings are important, especially with my iMFD modules connected to the Kiwi Wifi II.