Discover what your car is really telling you in real-time with a Car Scanner And App. Gain access to OBD fault codes, monitor car performance, analyze sensor data, and so much more, all from the convenience of your smartphone. Car Scanner is a powerful vehicle performance, trip computer, and diagnostics tool that utilizes an OBD II Wi-Fi or Bluetooth 4.0 (Bluetooth LE) adapter to seamlessly connect to your car’s OBD2 engine management system, or ECU.
This innovative car scanner app is packed with unique features designed to empower you with knowledge about your vehicle:
Key Features of a Car Scanner App
One of the standout features is the ability to customize your own dashboard. Imagine having all the vital signs of your car displayed exactly how you want them. With Car Scanner, you can layout your personal dashboard using a variety of gauges and charts, ensuring the information most important to you is always front and center.
Furthermore, this car scanner and app goes beyond the basics by allowing you to add custom, extended PIDs (Parameter IDs). This unlocks access to information often hidden by car manufacturers, providing a deeper level of insight into your vehicle’s operation. This advanced capability makes Car Scanner a truly powerful tool for enthusiasts and those who want to understand their car inside and out.
Just like a professional scantool, Car Scanner can display and reset DTC fault codes, helping you understand and address issues quickly. The app includes an extensive database of DTC code descriptions, so you’re not left guessing what a code means. This feature is invaluable for diagnosing problems and potentially saving on costly mechanic visits.
To further aid in diagnostics, the car scanner app allows you to read freeze-frames. Freeze frames capture sensor data at the exact moment a DTC code is saved. This snapshot of your car’s condition when the fault occurred provides crucial context for diagnosing intermittent issues.
Taking diagnostics even further, Mode 06 functionality lets you access ECU self-monitoring test results. This advanced feature helps you proactively maintain your car, potentially identifying problems before they become major issues and keeping repair costs down. Using a car scanner app with Mode 06 can be a significant advantage for preventative car maintenance.
Preparing for emissions tests becomes straightforward with Car Scanner. You can easily check if your car is ready for emission tests directly through the app, saving you time and potential headaches at the testing center.
For a comprehensive overview of your vehicle’s health, the app provides a screen to check all sensors at once. This allows for a quick and easy assessment of all your car’s vital systems, ensuring everything is functioning as expected.
Broad vehicle compatibility is a key advantage of Car Scanner. It works with any vehicle that adheres to the OBD 2 standard, which includes most vehicles built after 2000 and even some as far back as 1996. You can check carscanner.info for detailed compatibility information.
Car Scanner also stands out with its connection profiles, offering extra features for a wide range of manufacturers including Toyota, Mitsubishi, GM, Opel, Vauxhall, Chevrolet, Nissan, Infiniti, Renault, Dacia, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, Seat, BMW, and many more. These profiles unlock brand-specific diagnostics and functionalities.
For added convenience and safety, the Car Scanner dashboard includes a HUD (Heads-Up Display) mode. This allows you to project essential driving data onto your windshield, keeping your eyes on the road while still monitoring critical vehicle information.
Performance enthusiasts will appreciate the accurate acceleration measurements provided by the car scanner app. Measure your car’s 0-60 mph, 0-100 km/h, and other acceleration metrics to track performance improvements or diagnose engine issues.
Beyond diagnostics and performance, Car Scanner can also function as a trip computer. It provides fuel consumption statistics, helping you monitor and optimize your driving efficiency and save money on fuel.
For owners of VAG group vehicles (Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, Seat) built on MQB and PQ26 platforms, Car Scanner offers encoding functions. This allows you to adjust hidden parameters of your car, potentially unlocking customization options and features not readily available through standard interfaces.
Finally, Car Scanner distinguishes itself by offering the widest variety of features for FREE compared to other car scanner apps in the App Store. This makes it an incredibly accessible and valuable tool for any car owner.
Choosing the Right OBD2 Adapter for Your Car Scanner App
To utilize the Car Scanner app, you’ll need a compatible OBD2 ELM327 adapter. These adapters, available in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth 4.0 (Bluetooth LE) versions, plug into your car’s diagnostics socket and enable your phone to communicate with your vehicle’s computer.
Recommended adapter brands include Kiwi 3, Viecar, V-Gate, Carista, LELink, and Veepeak. While cheaper Chinese OBD2 ELM327 adapters from online marketplaces might seem tempting, be cautious of versions marked v.2.1. These adapters, while sometimes supported, are known to have bugs and can lead to connection issues.
It’s important to note that the amount of sensor data available varies between vehicle ECUs. The Car Scanner app can only display information that your car’s computer provides.
Beware of “bad” adapters! Some low-quality adapters, often Chinese clones, can cause problems. They may fail to connect reliably, or even worse, cause unstable engine operation, frequent connection drops, and slow data reading. Investing in a genuine ELM327 adapter or a recommended brand is highly advised for optimal performance and to avoid potential issues.
Car Scanner ELM OBD2 is available for free, but unlocking its full potential requires a one-time purchase or subscription.
Disclaimer: The developers of this application are not responsible for any incidents resulting from the use or interpretation of data within the app. Always consult with a qualified mechanic for vehicle repairs and maintenance.
For any issues or questions, you can contact the developer through the app settings or via email at [email protected].
You can find the Car Scanner ELM OBD2 for iOS Terms of Use at https://www.carscanner.info/ios-tos/.
