Android OBD II Scan Tool

Android phone users that are looking for a basic way to find out why your vehicle’s engine light is on without the cost of taking it to a mechanic may well want to check out the Xitech Elm327 bluetooth OBD II scan tool. The Elm327 is a no-frills diagnostic scanner with an entry-level price and enables you to search and solve engine warning light problems on your own by downloading the detection software through the Android market.

Here we look into seeing if the Elm327 bluetooth scan tool is a neat Android OBD II scanner or if your money is best spent with a dedicated diagnostic reader by giving a summary of actual customer reviews.

Go straight to see full specs on the Xitech Elm327 Bluetooth auto scanner…

Elm327 Bluetooth OBD II Scanner

At the time of writing this review roundup, a total of 55 customers had left a review for the Elm327 bluetooth auto scanner. The device was rated 4.3 out of 5 by those reviewers giving an overall satisfaction score of 85%. The rating breakdown is below:

5 stars – 33
4 stars – 14
3 stars – 3
2 stars – 2
1 star – 3

As you can see the majority of Elm327 customers were pleased with their purchase sighting the price, speed of diagnosis and the amount of savings that the unit brings as the main attractions. Many reviewers mentioned that the Elm327 bluetooth OBD II scanner is easy to set up, simple to use and quick to solve engine codes as these people testify:

“I am an automotive technician and on most cars I am able to plug in the XR7, fire up the Torque App and have codes read in under 1 minute!”

“I hooked up to my ’98 Volvo using Torque on my Moto Droid (D1) and it worked flawlessly…”

“In one device I will have a scan-tool, documentation, ability to look up and order parts from my local parts store, etc…”

“The device itself is easy to use. You just plug it in. If the red light is on that means it’s powered and plugged in. If the yellow lights are also blinking that means you’re communicating via bluetooth and you’re all set…”

“This Bluetooth interface plugged in and connected quickly to my EVO. It delivered trouble codes and allowed for clearing. Used on a 2002 Ford Explorer. Top notch, highly recommend…”

Other customers mention that the Elm327 is a true plug-n-play device for OBDII and CAN diagnostics and it seems as easy to use, if not easier, than a dedicated scan tool according to the user reviews.

Not all reviews were as positive as the above however, so let’s see why the Elm327 lost some points off some users.

Firstly one person had an issue with the bluetooth setting:

“The one drawback is the unit has a fixed bluetooth security code that doesn’t appear to be resettable…”

Another customer was less than pleased with the instructions that were packaged with the unit:

“This is a great little product however the documentation is lacking (if you can’t handle ‘playing’ with electronics and software to get it working – find an alternative product)…”

While a few of others had issues actually getting the product to run smoothly:

“Works fine. speed is slow though…”

“While the thing does connect with my EVO4g running 2.2, it drops its connection a lot, about over 10-20 sec then takes a few to reconnect…”

“This and Torque on Android isn’t a very reliable connection for me…”

Luckily comments like the above are in the minority and overall the Xitech Elm327 Bluetooth scanner seems to work as intended and has a low price tag to boot. Most reviewers of the Elm327 bluetooth tool agree that the device is a worthy money-saving gadget, some wishing they had bought it long before they did!

“I can’t believe I’ve gone this long without one!”

Customer Rating:

4.3 out of 5 stars – Click here for the latest rating, user reviews and discount…

Xitech Elm327 Bluetooth Features

- 1 Yr XiTech factory warranty & support.
- Just plug it into tour OBD II port.
- Download Torque for your Andriod device, link – and go!
- Bonus includes exclusive XiTech driver and software demo disc for PC.

[The quotes used above are from real users of the Xitech Elm327 Bluetooth code reader - Source]

Perfect entry-level scanner...

The Equus 3030 OBD II auto reader has been a popular choice among motorists, mechanics and auto enthusiasts mainly thanks to its economical price. However, this engine code reader offers more than an entry-level OBDII scanner with its built in LED display and other features. While the price and features of the Equus 3030 may be admired, one question remains – is it any good? We take a look below to find out exactly that from real user reviews of the Equus 3030.

Save 62% on the Equus 3030 and see full specs here…

Equus 3030 Reviews

At the time of writing the Equus 3030 had 212 customer reviews. Rate from a total of 5 the average score is 4.4 – very respectable indeed. 142 (67%) of those awarded the 3030 scanner 5 stars, while 41 (19%) gave 4 stars. That’s a total of 86% of users giving 4 stars and above.

Judging by the Equus 3030 reviews, this particular device seems suited as an all-rounder auto scanner for the novice or pro user. The 3030 can be used on all post-1996 cars, light trucks and SUV’s and includes an all-in-one LED screen for quick emissions checks and engine light warning details.

The general consensus from users is that the Equus 3030 is simple to use and reads engine trouble easily. Many people suggest this is an ideal entry-level OBDII scan tool, yet others believe it is the only scanner they will ever need. Let’s look at some of the pleased reviewer comments…

“Paid for itself instantly!”

“With today’s car electronics, there is no other reasonable way to diagnose trouble…”

“Future Proof…”

“Inexpensive OBDII/CAN code reader works as advertised…”

“Very good OBDII CAN compliant scanner for the money…”

The above are typical comments from satisfied customers awarding the Equus 3030 the majority four or five stars. Overall the device seems great if you just want a scan tool that works with no frills or complications. Some even suggest that this is an ideal replacement for the more expensive OBD II readers:

“This is all you need ! Don’t buy the more expensive unit unless you have to…”

“Start saving by buying this unit and not the more expensive ones…”

So far so good, but what about the people that were not so impressed by the Equus 3030? What were there complaints?

Well a few people encountered compatibility issues like this person below…

“I purchased this scanner and hooked it up to my Subaru 2002 forester. It didn’t work. When I called the company, they immediately knew of the problem, and told me I would need to ship the code reader back to them to have the chip re-programmed…”

It seems on rare occasions (or rare models of cars) the Equus 3030′s software needs updating. This could cause inconvenience if the unit needs to be sent back to the manufacturer. Another person also had an issue with the software:

“I was forced to take the engine codes provided by the device and google them outside of the device’s software package…”

Luckily for the Equus, the comments above are in the vast minority and overall the reviews suggest that customer satisfaction is well above average. People seem very happy with the level of userability, features, price and build quality of the Equus 3030 auto scanner.

Customer Rating:

4.4 out of 5 stars – Click here for the latest rating and user reviews…

Equus 3030 Features

- Reads Check Engine light warnings on any 1996 and newer car, light truck, or SUV.
- Unique patented all-in-one screen display and LED display for quick emissions check.
- Easily retrieves OBD II DTCs from your vehicle’s computer.
- Automatic refresh updates data every 30 seconds when connected to the vehicle.

[The quotes used above are from real users of the Equus 3030 OBDII scanner - Source]

A more serious auto scanner...

While the Autel Maxiscan MS300 and ElmScan 5 engine scanners are the biggest sellers in the auto scanner world, they are both relatively basic, entry level scanners. The Actron CP9580 is a much more serious device and could really be considered the best selling advanced scan tool.

The Actron CP9580 is more of a choice for real motor enthusiasts. Those maybe in the profession as a mechanic or somebody who really loves their cars and wants to be able to check engine trouble with a trilingual OBD II, CAN and ABS device.

Save 51% on the Actron CP9580 or see full specs here…

Actron CP9580

The majority of users found their experience with the Actron CP9580 a very good one. Though this currently costs about $100 more than the MS300 and Elmscan, it does considerably more than those models and is still very good value when you consider your alternative is paying a mechanic hundreds of dollars just to turn off your engine warning light let alone fix it.

44 out of 58 reviewers of the Actron CP9580 awarded the auto scanner 4 or 5 stars (30 gave 5 stars) and only 14 gave 3 or below. This gave an average of 4.1 stars out of 5 and an overall ‘satisfied’ rating. Let’s see what people thought of the Actron CP9580 in their reviews…

Actron CP9580 – The Good

“Best DIY Scanner on the Market…”

“Paid for Itself in One Use…”

“This scanner is head and shoulders above it’s competition…”

“Definitely worth the $$$…”

“This worked perfectly as advertised…”

“A great scan tool for late model cars!”

“Excellent…”

Actron CP9580 - The Not So Good

“I hope Actron actually tests the next version of their driver software before releasing it…”

“Good stand-alone, but forget PC connection…”

“Nice product if you do not need to connect to a PC or update with a new vehicle…”

As you can see the reason why some people awarded a 3 star rating is because they had trouble with the bundled Actron CP9580 software. Of course all electronic devices are prone to this as most people have different PC set-ups etc. It is best to check before making a purchase that both your computer is compatible with the device, the manufacturer has a good support service and that your particular model car can be scanned for OBD II, CAN or ABS (i.e. Post 1996 US).

In general people loved the advanced features, the backlit LCD display and the ease of use that the Actron CP9580 offered and used the device trouble free. Click the link below to read more user reviews of the Actron CP9580.

Customer Rating:

4.1 out of 5 stars – See complete ratings and all user reviews here…

Actron CP9580 Features

- Generic and manufacturer specific code definitions on screen and trilingual support.
- With CodeConnect quickly pinpoint and prioritize the solution not just the code, providing 3 million verified fixes specific to the vehicle’s make, model, year and engine.
- Compatible with OBD-II and CAN vehicles 1996 and newer and includes domestic ABS code coverage, record and playback data stream and on screen graphing.
- Custom data list for live data and graph live data.
- Additional advance features such as freeze frame data, drive cycle mode, state OBD check and print data support.

[The quotes used above are from real users of the Actron CP9580 auto scanner - Source]

Simple but effective!

The Elmscan 5 compact OBD II scanner has become the most popular in it’s price range with exception to the Maxiscan MS300. Like the Autel MS300, this engine diagnostic tool and software is aimed at the cost-conscious buyer and is currently priced at only $38.95.

Considering one scan at your local auto garage can set you back over $100 the Elmscan 5 seems pretty good value right? Let’s take a look at what other users thought of their purchase with the Elmscan 5 Compact in our review roundup below. You can also check the main features of this CAN, OBD-II, EOBD and JOBD auto scanner below too.

Go straight to the ElmScan 5 product page to save 35%…

ElmScan 5 Compact

At the time of writing, 86 Elmscan 5 customers had reviewed the product giving it an average of 4 out of 5 stars. 37 people gave 5 stars, 24 gave 4 stars and the rest 3 or below.

Overall people seemed happy with the Elmscan 5′s performance and ability to be able to read and reset most engine check lights in vehicles made from 1996 onwards. Not only that but the general consensus was that it is easy to use but quite basic – a ‘no frills’ OBD II scanner basically.

“Great Deal For The Money…”

“Simple and easy to use OBD Scanner…”

“Very effective scan tool – great value…”

“Works great – no need to buy an expensive tool…”

The comments above are typical of the majority of user reviews for the Elmscan 5, however some people were not impressed with how slow the product was in reading engine trouble…

“Slow. The refresh rate is at best 1-3 updates per second when reading OBD2 values…”

Another negative with the auto scanner is not very accurate fuel mileage calculations as this person testified…

“Fuel mileage calculations with included software is woefully optimistic…”

Negative points like the above are certainly in the minority in people’s reviews of the Elmscan 5. Customer satisfactions seems high with thanks to the features and ability of the scanner to read and clear over 7000 codes as well as view, freeze frame and turn off engine lights potentially saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars to motorists.

Customer Rating:

4.0 out of 5 stars – See complete ratings and all user reviews here…

ElmScan 5 Features

Software stats...

- Works with all 1996+ model year cars and light trucks.
- Supports all OBD protocols and systems, including CAN, OBD-II, EOBD and JOBD.
- Easy to install and use. Installation CD contains drivers, diagnostic software, user documentation, and videos.
- No need to buy separate software! OBDwiz diagnostic software ($30 value) is included in price. Read and clear trouble codes (database has over 7000 trouble codes), turn off Check Engine light, view Freeze Frame. Display, record, and graph 90+ real-time parameters. Calculate MPG (fuel mileage).

[The quotes used above are from real users of the ElmScan 5 code reader - Source]

One of the most popular OBD II readers

The Autel Maxiscan MS300 CAN OBD-II Code Reader provides a low-cost way to check for engine problems otherwise known as “Diagnostic Trouble Codes” (DTC’s). This model is ideal for auto enthusiasts to search for engine definitions for OBD II compliant vehicles since 1996 in the US.

The Autel Maxiscan MS300 allows you check about 7,000 diagnostic trouble codes to help troubleshoot a massive amount of problems regardless of your car’s brand or model (post 1996).

This auto scanner is one of the most popular of all models currently available on the market and is aimed at the price-conscious buyer. Though it may be cheap in comparison to other more capable OBD readers, does it cut the mustard? This is where we find out in our review roundup below.

Go straight to the Autel Maxiscan MS300 product page…

Autel Maxiscan MS300

The general consensus is that this auto reader does what it sets out to do with no frills or extra’s.

“Inexpensive & gets the job done…”

The majority of customers were able to use the OBD scanner with no problems however a handful of the 334 reviews (at time of writing) did have some teething issues in getting set-up with solving the engine codes. A few other users had trouble in getting the CD to load on their computer, however whether that was a CD issue or PC issue remains to be seen.

As this device costs less than $30 I don’t think anyone should expect the world, however most of the 344 reviewers agree that the device is ideal for basic diagnostics.

“Reads the codes well, manual not great…”

“No frills…”

However 296 of the 334 users gave 4 stars or more for the Autel Maxiscan MS300. This and the fact that it is one of, if not the best selling code readers should give the impression that customer experience levels are high as these people testify:

“Works Flawlessly…”

“Anybody can figure out how to use this gizmo…”

“Well worth it!”

“Excellent Product and Great Value!”

“Best value for the money…”

Customer Rating:

4.3 out of 5 stars – See complete ratings and all user reviews here…

Autel Maxiscan MS300 Features

- Retrieves generic and manufacturer specific Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC), includes definitions lookup software on CD and displays DTC definitions on screen.
- Features an easy-to-read backlit LCD screen, multilingual menu and DTC definitions and standard 16-pin OBD-II connector; no additional cables are needed.
- Retrieves VIN (Vehicle Identification No) on 2002 and newer vehicles that support Mode 9; powered by cars electrical system, so no batteries required.
- Supports the CAN (Controller Area Network) and all other current OBD-II protocols.
- Works with all OBD-II compliant U.S., European and Asian vehicles (OBD-II is standard on all cars sold in U.S. post-1996).

[The quotes used above are from real users of the Autel Maxiscan MS300 code reader - Source]