First, ensure you have an OBDII ELM327 Bluetooth adapter. This tool is essential for accessing your car’s diagnostic information.
You’ll need to plug the adapter into your vehicle’s OBDII port, usually located under the dashboard. Once plugged in, turn your car’s ignition to the “ON” position, or start the engine. If your ELM327 adapter has a power button, make sure to switch it on.
Now, let’s move on to the connection process with your Android device.
Step 1: Bluetooth Pairing with Your ELM327 OBD2 Adapter
If you’ve already paired your Android phone or tablet with your OBD2 adapter, you can skip to Step #2. Otherwise, follow these instructions to establish a Bluetooth connection.
Note: The Bluetooth pairing process might slightly vary depending on your Android version.
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Open your Android device’s Settings menu and navigate to the Bluetooth section.
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Turn Bluetooth ON. Your device will begin scanning for nearby Bluetooth devices.
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Wait for your ELM327 OBD2 adapter to appear in the list of available devices. It might be listed as “OBDII”, “obd2”, or a brand name like “Viecar” or “VLink”. It will not be named after your car brand or something generic like “MY CAR”.
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Tap on your OBD2 adapter’s name to initiate pairing. You will be prompted to enter an Elm Obd2 Pin.
If you are unsure of the ELM OBD2 PIN, consult the documentation that came with your adapter. Common PIN codes are “1234“, “0000“, “7890“, or “1111“. Try these common PINs to establish the Bluetooth connection.
Step 2: Selecting Your Adapter in the Car Scanner App
After successfully pairing your ELM327 OBD2 adapter via Bluetooth, you need to select it within your car diagnostic app, such as Car Scanner.
- Open the Car Scanner app on your Android device.
- Locate and tap the Settings icon, usually a gear icon in the top-right corner of the app.
- Find and select the Adapter option (in older versions of Car Scanner, this might be labeled Connection).
- Choose Bluetooth as the Connection type.
- Tap on Select device. This will display a list of available Bluetooth devices.
- Select your ELM327 OBD2 adapter from the list.
Once you’ve selected your adapter, navigate back to the main screen of the Car Scanner app and tap the large Connect button, often green.
For subsequent uses, simply ensure your adapter is powered on and plugged into your OBDII port, then just tap the Connect button in the Car Scanner app.
Remember to power on your ELM327 OBD2 adapter before attempting to connect if it has a separate power button. You are now set to use your ELM327 OBD2 adapter for vehicle diagnostics!
