Vehicles

The complexity associated with modern cars, using their computer-controlled fuel shot systems, spelled the tip of the shade-tree repair shop. Unless, of training course, the diagnostic tools as used by professional mechanics grow to be inexpensive enough and simple to implement for the average joe. Thats the thought behind Lemur Monitors BlueDriver OBD-II scan tool, which allows you to check your cars powerplant performance, examine error codes, turn off a check powerplant light, and even get a thought if your car will pass their smog check.

Affordable OBD-II scan tools have been around for some time, but BlueDriver makes for deeper data plus much more portability. Instead associated with an integrated scan tool using a small, monochrome LCD, like the majority of models available, BlueDriver consists of an OBD-II dongle connecting to your smartphone through Wireless bluetooth. The BlueDriver software allows for a large number of features and takes selling point of a smartphones research power and on-line.

Some of your data shown by BlueDriver will probably be incomprehensible to the standard car owner without the help of a site just like OBD-Codes. com. Lemur Monitors includes features which make BlueDriver more typically useful, however, for instance smog-check readiness and also repair reports.

BlueDrivers black plastic-type material casing measures 3. 25 inches prolonged and 1. 75 inches wide (57 by 45 mm), large enough to match the OBD-II plug on one end. This dongle will plug right into a cars OBD-II slot, which is usually placed directly under the dashboard on the drivers side. On my own 1999 BMW Z3 Coupe, however, the port sticks out in the passenger-side footwell. Lemur Monitors molds a new convenient finger proper grip into the the top BlueDriver, making it simple insert and take away.

Note that OBD-II slots were mandated pertaining to 1996 model 12 months cars and later on, so the BlueDriver will not be much help upon that 86 Plymouth Reliant as part of your driveway.

Your free BlueDriver software runs on iOS and also Android devices. Your house screen includes icons for your main functions, while a strip down the bottom offers a new shortcut, labeled Dwell, to view your data stream from your engine. A secondary food list screen includes icons for your BlueDriver manual, customer service, and ordering this BlueDriver dongle.

To get started, I plugged this dongle into the cars OBD-II slot, then opened the phones settings and also accepted the Wireless bluetooth pairing. Launching this app, I chose the Vehicle Info star and entered the cars VIN, which described detailed information in relation to my car. The app also well then, ill choose year, product, and make -- useful only didnt have this VIN handy. It could be handy if this app offered a new VIN scanner, while using the phones camera to understand the VIN on the car.

Firing upwards my car, I went towards the apps Live function and surely could see which OBD-II files points my car generated, and could choose which of those data points appeared inside app. These data points include such things as engine load, intake air temperature, and oxygen content on the fuel mix. Having my data details chosen, I could watch your data stream instantly on my mobile phone.

The app shows colored graphs for each data point, which look cool but are not particularly useful. Moreover are the numbers generated inside Live view, but the most useful feature is the chance to upload the data as a spreadsheet. The caused report isnt quite, but formatted seeing that comma-separated values, the majority of spreadsheet programs may parse it.

The values shown inside Live view and report will only prove meaningful should you have some expertise with OBD-II diagnostics. Being a helper, the app carries a Freeze Frame operate, which captures this running data in the event the engine throws an error code.

For the inexperienced, the app carries a Read Codes operate, which interprets error codes on the OBD-II port. Its also possible to use the Obvious Codes function to be able to reset a check-engine lighting, but if this underlying problem is just not fixed, the powerplant will just toss the code upwards again.

Depending on any error codes received, the software can generate a new Repair Report which often interprets the code, shows what may have caused it, while offering potential fixes. These Repair Reports undoubtedly are a highlight of this app -- therere like having a professional mechanic at your shoulder. My car has not been throwing any glitches, so it decided not to generate any reviews, but the app showed an illustration. Lemur Monitors offers five Repair Reports totally free with the software, and only costs 99 cents for each five additional reviews.

The most largely useful feature associated with BlueDriver is Smog Check out. No, this is just not a full smog test of your respective car. Rather, the app examines engine data which could cause a car to fail a new smog test. Not only does it try to find the Check Powerplant light and error codes, but likewise examines engine compression setting and spark files. BlueDriver cannot explain if your car could pass, but it can provide pretty good idea if it certainly cant. My car obtained a green light on the app, suggesting I can take it set for a smog analyze with little worry.

And as a new handy extra, the BlueDriver app even includes a flashlight feature, utilizing your phones LED display, for when you happen to be digging around this engine or in search of that elusive OBD-II port under the dashboard.