Automotive company Audew sent me out one of their wifi capable automotive diagnostic OBDII scanner with the hopes that I would test it. It sat in my stack of stuff for a few weeks, but when a check engine light came up on a friends car I figured I may as well see what it can do. Unlike my large handheld scanner, this little box works with an iOS or Android app to give you live data, lets you check and clear engine codes, and even pulls up historic data from your OBDII equipped car.
If your car is a 1996 or newer than this is a great tool to have on hand for diagnosing your car and resetting check engine and other warning lights after a repair is made. I tried it with both the iOS and Android phones and found the Android app worked better overall and was far easier to use. The iOS app that they referred me to on their site to was no longer on the app store, but after downloading a few apps, I found one that worked ok. You can also download software to use this scanner with a laptop computer and of course you can use it with iOS or Android tablets over wifi.
The functionality of the scanner really depends on what app you a pair it with. The iOS app I found called OBD Auto Doctor worked well for some basic functions but the "pro" features cost $5 a month or $20 a year. Most other apps that were offered were $2.99-$4.99 to purchase. The free app that was recommended "OBD Car Doctor" was no longer on the app store and the other free apps didn't connect to the scanner.
Android users will be happy to know that the "Torque Pro" app was working fine and is still free on the app store. I found it worked best and provided great real-time information and had really cool screens with gauges and graphs.
Overall it is a great deal for $12.99, considering similar models like the OBDLink MX+ sell for nearly $100. I plan on keeping it in my glovebox as a 'just in case' tool to have when I am on the road. But if you are simply looking for basic data, functions, and ability to clear codes, it is hard a hard value to beat.
You can buy it directly from Audew on Amazon HERE.
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