ballistx said:
I purchased 2 ELM 327 scan blocks to interface with my Galaxy S6. Neither of them will lock in on the ECU with the correct protocol. I tried both in our 2003 Buick Rainier and the lock in immediately.
I can watch the unit automatically scanning the various protocols and not settling on any one of them.
The ELM 327 is only about $7 on Ebay and has what seems like a good Torque program on the S6.
Anyone tried the ELM 327 on a 2003 era Avalance 1500?
I have the BAFX ELM327 Bluetooth OBD2 adapter as sold on Amazon for about $22. It's about 10x faster refresh rate than the really cheapie ones. I get 30+ scans/sec on 2001 Blazer which has the same communication protocol as my 2004 Avalanche. It does work just fine on the Avalanche, but there are things that you need to know.
I haven't tested it for speed with the Avalanche, so that is why I am reporting it in the following way. Speed is important if you intend to monitor multiple PIDs at the same time. If yours only does 3 scans/sec - then displaying 8 misfire counters and RPM at the same time will only get you an update every 3 seconds. Makes the tach and many other PIDs really unuseable.
I bought and tried the OBDLink MX for $80 which is not Elm 327 and it did around 36scan/sec on the Blazer. So I sent it back because I did not observe any significant advantage to using it on my vehicles. it may or may not be beneficial for CAN protocol vehicles or more modern vehicles, but it wasn't any better with my 2006 G6 which has first year of CAN or with my 2008 Ford Ranger (also CAN).
For Android software I have Torque Pro ($5.95), Car Gauge Pro ($8.95), and Dash Command ($10 + $10 for each car for the GM PIDS). They all include differing amounts of the GM PIDS. All will connect to pretty much any OBD2-compliant vehicle to read and clear codes and do basic live data. More than that depends on both you and your vehicle. They each have their advantages and disadvantages.
- Torque Pro - best presentation and intuitive, very popular, but most limited functionality.
- Car Gauge Pro - by far the most versatile, but also most difficult to use. Unfiltered PIDs and modules may or may not work with your vehicle. You have to figure out what it will do and how to use it.
- Dash Command - best for select specific years and makes of vehicle as you are buying PIDs for specific years. If any android app will do your vehicle, Dash Command will, and as far as I know any PID that shows will work. Also, know that Dash Command also offers an iPhone version that uses a Wifi OBD2 adapter.
For example, 1996-1997 Blazers are the first two years of OBD2. All three apps will do the basic stuff. Only Dash Command provides GM-specific PIDs that will work on 1996-1997. Note that Dash Command is the only software that will display cam sensor retard on the early Vortec V6 and V8. Car Gauge Pro and Torque Pro will not connect to the 1996/1997 Blazers in any but the most basic mode.
However, Car Gauge Pro is just fine for the cam sensor retard and other GM specific PIDs on 1998-2004 Blazers and late Vortec V8s. Torque Pro will connect to the 1998-2004 Blazers and late Vortec V8s, and does many GM PIDs but it does not provide the PID for the Cam Sensor Retard and some others that are found in Car Gauge Pro.
Now as far as I know, only Car Gauge Pro will read and clear codes for PCM/TCCM/SIR/ABS/HVAC/BCM/etc. Note that this is done as a connection option and I used the app for a year before discovering this. There is a entire page of modules to connect to that will not work. Also, Car Gauge Pro offers GM PIDs that the other apps do not offer like, for example fuel level % as seen by the PCM. But then again, Car Gauge Pro is a real bearcat to learn to use so it's not for the technically inept.
I also have ScanXL Pro for Windows at $150 (which is Dash Command's big brother). It will run through the Bluetooth or the OBDLinkSX OBD2 adapter (USB) (about $30) that I have for it. The USB adapter is light speed in comparison to the Bluetooth.
So note that I have four different softwares with four different capabilities through the same Bluetooth OBD2 adapter. I believe a lot of the problems people have is not with the Elm327 adapter, but the software or the app doesn't support something with their specific vehicle.
Now if you want bidirectional communication to do things like crank sensor relearn and injector balance tests, and to control things like the transmission shifting and TCC - you need to spend the bucks. I have HP tuner's VCM Scanner. It cost $350 and comes with it's own proprietary OBD2 adapter. Also have heard good things about EFI live, and Autoenginuity. Still none of them can do what the Tech 2 can do.
For me, 98% of the time I can conveniently do what I need with the Android apps and the Elm 327 OBD2 adapter. If I need more for a specific reason I drag out the laptop with HP Tuner's but frankly it's a pain. Scan XL Pro remains pretty much unused since I figured out how to do cam sensor retard with the android app. However it does have a remote terminal that I have used before to communicate with the TCCM and read/clear codes by typing in the computer hieroglyphics.
All of this should certainly be valid for 2002-2005 Avalanches. CAN Protocol Avalanches I have zero experience with, but my Elm327 worked with my 2008 Ford Ranger and 2006 G6 which were both CAN protocol. Car Gauge Pro only connected with the G6 in most basic mode. Torque Pro would not connect at all with the G6 in any mode. Dash Command connected with the G6 just fine. All three apps connected fine with the 2008 Ford Ranger and gave manufacturer-specific PIDs.
Your experiences my vary!
Hope this help someone.