First, ensure you have an OBDII ELM327 adapter equipped with Bluetooth capabilities. This tool is essential for accessing your vehicle’s diagnostic information wirelessly.
Locate the OBDII port in your vehicle, often found under the dashboard on the driver’s side. Plug your OBDII Bluetooth adapter securely into this port. Turn your car’s ignition to the “ON” position, or start the engine to power the adapter. If your adapter has a power button, make sure to switch it on.
Step #1: Bluetooth Pairing with Your Android Device
If you’ve previously paired your device with the OBDII adapter, you can skip to Step #2. Otherwise, follow these instructions for initial pairing.
WARNING! The Bluetooth pairing process can vary slightly depending on your Android version. These steps are generally applicable but your device’s interface might have minor differences.
Navigate to the Bluetooth settings on your Android phone or tablet. Enable Bluetooth and wait for your device to scan for and discover nearby Bluetooth devices.
Your OBDII adapter should appear in the list of available devices. It’s commonly identified as “OBDII,” “obd2,” or a similar designation. If it’s a branded adapter, it might display its brand name, such as “Viecar” or “VLink.” Crucially, it will never be named after your car brand or something generic like “MY CAR.”
Alt text: An Android phone screen displaying a list of available Bluetooth devices, with an OBDII Bluetooth adapter listed as a selectable device, highlighting the ‘obdii bluetooth code’ connection process.
Tap on your OBDII adapter’s name in the device list to initiate pairing. You’ll be prompted to enter an Obdii Bluetooth Code or PIN code.
If you are unsure of the PIN code, consult the documentation that came with your OBDII adapter. Common default PIN codes are “1234“, “0000“, “7890“, or “1111“. Enter one of these codes when prompted and confirm the pairing.
Step #2: Selecting Your Adapter in Car Scanner App
Once your Android device is paired with the OBDII Bluetooth adapter, you need to configure your car diagnostic app, such as Car Scanner, to recognize and use the adapter.
Open the Car Scanner application on your device. Access the app’s settings, usually represented by a gear icon located in the top-right corner of the screen.
Within the settings menu, find and tap on the “Adapter” option. In older versions of the Car Scanner app, this setting might be labeled “Connection.”
Alt text: A screenshot of the Car Scanner app settings menu, highlighting the ‘Adapter’ or ‘Connection’ option used to configure the ‘obdii bluetooth code’ connection.
In the Adapter settings, select “Bluetooth” as the Connection type. This tells the app to look for a Bluetooth OBDII adapter.
Next, tap on the “Select device” option. This will display a list of paired Bluetooth devices that your phone or tablet recognizes.
From the device selection screen, locate and tap on the name of your OBDII Bluetooth adapter. This action selects your adapter within the Car Scanner app.
Alt text: The Car Scanner app’s device selection screen, showing a list of Bluetooth devices, with the user selecting their OBDII Bluetooth adapter to establish an ‘obdii bluetooth code’ free connection.
With your OBDII adapter selected, navigate back to the main screen of the Car Scanner app. You should now see a large, prominent “Connect” button, often green in color. Tap this “Connect” button to establish a connection between the app, your phone/tablet, and the OBDII Bluetooth adapter.
After the initial setup, connecting in the future will be even simpler. Typically, all you’ll need to do is open the Car Scanner app and tap the “Connect” button. The app should automatically recognize and connect to your paired OBDII Bluetooth adapter.
Remember to power on your OBDII adapter before attempting to connect each time, especially if it has a separate power button. This ensures it’s ready to communicate with your device and provide you with vehicle diagnostic data.
