For car enthusiasts and DIY mechanics, understanding what’s happening under the hood is crucial. OBDII code scanners have become indispensable tools for diagnosing car problems, and in this review, we’ll dive into a practical experience using the ELM327 scanner along with TouchScan software. We’ll explore its capabilities, ease of use, and how it can empower you to troubleshoot your vehicle effectively.
Initially, setting up the hardware is straightforward. Once you have the ELM327 OBDII scanner connected to your vehicle, the next step is installing the software on your laptop. The scanner typically comes with a mini-CD containing various software options. Among them, ScanTool.net for Windows v1.13 stands out as a free option, albeit basic. This software allows you to perform fundamental tasks like scanning and clearing diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), turning off the check engine light, and viewing a limited set of sensor data.
While ScanTool.net provides essential OBDII functionality, exploring further reveals more powerful options. TouchScan, developed by ScanTool.net LLC, emerges as a promising software upgrade. A fully functional demo version is available for download, offering a 14-day trial period – ample time to thoroughly evaluate its capabilities. TouchScan significantly expands upon the basic functions, offering advanced features for in-depth car diagnostics.
TouchScan not only retrieves and clears diagnostic codes but also excels in displaying a wide array of real-time sensor data. This includes live statistics, freeze frame data (snapshots of sensor values when a fault code is triggered), and comprehensive vehicle information. Furthermore, it features a customizable dashboard mode, allowing you to select and display gauges relevant to your diagnostic needs. Perhaps the most compelling feature is TouchScan’s recording capability, which enables you to record test drives and replay them in real-time, providing invaluable insights into vehicle behavior under various driving conditions.
Setting up TouchScan with your ELM327 scanner is designed for user-friendliness. Upon launching TouchScan, you’ll encounter the setup screen. The “AutoDetect” function simplifies the connection process considerably. Clicking “AutoDetect” initiates a scan across all available COM ports to locate the scanner. Once detected, the software automatically cycles through different baud rates and communication protocols to establish a connection. The results of this auto-detection process are clearly displayed, showing the COM port, baud rate, and protocol identified.
In this instance, the scanner was found on COM5, connecting at a baud rate of 115200 using the ISO 15765-4 CAN 11-bit protocol – the communication language of the RAV4 in this example. After AutoDetect completes, simply clicking “Connect” finalizes the setup. Successful connection is visually confirmed by the interface and ECU indicators turning green, signaling that communication is established and ready for diagnostics.
With the connection established, the customizable dashboard becomes accessible, offering a real-time view of your vehicle’s vital parameters. You can now monitor sensor readings as you operate the vehicle, observing gauges respond to changes in engine load and driving conditions. This live data stream is invaluable for understanding how different systems are performing.
The dashboard’s adaptability is a significant advantage. You can tailor it to display specific gauges and data points that are most relevant to your current diagnostic task. This customization allows for focused monitoring of particular systems or sensors, streamlining the diagnostic process.
To evaluate TouchScan’s diagnostic code reading capability, a practical test was conducted by simulating a fault. Unplugging the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor, located on top of the air cleaner box, induced an engine malfunction. Upon starting the engine, it stalled immediately the first time, but ran on the second attempt, albeit with the Check Engine Light (CEL), Traction Control (TRAC), and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) lights illuminated on the dashboard. These warning lights are clear indicators of stored diagnostic trouble codes within the Engine Control Unit (ECU).
After reconnecting the MAF sensor and turning the engine off and on, the warning lights remained illuminated, confirming that the diagnostic codes were indeed stored in the ECU’s memory. Accessing the “Diagnostics” section in TouchScan revealed two fault codes: P0102 (Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit Low Input) and P0113 (Intake Air Temperature Sensor 1 Circuit High Input). These codes accurately pinpointed the issue related to the disconnected MAF sensor and its associated intake air temperature sensor.
Further investigation into the “Freeze Frame Data” provided a snapshot of the vehicle’s condition at the precise moment the fault codes were triggered. This data included parameters like engine temperature (118°F in this instance, indicating a cold engine) and the time elapsed since engine start (0 seconds). Freeze frame data is exceptionally valuable for diagnosing intermittent issues that may not be consistently present. It provides crucial context, such as vehicle speed, RPM, and other sensor readings at the moment of the fault, aiding in pinpointing the root cause. Subsequently, clicking “Clear Trouble Codes” within TouchScan successfully erased the stored codes, and the warning lights on the dashboard extinguished, returning the system to normal operation.
The “Record” function in TouchScan stands out as a particularly impressive feature for advanced diagnostics. Prior to a test drive, initiating the recording function captures a comprehensive log of vehicle data throughout the drive cycle.
After a 12-minute test drive encompassing various driving conditions, stopping the recording provided a detailed log of the vehicle’s behavior. Disconnecting the ELM327 scanner and reviewing the recorded data on the laptop offered a unique “black box” analysis capability, similar to aircraft flight recorders. Playing back the recording in TouchScan allows you to relive the test drive, observing gauge movements and sensor data changes in real-time, as if you were still behind the wheel. This playback functionality is invaluable for analyzing vehicle performance under specific conditions and identifying anomalies or intermittent issues.
TouchScan offers a wealth of additional information screens, providing deeper insights into various vehicle systems and parameters. These screens present data in organized formats, enhancing the user’s ability to understand complex vehicle information.
A crucial tip for using TouchScan effectively is to properly disconnect the software after each session. Instead of simply closing the program, navigate to “Setup” and click “Disconnect.” This action releases the COM port used for communication. Failing to disconnect properly can result in communication errors during subsequent connection attempts, as the COM port may remain in use.
In conclusion, TouchScan software, paired with an ELM327 OBDII scanner, presents a compelling and cost-effective solution for vehicle diagnostics. The full version of TouchScan is reasonably priced at $24.95 on the ScanTool.net website, including unlimited upgrades, making it a worthwhile investment for DIY car maintenance and troubleshooting. For anyone seeking an affordable yet feature-rich OBDII code scanner setup to read diagnostic codes and aid in resolving engine issues, this combination is highly recommended. For around $40 total, this setup provides comprehensive diagnostic capabilities, empowering you with the information needed to understand and address your vehicle’s needs.
