Gen2 OBD2 app review

Hello,

First post to this thread, in hopes of learning if I bought the right scan dongle and app for what I am trying to fix. Many thanks to mr_guy_mann for his reviews, and other members who pointed me to this thread, and those members who have offered assistance in another thread.

My full story can be found in this thread (and in the page previous to this link):

https://priuschat.com/threads/p0a08-error-code.84619/page-2

To summarize my story thus far, the 12V battery in my 2004 Prius is not getting recharged. After getting towed to dealership and nearly $200 later, they reported they found code P0A08, and their "fix" was recharging the 12V battery that I had just installed. Car worked and ran, and charged fine, for about a month. Now, not charging. My suspicion is the DC-DC Converter Inverter Assembly is bad. But, I wanted to be sure I am chasing the right DTC, and purchased the Autel MaxiAP AP2500.

I am not getting any DTCs, even after I intentionally run down the 12V battery and start getting warning lights.

Is the Autel MaxiAP AP2500 capable of reading the DTCs that I need to see related to the Hybrid Vehicle (HV) System, or did I mis-read and understand it's capabilities?

 

Thanks for the suggestion. Before I do that, I was able to contact Autel and they informed me of the problem and how to get around it. I added a new post to the other thread mentioned above to explain the results and my findings, after I was able to perform a Full Scan..

 

FWIW... this is the OBD2 dongle ive used without issues and it shows the Manufacture Enhanced Diagnostics codes... Im working on a PCB board I had made with hopes it can provide the same and operate Techstream wirelessly...


https://black.jmyntrn.com/2021/01/02/new-obd2-bluetooth-adapter-is-better-than-carista/

 

Darn useful research and good reporting ! Cheers.

 

I just bought the Autel AP200 (even though it's not the newest version) and thought I'd post how it went, since I hemmed and hawed for a couple of weeks about which one to get based on various comments here.

Setup:
Pairing the dongle to the app was easy with a qr code on the side of the dongle. Getting the app for my iphone took slightly more effort. The app name on the packaging says to get the AP200 app from the app store, and since there were a bunch of autel apps, I wanted to be sure I got the correct one. The name in the app store now is MaxiAP-AP200 (red icon). Then I had to download a second app called Diag-Asia. Autel isn't in the app name, but the green icon is in the same style. The dongle was a little tough to get into the slot under my dash, but it went in after a few tries. Push hard. Then it says to turn the car on, but to pair the app and dongle in my iphone's bluetooth settings with the start key on and engine off (Note: this didn't seem to actually matter, since I had already paired it and started a scan before I realized I should have waited for the engine to turn off. I did it again after then engine stopped and everything was the same both times.). Setting up the car profile was fine, though it couldn't pull my VIN automatically so I had to enter it by hand.

Since it's very cold here, my engine always starts running at first. The first time I did the bluetoth conection and auto

Using it:
I used it to troubleshoot my check engine light by doing an auto scan. It brought up codes for one issue I already knew about (tire pressure sensor), one I didn't (A/C solar detection on the dash), and the cause of my check engine light coming on -- P0455 and P0441. I crossed my fingers that I'd be lucky and it would be the gas cap and not a leaky hose (it's freezing outside!), so cleaned it off and screwed it in tight. I have a feeling that the people who drove the car and filled it last (it got delivered back to me from the dealership a few states away where they replaced my engine and hybrid battery) may just have not tightened the gas cap until the click -- I know that click always kinds of makes me nervous that I'm breaking something and I've had this car since 2010. Then I used the app to clear the codes so the light would go away, which worked. Drove around a handful of time since then to see if something else would trigger the light, in case maybe it wasn't just the gas cap after all, but it seems to be happy. Going between apps and scans is mildly aggravating just because we're all used to fast apps and instant connections, and at every step there's a pinwheeling minute or so while it's "Connecting to.." whichever diagnostic you want to run. Autoscan does all the systems after connecting once, but if you wanted to only look at the three systems that you knew had issues (for example) and you chose manual instead of auto scanning, it would need to do the connection over again every time you tapped into one of the systems to scan it. My biggest problem is that I can't get the dongle out! I have small hands and my grip strength isn't great, and combined with how it's designed for a tight fit that stays in place, I just seriously can't yank it out. At first I was nervous that yanking too hard would break something (like bending one of the tines), but then I saw other reviews about how it's designed to stay in place and you just have to pull really hard. So I went back and pulled as hard as I could trying different grips and angles, and I could only get it to move by like a millimeter. I'll have to wait until the next time I see someone with bigger hands/better grip that I can ask to try and remove it for me to see if they can get it out.

Overall: Easy to set up and use. Yes, the directions on the sheet enclosed with the dongle aren't perfect but they're close enough to get you there. Seemed to give an accurate diagnosis, and clearing the codes was easy. The only con in my experience is that it's hard to remove.

I wanted to post this especially because the earlier comments made it sound not ideal for iphones, but it worked fine for mine. I bought the older dongle instead of the new one so that if my iphone didn't work well, I could use an old android device I have that can't update to the new os, but happily the iphone app works great.

 

but... does it show you enhanced diagnostics? What you described is what all of these dongles can do, what's being found out is, most cant read enhanced diagnostics and that's where the proof is in the pudding for these OBD2 devices.

that and, personally i use a phone that i don't have logged into anything personal or business, those non USA apps gives me goosebumps thinking you installed them on your daily phone.

also, curious why the autel versus the mx+ that was mentioned above? what i notice is most think by going the lower cost route and they see things working like you did that they made a good purchase. then... when a pretty new light appears on the dashboard and they come to the forum asking what to do with these codes, we tell them get a better scanner as you aren't getting all the codes returned that you should...

this video explains the above and why I recommended the mx+ to all and it works on iphone.

 

Excellent review of the Autel 200! It is certainly a superior product that is accessible by most.

The best product software comes from Autel or Launch.

 

The instructions aren't written only for a Prius—cars generally have a "key on engine off" mode, which traditionally was what you had if you put the key in the slot and clicked it over to ON but not all the way to START.

A Prius has the same mode, and you get there by having your foot OFF the brake and pressing the power button twice. The instruments come on but the READY light does not, and the engine doesn't start. This is the mode that any instructions talking about "key on engine off" will mean. (It's not the same as going all the way to READY then waiting for the engine to stop.)

As far as I know, pin 16 on the OBD port has power all the time, so I wouldn't be surprised if you could even pair the dongle to the phone before turning the car to any flavor of ON at all.

 

Sometimes the 5A fuse (I think that is the size) blows on the 12V battery connector and throws the P0A08.

Yes, works great. Just cleared a P0A80 and am patiently awaiting the next block(s) to go bad. Performing the gen 2 balancing via HI Fan speed and Temp set to 82F. Then will plan to shift to Neutral when exiting the freeway to prevent overcharge. Thinking will try the grid charge discharge cycling on this pack as well if can hold off throwing a bad block code until ready.

This is a first for me, so will see how much time will buy me until I get my next gen 2 ready for routine driving as I'm still deodorizing the mouse nest and whatever cologne didn't work one. Thinking the next day or two will be ready. The Autel MaxiAP200 has been great for diagnostics and clearing codes. Doesn't seem to like me in regards to the Key Pair and TPMS functions.

 

Anyone been able to use the Autel MaxiAP200 to pair a new smart key? I couldn't get to perform on a car that didn't come with a fob, though was able to with a chicken dance thankfully as the prior owner still had and had paired to his other Prius.

I was also wondering about TPMS pairing and brake functions like bleeding, linear calibration, etc.? Any success with?

Challenge with hardware and software is there are so many firmware and software versions, almost need to post that information as well along with any posts relating.

 

What version Autel is this that allows you to work on different machines?
Or did you buy separately for each one to diagnose different machines?

 

I ordered this one on a black friday sale for almost half the price:

Here is the name of the product if the link isn't working:
Autel MaxiAP AP200 OBD2 Scanner Bluetooth Wireless OBDII Auto Diagnostic Tool with Full System Diagnostic, 19 Reset Functions, AutoVIN, Check Engine Light Code Reader for iPhone Android White&Gray

Yes, you buy licenses for each machine, where a machine is the Make of the vehicle. Mine has worked on all the Priuses and Camry's I've used with. No issues for reading codes, viewing live data, clearing codes, saving files of the ECU's reviewed, reviewing the history of doing such with the exception of if I read all the ECU's and don't specifically look at each of the ECU's the history doesn't save.

Maintenance functions however aren't as intuitive for me or I'm in the middle of more challenging situations and the brain fog or whatever voices in my head don't let me think clearly. Some say they can perform all the ABS functions, pair smart keys and pair TPMS sensors. I have not attempted the ABS and been able to pair keys or TPMS sensors with success.

 

just throwing it out there... it says on the autel site...



also, no one has confirmed it actually provides enhanced diagnostics... the whole thing about paying for additional vehicles is whack!

FWIW... the MX+ you can link unlimited vehicles and access enhanced diagnostics for no additional fees ever. Oh and it has a windows application that also doesnt cost any additional.



https://black.jmyntrn.com/2021/01/02/new-obd2-bluetooth-adapter-is-better-than-carista/

 

МХ+ Is this an adapter, a data transmitter?

What software product should be installed on the tablet or phone?

 

The manufacturer says the apps are included. I suspect they mean "free to download"
OBDLink® MX+ - Outstanding Bluetooth-Compatible OBD II Scan Tool

There also appears to be a cheaper version that does not support the Ford & GM networks.
OBDLink® LX - Top-Notch Scan Tool Compatible With Motoscan

 

OBD2 Dongle... lightning-fast Bluetooth OBD adapter that can turn your smart phone, tablet, laptop, or netbook into a sophisticated diagnostic scan tool,

sigh... stay away from the cheaper version! trust me, not worth your headaches.

plus, in my head, I'd like to think as hard as each one of us works, why go the cheaper route versus the route you know will return the enhanced diagnostics for no additional costs for unlimited vehicles?

 

The question is different.

OBDLINK APP does it allow you to determine the error code and subcode?

 

see video above. Yes!

 

ohh and the MX+ also allows you to see the TPMS sensors and each of your tires PSI...