Difference Between ELM327 Code Reader and other Scanners

ELM327 code reader is one of the simplest car scan tools that you’ll find. The series devices are designed to interface with a car’s computer and report trouble codes in a very no-frills sort of way use universal OBDII Protocols.

Using a Car Code Reader

In order to use a car code reader, it has to be plugged into an OBD system. Each OBD system has its own connector, which can be located in a wide variety of different of places. These connectors are often found under the hood in the vicinity of the fuse box, but they may be located under the dash or elsewhere. In vehicles that were built after 1996, the OBD-II connector is typically located under the dash near the steering column. In rare cases, it may be located behind a panel in the dash, or even behind an ashtray or other compartment.

After the OBD socket has been located and hooked up to, the car code reader will interface with the car’s computer.

Simple code readers are actually able to draw power through an OBD-II connection, which means that plugging the reader in may actually power it up and turn it on as well. At that point, you will typically be able to:

• Read and clear codes

• View basic parameter IDs

• Check and possibly reset readiness monitors

The specific options vary from one car code reader to another, but at the bare minimum you should be able to read and clear codes. Of course, it’s a good idea to avoid clearing the codes until you have written them down, at which point you can look them up on a trouble code chart.

ELM327 Vs Other Car Code Readers

ELM327 scan tools are an alternative to basic car code readers. These devices use ELM327 technology to interface with your vehicle’s OBD-II system via Wifi/Bluetooth, but they don’t have any built-in software, display, or anything else that a traditional code reader has. Instead, these devices are designed to provide an interface between a tablet, smart phone, laptop, or other device, and your car’s computer. The most basic freeware will allow you to use an ELM327 scanner and your Andorid or iOS phone as a basic code reader, while more advanced software will provide you with a more powerful interface.

http://obdscanner.blogspot.com/2016/12/how-much-do-you-know-about-elm327-scanner.html

#elm327 #elm327scanner #elm327codereader