So I got sick of going to Autozone to get my codes checked, and bought an inexpensive ELM327 bluetooth adapter to use with the Android app Torque (tried free and paid). I had heard some mixed things about compatibility with 4th Gens, but had hoped it would work with my 2000 5th Gen.

Well, it does connect, the gauges and monitor status work, but while I can pull pending codes (P1126 in my case), it won't show any saved codes which I know exist because the CEL light is on. Actually, during one check out of about 20-30, it did show P0420 once, but wouldn't show it again.

The way the car is running, I am pretty sure I have another failed ignition coil rather than a cat issue, and I am going to take it down to Autozone tomorrow to find out what code is really stored. But I wanted to see what kind of experience people may have had here with the Torque app and BT ELM327 adapters, particularly with the 2000? The specific adapter I bought was this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ELM327-v1-5-Bluetooth-Super-Mini-Small-OBD2-Scanner-Adapter-Tool-TORQUE-ANDROID-/170847315772?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item27c74b273c&vxp=mtr
Any thoughts or experiences?

 

Have you ever purged the codes from the ecu?

 

I cleared them by disconnecting the battery a few weeks ago but the light came back within a few days. The light has been on ever since and while I was trying to test it with the adapter and app. I can't clear the codes with the unit since the app doesn't think there are any codes to clear.

 

Try another app. There has to be at least one more free one for android. I know there's a few for iOS and I've never had problems with my ELM.

 

Obd droidscan is what I use.

 

I've used OBD droidscan and Torque. Both were great but the ELM device didn't last me long enough. It lasted me couple of uses. I just ended up investing in a real scanner of amazon.

 

I've had the in my car for over six months now. It's small enough not to get in the way so I just leave it plugged in. I've heard these ELM devices can be hit or miss but I've not had a single problem. I use both the Torque app and Dash Command. They both have their advantages and disadvantages. Never had a problem pulling codes with either of them. Although I have had the SES light with just a pending code. I wouldn't take that as something being wrong.

*Edit
Don't know why it doubled the links in the post. Code only shows one... How odd.

 

I tried every free app in the store, and none would pull saved codes either (either than some that pulled the pending one). I then bought the pro versions and tested before the 15 minute return policy, and none of them worked either. I then tried the paid OBD Droidscan (which didn't have a free test app), and that did pull the saved code of P0420, repeatedly (although it doesn't pull pending codes!). So I guess I will just keep both the paid versions of Torque and Droidscan, Torque for pending codes, monitor status and gauges, and Droidscan for saved codes.

As I mentioned, Torque did pull P0420 once in the several scans I did, but I wasn't able to repeat it, but I guess that one time was right. I though it was an ignition coil gone bad again based on the way the car was runnning (a little rough and occasional stalls when decelerating to a stop in neutral), but I tested them and they are OK, so I guess it really is P0402. I had it couple years ago and fixed it by replacing my front O2 sensor, hopefully that is all it is again and not a serious cat issue. Can a bad O2 sensor cause the rough idle and occasional stall?