Lemur Automobile Displays BlueDriver Professional
professionals and cons
- Simple to make use of
- Filled with options
- No subscription
- Common app and firmware updates
- Small and simple to overlook!
- Not low cost in contrast with another OBD dongles
Automotive troubles are by no means enjoyable.
However info is energy and may imply the distinction between your automotive being off the highway for a number of days whilst you look forward to repairs or probably with the ability to do a fast repair your self and get again on the highway quick.
Fashionable vehicles are good at realizing when one thing is improper and can normally change on the dreaded examine engine mild to warn you.
However what causes this mild to be illuminated?
Now, you’ll find out earlier than you even go to the mechanic. With the appropriate instrument, your smartphone can discuss to your automotive and let you know.
Enter the BlueDriver Professional. It’s good for many who need to diagnose what’s up with their automotive, and at the moment it’s presently 17% off at Amazon for $100.
Bear in mind to unplug your BlueDriver dongle when accomplished! Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
Observe: I’ve had my BlueDriver dongle for a couple of years, and the newer variations look a little bit completely different, however functionally they’re the identical.
That is tiny Bluetooth dongle by Lemur Automobile Displays is an OBD2 diagnostic scan instrument and code reader that connects to the automotive’s On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) port and can be utilized to learn bother codes and likewise view stay information about your automotive’s engine, transmission, and different techniques.
The method is actually easy.
You purchase the BlueDriver dongle, obtain the app for iOS or Android, pair it together with your smartphone, after which plug it into your automotive’s OBD port and begin studying information.
The primary hurdle that many individuals have is discovering their automotive’s OBD port. It is normally underneath the dashboard or glovebox.
If you cannot discover it, you’ll be able to examine your proprietor’s handbook, or Google for the reply.
Right here I am connecting the BlueDriver to a 2021 Kia Stonic. This automotive does not have any issues (at current!) however I am going to use it for example for this evaluation.
First I play “Hunt the OBD port.”
Hunt the OBD port… oooh, a clue. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
There it’s!
With the port discovered, I join the BlueDriver to the port.
The BlueDriver dongle plugged into the OBD port. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
Now I can change to the app and begin to collect information.
Reside Information may give entry to an entire raft of details about the automotive’s techniques.
The BlueDriver Reside Information choices. Screenshot by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
The app permits you to graph the info in numerous methods.
If the automotive has the examine engine mild illuminated, the BlueDriver software program can present you what the difficulty code is, and past that, it may well inform offer you info on when the automotive gave that warning, referred to as Freeze Body information — invaluable info when attempting to diagnose an issue.
Freeze Body would present this information if there had been an incident. Screenshot by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
A robust characteristic of the BlueDriver Professional is that you just get free updates, and there is not any subscription to pay to entry your automotive’s info.
Checking for updates to the BlueDriver. Observe that it should be plugged right into a parked car. Screenshot by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
It’s also possible to get entry to restore reviews detailing attainable fixes for bother codes, however this characteristic doesn’t appear to be accessible within the UK so I have never been capable of take a look at it, though right here is an instance of the report generated. (PDF)
A BlueDriver dongle can even offer you info on reset the oil mild in your dashboard (after you have modified the oil, not simply to make the sunshine go away!), the Tire Stress Monitoring System (TPMS), or the battery mild.
The service info display screen. Screenshot by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
Oh, and remember to unplug your BlueDriver if you’re accomplished!
I’ve entry to a number of completely different scan instruments for vehicles, and I select Lemur’s BlueDriver usually. It is fast and simple to make use of, and I can hold it within the glovebox so I am able to diagnose any issues I come throughout in my automotive or for my family and friends.
FAQs
No! Hassle codes solely offer you course on what may be improper. The supply of the issue may be the part listed, or may be a wiring concern, corrosion in a connector, an issue with the automotive’s pc, one other broken part inflicting issues on the automotive’s community, or any of quite a lot of different points.
Hassle codes offer you a spot to start out. You’ll be able to slim down the issue utilizing the Reside Information characteristic, or the restore reviews.
If it is an intermittent drawback, it may appear to. Some issues will come again instantly, others may reappear after you have turned the automotive on and off a few occasions, and others may take extra time to reappear.
And also you may be fortunate and uncover the issue was a glitch.
