Are Bluetooth Code Readers Worth It for Early OBD2 Cars?
Bluetooth OB2 Code Readers or Scanners are becoming more and more common. These OB2 dongles use Bluetooth to connect to your smartphone (either iPhone or Andriod) and with a compatible app, you can scan, read, and clear check engine codes.
On-board diagnostics (OBD) has been available since the 1980s, but it was standardized in 1996 for all cars sold in the US to OBD2. The first scanners were really expensive and only available through professional repair shops, then less expensive versions became available for consumers.
I've always been interested in trying the Bluetooth versions to see if they can do more than my basic code reader. One of the most popular versions is from a company called BlueDriver, but it retails for $119 so I checked Harbor Freight (Zurich ZBT1) and they had a similar one for less than half that.
===========================
Links to all the parts mentioned in this video:
===========================
▶ Autel Basic OBD2 Reader: https://amzn.to/3wfxJyA
▶ BlueDriver Bluetooth Pro OBDII Scan Tool for iPhone & Android: https://amzn.to/4biG3MK
▶ Harbor Freight Cen-Tec Basic OBD2 Reader: https://www.harborfreight.com/obd-ii-...
▶ Harbor Freight Zurich BT-1 Bluetooth OBD2 Dongle Code Reader: https://www.harborfreight.com/zr-bt1-...
This video is not sponsored, but product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something I'll receive a small commission.
===========================
Merchandise
===========================
▶ Comprehensive Vehicle Maintenance Log Book: https://amzn.to/3wc2EMl
===========================
Social Media Links:
===========================
▶ Facebook: / kintsugimoto
▶ Instagram: / kintsugimoto
▶ Email List: https://kintsugimoto.ck.page/47f50ba6fa
===========================
TIMESTAMPS
===========================00:00 Introduction
00:52 Harbor Freight Bluetooth OBD2 Code Reader Unboxing
04:27 BlueDriver Bluetooth OBD2 Code Reader Unboxing
06:00 Comparison of Basic OBD2 Code Reader and the Harbor Freight Bluetooth OBD2 Code Reader and BlueDriver OBD2 Code Reader
06:25 Scanning a 1999 Mercedes C280 with No Codes with a Basic OBD2 Code Reader
06:05 Scanning a 1999 Mercedes C280 with No Codes with Harbor Freight Bluetooth OBD2 Code Reader and Review of the Repair 2 Solutions iPhone App
12:05 Scanning a 1999 Mercedes C280 with No Codes with BlueDriver Bluetooth OBD2 Coder Reader and Review of the BlueDriver iPhone App
14:17 Scanning a 1996 Volvo 850 Turbo with a Check Engine Light On with Basic OBD2 Code Reader
16:40 Scanning a 1996 Volvo 850 Turbo with a Check Engine Light On with Harbor Freight Bluetooth OBD2 Coder Reader and Screen Capture of Results
17:56 Screen Capture of BlueDriver App with a sample report that has a check engine code
21:54 Screen Capture of BlueDriver Bluetooth OBD2 Code Reader recording live data on 1996 Volvo 850 Turbo
#obd2scanner #bluedriver #harborfreighttools