BlueDriver Bluetooth Pro OBDII Scan Tool for iPhone & Android - No Subscription Fee - OBD2 Car Scanner and Code Reader - Diagnose Check Engine, ABS, SRS, Airbag & 7000+ Issues on Vehicles 1996+

I bought this over five years ago. This used to be the best car scanner I have ever seen. They used to give you all kinds of fixes including fixes from backyard mechanics and level VI auto technicians. They would give you actual step-by-step how to troubleshoot the problem and how to fix it. ButI picked this up and attached it to my harness and he gave me a firmware update. So far so good. But was I ever shocked when I saw the codes of my cars faulty equipment, but it didn't even tell me what it was it just give me a generalized answer with no advice, no where to look or anything. I don't know what happened to such a great program but it's no longer great. Looks like I'll have to wait to go back to work and use the offices snap-on auto scanner.UPDATED TO 5 STARS.Bluedriver NEVER STOPS TRYING! It keeps updating its firmware through my phone, and BD Keeps updating its Fixes and Solutions. After my 1ST bad experience with BD, it uploaded another software update via Android, to correct all the bugs that I had from that update. Now everything, all the advice, potential cost, Tech Level 6 suggestions, etc are back. And it is dead on. Before the update, it told me that I had an overheating water code, but it wasn't specific. It could have been the electric fan, the electric thermostat, the relay, the capacitor in the electric fan, anything. So because, in that update, the fan didn't start, the electric thermostat was volatile, I didn't have a relay tester, I had to book an appointment with a level 6 technician at the dealer, waiting two weeks for the appointment.While I was driving to the mechanic, it's already too late to cancel, I forgot that I left my BD scanner hardware in the obd connector, and my Bluedriver App updated and the firmware updated on the way to the mechanic and when I arrived, it gave me a LIVE READING that my Water Temperature was Overheating, and that my electric fan couldn't start because it couldn't connect with the electric thermostat. In other words, it said the code meant that the most likely culprit was not the fan but the electric thermostat. It allowed me to save the report as a PDF file which I exported to my computer. It also gave me the FIXES, How to fix it, I'm not sure if it gave me the cost or not, but it gave me the cost for the part which was $42 on Amazon. It also told me that I was leaking oil when it compared oil levels, in 30 minute time frames etc. This happened too late, while I stood in line and gave my car keys to the mechanic. I ended up paying $900 to install a $42 thermostat and two new rocker panels which I could have put in myself had I known. So now I keep the firmware updated, having faith that the people who run BD will immediately correct any bugs, and also update daily new fixes, new solutions, new car makes and models. This scanner is reasonably priced, too popular to go away, and has the best fix solutions for do it yourself backyard mechanics like myself. At the very least, if a mechanic tells you have something wrong that costs more, you know he is lying because this app will tell you. But for now, I have had this since 2017, and it has never broken. I usually keep it in the house where it is cool, i wouldn't leave this is a very hot car in the summer. What I love about this obd scanner is that not only does it give me fixes and what likely what part it is, but also the cost for a do it yourselfer, by going to the auto parts stores to find the exact cost for your model, you don't have to put your model, as they have your vin number. It gives you several solutions what it could be if the first one you did, had no effect. It gives you Level 6 Technician suggestions and how to do it. It also lets you take the car for a run in the live mode and check for smog. It checks on my ABS brakes, detects SRS, and allows me to SAVE that report, and Export the entire Report as a PDF file which I can print later and try to figure out. Their tech support is outstanding, their updates seem to be every 2 weeks to once a month. I have not been compensated for this review, but their Solutions to your codes are so USER FRIENDLY, and written in a code for the backyard mechanic, it just makes it so easy. But the reason that BD can do all this is because unlike the most expensive scanners like Snapdragon, which you are paying for an entire computer in a suitcase, which includes processors, hard drives and data that is uploaded to that hard drive with yearly memberships is because Bluedriver uses the processor on your phone, the flashdriver on your phone and its ability to connect to its vast online database. BD is also helpful to professional Level 6 technicians, because most of the solutions or fixes are accurate and verified by Professional Automotive Technicians because its db is online and frequented by comments from technicians. it checks Airbag, Transmission, etc. It has separate windows for Pending and permanent codes and will clear codes, It shows things that you may not be able to fix yourself like Freeze Frame: Vehicle snapshot. It offers Live Data how your care is functioning while you drive around. It gives you a smog check and suggests whether it's the EGR valve, Oxygen sensor, etc. All of its fixes that have been verified by ASE Certified Technicians. It even tells you if your vehicle has had PARTS RECALLS so you can get down to your dealer. It offers maintainence schedules for oil changes, air filters, etc, Technical Service Bulletins about your vehicle, and what other car owners have found out what usually goes wrong the vehicle. It tells you if your car is ready for an emissions test, gives you fuel trim info how your driving can improve mileage, i assume that's what its for.It does have a couple of weaknesses, it doesn't support bidirectional communication which means it can't open your doors, etc. And This will not work without an online connection.One last thing, I brought my BD to advise a friend who wanted to buy a car at Christopher's Auto nearby which has a reputation as an honest car sales unit. I checked out the toyota he was about to buy with this, and Bluedriver said that the the brakes had pending codes and functioning problems. It also said in the history that someone had cleared the codes for a waterpump issue without fixing the pump itself. But The salesman told me that the owner had tried to pawn his vehicle off on him when his snapdragon had caught that, and so he offered several hundred dollars less for the vehicle to the owner. The salesman showed me the service bill to show he had just replaced the brakes and the waterpump on the car, but forgot to clear the codes so he cleared it with his snapdragon and the code disappeared when he drove it. But the snapdragon didn't give an important PARTS RECALL for this vehicle. And my bluedriver said the engine was misfiring in live mode and costing the fueltrim several miles per gallon, which made the guy tune it up before selling it to him.At some point, Bluedriver will be offer millions of dollars to sell their company will be bought out by a larger company who will merge it with his failing company to save money, they will lay off BD employees who update the database while the new company strips everything valuable to sell it, they will use cheaper materials in the scanners so it doesn't last and a good business will fall apart. But for now, it's mine and it works! I have gotten my $99 purchase repaid back many times.

Honest review of BlueDriver Bluetooth Pro OBDII Scan Tool for iPhone & Android @ $99.95 at time of my order.This is my first OBD Scanner. Someone that had one of these recommended this scanner to me. I used this with the BlueDriver app downloaded to my iPhone 14 PRO. I have a 2002 Ford Taurus with a gas cap light illuminated on the instrument cluster. It also has the brake system lights illuminated, but fluids are okay and the system is okay. Whatever was going on was also causing what felt like occasional misfires and was possibly from a vacuum leak. Online research revealed several possible causes, so I tried what seemed like the simplest fix, which was first cleaning the gas cap and inlet and reseating it. That did not work, so I replaced the cap. That did not work. Another friend had a more inexpensive handheld OBD scan tool, but it did not reflect what was causing my gas cap light or the brake light warnings. Rather than continue spending money replacing various other possible things, I opted to try this BlueDriver Scanner since it was reportedly thorough.After reading the very brief quick start insert and downloading the app, I followed the directions and ran my first scan. It should be noted that this provides the best results if you enter your VIN (vehicle identification number) in the app before running the scan. If you run a scan with no VIN entered and wish to retrieve repair reports, the VIN must be entered and then you will be required to run another scan. This runs a deep scan. It took about 2 minutes or so. I made the VIN mistake and had to run two scans. (See dislikes below).This found issues related to the gas cap light (code P0457) as well as others that did not even reflect a warning light or code. But, it was issues that I wondered why things did not work. It identified likely causes of why my headlights did not come on automatically, why there was no chiming when my key was in the ignition while the driver’s door was open, an error in my hood switch, a power steering pressure sensor, and another vacuum system leak. So, I was quite impressed with the things it found/identified. It also allowed me to clear the code of the gas cap light. The brake light problem was not identified at all, nor was it cleared.As far as possible causes and reported fixes, I was hoping for a little more than a line or two saying from someone’s post that they replaced such and such. But, this is a lot more than so many other OBD scan tools provide. I can see taking this when looking at a used vehicle to purchase and running a deep scan to see of any hidden problems with the potential purchase. I recommend this product.Likes:Amazon Prime shipping, returns and refunds.Does a very deep scan of your vehicle’s systems and identifies things that don’t even light up on your dash.Worked well with the app on my iPhone once I clicked for it to allow to connect to Bluetooth.It provides recall reports (obviously on much older cars most of these should have already been dealt with and I don’t even know if a dealer will still honor those that aren’t).This works wirelessly between the device and your phone or tablet.There are no subscription fees or update fees and they keep their database current.One supposedly has access to trained technicians (24/7) in the app or by phone. I was unable to find anything on their online support page as to whether or not one must pay for this service.It automatically saves the report (I did not know this and saved a duplicate) and you can send this report to your email or just save the PDF.It’s very easy to use. Plug it into the port (vehicles after 1996, I believe, have these), and press on the scan icon. There are several self-explanatory icons. Some, not being a mechanic, I had no clue what they were for.There is an online support page.The device lights up while pairing with your phone/tablet and you can see a progress of the scan in the app.It has the capability to access your camera in order to scan your VIN, but it simply would not scan mine so I had to enter it manually.Reads and clears the annoying airbag system and tire pressure monitoring systems codes.Reads live data from your car engine, if you know what you’re looking at, I don’t.Dislikes:The VIN scan would not read my VIN although I made sure to do it in bright sunlight (no glare on windshield) and the VIN plate was not rusty or dirty or obscured.I was not able to copy and paste my VIN into the app’s VIN field.There’s really no instructional booklet aside from a very brief quick start card. Everything has to be found within the app or online at the site.Meh:Some kind of carrying case would have been nice. I am just using the box it came in, which serves the purpose, but a hard-shell protective case would have been much better.On the inside of the box is a BlueDriver plastic emblem with a magnetic or somewhat adhesive backing. I’ve no clue if this is meant to adhere to the outside of the packaging box or what it’s for.5 stars