The OBDLink® app provides enhanced diagnostics for many vehicle types, which let you access additional modules and parameters that are not included in the SAE OBD-II standard. Common examples are reading and clearing codes for ABS (anti-lock braking system), SRS (supplemental restraint system), and TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system). 


Follow the steps in this article to: 

  1. Download enhanced diagnostics
  2. Select vehicle network
  3. View diagnostics


Note: Enhanced OEM Add-Ons are available primarily for vehicles sold in North America. If you need help determining whether an add-on is supported for your vehicle, refer to the articles below. 


Note: This article is focused on the OBDLink® MX+ adapter, because enhanced diagnostics for many vehicles are included free of charge in the OBDLink app with your purchase. Add-ons that are exclusive to OBDLink MX+ include: GM; Honda, Acura; and Hyundai, Kia. If you have another OBDLink adapter model, then you can purchase add-on diagnostics, but they are not guaranteed to access all OEM-specific PIDs/DTCs. For example, if you have an OBDLink LX adapter and a Ford vehicle, you can purchase the Ford add-on, however, you will not be able to read certain Ford PIDs that come from the MS-CAN network. 


TABLE OF CONTENTS


Download enhanced diagnostics


Before you begin, be sure to: 

  • Start your vehicle and connect your phone/tablet to your OBDLink adapter.
  • Make sure your phone/tablet is not streaming to any other Bluetooth/BLE devices.


  1. When you connect to your OBDLink adapter for the first time, a dialog appears with options to edit the settings for your vehicle and to download enhanced OEM add-ons. Tap Get Enhanced OEM Add-Ons.

    If this is not the first time you connected to your OBDLink adapter, navigate to Settings > Get Enhanced OEM Add-Ons.

    Note: If you don’t see the option to get enhanced OEM add-ons, then your vehicle is not supported for enhanced diagnostics. Standard OBD-II diagnostics are available for your vehicle. Skip to the View diagnostics section.


    iOS screen showing New Vehicle Connected screen. The Get Enhanced OEM Add-Ons button is highlighted.

  2. Browse the list and tap your vehicle manufacturer (highlighted).

    iOS screen showing the Get Enhanced OEM Add-Ons screen. The Toyota Lexus Scion button is highlighted.

    Note: You may see a notification for add-ons that are exclusive to the OBDLink MX+ adapter, including GM; Honda, Acura; and Hyundai, Kia.

    Android confirmation screen showing a message about GM add-ons. The button is highlighted.

  3. Browse the list and tap your vehicle’s model year (highlighted).

    iOS screen listing Toyota Lexus Scion enhanced diagnostics by model year. The Toyota 2010 button is highlighted.


  4. Tap Get to download diagnostics for your vehicle. 

    It may take 1-2 minutes to download.

    iOS screen showing Toyota 2010 Enhanced Diagnostics information. The Get button is highlighted.iOS screen showing a Loading Extras message.



    When the download is complete, you will see the diagnostics are installed.

    iOS screen showing Toyota 2010 Enhanced Diagnostics information. The Installed button is highlighted.



After the enhanced OEM add-ons are installed, your OBDLink adapter will be disconnected. Continue with the steps in the next section.


Select vehicle network


Note: Skip to the View diagnostics section if your vehicle manufacturer is one of the following:

  • GM
  • Honda, Acura
  • Hyundai, Kia

You do not need to select a vehicle network for these manufacturers.


  1. Confirm that your phone/tablet is Connected to the OBDLink adapter.
  2. You will see a dialog asking to select a vehicle diagnostic network. Select the network that has the modules you are looking for.
    We recommend that you select Generic OBD2 for everyday use.

    iOS screen showing diagnostic network information for 2012 Ford Escape vehicle. The Generic OBD2 selection is highlighted.



  3. If OEM Live Parameters (described in the OEM-Specific Enhanced Diagnostics Support Coverage PDF) are supported for your vehicle, the first time you connect to an enhanced network, the OBDLink app will scan your vehicle for supported enhanced PIDs. This scan may take 1-2 minutes. The scan results are saved so that you do not have to repeat the scan the next time you connect.


If you want to connect to a different diagnostic network, navigate to Settings > Vehicle Editor > Enhanced Network > Select. 


You can also select the Prompt option, which allows you to choose a diagnostic network each time you connect to your vehicle.


After the scan completes, continue with the next section to read trouble codes.


View diagnostics

  1. Confirm that your phone/tablet is Connected to the OBDLink adapter.
  2. In the main screen, tap Diagnostics. You will see a warning message similar to the one shown below. Tap Yes when you’re ready to continue.

    Android screen showing a warning about running the engine during diagnostics.


Trouble codes

You will see one of the following screens if there are no diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) to display.


iOSAndroid
iOS screen showing Trouble Codes screen when no issues are detected.Android screen showing Trouble Codes screen when no issues are detected.


If there are DTCs, you will see a screen similar to the example below, which also has a button to Clear Codes.

Android screen showing Trouble Codes screen when trouble codes are detected. The trouble codes are listed.


Warning: You should only clear codes with the ignition ON and the engine OFF. You should never try to clear codes with the engine running.


Tap a trouble code to open a screen with more information. The screenshot below shows basic information for P0100.


Android screen showing information about the P0100 trouble code. The Online Lookup button is highlighted.


Tap ONLINE LOOKUP to read more about the DTC definition. The screenshot below shows detailed information for P0100.


Browser screen showing results of online lookup for the P0100 OBD Trouble Code.



Tap Menu (iOS) or 3 vertical dots (Android) in the upper right corner, then tap Help to learn about reading trouble codes, including the status definitions.


iOSAndroid
iOS screen showing the Trouble Codes tab. The Menu button is highlighted.Android screen showing the Trouble Codes tab. The Menu button (3 vertical dots) is highlighted.


Freeze frame

When a DTC is generated, the ECU will capture a set of PID values. The freeze frame data may help you understand what was happening at the time the DTC was generated. 


The freeze frame data is deleted when you clear codes. 

Freeze frame data is not visible on this tab after you disconnect, but it can be viewed on the Report tab.


The example below shows that the engine coolant temperature, engine RPM, and vehicle speed were in the high range when the P0100 DTC was generated. You can use this data along with the generated DTC to troubleshoot the reported issue. 


Android screen showing Freeze Frame tab.


PID values

Vehicle speed in MPH and engine RPM are displayed on this tab by default. 

Tap Menu (iOS) or Select PIDs (Android) in the upper right corner to select other PIDs.


The blue numbers in the example screenshot below indicate low, average, and high values for the displayed PIDs.


iOSAndroid
iOS screen showing the PID Values tab. The Menu button is highlighted.Android screen showing the PID Values tab. The Select PIDs button is highlighted.



Report


It can take 1-2 minutes for the complete diagnostics report to load. 

Tap Menu > Store (iOS) or the Disk icon (Android, highlighted in green) in the upper right corner to save the report.


iOSAndroid
iOS screen showing the Reports tab. The Menu button and Store option are highlighted.Android screen showing the Reports tab. The Disc icon and Menu button (3 vertical dots) are highlighted.


After a report is saved and you have disconnected from your vehicle, tap Menu > Load (iOS) or 3 vertical dots > Load (Android, highlighted in yellow) to load the saved report to the screen. You can select from multiple saved reports. 


Tap Menu > Share (iOS) or 3 vertical dots > Share (Android) to send the report in HTML format to email or other applications.


The screenshot on the left shows the report loading, while the screenshot on the right shows the complete report. Tap one of the report categories to view more details.

Android screen showing the Report tab during the loading process.Android screen showing the Report tab when the loading process is complete.


Monitor tests example

This report reviews test results against state-specific readiness values. 

Select a readiness standard using one of the following:

  • iOS: From the Home screen, tap Monitors > Menu > Readiness Standard
  • Android: Tap the menu icon


iOSAndroid
iOS screen showing the Monitors view. The Menu button and Readiness Standard option are highlighted.Android screen showing a Monitor test report. The menu icon is highlighted.


Trouble codes example

This report lists the DTCs captured by the OBDLink app. 

Android screen showing Trouble Codes report.


Freeze frame example

This report lists certain PID values that occurred at the same time as the DTC.

Android screen showing a Freeze Frame report.


Vehicle information example

This report lists details about your vehicle (tagged Mode $09).

Android screen showing a Vehicle Information report.


PID snapshot example

This screen lists the PIDs and values reported by the vehicle. You can use these values for troubleshooting.

Android screen showing a PID snapshot report.


Learn more


Need more help?

OBDLink® Support Forum 

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