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ELM327 based scan tools USB and BT


coopab

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Joined
Aug 26, 2009
Messages
66
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Location
Central Massachusetts
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0 L
Transmission
Automatic
I purchased A USB version, shortly before i got my first Android smartphone. I have used it with a couple of different Windows scantool apps which were OK. Shortly thereafter I got a Bluetooth ELM327 and downloaded Torque Pro software from the Android Market. I've been very happy with it for the last three to four years.
I recently thought the tool had died but it turned out to be a blown fuse for the Data Connector/cigar lighter. But it got me thinking about trying to resurrect the old USB version.
Just came in from testing the old USB ELM327 device with a USB Host adapter (aka OTG adapter). My phone recognizes that I have a USB ELM327 plugged in but i can't get it to connect to the Ranger's computer. Seems to be a problem with getting the correct baud rate, and perhaps serial port connection.

Any ideas?
 


huh?

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Nov 6, 2009
Messages
133
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Location
hawaii
Vehicle Year
1997
Make / Model
ford
Engine Size
4.0L
Any ideas?

ummmmmmmm......... due to my lack of knowledge regarding such things, i can only relate the following and hope it triggers something within you that leads you on your way to success.......


alrighty, so a few weeks ago a stupid move on my part causes me to be a couple hundred bucks poorer while gaining an accord with a severely overheated engine. the individual i bought it from said to keep everything that was left in the car. as i was prepping the car to tow i peek under the front seat and see a VOM. i'm thinking "cool, now i have an extra meter". i reach under there and the VOM turns out to be a craftsman 20899 code scanner. i get home and plug it into my truck. it lights up and starts trying to setup a connection with the onboard computer. failure every time. the fact that the scanner activates automatically when plugged in lets me know that something is going right, but no communication obviously indicates something no good is in the mix. turns out that hard bend in the connection cable was probably the cause. took me a few hours of searching the web but i finally found a replacement on ebay. i rolled the dice on a $35 chance and sure enough when i got the new cable everything worked cherry as far as the scanner went. up till that point in time i only had a couple of code readers that only gave codes and erased CELs and MILs(in fact, less than 90 minutes before finding this one i dropped $50 on a NAPA counter top for a reader. ) now, i have about a hundred times the amount of info to misinterpret as before. HAHA!!!!!

soooooooooo... where was i? oh yeah... maybe unseen damage to the physical components of you setup, such as cables or plugs may bescrewing you up. it was your blown fuse reference that made me think of this little event in my list ofhappenings in life.
 

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