Bluetooth OBD App That Can Do Real Diagnostics?

I have an OBD scanner already. Plug it in, it spits back the codes, I Google the codes, I throw parts at the car until the code goes away. That's my system.

But in the past I had access to a Snap-On OBD scanner that not only told me the codes, but also let me test the onboard systems. I could activate/deactivate things, adjust idle speed, make solenoids move, all kinds of useful stuff. I don't have access to that anymore.

I was wondering if any of these nifty Bluetooth OBD apps do anything more than just report data?

The functionality you're asking for requires proprietary information on the ECU commands, which is probably why none of the free apps have it. There are bluetooth terminal apps that would let you send commands to the ECU, if you know what they are.

Yeah, that's what I figured. I'd be willing to shell out some money for an app. It just seemed that OBD has been around so long that some dedicated enthusiasts would have gone deeper into the code.

That's the kind of functionality that the scantool companies charge an annual subscription fee to have access to.

Be really nice if you COULD get bidirectional controls from a scantool that doesn't cost $$$. Be nice if a lot of things.

Without sounding too much like a paddle powered personal watercraft, there's an app called Carly that I have used that can perform some of these tasks on BMWs. They also make apps for MB and VAG products, but I don't know if those are as far along.

You have to buy their adapter though.

PS -- If you think you might be interested, PM me and I can get you a discount code (that I'm not supposed to publicly post) for the adapter. Oh-- and it uses wifi, not bluetooth for the adapter.

I have a BlueDriver that can scan just the engine or the whole vehicle. It can run live trends on points you select for troubleshooting