FAQ

Android phones:
From Android Market.
Use the market app on your phone (search for MobilScan OBD), or scan the QR-code present on this page, if you have the Barcode Scanner app installed on the phone.

iPhone / iPad:
From AppStore.
Use the App Store app on your iPhone / iPad, and search for Mobilscan OBD.

From us.
Android phones: Order it on this page, by using the PayPal payment service.
iPhone etc.: Order it on this page, by using the PayPal payment service.

The adapter will also be available through selected retail channels later.

We have chosen to give away the app for free.

As we are not running MobilScan (just) for the fun of it, we need to charge you one way or another, if you want to use the product.
We have decided to lock the app, in the sense that it will only work with adapters bought from us.
This way, we are able to ensure that you get a combination that will actually work, and we get something to eat.

We believe to offer the adapter at a competitive price, so unless you have already bought another brand of adapter, everyone should be happy...

Basically the codes are categorised as follows:

Sure.

An OBD adapter is a device that you plug into the diagnostic connector of your vehicle. It has - in addition to other clever stuff - a Bluetooth or WiFi interface, which allows the MobilScan software to access the data from the vehicle's ECU wirelessly.

Well, you tell us.... We have lots of good ideas and would like to fulfill your wishes as quickly as possible. However, we have to prioritize, so please drop us an email here: sales@mobilscan.dk, if you have an idea for some feature that you think may be of value to others. We make no promises, though..

Professional scanners: These are typically very expensive, and often brand specific. They are designed from brand-specific knowledge, and may allow adjustment of engine parameters.

Other mobile scanners: MobilScan enables you to use your regular, relatively inexpensive phone, and allows you to send data to yourself or others for later review at your convenience.

We recommend that you only clear fault codes when:

• Ignition is ON.
• Engine is OFF.

The reason for this is that clearing the fault codes implies a 'reset' of the ECU, and it is more kind to the engine to do this when the engine is not operating.

No.

The most risky thing you could do would be to clear the fault codes. This of course removes the possibility for your garage to see the fault code and determine its cause. Fault codes are the car's way of telling you that it wants a health check. Making it shut up (by clearing the codes) does not make it healthy.

Thus - only clear the fault codes if you have a good reason.

Well, that depends...

The connector is required to be reachable from the driver's seat. Common locations are beneath the steering wheel column, at the fuse box, behind a convenience storage compartment or similar.

For vehicles from the VAG group (VW, Audi, Seat, Skoda) this overview might be useful (in German, but the pictures are OK). Another overview (several brands) is here (also in German, but with 'automagic translation' to English)

Yet another one (in Danish) can be found here.

It's pretty simple, actually:

• Newer cars give access to the engine's control computer (ECU) through a connector close to the driver's seat.

• The MobilScan OBD adapter plugs into this connector.

• The MobilScan OBD adapter communicates with the mobile phone via Bluetooth.

• Part of MobilScan is a software application running on the mobile phone.

• The MobilScan software sends commands and requests via Bluetooth to the MobilScan OBD adapter which translates them into something that the ECU understands.

• The replies go in the opposite direction and are being displayed and stored by MobilScan running on the the mobile phone.

• Finally, MobilScan may transmit the data received from the car yourself or others, allowing review and comparison of data whenever you please.

MobilScan will NOT:

• Damage anything in your car (unless you throw the phone at it...)
• Adjust any settings in your car
• Show data from sensor measurements which your car do not perform..
• Brew coffee :)

The MobilScan OBD adapter should work with all light vehicles sold on the European market since 2001.

All such vehicles are required to conform to a certain emissions-related EU directive.

Certain brands and models began supporting an equivalent standard - OBD-II - from 1996, due to US market requirements.

Note that diesel vehicles sold before 2004 are NOT covered!
Note that vehicles over 2500kg before 2007 are NOT covered!

You may want to check this site (in German) for compliance of your vehicle.

Another overview is here.

Yes, most likely.

MobilScan works with Android smartphones with Android version 2.1 or newer.
If you are able to install the app, it should work.

Mobilscan for iPhone is tested on iPhone 4/4S, iPad 2/3 and iPod touch 4th generation.
Mobilscan requires thet the device is updated to iOS 5.0 or later.

Preferably by mail.

Check out the contacts page - it's all there.
We do our best to be reasonably responsive.

Yes, most likely.

The adapter consumes about 0,6W (i.e., about one tenth of the power consumed by a commonly found 5W interior lighting bulb). If you by experience know that the car battery tends to discharge seemingly by itself, we'd recommend not to leave the adapter plugged in, however.

Glad you asked.

This video walks you through first-time use of MobilScan. We're working on dubbing other videos that are currently only available in danish.

Watch a video of the iPhone version here:
This beta is very close to the final version.