Cars and adapters
Will it work with my car?
Car Assist needs an OBD-II car, an ELM327 adapter on Bluetooth LE or Wi-Fi, and an iPhone.
Which cars have OBD-II?
For passenger cars and light vehicles sold in these markets, these are usually the starting years:
- United States: usually 1996 onwards.
- European Union: usually 2001 onwards for petrol, 2004 onwards for diesel.
- Australia: usually 2006 onwards for petrol, 2007 onwards for diesel.
A few models differ. Earlier cars may have it too. Imports, heavy vehicles and electric cars can differ from these dates; check the handbook or ask the manufacturer about your exact model.
Where is the port?
The 16-pin diagnostic socket is usually under the dashboard near the steering wheel. It may sit behind a small cover or near the centre console. Your handbook can show where it is.
What will the app read?
On an OBD-II car, the standard connection covers the engine and emissions: trouble codes, readiness and the live readings that car supports. The available readings vary.
Car Assist also scans for other control units that answer. Usually access to brakes, steering or airbags varies by model and needs checking on the car; have faults in those systems checked by a qualified mechanic. An OBD-II socket does not promise access to every module or every manufacturer-specific reading.
Which adapter works?
Any ELM327 adapter on Bluetooth LE or Wi-Fi. iPhone cannot use older Bluetooth Classic adapters. Check for BLE, Bluetooth 4.0 or explicit iPhone support; the Bluetooth name alone is not enough.
Reading the car works on the phone. The assistant needs an internet connection for a diagnosis.