From what I've heard and read, Torque is by far the best one you can get for an OBDII scanner. Whether the paid version is worth it or not is up to you. I do not own it so I cannot say either way.

 

Torque is the best option for OBD; I have the paid copy.

However, there's a free PC program called Forscan (and, I believe, an Android version too) that can access the secondary CANBUses on these cars IF YOUR ADAPTER CAN DO SO.

The cheap ones can't. The OBDLink MX, which I own, can.

 

What kind of info is carried in the CANbus in a car?

I work as an electrical drafter with an industrial equipment company. We use CANbus communications all the time, they're mainly for enabling devices to communicate w/out a host controller or computer. Therefore, most of the info isn't useful in diagnostics (in this application). So in a car, just how much stuff is there, and how relevant is it?

I'm not sure if my adapter will access this network. There's nothing in the documentation to give me an idea either way. Will Forscan tell me whether or not it has access to the CANbus?

And if there's important info there, I'm not adverse to buying a better adapter. I literally bought this one because it was cheap and I'm tired of having to go to a parts store to get codes for CELs.

Thanks,

Jim

 

And if there's important info there, I'm not adverse to buying a better adapter. I literally bought this one because it was cheap and I'm tired of having to go to a parts store to get codes for CELs.

Jim,


If this is what you are looking for then Torque has worked fine for me for the same thing. I've used it with my 2004 Mazda 6s, 1997 Mazda Miata and 2005 Ford Thunderbird and a cheap Android tablet.


Scott

 

All of it.

All of the module diagnostic info is on that bus and accessible. The "primary" bus is guaranteed to have diag info from the ECU, but other modules may be on the other buses (there can be more than one, and the Mazda has either two or three.) Most inexpensive ELM-style adapters can only access the federally-required primary one that the ECU is required to talk on.

If you have the proper software that bus is how to do things like program keys as well. You won't be able to do that with this software as there's an encryption key exchange required to do so and that's proprietary, but in general this bus access will tell you what the various modules believe is going with the vehicle.

I have VCDS VW-specific version of this tool as well and with that line of cars its invaluable for service access; there are things (like setting and verifying static timing) that are flat-out IMPOSSIBLE without it. The "6" doesn't appear to have that sort of requirement for routine service matters but when it comes to diagnostics you need a tool of this general sort for any modern car.

 

Great info, thanks. A quick bit of research tells me that this must be why some of the adapters say they are OBDII only and cannot talk to things like maintenance reminders, ABS, stability control systems, etc...they all probably run on CANbus.

Sounds like I will definitely upgrade to a better adapter later on.