Although I have two code readers that I spent too much money on I have been thrilled with the evolution of the ELM327 OBDII to Bluetooth converters and the TORQUE Android app. If you have an Android phone the basic TORQUE app is free and that will meet most of the simple code reading requirements. For extra thrills the upgrade app is only $4.95.

I have no financial interest in either the ELM devices or the TORQUE app.

The history of the ELM 327 converter is that ELM failed to copyright protect their initial product and it became available to anyone with the ability to burn IC chips. The converter devices have been around and selling for $10 to $100 depending on what the customer is willing to pay.

ELM327 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The reported reliability of the Chinese knock offs is poor and confirmed by the fact that I have four, two that work, two that do not. But for a few bucks along with the Android phone many of you carry you can get a functional code reader.

What prompted me to start this thread is that I happened upon an eBay listing for an ELM 327 converter for $3.88 with free airmail shipping from China Post. Super Mini ELM327 V1 5 OBD2 OBDII Bluetooth Adapter Auto Scanner Torque Android | eBay

With eBay's guarantee if it doesn't work you get your money back.

 

Tempting and convenient though it may be to leave an ELM Bluetooth adapter connected - DON'T!

The DLC (Diagnostic Link Connector) has a permanent live feed. You could leave your car parked for a few days and come back to find the battery too discharged to start the car.

Don't even think about asking how I know this.

Graham

 

I have the set up OP talks about here. It has worked for me just fine. So I can second the thoughts of the app and the elm that I also got off of ebay.

 

There are some limitations to this app, while the 'canned' version works very well (and I've added the plugins to monitor while driving with map overlay) there are a number of Jaguar sensors that won't read oven on the obdII bus. There is some custom pid functions but a year or so ago I looked into this fairly well and no one has come up with many formulas. For that vast majority of uses it's great, it would have been nice if there had been more work done on the custom pids. Autoenginuity I believe has some of these but I don't think anyone reversed engineered them.

I do leave mine plugged in over the summer, I'm driving most days or every other day, I disconnect when I put it up for winter.

 

I bought an ELM27 adapter on ebay that you can leave plugged in; it automatically turns off after 1/2-hour. So far, no issues (of course I leave the Cetek connected when the car isn't in use). As with other's experience, it doesn't cover all of the Jaguar-specific diagnostic codes.