Finding the right OBD2 app for your Prius can be challenging. Numerous apps offer varying features and compatibility. This article compares several popular OBD2 apps, tested on a 2006 Gen2 Prius, to help you choose the best one for your needs. We’ll examine their capabilities for reading and clearing codes, accessing data, and performing special functions, comparing them to the gold standard, Toyota Techstream.
OBD2 Apps vs. Techstream: The Functionality Gap
Toyota Techstream, the dealer-level diagnostic tool, provides comprehensive functionality, including code reading, data logging, bidirectional controls, system procedures, and programming. Think of it as a complete toolbox. Other high-end scanners offer similar capabilities. In contrast, budget-friendly OBD2 apps, paired with Bluetooth adapters like the BAFX Products ELM327 or the OBDLink MX+, function more like multi-tools – handy for basic tasks but lacking the depth of a professional tool.
Exploring Popular OBD2 Apps for Prius
This comparison includes Dr. Prius, Hybrid Assistant, Torque Pro, ELMScan Toyota, CarScanner Pro, and OBDLink/OBDFusion. Each app was tested by inducing fault codes (unplugged ICE ignition coil, RF WSS, HV battery safety plug, and battery fan) and comparing the results with Techstream’s diagnosis.
Dr. Prius: Focused on Hybrid Battery Health
Dr. Prius prioritizes HV battery data, displaying voltage, resistance, temperature, state of charge (SOC), and amperage. However, its auto-scaling for voltage can be misleading. The app can read and clear ECM and Hybrid Control codes, and even some HV battery codes. It offers control over features like the reverse beeper, seatbelt chime, traction control, and battery fan. The paid version unlocks battery health and life expectancy tests, along with data logging.
Hybrid Assistant: Data-Rich, Code-Free
Hybrid Assistant, a free Android app, provides a wealth of data on the HV battery, ICE, and Hybrid Control system, allowing for detailed driving monitoring. While the interface is dense with icons and sub-screens, it offers valuable insights into battery power, SOC, fuel trims, and temperatures. A built-in Hybrid Reporter generates detailed trip reports with insightful charts and graphs. Noteworthy is its analysis of block voltages and voltage differentials. However, Hybrid Assistant lacks any code reading or clearing functionality. It’s also incompatible with certain OBDLink firmware versions.
Torque Pro: Customizable but Limited Prius Support
Torque Pro focuses on generic OBD2 ECM data, offering customizable displays, performance tests, and data logging. While adding Gen2 Prius PIDs unlocks access to Hybrid Control, HV battery, and cruise control data, its Toyota plugin doesn’t offer Prius-specific features. Code functionality is limited, primarily detecting only the P0352 ECM code in testing. Setting up Torque Pro can be time-consuming.
ELMScan Toyota: Basic Toyota Support with Bidirectional Control
ELMScan Toyota, a paid app, provides generic OBD2 and enhanced Toyota ECM data, but lacks Gen2 Prius-specific features. It can access EPS, ABS, and possibly SRS systems, displaying codes P0352, C0200, C1259, and C1310, though not all with descriptions. Uniquely, it offers bidirectional ECM control for testing air/fuel and oxygen sensor function.
CarScanner Pro: Promising but Incomplete Code Reading
CarScanner Pro offers generic OBD2 functionality and enhanced Toyota features. It scans numerous ECUs, but on the Gen2 Prius, it reliably connected only to generic OBD2, ECM, Hybrid Control, and HV battery. It displayed P0352, P3000, and P0A0D codes, but missed the P0A84. Clearing hybrid codes did clear the battery code. It offers some data logging and graphing.
OBDLink/OBDFusion: Comprehensive Coverage with a Price
OBDLink and OBDFusion offer generic OBD2 functionality with paid enhanced access sold per make and model year. OBDFusion, when paired with a BAFX adapter and the 2006 Toyota add-on, connected to ECM, cruise control, Hybrid Control, HV battery, ABS, EPS, and SRS. It displayed all induced codes with correct definitions. However, the BAFX adapter struggled with secondary ECUs on the BEAN bus.
The OBDLink app, used with the MX+ adapter, provides free access to all enhanced add-ons, making it a worthwhile investment for users with multiple car makes and models. It offered access to secondary ECUs like TPMS, body, gateway, A/C, smart key, TCM, immobilizer, and power source control, but data retrieval was inconsistent.
Conclusion: Choosing the Best OBD2 App for Your Prius
Each app has its strengths and weaknesses. While none match Techstream’s comprehensive functionality, they offer varying levels of data access and code reading capabilities. Dr. Prius excels in battery health monitoring, while Hybrid Assistant provides a wealth of data but no code functionality. OBDLink/OBDFusion, with the MX+ adapter, offers the most extensive system coverage but comes at a higher cost. Ultimately, the “best” app depends on your specific needs and budget. Consider what information you need to access, whether you need bidirectional controls, and your budget when making your decision.
