Warning Light On? OBDeleven Knows Why

Warning light flashing? Looks like today’s the day to fix the car!

The most annoying thing is when the dash gives you nothing more useful than that familiar yellow warning light, or something wonderfully vague in true BMW fashion like “Drivetrain malfunction” — which could mean almost anything from something minor to an actual drivetrain problem.

Your average local garage may only see generic OBD codes that don’t tell you much, while a main dealer can easily relieve you of the first €100 just for plugging the car in and reading the fault memory.

A decent diagnostic scanner lets you find out straight away, even at the roadside, what the car is actually trying to tell you. OBDeleven brings fault codes and supported live data straight to your phone, while also offering plenty of useful customisations for vehicle features and settings on supported cars.

Friday, and the disco lights are on!

You’re heading off for the weekend, a few cold drinks sorted, and for the next two days, the world is your oyster.

DING! A yellow engine light appears on the dash. The car seems to drive normally, but your sanity just left through the sunroof. Is the repair bill going to be €10, €1,000 or €10,000?

Without your own scanner, the first step is often calling a garage and booking an appointment just to have the fault codes read. With your own reader, you can get started right there on the driveway: plug it into the OBD2 port, open the app and see what the car has to say. At least now you have something concrete to work with and a much better idea of what might be going on.

(And yes, it should go without saying: if the engine is running badly, or you get an oil-pressure or overheating warning, pull over safely and don’t torture the poor thing any further.)

Used car, one careful owner, only driven to church on Sundays.

The car in the advert looks great. The wheels are shiny, the seats have been vacuumed and somehow the sun is shining in every photo even though the rest of the country is deep into November. The test drive feels promising too. So… where do I sign?

Reading the fault codes with the seller’s permission gives you one more useful piece of the puzzle when trying to work out what sort of condition the car is really in.

On supported vehicles, OBDeleven can also check systems beyond the engine management. The app’s Car Inspection checklist helps you remember what to look at even when your attention has already drifted towards the paperwork.

So what exactly is this OBDeleven 3, a new Tamagotchi?

OBDeleven 3 is a small Bluetooth diagnostic scanner that plugs into the car’s OBD2 port and works through an app on your phone. In other words, the display is already in your pocket. Setup is straightforward: keep the car stationary, follow the instructions in the app and you’re up and running.

OBDeleven can dig considerably deeper on supported Volkswagen, Audi, Škoda, SEAT and CUPRA models, as well as selected BMW, MINI, Toyota, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Available functions depend on the model, model year, equipment and region.

In addition to fault codes, you can view supported live data such as engine speed, boost pressure and temperatures.

One-Click Apps: Pimp my ride!

But what if the car works perfectly and it’s simply one of the factory settings that annoys you every single day? Maybe there’s an irritating chime, or start-stop keeps cutting in at every set of traffic lights.

OBDeleven’s One-Click Apps are ready-made customisations that let you change supported vehicle settings without having to dive into manual coding. As the name suggests: one click, and the setting changes.

Depending on the car, available options can include locking behaviour, mirrors, warning sounds, ambient lighting and various service functions.

Check the vehicle-specific customisations on the manufacturer’s website.

One-Click Apps use credits unless you have an ULTIMATE licence that includes them. Normal fault-code reading and clearing does not use credits and does not require a paid licence.

Credits and the annual licence are two separate things.

For the more experienced enthusiast, PRO and ULTIMATE licences unlock supported manual coding and adaptations on Volkswagen Group vehicles. In other words, you can change system settings yourself. (This is where it helps to know what you’re changing — and to save the original settings first.)

Which OBDeleven package should I choose?

All three Futurez packages include the same OBDeleven 3 device. The right one simply depends on whether you mainly want diagnostics or whether you also want to play around with customisations.

• Basic device: the straightforward choice for reading and clearing fault codes and using supported diagnostics. The free FREE plan is enough to get started, and you can always add credits or a licence later if you need them.
• Device + 200 credits: the same diagnostic device, plus 200 credits for compatible One-Click Apps. A good option if you want to read fault codes and also try some of the customisations available for your car. 200 credits does not mean 200 changes: different functions use different amounts of credits. This package does not include a PRO or ULTIMATE licence.
• ULTIMATE Pack: the device, a 12-month ULTIMATE licence, magnetic phone holder and protective pouch. Aimed at more active users who want One-Click Apps within the applicable fair-use terms, plus supported VAG coding and adaptations. When the licence period ends, the device’s free diagnostic functions continue to work.

OBDeleven from Finland, directly from Futurez stock

Futurez is an authorised OBDeleven importer in Finland. We keep the devices in stock at our own Finnish warehouse for fast delivery. You can also choose collection from our Vantaa pickup point or the 24/7 Futumaatti once your order has been confirmed as ready.

We also supply credits and licence packages whenever you need them — and yes, you’ll collect F* bonuses and other benefits on those too.

Choose your package below or browse all OBDeleven devices, credits, licences and accessories.