Hey Everyone: I'm new to this forum. Just registered yesterday and have been browsing lots of good info on it. You guys do good work!
I was searching to see if I could find any answers to a weird issue I first experienced this past weekend, but i couldn't find anything, so I thought maybe I'd post it and run it by you all:
I ordered an OBDII bluetooth gizmo from Ebay (flame suit on for my decision to purchase a cheap Chinese knockoff), and installed Torque Lite (the free one, just to verify I liked it, before ordering the paid Pro version).
The device came last week, and I tried it for a couple of drives to work and it was pretty cool. I'd plug the device into my OBD2 port before starting my car and then unplug it immediately after turning off my car when I arrived at work. Seemed to work fine. Loved the turbo boost pressure and coolant temperature gauges!
Then last Friday I was using it when I drove my wife to dinner at Cracker Barrel (I like their Friday Fish dinner). I was so hungry, I forgot to remove my phone and OBD2 bluetooth adapter when we got to the restaurant, I didn't notice until we finished dinner and got back to the car, about an hour later. There was my phone with the Torque Lite display still showing.
I started the car and the Check Engine light and Power Steering warning light both stayed on. When I tried backing out of my parking space, I discovered I could NOT turn my steering wheel without a great deal of effort. Both warning lights stayed on. Car was idling fine, but I turned it off, while I grabbed car's owner manual.
I left car off for several minutes while I read thru the manual, but found nothing very useful ("...take it to the dealer if the warning lights stay on,.." duh!).
After a few minutes I restarted it and the PS warning light went off. I was able to drive home just fine, with steering feeling as fine as always. After a few more start/stop cycles the Check Engine light also shut off and hasn't come back on.
I have NOT plugged the OBD2 device back in nor run Torque Lite on my phone for any subsequent driving.
When I got home Friday night, I plugged my regular OBD2 scan tool that I have owned and used for several years into my Sonic, but it kept getting "Link Errors" and could not connect to my car's OBD system. This seems strange since, I'm sure I've checked the Sonic for codes before with the tool, and it could always connect.
I don't have another car to use to verify my OBD tool is ok, but I'm wondering if either the OBD2 bluetooth device somehow damaged my car, or if my car's OBD2 connector or wiring has always had a latent problem that I only just now uncovered by leaving the OBD2 adapter in it while the car was turned off at the restaurant.
Thinking about taking car to Autozone or whomever and have them perform a free scan with their tool. If they get a link error too, then maybe off to the dealer since it is still under warranty.
Have you ever heard of anything weird like this happening? Any ideas on what I should do?
Hope you don't mind my picking your brain on this, but I thought you might have some thoughts about it.
Anyway, Happy Holidays!
Chris
2013 Chevy Sonic LT Turbo - completely stock - 30K+ miles
I was searching to see if I could find any answers to a weird issue I first experienced this past weekend, but i couldn't find anything, so I thought maybe I'd post it and run it by you all:
I ordered an OBDII bluetooth gizmo from Ebay (flame suit on for my decision to purchase a cheap Chinese knockoff), and installed Torque Lite (the free one, just to verify I liked it, before ordering the paid Pro version).
The device came last week, and I tried it for a couple of drives to work and it was pretty cool. I'd plug the device into my OBD2 port before starting my car and then unplug it immediately after turning off my car when I arrived at work. Seemed to work fine. Loved the turbo boost pressure and coolant temperature gauges!
Then last Friday I was using it when I drove my wife to dinner at Cracker Barrel (I like their Friday Fish dinner). I was so hungry, I forgot to remove my phone and OBD2 bluetooth adapter when we got to the restaurant, I didn't notice until we finished dinner and got back to the car, about an hour later. There was my phone with the Torque Lite display still showing.
I started the car and the Check Engine light and Power Steering warning light both stayed on. When I tried backing out of my parking space, I discovered I could NOT turn my steering wheel without a great deal of effort. Both warning lights stayed on. Car was idling fine, but I turned it off, while I grabbed car's owner manual.
I left car off for several minutes while I read thru the manual, but found nothing very useful ("...take it to the dealer if the warning lights stay on,.." duh!).
After a few minutes I restarted it and the PS warning light went off. I was able to drive home just fine, with steering feeling as fine as always. After a few more start/stop cycles the Check Engine light also shut off and hasn't come back on.
I have NOT plugged the OBD2 device back in nor run Torque Lite on my phone for any subsequent driving.
When I got home Friday night, I plugged my regular OBD2 scan tool that I have owned and used for several years into my Sonic, but it kept getting "Link Errors" and could not connect to my car's OBD system. This seems strange since, I'm sure I've checked the Sonic for codes before with the tool, and it could always connect.
I don't have another car to use to verify my OBD tool is ok, but I'm wondering if either the OBD2 bluetooth device somehow damaged my car, or if my car's OBD2 connector or wiring has always had a latent problem that I only just now uncovered by leaving the OBD2 adapter in it while the car was turned off at the restaurant.
Thinking about taking car to Autozone or whomever and have them perform a free scan with their tool. If they get a link error too, then maybe off to the dealer since it is still under warranty.
Have you ever heard of anything weird like this happening? Any ideas on what I should do?
Hope you don't mind my picking your brain on this, but I thought you might have some thoughts about it.
Anyway, Happy Holidays!
Chris
2013 Chevy Sonic LT Turbo - completely stock - 30K+ miles