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Plugging into the OBD2 port???

ZSDave

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Devizes, Wiltshire
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MG ZS EV
Very interesting info seems to be obtained from the OBD2 port on the ZS, however, is there anything that could be damaged by plugging in and if so, could MG use that action as a way to wriggle out of a warranty claim?

If the answers are both negative, what is the best device to purchase to use with an android phone?

Dave
 
I very much doubt plugging in a eg. Bluetooth device will cause any problems. Even if it did how on earth would MG know.

This is the device I use which works well. Available from Amazon.
Screenshot_2021-07-11-15-04-38-841_com.android.chrome.jpg
Screenshot_2021-04-12-15-05-30-299_com.mg.zs.mgzsev.jpg
 
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They might know by querying one or more of the ECUs.
My Toyota Prius used to have a maintenance mode and one of the options on one of the menus showed the last date the car was cleared of fault codes.
I can't see the current app being a problem as most (if not all) of the functions are read queries, not write (except turning off the DRLs, which didn't work on mine anyway).
 
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They might know by querying one or more of the ECUs.
My Toyota Prius used to have a maintenance mode and one of the options on one of the menus showed the last date the car was queried for fault codes.
Even if they could show you plugged in an OBD device I am not sure how they could show how that action would allow them to wriggle out of a warranty claim as suggested by the original poster.
 
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I use this one with the red button which allows you to switch off the Bluetooth when you leave the car as the OBD port stays ON even after switching the car off. I use it with Torque Pro.
 

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Under the drivers dashboard to the right of the steering column.

Oh, I see. Thats very very good news. That it has the OBD2 port, I mean.

I've just ordered the ZS EV (well, in november, actually) and are waiting for it now. But then I read some disturbing posts saying that electric vehicles doesn't have the OBD2 port? That really scared me, since using the scanner on the car I have now has really been helpful to me.

Actually, if the MG ZS EV didn't have the OBD2 port, I would have cancelled the order.
 
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Oh, I see. Thats very very good news. That it has the OBD2 port, I mean.

I've just ordered the ZS EV (well, in november, actually) and are waiting for it now. But then I read some disturbing posts saying that electric vehicles doesn't have the OBD2 port? That really scared me, since using the scanner on the car I have now has really been helpful to me.

Actually, if the MG ZS EV didn't have the OBD2 port, I would have cancelled the order.
You'll probably want to download the Thai eZS app.
 
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You'll probably want to download the Thai eZS app.

Perhaps.

I bought the iCarSoft CR Pro a couple of years back, and it has a proper ODB2 plug with cable.
I prefer it this way.

Unfortunarely, MG is not on the list of covered car-types;

Honda, Isuzu, Hyundai, Kia, Daewoo, Mazda, Ford, Sprinter, BMW, Mini, VW, Säte, Skoda, Volvo, Porsche, SAAB, EU Ford, Holden, Ford Ford, Acura, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Dacia, Renault, Fiat, GM, Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz, Citroen, Jaguar, Peugeot, Audi, Opel, Land Rover, Smart, Suzuki, Vauxhall, Alfa-Romeo, Lancia.

iCarSoft CR Pro is quite expensive, I bough it after first buying a cheap bluetooth variant, which wasn't even bi-directional.

It it clear to me that the OBD2 scanners is an area were lots of "players" are trying to push el cheapo scanners onto innocent car-users. Scanners that are basically useless.

The cheap bluetooth scanner I bought did only show error codes from the ECU. Not from for example the ABS unit (which I needed). There are approx 21 Canbus computers in my car, and they sold me a unit that only showed error codes from one of them!! That's a scam, in my book.

I bought the unit in a local shop, and could therefore return it the next day, getting my money back.

So, does the Thai eZS app scan all the computers? And is it bidirectional?
 
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Perhaps.

I bought the iCarSoft CR Pro a couple of years back, and it has a proper ODB2 plug with cable.
I prefer it this way.

Unfortunarely, MG is not on the list of covered car-types;

Honda, Isuzu, Hyundai, Kia, Daewoo, Mazda, Ford, Sprinter, BMW, Mini, VW, Säte, Skoda, Volvo, Porsche, SAAB, EU Ford, Holden, Ford Ford, Acura, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Dacia, Renault, Fiat, GM, Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz, Citroen, Jaguar, Peugeot, Audi, Opel, Land Rover, Smart, Suzuki, Vauxhall, Alfa-Romeo, Lancia.

iCarSoft CR Pro is quite expensive, I bough it after first buying a cheap bluetooth variant, which wasn't even bi-directional.

It it clear to me that the OBD2 scanners is an area were lots of "players" are trying to push el cheapo scanners onto innocent car-users. Scanners that are basically useless.

The cheap bluetooth scanner I bought did only show error codes from the ECU. Not from for example the ABS unit (which I needed). There are approx 21 Canbus computers in my car, and they sold me a unit that only showed error codes from one of them!! That's a scam, in my book.

I bought the unit in a local shop, and could therefore return it the next day, getting my money back.

So, does the Thai eZS app scan all the computers? And is it bidirectional?
Pretty much information only
 
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There’s also an integration with OVMS on the MK.I, which utilises said port.
 
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I share my MG ZS 2 with my community via an arrangement with Uber Carshare (used to be Car Next Door). Usage is monitored via transponder plugged into the OBD port. When my car was in for service recently the techies simply unplugged it so they could plug in their diagnostic device. There was no complaint about finding my device in there.
 
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Perhaps.

I bought the iCarSoft CR Pro a couple of years back, and it has a proper ODB2 plug with cable.
I prefer it this way.

Unfortunarely, MG is not on the list of covered car-types;

Honda, Isuzu, Hyundai, Kia, Daewoo, Mazda, Ford, Sprinter, BMW, Mini, VW, Säte, Skoda, Volvo, Porsche, SAAB, EU Ford, Holden, Ford Ford, Acura, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Dacia, Renault, Fiat, GM, Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz, Citroen, Jaguar, Peugeot, Audi, Opel, Land Rover, Smart, Suzuki, Vauxhall, Alfa-Romeo, Lancia.

iCarSoft CR Pro is quite expensive, I bough it after first buying a cheap bluetooth variant, which wasn't even bi-directional.

It it clear to me that the OBD2 scanners is an area were lots of "players" are trying to push el cheapo scanners onto innocent car-users. Scanners that are basically useless.

The cheap bluetooth scanner I bought did only show error codes from the ECU. Not from for example the ABS unit (which I needed). There are approx 21 Canbus computers in my car, and they sold me a unit that only showed error codes from one of them!! That's a scam, in my book.

I bought the unit in a local shop, and could therefore return it the next day, getting my money back.

So, does the Thai eZS app scan all the computers? And is it bidirectional?
Alot of obd2 scanners utilise information of questionable origin from the original ELM327 scanners and that's where some issues come from as they're not complete implementations of the scanner they're a dodgy copy of
 
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They might know by querying one or more of the ECUs.
My Toyota Prius used to have a maintenance mode and one of the options on one of the menus showed the last date the car was cleared of fault codes.
I can't see the current app being a problem as most (if not all) of the functions are read queries, not write (except turning off the DRLs, which didn't work on mine anyway).
Yes absolutely. The 'how on earth would they know' is pretty naive. If I were designing the interface platform I would definitely log every time a connection was made, and the device ID. Nevertheless, if such a connection is not allowed, then they should have locked the connection. As they have not, the plug port can be considered another feature of the vehicle available for the consumer to use.
 
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Your pretty safe using the OBD2 port on cars remember it's a legal requirement for a car to have one this was originally put in place so third party software could read read emissions levels now used for third party software to diagnose host a problems and fix without main dealer (the AA\RAC rely heavily on the OBD2 port to get you back on the road) including maintenance like rewinding the brakes most insurance companies now offer a black box option to reduce costs and will use the OBD2 port that pulls data whenever the car is driven
The warranty problems comes when people flash\rewrite\coding ECUs for tuning for example
 
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My previous insurance with Hastings used a little black box which stuck to the windscreen behind the mirror. It used a GPS and accelerometers to monitor your driving and gave you a score on the app.
 
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My previous insurance with Hastings used a little black box which stuck to the windscreen behind the mirror. It used a GPS and accelerometers to monitor your driving and gave you a score on the app.
That's is one option which I think so better idea
But some prefer obd port
Screenshot_20230331-095822.png
 
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Very interesting info seems to be obtained from the OBD2 port on the ZS, however, is there anything that could be damaged by plugging in and if so, could MG use that action as a way to wriggle out of a warranty claim?

If the answers are both negative, what is the best device to purchase to use with an android phone?

Dave
Unlikely but you might set off the alarm if you try to use when the car is locked.
 
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