I've used the elm327 for modules other than the standard ecm obd2 codes.. it's more about the pids you have loaded in the app than the adapter. it's just a chip sending and receiving data.
I can read the live data from my hybrid battery pack module, because someone found the pids and how to add them to torque pro. I've even seen it used with a terminal app and a obd2 splitter cable to see all the data over the can bus. it's memory is very small but it's there.
that said, most apps are gimmicks and pids are mostly impossible to find. if you want a proper scanner that works across all models easily. it's going to be expensive, probably need a subscription too. it's annoying
the best list of working elm327 bluetooth adapters I've found is on a website for the prius, called Dr prius. he has a nice list of them that work with his app. his app only works on the Toyota's but using the cheap Bluetooth adapters you can send requests to enable the hybrid battery fan to max and a few other things. that would fall under the list of bi-directional. but truth is all obd2 scanners are bi-directional. they send the request to the ecm over the can bus for data, and then the requested data is returned to it. that's 2 directions. asking the ecm or any other module to do something we consider bi-directional like rolling the windows up and down is exactly the same. you're just sending a different request, but it's over the same format, just with a different header location and data pack that's proprietary to that car. the obd2 fault codes are the only thing they are forced to standardized, so we have those. the rest is propriety, so we don't have it for free. but if you did you could use it.
that said once you get into the 80$ range guys have used these to actually flash code changes using open source software like pcm hammer and tuner pro type of software.
obd link LX and OBDX Pro VX are 2 I see those guys use.
I can read the live data from my hybrid battery pack module, because someone found the pids and how to add them to torque pro. I've even seen it used with a terminal app and a obd2 splitter cable to see all the data over the can bus. it's memory is very small but it's there.
that said, most apps are gimmicks and pids are mostly impossible to find. if you want a proper scanner that works across all models easily. it's going to be expensive, probably need a subscription too. it's annoying
the best list of working elm327 bluetooth adapters I've found is on a website for the prius, called Dr prius. he has a nice list of them that work with his app. his app only works on the Toyota's but using the cheap Bluetooth adapters you can send requests to enable the hybrid battery fan to max and a few other things. that would fall under the list of bi-directional. but truth is all obd2 scanners are bi-directional. they send the request to the ecm over the can bus for data, and then the requested data is returned to it. that's 2 directions. asking the ecm or any other module to do something we consider bi-directional like rolling the windows up and down is exactly the same. you're just sending a different request, but it's over the same format, just with a different header location and data pack that's proprietary to that car. the obd2 fault codes are the only thing they are forced to standardized, so we have those. the rest is propriety, so we don't have it for free. but if you did you could use it.
that said once you get into the 80$ range guys have used these to actually flash code changes using open source software like pcm hammer and tuner pro type of software.
obd link LX and OBDX Pro VX are 2 I see those guys use.
