Piston

OBD2 Diagnostics – Read and Clear Fault Codes & Access Sensor Data

With Piston, your car’s diagnostic information is always within reach.

Is your Check Engine Light (MIL) on? Don’t panic—turn your mobile device into a powerful car scanner with Piston. Simply connect an ELM 327-based adapter, either Bluetooth or WiFi-enabled, to your vehicle's OBD2 port, and let Piston guide you through the process. Connection instructions are easily accessible from the Home page after your first installation or anytime via the Settings menu.

Using Piston, you can:

• Read and clear Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) based on the OBD2 standard
• View Freeze Frame data—the snapshot of sensor readings at the moment the ECU detected a fault
• Monitor real-time sensor data directly from your vehicle
• Check the status of Readiness Monitors to ensure emission control systems are functioning properly
• Save DTC records locally for future reference
• Log in and store DTCs securely in the cloud
• Visualize sensor data using interactive charts
• Export real-time sensor readings to external files
• Verify your vehicle’s VIN number
• Review detailed ECU information, including OBD protocol and supported PIDs

Please note: Some of these features are part of the Premium package, which unlocks everything with a one-time in-app purchase—no recurring subscriptions required.

To function as a car scanner, Piston requires a separate ELM327-based device (Bluetooth or WiFi). The app is fully compatible with OBD-II (also known as OBDII or OBD2) and EOBD standards.

Most vehicles sold in the USA since 1996 support the OBD2 standard. In the European Union, EOBD became mandatory for petrol vehicles starting in 2001 and for diesel vehicles in 2004. In Australia and New Zealand, OBD2 compliance is required for petrol cars manufactured from 2006 onward and diesel cars from 2007 onward.

Important: The data available in Piston depends on what your vehicle supports and provides through the OBD2 interface.

For any questions or suggestions, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].

What's New in Version 3.8.0

Updated on August 2, 2024

• Added full compatibility with Android 14
• Enhanced Sensor Selection Screen for better usability
• Expanded support for additional sensors (availability may vary depending on your vehicle)