Current public product
Compatibility
Honest Mechanic is available for iPhone and Android. Live vehicle checks require a compatible Bluetooth OBD-II adapter. Compatibility also depends on the vehicle, phone, adapter quality, permissions, and the data exposed during the check.
Adapters tested by Honest Mechanic
- OBDLink CX Bluetooth Low Energy adapter.
- Veepeak BLE Bluetooth Low Energy adapter.
Other reliable ELM327-compatible BLE/4.0 adapters may work, but they are not guaranteed. Very inexpensive cloned, Wi-Fi, or proprietary adapters may disconnect, respond incorrectly, or expose less data.
Vehicle requirements
- The vehicle must have a working OBD-II port and support the information requested by the selected check.
- Most vehicles sold in the United States since 1996 have an OBD-II port, but the data available varies by make, model, year, module, and operating condition.
- The adapter must be plugged in and the vehicle must be on or in ignition-on mode as instructed in the app.
What generic OBD-II may not see
Generic OBD-II is mainly focused on powertrain and emissions information. It may not expose ABS, airbag/SRS, TPMS, body, comfort, infotainment, or other manufacturer-specific modules. It also cannot inspect tires, brakes, suspension, steering, body damage, rust, leaks, noises, or physical wear.
Phone permissions
- Bluetooth or nearby-device access is needed to discover and connect to an adapter.
- Some Android devices may require location permission for nearby Bluetooth discovery. Honest Mechanic does not use that permission for GPS tracking.
- Microphone access is only needed when you choose a voice feature.
Before relying on a result
A successful connection does not mean every vehicle system was checked. A result describes only the information available in that session. Honest Mechanic does not replace a professional inspection or hands-on diagnosis.
Questions about an adapter or vehicle? Contact support@honestmechanic.ai.