How to pair a Bluetooth OBD2 adapter to an Android head unit
Plug the adapter into the diagnostic port, then pair it under Settings and Bluetooth on the head unit BEFORE you open any diagnostics app. An app cannot see an adapter the unit has not paired, and that is the order almost everyone gets wrong.
What this gives you
Live engine data on the dash screen: coolant temperature, boost, RPM, lambda and fault codes, on a 70 Series that has no factory way to show any of it.
Before you start
- An ELM327 compatible Bluetooth OBD2 adapter. These are widely available and we do not sell one.
- The adapter pairing code, which is printed on the adapter or in its instructions.
- The ignition on, so the adapter has power.
Step by step
- Plug the adapter in
The diagnostic port is under the dash on the driver side. Push the adapter in fully. Most adapters show a light once they have power.
- Turn the ignition on
The port is live with the ignition on. The engine does not need to be running for pairing, though it does for live data.
- Pair it on the head unit, not in the app
Go to Settings, then Bluetooth, and search for devices. The adapter usually appears as OBDII, OBD2 or a similar name. Select it and enter the pairing code from the adapter.
- Check it is paired before opening anything
The adapter should be listed as a paired device. If it is not, no diagnostics app will find it, no matter what you do inside the app.
- Open your diagnostics app and connect
In the app, choose Bluetooth as the connection type and pick the adapter from the list of paired devices.
If it does not work
- If the adapter never appears in the search, unplug it, wait ten seconds and plug it back in. Cheap adapters can need a power cycle before they advertise.
- If it pairs but the app cannot connect, close the app fully and open it again. The app reads the paired list at startup.
- If it drops out while driving, the adapter is usually the culprit rather than the head unit.
Worth knowing
The head unit pairs with your phone and the adapter at the same time without a conflict, so you do not have to choose between calls and diagnostics.
Related guides
Still need help?
Tell us your vehicle and what you are seeing on screen, and we can point you to the right step.