Check-engine light on and a code such as P0420 from a workshop or a friend's reader? Type it in: Motorvet shows its standard title, its meaning in plain words and its system. Many common codes are explained; manufacturer-specific codes are marked as such, their meaning is not guessed. Free, no adapter needed.
What else works without an adapter?
The maintenance log: add your car by hand and note oil changes, brakes, tyres, inspections and more, with date, mileage and a note. Reminders by date or mileage, whichever comes first, can notify you on the day; for a mileage, Motorvet estimates the day from your entries. And the Buyer's Checklist for a used car: 34 points from paint to papers and the test drive, each OK, Note or Issue, with a note or photo, shared as a free PDF summary.
What does the scanner read?
With a Bluetooth LE OBD2 adapter in the OBD port, a Quick Scan reads trouble codes (stored, pending, permanent), the check-engine light, emissions readiness, freeze frame and the VIN when the car reports them, plus live values. Each scan ends with one of four summaries, based only on what the OBD port reports at that moment; every flagged item says why. Reading and explaining trouble codes is free.
Does it help when I buy a used car?
Walk around the car with the Buyer's Checklist. Then, with an adapter and the seller's permission, run the Used Car Check: enter the dashboard mileage and see what deserves a closer look, such as a recent reset of the diagnostic memory. Signals, never proof. The review on screen is free; the PDF report, with your checklist in it, needs Pro or a one-time Used Car Report.
What does it not do?
Standard engine and emissions data only: no ABS, airbag or transmission details, no coding, no service resets. Clearing codes, the only write function, needs your confirmation, the engine off and the car standing still, and is never offered in a Used Car Check. Do not use the app while driving.
What do I need for a scan?
A Bluetooth LE OBD2 adapter (ELM327/STN-compatible), sold separately; connect it in the app, not in iOS Settings. Adapters with Classic Bluetooth (paired with PIN 1234), Wi-Fi and USB adapters are not supported. A car with OBD-II/EOBD: in the EU generally petrol cars from about 2001 and diesels from about 2004, in the US from 1996. Some cars report fewer values, electric cars little or none; US cars that use only SAE J1979-2 are not supported yet. Compatible adapters: https://motorvet.taleppo.com/adapters
What stays on my iPhone?
Everything about your car: VIN, codes, scans, the maintenance log, checklists, photos and notes. No account, no advertising. Usage statistics are off unless you switch them on in Settings > Privacy.
What is free, and what is Pro?
Free: the code lookup, the maintenance log, the Buyer's Checklist, Quick Scan with code explanations, readiness, freeze frame, Simple live data, one vehicle, the Used Car Check on screen and clearing codes. Pro (subscription, 1 month or 12 months): unlimited vehicles, full history with comparisons, trends, advanced live data and unlimited PDF reports, including Used Car Reports. The Used Car Report (one-time purchase) unlocks the PDF of one Used Car Check on this iPhone; it is not restored on another iPhone or after reinstalling. Export the PDF to keep it.
Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. Pro renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period; renewal is charged within the last 24 hours of the period. Manage or cancel it in your Apple Account settings; deleting the app does not cancel the subscription.
Terms of Use: https://motorvet.taleppo.com/terms
Privacy Policy: https://motorvet.taleppo.com/privacy
Motorvet is an informational tool. It is not a mechanical inspection, an official roadworthiness test or an expert appraisal, and it does not tell you whether to buy a car. Have a qualified technician inspect a car before you buy it.
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