All you need is a $11–$25 Bluetooth ELM327 adapter. No proprietary hardware. Plug it in and Iron Pulse does the rest. Here are the ones we actually recommend.
Compact, plug-and-forget adapter. Ships Prime and arrives fast. Reliable UART Bluetooth connection tested with Nova's Iron Pulse on a wide range of Android devices. Great first adapter.
The most trusted OBD2 adapter on Amazon with 100,000+ verified buyers. Rock-solid Bluetooth range, no dropouts mid-scan, excellent cold-weather performance. Our top recommendation.
Uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) instead of classic Bluetooth — the only protocol Apple permits for OBD2 apps. If you're on iPhone, this is your adapter. Also works great on Android.
OBDLink's professional-grade Bluetooth adapter. Faster protocol parsing, lower battery draw, and sleep mode that doesn't drain your car battery. Perfect for enthusiasts who run multiple scans regularly.
The gold standard for serious DIYers and mechanics. Supports OBD2, OBD1 adapter harnesses, MS-CAN/SW-CAN (Ford MyFord Touch), and enhanced GM/Chrysler/Toyota PIDs. If you want the best, this is it.
Nova's Iron Pulse uses Web Bluetooth, which is only supported on Android Chrome. Apple restricts Web Bluetooth on iOS Safari. iPhone users can still use Nova's Iron Pulse's diagnostic tools by entering codes manually or via a native app companion (coming soon).
It's under the dashboard on the driver's side — usually between the steering wheel and the door, sometimes behind a small panel. Every car built after 1996 in the US is required to have one by law. Plug in before you connect.
Dirt-cheap clones (under $5 shipped from overseas) often use counterfeit ELM327 chips that return incorrect sensor data. Stick to the adapters listed here — they're all tested and use genuine or quality-clone ELM327 chips.
Most of these adapters draw very little power in sleep mode (<1mA). The BAFX and OBDLink adapters are particularly safe for long-term use. If you're worried, unplug when parking for extended periods.
Plug it in, open Chrome on Android, and connect in seconds.
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