Let's find out everything you need to know about a non-functional ELM327 iPhone Adapter.

The Philippine market is loaded with cheap knockoffs of almost every brand and every item. The good thing is that you can still find authentic gadgets from the right places.

Apple devices are one of the most coveted brands in the local tech industry today. With the name and standard that the company has built itself upon, we can’t wonder why.

They’re reliable, versatile and universal. That’s why there are tons of people who have built their trust in the brand that they choose their devices over competitors.

But what if you want to use your iPhone in your car and your ELM 327 denies it? Is it your iPhone at fault? Or is this a workaround on this problem? Find out in this article from Philcarnews.com:

A Non-Functioning ELM 327 iPhone Adapter

A non-functioning ELM 327 scanner isn’t a common occasion, but it definitely does happen. If you’ve ever experienced this, it’s safe to assume that the problem is with the way your iOS device is approaching the Bluetooth.

If you have a generic or a substandard ELM 327 that has Bluetooth as its interface method, it will most likely fail to work with your unmodified Apple device.

You may have a higher chance of success if you have a jailbroken device. The catch is that having your device jailbroken just for that tiny spark of hope may not be completely worth it.

What we suggest is to invest your money instead on a new ELM327 scanner. Make sure to pick out a scanner that’s made to work specifically with your iPhone. You can also consider just getting an Android device instead.

Non-functioning ELM 327 scanner isn’t a common occasion, but it definitely does happen

What are ELM327 Devices?

The ELM327 was first developed by the company, Elm Electronics, to be a communication standard. This defines how an application can communicate with an OBD adapter.

From there, it can then communicate with the vehicle. It was later used by various companies to manufacture other types of devices that should be compatible with it.

The ELM327 was first developed by the company, Elm Electronics, to be a communication standard

ELM327 iPhone Adapters and Bluetooth

If you’ve ever gone shopping for an ELM 327 scanning tool, you may have noticed that low-cost versions of this tool include a Bluetooth chip.

This is usually built into the device so it seamlessly interfaces with your computer, phone or tablet. If you haven’t already noticed it yet, Bluetooth is one of the most widely recognized universal wireless data transfer technology.

Another reason why people choose to rely on this tech is that both ELM 327 chips and Bluetooth radios cost less to produce. Both of these are also easy to copy for unlicensed producers. That’s why you can find tons of cheaper, less dependable and less durable forms of the ELM 327. If you do, these are most likely not from ELM Electronics.

Another reason why people choose to rely on this tech is that both ELM 327 chips and Bluetooth radios cost less to produce

Still, if you happen to land one of those non-buggy units with a functioning ELM 327 chip, the combination will pretty much work well for you. 

Despite being universal and being widely used in other devices and electronics, there is still an issue with it. These issues, however, don’t even serve as a drawback in this situation. In fact, it even comes with a secure protocol that makes using the device very safe from information thieves.

The Problem with Your Bluetooth and ELM 327 iPhone Adapters

The problem that comes with using ELM 327  that heavily relies on Bluetooth is in the iOS device’s Bluetooth pairing. Apple devices have a reputation for being tightly held by the manufacturer. This is in terms of both software and hardware. This includes the Bluetooth implementation in the device as well.

We can safely assume that Bluetooth is a great cross-platform standard with the capability to let any device connect to another. This technology, however, isn’t available to all devices after all. The technology utilizes a good number of profiles to make communication possible between various devices. This includes tablets, computers, laptops, smartphones, peripherals and the like.

The bad news is that not every device out there is made to support every profile. This is most likely the problem why your ELM 327 iPhone adapter isn’t working.

When it comes to iOS devices, there are default profiles used mainly for input devices just like Bluetooth headsets and keyboards. The other profiles, on the other hand, are simply not available. If you find that a little vague, it means your iPhone device has no idea about how communication is made with an ELM 327 Bluetooth scanner.

The problem that comes with using ELM 327  that heavily relies on Bluetooth is in the iOS device’s Bluetooth pairing

If you’re interested in more specific details, it’s because the Bluetooth system included in iOS devices doesn't support SPP. SPP is an abbreviation for Serial Port Protocol. This is the same protocol that’s used by Bluetooth in ELM 327 scan tools. iPhones, on the other hand, are limited only to the so-called Wi-Fi ELM327 devices.

Though there are iPhones that were designed to support SPP,  these were usually old iPhone models and were made possible through a dock connector. With this, a wired connection was somehow made possible. But getting it to work is something that most users these days wouldn’t even consider doing.

The ELM327 iPhone Adapters That Actually Work

If you’re reading this just after you’ve already purchased an ELM 327 for your iPhone, don’t fret. There are still options you can consider to make the situation better for you. You can simply return the wrong device you bought. Make sure you have it replaced with a new one that should work with your iPhone. Try and find an ELM327 Wi-FI scanner. If not, find one that has a lightning connector, a USB or a dock that will most probably work with an iPhone.

Try and find an ELM327 Wi-FI scanner.

The drawback is that these types of devices we just mentioned aren’t particularly common. So you may not be able to immediately find one in the first shop you try.

These devices are also more expensive than other models that utilize Bluetooth. There isn’t even any guarantee that any of these will work with an iPhone. This is, of course, if it bears the authentic logo certified by Apple. But if you’re desperate, they’re worth the try.

>>> Click to get more helpful tips and advice for car buying and selling