The OBDLink LX Bluetooth scan tool is a popular choice for vehicle owners and enthusiasts looking to delve deeper into their car’s health. Beyond just reading basic trouble codes, the OBDLink LX, when paired with the OBDLink app, offers enhanced diagnostic capabilities for a wide range of vehicles. A common question among users is whether this tool can detect engine misfires. This article will explore how you can use the OBDLink LX and the OBDLink app to monitor misfires, understand engine performance, and even diagnose potential issues.
This guide will walk you through leveraging the enhanced diagnostics features of the OBDLink app with your OBDLink LX adapter to access crucial engine data, including misfire counts, if supported by your vehicle’s computer. By following these steps, you can gain valuable insights into your vehicle’s engine health and performance.
Note: This article is updated to reflect the latest OBDLink app interface, featuring updated icons and layouts. Ensure you have the most recent version of the OBDLink app from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play to ensure compatibility with the described features.
Note: Enhanced OEM diagnostics and misfire monitoring capabilities are primarily available for vehicles sold in North America. Compatibility can vary based on your vehicle’s make, model, and year. Consult the resources mentioned at the end of this article or contact OBDLink support if you need to confirm specific support for your vehicle.
Note: While this guide focuses on the OBDLink LX, certain enhanced diagnostic features, particularly OEM-specific add-ons for brands like GM, Honda/Acura, and Hyundai/Kia, are exclusively available with the OBDLink MX+ adapter. While OBDLink LX can still access a wide range of data and potentially misfire information depending on the vehicle, the MX+ offers broader coverage and access to OEM-specific parameters. For Ford vehicles, while the Ford add-on can be used with OBDLink LX, access to MS-CAN network PIDs may be limited compared to MX+.
Downloading Enhanced Diagnostics for Misfire Detection
To access advanced features like misfire monitoring, you first need to ensure you’ve downloaded the enhanced diagnostics for your specific vehicle within the OBDLink app. Here’s how to do it:
Before starting, make sure:
- Your vehicle is running and your OBDLink adapter is connected to your phone or tablet via Bluetooth.
- No other Bluetooth devices are actively streaming from your phone or tablet to avoid connection conflicts.
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Upon initial connection of your OBDLink adapter, a prompt will appear offering options to configure vehicle settings and download enhanced OEM add-ons. Select Get Enhanced OEM Add-Ons.
Note: If you do not see this prompt, it indicates that enhanced diagnostics are not available for your specific vehicle. In this case, you will still have access to standard OBD-II diagnostics. Proceed to the View diagnostics section for standard OBD-II data.
iOS Android 
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If you’ve connected before and skipped the initial download, navigate to Settings > Get Enhanced OEM Add-Ons from the OBDLink app main menu.
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From the list of manufacturers, select your vehicle’s brand.
Note: Be aware of notifications regarding MX+ exclusive add-ons for GM, Honda/Acura, and Hyundai/Kia. These features require the OBDLink MX+ adapter.
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Choose your vehicle’s model year from the subsequent list.
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Tap Choose to confirm the diagnostics selection for your vehicle.
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A notification for a free add-on may appear. It is recommended to tap GET FREE ADD-ON to maximize the functionality of your OBDLink adapter.
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Tap Get to initiate the download of diagnostics for your vehicle. This process may take a few minutes.
If your adapter is actively Connected to the OBDLink app, a notification might appear prompting disconnection to proceed with the download. Tap Disconnect to allow the app to disconnect and continue downloading the enhanced diagnostics.
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Once the download completes, the diagnostics for your vehicle will be marked as Installed.
Tap the back arrow (<) twice to return to the main home screen of the app.
With enhanced diagnostics downloaded, you can now proceed to select your vehicle network and explore diagnostic data, including potential misfire information.
Selecting the Correct Vehicle Network for Misfire Data
Note: If you drive a GM, Honda/Acura, or Hyundai/Kia vehicle, you can skip this section and proceed directly to View diagnostics. Network selection is automatically handled for these manufacturers.
For other manufacturers, selecting the appropriate vehicle network is crucial to access the full range of diagnostic parameters, including misfire data if available on a specific network. Here’s how to select the network:
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Ensure your phone or tablet is Connected to the OBDLink adapter.
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A dialog box will appear, prompting you to select a vehicle diagnostic network. Choose the network most likely to contain the modules you want to access. For general use, Generic OBD2 is often a good starting point. Scroll through the options and tap CONNECT.
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If OEM Live Parameters (detailed in the OEM-Specific Enhanced Diagnostics Support Coverage PDF) are supported for your vehicle on the selected network, the OBDLink app will initiate a scan for supported enhanced Parameter IDs (PIDs) upon the first connection to that network. This scan may take a minute or two. The results are saved, so subsequent connections will be faster. Tap Yes to allow the scan to begin. You might not see the “Scanning” message as it can be very quick on some vehicles.
After the scan is complete, you can proceed to view diagnostic information, including potential misfire counts, in the Diagnostics section of the app.
Tip: To switch to a different diagnostic network, go to Settings > Vehicle Editor > Enhanced Network > and tap Select.
The default Prompt option allows you to choose a network each time you connect. While Generic OBD2 provides access to many common PIDs, some specific data, like misfire counters or manufacturer-specific parameters, might only be available on other networks.
For example, on some Toyota vehicles, Tire Pressure Monitor PIDs are only accessible when the Tire Pressure Monitor network is selected. Choosing Generic OBD2 or Network A would not allow access to this data.
To change the default network selection behavior, tap your preferred network and then tap OK.
In this example, Generic OBD2 is selected as the default.
Viewing Diagnostics and Checking for Misfires
Now that you have downloaded enhanced diagnostics and selected your vehicle network, you can access the Diagnostics section of the OBDLink app to check for misfires and other engine parameters.
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Ensure your phone or tablet is Connected to the OBDLink adapter. Tap Diagnostics on the main app screen.
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A warning message might appear regarding diagnostic testing procedures. Tap Yes to proceed.
The Diagnostics section opens on the Trouble Codes tab by default. While misfires might trigger trouble codes, especially in the P0300-P030x range, directly monitoring misfire counts often provides more real-time and detailed information. To actively monitor misfires, you’ll primarily use the PID Values tab.
Trouble Codes and Misfires
The Trouble Codes tab will display any Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) currently stored in your vehicle’s computer.
If no DTCs are present, you will see a screen indicating that all tests have passed.
If DTCs are present, they will be listed, often with a Clear Codes button. Misfire codes (P0300, P0301, P0302, etc.) will appear here if the misfire is severe enough to trigger a code.
Warning: Only clear codes with the ignition ON and the engine OFF. Never clear codes while the engine is running.
Tapping on a trouble code will provide more basic information.
For detailed information, tap Online Lookup to search the DTC definition online.
For help understanding trouble codes and status definitions, access the Help menu via Menu (iOS) or 3 vertical dots (Android) in the top right corner.
Freeze Frame Data Related to Misfires
The Freeze Frame tab captures a snapshot of PID values at the moment a DTC is generated. This can be helpful in understanding the conditions under which a misfire occurred.
Freeze frame data is cleared when you clear trouble codes. It’s also available in the Report tab even after disconnecting.
For example, freeze frame data associated with a misfire code might show elevated engine RPM or lean fuel mixture conditions at the time the misfire was detected.
Monitoring Misfires with PID Values
The PID Values tab is where you can actively monitor live engine data, including misfire counts if supported by your vehicle.
By default, Vehicle Speed (MPH) and Engine RPM are displayed. To monitor misfires, you need to add relevant PIDs.
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Navigate to the PID Values tab.
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Tap Menu (iOS) or 3 vertical dots (Android) in the top right corner, and select Select PIDs.
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Search or browse for misfire-related PIDs. Common PIDs to look for include:
- Misfire Cylinder 1 Data, Misfire Cylinder 2 Data,… Misfire Cylinder N Data: These PIDs, if available, provide misfire counts for individual cylinders.
- Total Misfire Count: A PID showing the total number of misfires detected across all cylinders.
- Engine Misfire Rate: A PID indicating the rate of misfires.
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Select the desired misfire PIDs and any other engine parameters you want to monitor simultaneously (like engine temperature, fuel trims, etc.).
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Tap OK or Done to add the selected PIDs to the PID Values display.
Now, you can observe the live data stream. Pay close attention to the misfire PIDs while the engine is running, especially under conditions where you suspect misfires might occur (e.g., during acceleration, idle, or specific engine loads).
The gold numbers on the PID Values screen indicate the minimum, average, and maximum values recorded since you started monitoring. Use the Reset Min/Average/Max option in the menu to clear these values. Edit in the menu allows you to remove PIDs from the display.
Reports and Misfire Data
The Report tab generates comprehensive diagnostic reports, which can include trouble codes, freeze frame data, and potentially misfire-related information depending on the report type and your vehicle’s capabilities.
Tap Menu (iOS) or 3 vertical dots (Android) in the top right corner for report options:
- Refresh: Generates a new report.
- Store: Saves the current report.
- Load: Loads a previously saved report.
- Share: Sends the report in HTML format.
The report loading screen and a completed report example are shown below. Scroll down to view all sections and tap on categories for details.
While the standard reports might not directly display misfire counts as clearly as the PID Values tab, they can provide context and supporting data related to potential misfire issues, particularly in the Trouble Codes and Freeze Frame sections.
Example Report Sections
The OBDLink app generates various report sections. Here are a few examples relevant to general diagnostics and potentially misfires:
Monitor Tests (I/M Readiness): Reviews emissions system readiness, which can indirectly indicate engine health and potential misfire-related issues.
Trouble Codes Report: Lists DTCs, including misfire codes if present.
Freeze Frame Report: Shows PID values captured when a DTC (like a misfire code) was set.
Vehicle Information Report: Provides vehicle details, which can be useful for ensuring you have selected the correct vehicle profile in the app.
PID Snapshot Report: Lists all PIDs and their values reported by the vehicle at the time of report generation. This can be helpful for a comprehensive view of engine parameters, but you’ll need to manually look for misfire-related PIDs within this extensive list.
Conclusion: OBDLink LX for Misfire Monitoring
Yes, with the OBDLink LX Bluetooth scan tool and the OBDLink app, you can see misfires, provided your vehicle’s computer supports reporting misfire data via OBD-II or enhanced diagnostics.
While the OBDLink LX may not have all the OEM-specific enhanced diagnostic capabilities of the MX+, it is still a powerful tool for accessing a wealth of vehicle data, including the potential to monitor misfire counts and related parameters. By utilizing the PID Values tab and searching for misfire-specific PIDs, you can gain valuable insights into your engine’s performance and detect potential misfire issues. Remember to consult your vehicle’s service manual or online resources to understand the specific PIDs supported by your car for the most accurate misfire monitoring.
Learn More and Get Support
For deeper dives and further assistance, explore these resources:
- OBDLink Support Forum: https://www.scantool.net/forum/index.php
- Submit a Support Ticket: https://support.obdlink.com/support/tickets/new
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