OBDCOM help

HELP!!! OBDCOM Troubleshooting guide

We recommend printing this guide.

This troubleshooting guide comes from experience helping customers get their OBDCOM system working, so these suggestions really work. If you're having trouble, this should help in almost all cases. Also, please note that we test all of the tools thoroughly before shipping them and that there are many thousands of OBDCOM users all across the country, with all makes and models of cars. It is best to read this guide from beginning to end, and not skip anything unless it says you should skip. Above all else, the first suggestion is to be patient and know that we will solve the problem.

What to do if OBDCOM says "Error 0" when you try to connect to the car:

First try re-installing the newest drivers, here: http://www.obdcom.com/drivers , and try it again on the car.
This solves almost 100% of all drivers installation problems.

It still says "Error 0" and you have already tried all the suggestions given by the software?

With the OBD plugged into the computer's USB port, open up Windows Device Manager and find
Ports(COM&LPT) in the list. Open that group and look for something called USB Serial Port (COM#) in the list. (If you do NOT see it, then the drivers need to be re-installed. If you already re-installed the drivers, also make sure the tool is plugged into a working USB port) NEXT: What is the COM# next to USB Serial Port? If the COM# is higher than 15, then first we need to take note of what other COM#s are present on your computer. You can see them in this list – there may only be one, or there may be several. Next, double click USB Serial Port (COM#), then click the Port Settings tab, then click the Advanced button, and use the drop-down list to change the port number to something in the 1 to 15 range. Don't pick something that was already taken by another COM# on the list. Windows may say "in use" but that is ok – just go by what you saw on the list. Lower numbers are probably a better choice. Often COM2 or COM4 is available, and that's a good choice, but anything in the 1 to 15 range should be just fine. Once you change it, click OK, and give it a try on the car.

Still getting "Error 0", after trying the above?

We've encountered many cars with a blown fuse for the diagnostic socket. Check ALL fuses to see if any are blown. Sometimes it is hard to see a blown fuse. You can test the vehicle's socket for power, using a voltmeter set to DC range. This photo shows which pins to check: http://www.obdcom.com/TEST.JPG You should measure battery voltage there, approximately 12 volts, or higher while the engine is running. Another way to rule out a problem with the vehicle, is to try a different vehicle.

Still "Error 0" after trying all that?

Try running OBDCOM as administrator. Here's how: Find the OBDCOM icon on your start menu, and RIGHT-CLICK it. In the popup menu that appears, click Run As Administrator. Windows will ask permission, so be sure to Allow it. Give it another try on the car. This has worked in many cases.

Another "Error 0" fix:

Move your mouse over all the little icons in the "tray". The tray is the area next to the clock, at the bottom right of your screen. Each of those little icons represents a running program. As you move your mouse over them, look at the popup messages. If one of them says "hot sync" or "palm sync", right click that little icon and exit the program. Hot sync and Palm sync software interferes with the ports and will result in "Error 0".

You got a "BLUE SCREEN" and Windows shut down when you clicked CONNECT in OBDCOM?

Option 1: Contact us for a free update that solves this problem. Let us know you got the "blue screen".
Option 2: With the OBD plugged into the USB port, open Windows Device Manager and scroll down to Ports(COM&LPT), then open that section up and look for something called USB Serial Port (COM#). What is the COM#? (If it is not there, then skip to the section RE-INSTALLING DRIVERS above.) What else is listed there? You probably have other things, each with their own COM number. Right-click on all the other devices with a COM#, and choose "Disable". This is not permanent. Don't disable USB Serial Port (COM#), just disable all the others. (If the COM# is higher than 15, go to the first suggestion at the top of this page) Try it on the car. The 'Blue Screen' should be gone.

You got an Error number in the 100's:
   The battery on the car is weak. Try starting the car first to let the battery charge up a bit.

You got an Error number in the 200's:
   See the suggestions for "Runtime Error 8021" below.

You got an Error number in the 300's:
   Please email us for assistance with this one and mention the error number.

You got Error 1, or the connection status on the computer screen is changing yellow and red and just keeps going on forever?

Make sure the ignition key is in the run position, with all the dash lights on, or you can also try with the engine running.

You got Runtime Error 75 or 53 ?

This is a file permission or security issue with windows that can happen on some computers.
You can solve this problem by reinstalling OBDCOM, as follows:
Use the OBDCOM CD and run SETUP.
When you run the OBDCOM setup, it will ask you where you want to install it.
The normal place is C:\ProgramFiles\OBDCOM, or something similar to that. Get rid of the "Program Files"
and anything else, when you are prompted, and leave only C:\OBDCOM\ in the box.
The purpose of all this is to install OBDCOM to its own private folder, outside of "Program Files", so that windows will not interfere with its files.

You got "Runtime Error 8021" ?

Cause #1: Please make sure the connection to the computer USB port is good. Try unplugging it and plugging it in again a few times. Then unplug, wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in. Give it another try on the car.
Cause #2: Are you using an inverter to power the laptop? Some inverters make electrical noise and interfere with the diagnostics. That would cause error 8021, and other errors.

Cause #3: Are you using a USB extension cable? How long? USB cables are not approved for longer than about 16 feet. Try again without using the extension.

When you plugged in the OBDCOM the first time, there was no "found new hardware"?

Give it a try on the car. In some cases, the tool can be recognized without any messages on the screen. If it does not work, go to the top of this page.

You REALLY tried all of this and it is still not working?

To help us help you, email us (1) the error number you got, (2) the year/make/model vehicles you tried, (3) the windows version, (4) The OBDCOM version number at the top of the OBDCOM window, (5) your full name and phone number, and (6) a description of what is happening. This will help us solve the problem faster and help you to get the system working as quickly as possible. Please don't leave any details out. The more information you can give, the better. If possible, please try another vehicle, and if you have another computer, please try another computer too. Remember, we are here to help.