Read Check Engine Codes
Instantly read diagnostic trouble codes from your vehicle's computer. See every stored, pending, and permanent code with severity indicators so you know what needs attention now versus what can wait.
Your car talks.
Now you understand it.
CarPulse reads your check engine light, explains what it means in plain English, and shows real-time data from every sensor in your vehicle. Free on iPhone.
Download Free on the App StoreRequires iOS 17.0 or later. Works with any Bluetooth LE or Wi-Fi OBD2 adapter.
Everything you need to understand your car
Professional-grade diagnostics without the repair shop markup.
Plain-English Explanations
Every code comes with a clear, jargon-free explanation of what it means, common causes, typical symptoms, and how serious it is. No mechanic's dictionary needed.
Live Sensor Data
Monitor 20+ real-time sensor readings from your engine — RPM, coolant temperature, fuel trim, O2 sensors, intake pressure, throttle position, and more. See exactly what your engine is doing right now.
Clear Codes & Reset
Clear diagnostic trouble codes and reset the check engine light directly from your phone. Useful after completing a repair to verify the fix worked, or before an emissions test.
Emissions Pre-Check
Check your vehicle's emissions readiness monitors before visiting the inspection station. See which monitors have run and which are still pending, so you can avoid a wasted trip and failed test.
39 Languages
Use CarPulse in your preferred language. Supports 39 languages including English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Hindi, and many more. Switch anytime without restarting the app.
How it works
Three steps. Two minutes. Zero expertise required.
1
Plug in an OBD2 adapter
Insert any ELM327-compatible Bluetooth LE or Wi-Fi adapter into your car's OBD2 port, usually located under the dashboard near the steering column.
2
Connect with CarPulse
Open the app and tap Connect. CarPulse automatically detects your adapter and establishes a connection to your vehicle's computer.
3
Read your car's data
View diagnostic codes with plain-English explanations, monitor live sensor readings, check emissions readiness, and clear codes when ready.
Simple, honest pricing
Core diagnostics are free. Upgrade only if you want more.
Free
$0 forever
- Read check engine codes
- Plain-English explanations
- Severity indicators
- Live sensor data (20+ readings)
- Clear codes & reset the light
- 1 vehicle profile
Most Popular
Premium
$4.99 /month
- Everything in Free
- Unlimited vehicle profiles
- Repair cost estimates
- Maintenance reminders
- Issue forecasts & predictions
- Freeze frame data
- Sensor logging & history graphs
- Maintenance history tracking
- Emissions pre-check
Premium+
$9.99 /month
- Everything in Premium
- Priority support
- Vehicle health reports
- Data export & sharing
Works with your car
Compatible with every OBD2 vehicle on the road.
🚗 Vehicles
- All US cars and light trucks from 1996 onward
- All EU petrol cars from 2001 onward
- All EU diesel cars from 2003 onward
- Supports all 5 OBD2 protocols automatically
📱 Devices
- iPhone with iOS 17.0 or later
- Bluetooth LE (BLE) OBD2 adapters
- Wi-Fi OBD2 adapters
- Any ELM327-compatible scanner
🔒 Privacy
- All data stays on your device
- Optional iCloud sync (your private account)
- No personal information collected
- No third-party analytics or tracking
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about CarPulse and OBD2 diagnostics.
CarPulse is a free OBD2 diagnostic app for iPhone. It reads your car's check engine codes, explains them in plain English, shows live sensor data from 20+ vehicle sensors, and lets you clear diagnostic trouble codes to reset the check engine light. It works with any ELM327-compatible Bluetooth LE or Wi-Fi OBD2 adapter.
Yes. Core features are free and always will be: reading check engine codes, plain-English explanations, severity indicators, live sensor data with 20+ readings, clearing codes and resetting the light, and one vehicle profile. Optional Premium and Premium+ subscriptions unlock additional features like unlimited vehicles, repair cost estimates, maintenance reminders, freeze frame data, sensor logging, and vehicle health reports.
CarPulse works with any ELM327-compatible OBD2 adapter that connects via Bluetooth LE (BLE) or Wi-Fi. These adapters plug into the OBD2 port under your dashboard. Bluetooth LE adapters are recommended for the most reliable connection on iPhone. You can find compatible adapters for $10–$30 on Amazon.
CarPulse works with any OBD2-compliant vehicle. In the United States, all passenger cars and light trucks sold since 1996 are required to have an OBD2 port. In the European Union, all petrol cars since 2001 and diesel cars since 2003 are OBD2 compliant. The app supports all five OBD2 communication protocols automatically.
No. All vehicle diagnostic data stays on your device and in your private iCloud account. CarPulse does not collect your name, email, location, or any personal information. There are no third-party analytics SDKs. The app does not track you across apps or websites. Read our full privacy policy for details.
CarPulse supports 39 languages including English, Arabic, Catalan, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil and Portugal), Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Spanish (Spain and Mexico), Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese. You can switch languages in the app settings without restarting.
The OBD2 port is typically located under the dashboard on the driver's side, near the steering column. It's a 16-pin trapezoidal connector. Some vehicles have it behind a small panel or cover. Check your vehicle's owner's manual if you can't find it.
No. CarPulse reads data from your vehicle's computer using the standard OBD2 protocol, the same interface that mechanics and emissions inspectors use. The only write operation is clearing codes, which resets the check engine light — the same thing a mechanic does after a repair. It cannot modify your car's engine settings, firmware, or calibration.
Stop guessing. Start knowing.
Download CarPulse and read your check engine light in under two minutes. Core features are always free.
Download Free on the App Store