Piston

Category	Size	Update
Auto & Vehicles	10.5 MB	Apr 03,2025

Download

Auto & Vehicles

Application Description:

With Piston, your car's diagnostic information is easily accessible, empowering you to keep your vehicle running smoothly. If your Check Engine Light (MIL) is on, transform your mobile device into a powerful car scanner using Piston. You'll be able to read the Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) linked to the issue and access Freeze Frame data, which provides crucial insights into the problem, helping you to diagnose and resolve it efficiently.

To use Piston, you'll need an ELM 327 based adapter, available in Bluetooth or WiFi versions, which you connect to your vehicle's OBD2 socket. Piston offers step-by-step guidance through the connection process. You can find these instructions on the Home page after your initial setup, or in the Settings at any time.

Piston enables you to:

Read and clear Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) as defined by the OBD2 standard
Explore Freeze Frame data, which captures sensor data at the moment the ECU detects a malfunction
Access real-time data from your vehicle's sensors
Check the status of Readiness Monitors to ensure your emission control devices are functioning properly
Store the DTCs you read in a local history for easy reference
Log in to keep your DTCs in the cloud for access across devices
View charts of sensor readouts for a comprehensive analysis
Export real-time sensor data to a file for further analysis
Verify your car's VIN number
Examine details of your vehicle's ECUs, including the OBD protocol and PIDs number

Some of these features are Premium and can be unlocked with a one-time in-app purchase, offering full access without the need for subscriptions.

To function as a car scanner, Piston requires a separate ELM327 based device, compatible with both Bluetooth and WiFi. It supports the OBD-II (also known as OBDII or OBD2) and EOBD standards. In the USA, all vehicles sold since 1996 are required to support the OBD2 standard. In the European Union, EOBD has been mandatory for petrol vehicles since 2001 and diesel vehicles since 2004. In Australia and New Zealand, OBD2 compliance is required for petrol cars from 2006 and diesel cars from 2007.

Important: Piston can only access the data that your vehicle supports and provides through the OBD2 standard.

If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to contact us at [email protected].