Encountering problems connecting your OBD2 scanner to your vehicle can be frustrating. One user on a Honda forum, njmax, shared their experience trying to diagnose their 2011 Honda EX. They found that neither their older Autel MaxiScan MS300 nor a new BAFX Products Bluetooth OBD2 scan tool would connect to their car’s ECU, despite both working perfectly on a 2009 Honda CRV. This led them to question if the OBD2 port itself was malfunctioning, but a locksmith successfully used it to program a new key, ruling out a port issue.
The likely culprit here, as another forum member pointed out, is the communication protocol. Around 2011, many manufacturers, including Honda, transitioned to Controller Area Network (CAN bus) OBD2 systems. Older OBD2 scanners, especially those from around the year 2000, may not be CAN bus compatible. While they might physically connect to the OBD2 port, they won’t be able to communicate with the car’s ECU, resulting in connection errors.
The solution is straightforward: ensure your OBD2 scan tool is CAN bus compliant. The BAFX Products Bluetooth OBD2 scan tool, for instance, is designed to work with CAN bus systems. If you’re using an older scanner, it might be time to upgrade to a newer, CAN bus compatible model to properly diagnose your 2011 Honda and other modern vehicles. This upgrade will allow you to read diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), access live data, and gain valuable insights into your vehicle’s health.
