Re:OBDLink MX+ Kill my Car?

Just tried the subject scanner for the first time on my Ford Fusion. I went threw all the steps. I paired the device with my phone. I turned on the ignition. The engine was off. I paired it with my phone. I started to use the device.

I did a diagnostic check. No problems found. I started to scroll through the different options. I accessed the dash board, monitors and logs. All I did was observe. At no point did I change anything. Before I turned off the car I noticed the lights on the inside started to flicker / click. I turned off the car. Went back to the car after about 10 minutes and the car has no power at all. Any advice on what went wrong?


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what's your battery voltage?
how long where you looking at stuff with key on engine off?

most likely if you were looking at stuff for a while you drained your battery if you did not shut off your daytime running lights. or interior lights

Hardtopdr2 wrote: what's your battery voltage?
how long where you looking at stuff with key on engine off?

most likely if you were looking at stuff for a while you drained your battery if you did not shut off your daytime running lights. or interior lights

I second that as people don't realize in KOEO that the battery can drain.

Interesting to see the result of this.

It was honestly about 15 minutes


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Some more information.

I did remove the terminals from the battery for a few minutes. When I hooked everything back up, the head lights turn on, but they are very dim. They stay one for maybe a minute and turn off again. The inside of the car has No power during any of this.

I guess it would make sense if it is the battery. Also it is the original battery and the car has 82k miles. Should I just replace the battery and see if that fixes the problem? Thanks


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15 minutes is long enough to drain it. Especially if it's old and the lights were on for any significant part of it.

You can charge and test the battery to see if it's weak but even getting the system back up to normal voltage will tell you if that was the problem.

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I appreciate the help with this. I plan on jumping the battery after work. Question, if it’s not the battery, is it possible I damaged the computers circuits or messed up the PCM? If yes, how can I fix this? I’ve seen people do a master reset by touching both the battery terminals together. Would this help correct the problem?


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It was the battery. Thanks for the help!


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I guess my only question is the next time I use this device and I have my car in accessories mode (power on, engine off) do I just need to make sure all the lights, fan, radio, accessories etc are off? Is there risk that I can still drain the battery even when all these features are off?


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If the engine isnt running you definitely want to turn off everything you can, like lights , radio, hvac, heated seats. If I know I'm going to be messing with something for a bit with the engine off I'll put a charger on the battery.

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Tutti57 wrote: If I know I'm going to be messing with something for a bit with the engine off I'll put a charger on the battery.

Agreed. I keep one of these on an extension cord for this exact reason:

www.amazon.com/Clore-Automotive-PL2320-B...ner-20/dp/B007ESQW08

Now you've changed the battery...check it is charging correctly. Just in case that is suspect too.

Although if battery was old...it's maybe just done.