It just plugs into the OBDII port via a socket on the back of the device. The USB port on the front is for connecting it to your computer for configuring it or downloading data. Now there are a lot of OBDII readers out there, but what I like about this one is that it's actually a data logger. So it will monitor fault codes continuously while you're driving for up to 300 hrs. When it reaches its memory limit, it just overwrites the old data. As long as you download the data periodically you should be able to capture intermittent faults. You can also program it to monitor some preset engine parameters.
Well, as luck would have it, we sold the Bimmer before I could sort out the CEL issues. But the Subaru also likes to throw out random CEL faults. I've caught several, and they do appear to be random as the same one has not reappeared (the Subi has gremlin electronics). And it's already saved me a few dollars as I was able to clear the CEL before taking it in for its smog inspection. The Subi always passes smog with no problem as long as the CEL is off.
Oh, another interesting thing about the Car Chip is that some parents use it to monitor their kid's driving. When you download the data, you can see their speed and acceleration profiles. Now you won't know if they're doing 50 in a 25 zone. But you will know if they're doing burnouts or doing 90 which is not good anywhere. And you can set audible alarms so the thing will set off an annoying tone if a certain speed is exceeded. Connie likes to have it set at 70 to remind her not to speed. Too bad she didn't have this installed when she got her speeding ticket :^O
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