I just entered the 21st century. Got a Samsung Galaxy 3 smart phone.My question is this. Is it a pain in the back side to set the phone up everytime I get in the truck to tow? Would I have to go through several steps in order to make it function as gauges to read tranny temp, etc. Or does it remember where it was and I will only need to hit one button to made it into a truck systems reader?I know with a Scan Gauge II, it's dedicated to being system reader. I also know it would cost a hundred dollars more to get and set up. Another draw back to me, at least, is the readout. It seems to be more difficult to glance at and know the numbers, while a smart phone has larger numbers, and a simulated analog gauge readout, which I believe would be better while driving.With the smart phone, I'd use it like a Scan Gauge II while driving, but it would revert to phone use when I was stopped and out of the truck.Would appreciate any thoughts.

Not at all. Get yourself s ODB dongle off of places like Ebay for less than 20 dollars. Plug it into the ODB port. On your phone you download Torque. Once you have both, start the motor, turn on the bluetooth and look for the dongle. Once you have it captured and connected, start Torque. Look through the list of available things you can read and setup Torque like you want. Then when your ready to go, simply plug your phone into a charge cord, and turn on bluetooth, and start Torque.

IMO, the Torque app is not really a replacement for Scanguage II fuctionality. I've found Torque to be limited based on the vehicle being used - not all functions are available. It's not really orientated for RV use anyway. In my case, MPG readouts were not working at all with mine. Have even posted on their forums, but no clear answer from the developer.I'd would just try Torque and see if it works with your setup, and gives you the readouts important to you. Free to try.

Hopefully this new competing technology will cause Scan Gage to update their unit. Although it works, their display and function is something from the 80's.

I use Torque with an old smartphone I had lying around doing nothing and a Bluetooth OBDII dongle. I just leave both hooked up in the vehicle when I am on trips. Once it is set up, it takes just a couple of seconds to turn on. Torque can display any information that the ECU can provide. The MPG calculation is pretty close for me (<= 5%), but you can adjust it to make it even closer. The dongle was about $25 and the app was $5.I say go for it.

nightcrawler wrote:I use Torque with an old smartphone I had lying around doing nothing and a Bluetooth OBDII dongle. I just leave both hooked up in the vehicle when I am on trips. Once it is set up, it takes just a couple of seconds to turn on. Torque can display any information that the ECU can provide. The MPG calculation is pretty close for me (<= 5%), but you can adjust it to make it even closer. The dongle was about $25 and the app was $5.I say go for it.Yep. Old smart phones ar easy to come by. I use a droid x and I'm pleased. If you leave the phone connected to the vehicle it will start ok, but it does take a couple minutes for it to see the dongle and make a bluetooth connection. I love being able to make the display show only what I want and how I want.

Use of android phone instead of dedicated scan gauge II

20 Replies

GordonThree
Explorer
Sep 13, 2013
Unless it's a limitation of Torque-Lite, I've found it only interfaces with the ECU, and not the other multitude of computers in a modern automobile. For example on my Dodge Charger (2011) and Subaru Outback (2006), the ECU only provided specific information about the engine. Transmission information is a different computer, and not accessible from Torque-Lite. Also, I could not access the body computer, to get a read out on battery voltage, etc.

I would hazard to guess a properly equipped scan-tool would know how to access these additional computers.
nightcrawler
Explorer
Sep 13, 2013
I also have a "Not Recommended" one and it works just fine too. I've pondered getting a second one so that I don't have to move it from vehicle to vehicle.
gijoecam
Explorer
Sep 13, 2013
There are some recommendations on the Torque site, but I ended up with two of the 'not recommended' ones and they work just fine.
Atlee
Explorer II
Sep 13, 2013
Is there any dongles to stay away from over at Amazon? Any brands better or worse than their brethren?
gijoecam
Explorer
Sep 12, 2013
I haven't found anything the ScanGauge can do that Torque can't. Plus, since I already had the bulk of the hardware, a $17-for-two NewEgg Shell Shocker deal about 6 months ago got me two adapters to play with (which are inevitably in the wrong two vehicles!!).

The connection takes seconds, and can be automated with an app like Tasker if your phone is rooted. The screens can be set up with specific configurations for each vehicle, which is especially useful since some PIDs are used in some vehicles and not others.

Oh, and the sum total of my investment for everything (not including the phone, of course): $22. A ScanGauge can't come close, and is nowhere near as portable or customizeable.
powderman426
Explorer
Sep 12, 2013
nightcrawler wrote:
I use Torque with an old smartphone I had lying around doing nothing and a Bluetooth OBDII dongle. I just leave both hooked up in the vehicle when I am on trips. Once it is set up, it takes just a couple of seconds to turn on. Torque can display any information that the ECU can provide. The MPG calculation is pretty close for me (<= 5%), but you can adjust it to make it even closer. The dongle was about $25 and the app was $5.

I say go for it.

Yep. Old smart phones ar easy to come by. I use a droid x and I'm pleased. If you leave the phone connected to the vehicle it will start ok, but it does take a couple minutes for it to see the dongle and make a bluetooth connection. I love being able to make the display show only what I want and how I want.
nightcrawler
Explorer
Sep 12, 2013
I use Torque with an old smartphone I had lying around doing nothing and a Bluetooth OBDII dongle. I just leave both hooked up in the vehicle when I am on trips. Once it is set up, it takes just a couple of seconds to turn on. Torque can display any information that the ECU can provide. The MPG calculation is pretty close for me (<= 5%), but you can adjust it to make it even closer. The dongle was about $25 and the app was $5.

I say go for it.
az99
Explorer
Sep 12, 2013
Hopefully this new competing technology will cause Scan Gage to update their unit. Although it works, their display and function is something from the 80's.
1492
Moderator
Sep 12, 2013
IMO, the Torque app is not really a replacement for Scanguage II fuctionality. I've found Torque to be limited based on the vehicle being used - not all functions are available. It's not really orientated for RV use anyway. In my case, MPG readouts were not working at all with mine. Have even posted on their forums, but no clear answer from the developer.

I'd would just try Torque and see if it works with your setup, and gives you the readouts important to you. Free to try.
donn0128
Explorer II
Sep 12, 2013
Not at all. Get yourself s ODB dongle off of places like Ebay for less than 20 dollars. Plug it into the ODB port. On your phone you download Torque. Once you have both, start the motor, turn on the bluetooth and look for the dongle. Once you have it captured and connected, start Torque. Look through the list of available things you can read and setup Torque like you want. Then when your ready to go, simply plug your phone into a charge cord, and turn on bluetooth, and start Torque.

Forum Discussion

Use of android phone instead of dedicated scan gauge II

20 Replies

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