Data port readers

[rich85704]

There are a number of relatively inexpensive devices that plug into the on board data port: the OBD-2 port. These devices use either Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to communicate to a nearby smart ph'one or tablet. An app running on the phone can then display the information from the data bus in the vehicle. If there is a device code being generated, of the sort that would light up the "check engine" display, The app will tell you what the code is and even what it might mean. It provides a kind of super dashboard while running.

Does anyone have experience with one of these? Did it indeed give you information that you could use? I might get one just because it's a cool gadget, and I'm really a gadget kind of guy. But it would be nice to hear stories of useful information people have gleaned from these devices.

[dodge_guy]

Not sure on the pending codes, don`t think so though. I don`t believe it can show individual cylinder issues.

[Pirate1]

Just wondering if the apps can show individual ford cylinder problems or pending codes.

[dodge_guy]

Pirate wrote:
how do these devices on the phone compare to scanguage II?

I do believe they work very similar. Excluding the price of the phone or i pad, if you already own one, It's cheaper than the scan gauge! And the scan gauge doesn't do 0-60, 1/4 mile, g-force and track you on a race course so you can see where and when you are braking or accelerating (and plot it on your maps app) if you are into that sort of thing?! Not sure if the torque app does the same, but i would imagine it does.

[Pirate1]

how do these devices on the phone compare to scanguage II?

[dodge_guy]

I do believe i read somwhere that the Torque app and dash command are designed by the same company and just given different names for different devices.

[AtomicChicken]

Using Torque here as well. Excellent app for Android. I picked up one of the bluetooth OBD-II adapters from ebay for about $11 so with the app I have about $16 into it altogether.

For the information it gives you access to it's well worth it.

[kmbelt]

powderman426 wrote:

Denny & Jami wrote:
I use this adapter Link and the $4.99 Torque App from Google Play. Give you lots of information and you can read and clear codes.

Denny

I have similar setup but got the elm bluetooth device off of eBay for less than half that price. Works well on my old droid phone since I had no further need for it.

Another Torque user here too. It is the absolutely best app for this, but only works with Android phones. As for iPhones and iPads, don't have a clue.

I can monitor my turbo boost, fuel rail pressure, exhaust temperatures and TONS of other paramenters and is fully customizable screens.

Torque Pro

[wa8yxm]

westend wrote:
Nifty gadget but if you have dash gauges I think it would soon be unused. I have a transmission temp gauge. It would be handy in a situation where the check engine light appears so the relevant cause could be found.

You would need a lot more gauges than what's on a dash.. Think Airplane dash board and you are closer, Nuclear reactor control board and you are even closer.. There are many many sensors your ECC reads and can report on.. The data readers can read most all of them.

Your dash has not nearly enough room.

In addition: I do not know about smart phone apps but some of the older computer apps could record, ... There are 3 kinds of error codes your ECC can flash

1: Hard codes: They remain till they are reset
2: Soft codes: They remain till the engine is turned off and on.
3: Transient codes: they go away by themselves

These last ones can not be read with a code reader at the shop cause by the time you get there they are gone.. A recording application or program however can keep a log.

[rich85704]

I'm still learning about this, but it seems to be the case that if you have an iPhone or iPad, you have to get a wifi dongle, not a bluetooth. This is consistent with what dodge guy reported. Yes, there are several sources for bluetooth dongles, on eBay and on Amazon. Apparently great for the Android world, not so great for there Apple ecosystem. I think I'm going to go ahead and risk it, not because I need it, but because it just seems cool. I'll report back.

[dockmasterdave]

This looks great. I wasn't sure if my 06 F 150 had a sender. Went to the ford forums and a former ford transmission engineer had already answered the question. "ALL" electronic transmissions have a built in sender, and with the obd2 scanner the guage is"far more accurate" than the in dash guage. Thank you for posting this.

[powderman426]

dodge guy wrote:

powderman426 wrote:

Denny & Jami wrote:
I use this adapter Link and the $4.99 Torque App from Google Play. Give you lots of information and you can read and clear codes.

Denny

I have similar setup but got the elm bluetooth device off of eBay for less than half that price. Works well on my old droid phone since I had no further need for it.

That's the one i got. The Elm WiFi version. I think it was around $22?

cheaper here

[dodge_guy]

powderman426 wrote:

Denny & Jami wrote:
I use this adapter Link and the $4.99 Torque App from Google Play. Give you lots of information and you can read and clear codes.

Denny

I have similar setup but got the elm bluetooth device off of eBay for less than half that price. Works well on my old droid phone since I had no further need for it.

That's the one i got. The Elm WiFi version. I think it was around $22?

[powderman426]

Denny & Jami wrote:
I use this adapter Link and the $4.99 Torque App from Google Play. Give you lots of information and you can read and clear codes.

Denny

I have similar setup but got the elm bluetooth device off of eBay for less than half that price. Works well on my old droid phone since I had no further need for it.

[dodge_guy]

Here are some screen shots of the app. The app has much more accurate readouts than the stock gauges. And again these gauges can be configured any way you like. You can even have each gauge give 2 different readouts! The analog could be a tach while the digital could be engine temp.





And some fun ones!





And yes i think the 99 Ford doesn't require an in app purchase? Only certain years. And that purchase covers any model of that year ford. I'll get back to you on the dongle manuf. i know i bought it from Amazon for less than $30.