[ale] semi ot GOT ODB II Android working here's how - was anyone using obd ii automotive diagnostics
Michael H. Warfield
mhw at WittsEnd.com
Tue May 1 10:40:29 EDT 2012
On Tue, 2012-05-01 at 00:13 -0400, Ron Frazier (ALE) wrote:
> Hi Neal, and others,
> I finally got my Bluetooth OBD scanner, and have been having a ball
> playing with it. I'm going to share my experience with everyone.
> Regarding distractions, I agree with you, so let's get the warnings out
> of the way.
TALK! TALK! TALK!
Get him booked and on the schedule!
Mike
> Warning - Do not try this, as it can kill you! OK, some of you will try
> it anyway. I'll show you how.
>
> Actually, really, seriously, you NEED to heed the following.
>
> Warning - The best way to use this application is to have someone else
> drive and you tinker with the phone / tablet (henceforth referred to as
> tablet).
>
> Warning - Preset the gauges you want on the screen before you start driving.
> Warning - If you have the tablet in your view, make sure it is securely
> mounted.
> Warning - Do not touch the tablet while the car is moving. If you do
> touch the tablet, do it while the car is stopped and will remain stopped
> long enough for you to finish what you're doing.
> Warning - If you look over at the tablet, do so for only a second or so
> when not near cars or people or animals or inanimate objects.
>
> This thing has an almost magnetic pull on your hand to tap the screen to
> do things. Fight it. I went out planning to follow these rules from
> the start. I made a tiny, short, exception, looked at and touched the
> screen for the briefest period of time, and ended up getting annoyingly
> close to someone's rear bumper. Thankfully, his car and mine never touched.
>
> Before you ask, I did capture the full instrument panel screen shots
> while driving at very slow speed in my neighborhood with nobody around.
> Other than that, I secured the thing on my dash to my GPS mounting
> bracket, and let it be.
>
> Regarding clearing check engine lights, etc. If you clear a fault like
> that, it takes about 100 miles for the car's computer to complete it's
> cycle and declare that it's happy. Prior to that time, you cannot pass
> emissions, for example. If the fault stays gone, then you could pass
> the emissions test. If the fault indication returns, you'll probably
> just have to fix the problem to pass the emissions test.
>
> OK, enough of that. I totally love this product. It is great fun, and
> very informative. I'm going to share my experience here in case anyone
> else want to try it. I now have two new virtual instrument clusters
> that I can display on my tablet, one with 15 items, and one with 19 items.
>
> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9879631/ODB12%20Rons%20new%20gauges.jpg
> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9879631/ODB13%20Rons%20new%20gauges%20pg2.jpg
>
> Here's what you need to make this work:
>
> 1) Android phone / tablet with Android 1.5 (I think) or above,
> Bluetooth, GPS, and wifi
> 2) The Torque Pro Android application to read the car's Engine Control
> Computer. I think there's a free version with ads. I got the Pro
> version for, get this, $ 5, in order to support the developer and
> eliminate any possible ads. There may be other programs to do this too.
> 3) A Bluetooth OBD II adapter which plugs into your car's diagnostic
> port. I think the application can use wifi or USB adapters, but haven't
> tried this.
>
> Here's the Bluetooth adapter that I purchased. I cannot speak to
> longevity, but, so far, it's working fine. It was $ 24 with free
> shipping. It's dimensions are about 3" x 2" x 1", and it plugs into the
> port under the dash near your feet. In my case, the adapter continues
> to draw power even after you remove the ignition key. You might not
> want it to stay plugged in when you're away. Also, it could potentially
> allow someone else to link to your car's computer if they're close by.
> I have to study up on bluetooth security. I've confirmed that my tablet
> can read the car when I'm 30' away from it. This adapter came with
> software to run on the PC. I haven't tried that yet.
>
> http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006MPZ9VC/ -
> BAFX Products (TM) - Bluetooth OBD2 scan tool - For check engine light
> and other diagnostics - Android compatible
>
> Here's how to get all the pieces working. By the way, I'm sorry some of
> the photographs I'm showing are fuzzy. My camera really didn't like to
> focus on the tablet screen.
>
> Buy Torque Pro from the Google Play Market (or try the free one),
> download it, and install it on your Android device.
>
> Get a Bluetooth OBD II adapter. Some work well. Some don't. Some work
> with some cars and not others. Some units may work slightly
> differently. All I know is that this adapter is working with my 2002
> Toyota Camry and my wife's 2007 Hyundai Sonata. Plug the adapter into
> the port under the car's dash near your feet. Make sure it's facing to
> match the keyed connector. On my Toyota, it's label toward the driver.
> On my wife's Hyundai, it's label away from the driver. Don't hit it
> with your feet. I haven't tried reading / clearing any fault codes yet.
>
> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9879631/OBD01%20-%20adapter%20under%20dash.JPG
>
> Turn the car's ignition switch to the accessory position but don't start
> the car. The power light on the adapter should come on if it's not
> already on.
>
> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9879631/OBD02%20-%20adapter%20with%20power%20on.JPG
>
> Go to the bluetooth setup screen on your tablet under settings and tap
> search for devices. This is Android 4, Ice Cream Sandwich. Other
> versions may work differently.
>
> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9879631/OBD03%20-%20Bluetooth%20setup.JPG
>
> This particular device shows up as CBT. Tap it to pair with it. Based
> on my reading, some Android devices may say paired but not connected
> when done. This is OK.
>
> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9879631/OBD04%20CBT%20bluetooth%20device.JPG
>
> Enter the pairing code for the device. This one is 1234. Based on my
> reading, other adapters may be different and some don't provide this
> data in the documentation. Read the reviews on Amazon for the product
> you're interested in to find out what other users did.
>
> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9879631/OBD05%20enter%20pairing%20code.JPG
>
> Next, start up the Torque Pro program. Here is it's home screen. Once
> you're talking to your car, this acceleration gauge changes to engine RPM.
>
> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9879631/OBD06%20Torque%20home%20screen.JPG
>
> Be sure to experiment with the menu button from different screens as you
> will get different results. Tap the menu button from the main screen to
> get to the preferences page.
>
> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9879631/OBD07%20Torque%20preferences.JPG
>
> From here, tap ODB2 Adapter Settings.
>
> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9879631/OBD08%20OBD2%20Adapter%20settings.JPG
>
> From here, tap Choose bluetooth device.
>
> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9879631/OBD09%20Choose%20Bluetooth%20device.JPG
>
> On this page, tap the CBT (or whatever) device that you paired with before.
>
> Now, you can back out of the menus. After the system starts
> communicating with your car, the other lights on the adapter should
> start flashing and the gauge on the home screen should change to engine RPM.
>
> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9879631/ODB10%20Adapter%20communicating.JPG
>
> This picture shows one of the multiple dashboard screens of Torque Pro.
> Long tap an empty space to get a menu to add things. Long tap an object
> to get a menu to move, delete, and change objects.
>
> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9879631/ODB11%20Torque%20default%20gauges.JPG
>
> Here are some other menu settings you'll probably want to set.
>
> On the ODB adapter settings page:
>
> Auto bluetooth on off - unchecked (I don't want it trying to find
> the car if I'm in a building configuring it.)
> Faster communication - checked - if your adapter works that way
>
> By the way, I HATE the way that Android menu screens immediately save
> settings and don't have a save and cancel button. If I accidentally
> touch something, I have to scan the whole screen to see what was changed
> and then touch it again and fix it. This also applies to some of the
> menu screens in Linux.
>
> This program was born in some metric speaking country, UK maybe. Tweak
> the following on the Units screen to get it to speak in US terms:
>
> Use miles - checked
> Use celcius - unchecked (all other use a metric thing lines
> unchecked)
> Use feet - checked
> Use psi - checked
> Use gallons - checked
> US gallons - checked (rather than imperial gallons)
> Use cfm - checked
> 12 hour clock - checked (or not if you prefer)
>
> If you have multiple cars, and you want to keep separate data for each,
> go ahead and set up a separate vehicle profile for each. If you do it
> later, you'll erase the gauges you've set up. This will force you to
> have to set up a separate set of gauges on each car, but I think it's
> worth it to have separate data. To do this, select menu from the main
> screen, then vehicle profile, then add or edit as necessary.
>
> When you set up the profile, go down to the bottom and check the
> advanced option to allow each car to have a separate dashboard. Save
> the profile. Then exit all the way out of the app using the back button
> to make sure everything is saved. Do the same when you've finished
> configuring the gauges for each car. When you switch cars, switch profiles.
>
> After you get the gauges set for one car and like them, save a screen
> shot. On a gauge screen, tap menu, more, save screenshot, then share by
> your email client, for example. If you're on a wifi only device, you'll
> have to be within range of the wifi to transmit the email message. Use
> a printout of this screenshot to configure your other cars.
>
> Here's how I set up my gauges and the tweaks I had to make to them.
>
> Gauge page 1 -
> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9879631/ODB12%20Rons%20new%20gauges.jpg
>
> Going left to right top to bottom:
>
> 01) Engine RPM - dial meter type gauge - change max range to 6
> 02) Distance to empty - dial meter - change max range to 500. You must
> set the gas tank size and current level for this to work if your ECU
> doesn't report fuel level, as mine does not. Update the fuel level when
> you fill up. I chose to under report my fuel tank size by 2 gal to
> allow for a reserve. This is an estimate only.
> 03) Coolant temperture - dial meter - change range 100 to 250
> 04) Fuel flow - dial meter - change max range to 5
> 05) GPS speed - digital gauge
> 06) GPS speed difference - digital - Shows variance between GPS and OBD
> speed.
> 07) Fuel remaining estimate - bar graph - This is a calculated, not
> measured, value.
> 08) GPS Sat - digital - Shows the number of GPS satellites in use.
> 09) GPS Acc - digital - Shows the accuracy of the GPS fix.
> 10) GPS Bearing - compass - Shows the direction I'm traveling in.
> 11) GPS Altitude - digital - Shows approximate altitude above sea
> level. This is not as accurate as position.
> 12) Speed - dial meter - set max range to 100 - This is how fast the car
> thinks it's going.
> 13) Volts Ad - dial meter - set range 8 - 16 - This shows voltage at the
> OBD II adapter as far as I can tell. In my case, it reads about 1 V
> lower than a meter I have plugged into the cigarette lighter.
> 14) MPG avg - dial meter - set max range 45. - Long term average MPG.
> 15) MPG - dial meter - set max range 45 - Instantaneous MPG.
>
> Gauge page 2 -
> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9879631/ODB13%20Rons%20new%20gauges%20pg2.jpg
>
> Going left to right, top to bottom. Many of the gauges here show the
> same data as page 1, but sometimes with different types of gauges. I'll
> mention the main differences. Digital gauges don't generally need any
> range adjustments.
>
> 01 - 05) Trip information gauges
> 06) Engine on indicator - This is a special type of gauge, but can be
> assigned to any sensor. I assigned this to engine RPM, then changed the
> title from revs on to engine on.
> 08) Trip reset BUTTON - Press this to reset the trip data. It ALSO
> resets the long term MPG (not just trip MPG) data. I don't think it
> should. But it does.
>
> I found out that unplugging the bluetooth adapter or exiting the program
> also clears the trip data. I don't think it should do that either, but
> it does. So, as it's currently programed, if you want to clear your
> trip data, but not your long term MPG, just exit and restart Torque.
> Changing the fuel level in your profile will also clear the trip data.
> To leave the trip data intact at a fuel stop, leave Torque running,
> leave the adapter powered (which may work without your key in), and
> don't update your fuel level data in the profile. At this point, your
> distance to empty gauge will be wrong.
>
> All the other gauges are variations of the ones on page 1.
>
> Using this program is really a blast. It gives me lots of great
> information about my car's operation that I couldn't get otherwise.
> And, having the 10" tablet screen to show them is really cool. This
> runs the dual 1 GHz cpu's on my tablet to about 50 %, so I don't know
> how well it would work on a slower device. I may think about getting a
> 4" or 5" tablet to permanently display a smaller set of gauges. If
> anyone else tries this, please share how it turns out. I'll be glad to
> answer anybody's questions.
>
> PS - I was hoping to be able to access the tire pressure sensors on my
> wife's Hyundai, but couldn't. I guess I'll have to do that the old
> fashioned way. Here's a retrofit tire pressure monitoring kit I'm
> considering for my Toyota. It looks really cool.
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Orange-Electronic-P409S-Retrofit-Monitoring/dp/B002DYH586/ref=au_pf_pfg_s?ie=UTF8&Model=Camry|1011&n=15684181&s=automotive&Make=Toyota|76&Year=2002|2002&vehicleType=automotive&newCar=1&carId=001
>
> http://www.orangetpmsusa.com/aftermarket-products/passenger-car-tpms-2/
>
> Stay safe.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Ron
>
>
>
> On 4/29/2012 12:03 AM, Neal Rhodes wrote:
> > I have used the Torque product and ODB bluetooth on my Sprinter B3500
> > truck on occasion.
> >
> > However, normally I have a ScanguageII sitting on the ODB port reading
> > off turbo pressure, voltage, MPG, and coolant Temp.
> >
> > On those occasions where it has thrown a check engine light and
> > corresponding code, the ODB reported code has been of marginal use.
> > It's Mercedes best translation. In those instances it had to go to
> > a Chrysler dealer who had the Mercedes computer to obtain the real
> > Mercedes codes. Torque didn't do any better than the
> > ScanguageII. Both Torque and Scanguage let you reset the Check
> > engine to see if it comes back.
> >
> > Frankly, I think handling an Android device in a moving car is too
> > much distraction for the driver.
> >
> > Neal Rhodes
> >
> > On Fri, 2012-04-27 at 22:27 -0400, Ron Frazier (ALE) wrote:
> >> Hi guys,
> >>
> >> I have ordered an ELM 327 obd ii bluetooth adapter from amazon and am
> >> looking forward to using it and the Torque program on my android
> >> tablet to gather diagnostic data and provide virtual instruments on
> >> my car. I was wondering if anyone else has experimented with this,
> >> and what kind of things you're doing.
> >>
> >> Also, while I'm sure I'll enjoy using my 10" tablet for this purpose,
> >> I'm also sure I don't want to mount that in my windshield
> >> permanently. So, I'm wondering if there is a cheap 5" android tablet
> >> or a cheap 4" - 5" smartphone I could get on ebay or elsewhere, for
> >> example, that I can use to run android programs without a cell phone
> >> account. I would want it to run Android 3 or 4, preferably 4. I might
> >> consider permanently mounting something like that in the car.
> >>
> >> Any info you can share on the topic would be appreciated.
> >>
> >> Sincerely,
> >>
> >> Ron
>
>
>
> --
>
> (To whom it may concern. My email address has changed. Replying to former
> messages prior to 03/31/12 with my personal address will go to the wrong
> address. Please send all personal correspondence to the new address.)
>
> (PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want to
> call on the phone. I get about 300 emails per day from alternate energy
> mailing lists and such. I don't always see new messages very quickly.)
>
> Ron Frazier
>
> 770-205-9422 (O) Leave a message.
> linuxdude AT techstarship.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Ale mailing list
> Ale at ale.org
> http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
> See JOBS, ANNOUNCE and SCHOOLS lists at
> http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo
--
Michael H. Warfield (AI4NB) | (770) 985-6132 | mhw at WittsEnd.com
/\/\|=mhw=|\/\/ | (678) 463-0932 | http://www.wittsend.com/mhw/
NIC whois: MHW9 | An optimist believes we live in the best of all
PGP Key: 0x674627FF | possible worlds. A pessimist is sure of it!
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: application/pgp-signature
Size: 482 bytes
Desc: This is a digitally signed message part
Url : http://mail.ale.org/pipermail/ale/attachments/20120501/53c75c47/attachment.bin
More information about the Ale
mailing list