[ale] semi ot GOT ODB II Android working here's how - was anyone using obd ii automotive diagnostics

[Neal Rhodes]

I would not single out the warning on driving solely to Torque and ODB
readers. 

Our 2004 Toyota Prius has a central console display which shows the
state of the Hybrid drive system, along with AC and radio controls. 

Early on, we nearly had some accidents resulting from a fixation on that
display, and showing it to passengers. 

In the truck, I use a ScanguageII because it gives me quick view of 4
values I choose without having a display to fiddle with. 

Pulling the check engine fault codes is only modestly useful, as they
only indicate a general direction, not an exact diagnosis.   It is
helpful on a trip to know if I'm dealing with the EGR emission system,
or a temperature sensor.     Also being able to clear codes on the fly
and see if they recur is handy.   But ultimately, the vehicle is going
to continue to run pretty much the same way - I don't know as being able
to clear the code would get you out of a "limp-home" mode if the ECM has
decided that is in order. 

Manufacturers know that every fool in the world has access to an ODB
reader, and seem to have limited the damage that can be done
appropriately.   (not implying you are a fool.) 

Neal Rhodes

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.
> 
> 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


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