Member Since: 25 Jan 2010
Location: London
Posts: 8491
Bluetooth OBD live view
OK, a BIG thanks to DrLex who pointed me at the Bluetooth OBD ELM 327 (see below). This arrived today after a good few weeks on order from far away, I downloaded the Torque app on the android system to my HTC phone, plugged in the OBD, turned on the phone and bluetooth, connected using bluetooth code 6789 (this is important as they don't tell you this and it took some digging around to find) and BINGO, all revealed on my HTC.
Still playing around but gave a little rev for the pic below, will update later
Member Since: 16 Jan 2010
Location: Dublin
Posts: 798
My... that looks like fun!2001 D2 GS (I must be mad!)
2005 D3 S 10-12 (gone and missed)
5th Feb 2011 2:38 pm
buda
Member Since: 24 Jan 2010
Location: strathclyde
Posts: 334
thets interesting...can you read and clear fault codes??
5th Feb 2011 5:32 pm
Discotres
Member Since: 25 Jan 2010
Location: London
Posts: 8491
It's as new to me as it is to anyone else on here who hasn't seen it before. As I said it comes with no instruction manual but plenty on the web, I did read somewhere about clearing codes but will have to check, there are much more informed techi people on here who will no doubt share their experience.
I will have a play and report back further.
*Please Note:
This OBD I have bought is a longish one in length, as the OBD port on the car faces directly down and positioned between the brake and accelerator (on a manual) but at the forward part under the dash, there is not a lot of room to work the pedals, well you can work the pedals but not kick your feet about, so be careful not to knock it. I see that the same place I bought mine from do another shorter version, a bit more expensive but may be easier to work with if you want to operate it while driving.
Also note that the OBD will be using power even when the vehice is off, so better to unplug it rather than face a flat battery on your return
5th Feb 2011 5:44 pm
lad
Member Since: 17 May 2008
Location: Blackburn
Posts: 634
Wiggs had something like this a couple of years ago, he showed me it but he said it didn't do what he wanted it to do, but it was an app for the iPhone. I suppose it depends what you want to do with it, it would look good if you could place it on the dash whilst driving, but as you say you might kick the device sticking out of the obd socket!
Just looked at the small version, looks like that would not interfere with driving.
6th Feb 2011 1:27 pm
Discotres
Member Since: 25 Jan 2010
Location: London
Posts: 8491
What wiggs wants and what I want are two different things, I don't have a clue so any gadget like this that shows me anything is a result
I will check it out in the week and post on here images of what it shows, it does have a section for reading codes and resetting them, not got that far yet but will keep you updated.
What is nice about the software on the android is that you can make each dial small medium or large e.g. one dial per page, or have them in sets, you can also have a digital or graph display mode.
At the end of the day the reviews are fantastic and used by mechanics, apparently it does more on petrol than diesel. As for me I am treating it as a toy/gadget, I will not be getting under the bonnet to play with anything, I just want to try and understand a bit more about what is going on, the engine load readings are interesting, also does EGR and boost pressure plus loads of more stuff.
Check out the videos on youtube and reviews all over the place
6th Feb 2011 1:45 pm
lad
Member Since: 17 May 2008
Location: Blackburn
Posts: 634
Must admit it does look good, only thing is I don't have an android phone Nice to see something happening while you drive, more dials and that! Look forward to more pictures and a little review
6th Feb 2011 2:34 pm
MacLeod 313
Member Since: 18 Apr 2008
Location: away
Posts: 10723
lad wrote:
Wiggs had something like this a couple of years ago, he showed me it but he said it didn't do what he wanted it to do, but it was an app for the iPhone.
Iphone App - Rev Lite, I have had it for ages too.
6th Feb 2011 2:48 pm
JDB
Member Since: 25 Mar 2010
Location: NW Hampshire
Posts: 2485
Im liking this!
Last edited by JDB on 12th Jun 2011 11:58 am. Edited 1 time in total
6th Feb 2011 3:42 pm
Discotres
Member Since: 25 Jan 2010
Location: London
Posts: 8491
Just for info I downloaded Rev lite (before investing in the full program) to my iphone and ipad, it would NOT connect to the particular OBD reader I have, so it is either the Apple bluetooth settings or the software. If you google about them make sure that whatever you get has been tested on what you are using, luckily I had an HTC Desire HD lying about with a huge screen, it's perfect to use as a display for this. I am still to set up my laptop to it, it requires a laptop with bluetooth built in or dongle. I have a spare Sony Vaio half size laptop that I will use to fiddle in the car.
I have placed some pictures taken today for info, the only 'live' ones are the first 3 after we set off, you will see the trip distance and the load changes while changing gear, it also shows you other live data available, this particular page of the program is called 'raw data', the other pages on the system are shown after but these are not live but just to show you what comes up. It is interesting to see you can find code faults and reset them, also get a live feed to a database that tells you the fault code diagnoses, not tested that yet but will keep you updated.
There are loads more settings and data, but this is enough to keep me busy, just fascinating watching what your engine is doing live. As I say you can also have the dials one per page, or more, or show the data in graph or digital mode. You don't just need to use when driving along as it gives live data as soon as it s plugged in
Any questions please don't ask as I don't have a clue, just learning myself
A bit of a waste using an HTC phone just for this, but better than it lying in a drawer, I find the iPhone much easier to use, anyway, I will get a nice windscreen mount for it and off we go
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Last edited by Discotres on 6th Feb 2011 4:57 pm. Edited 1 time in total
6th Feb 2011 4:19 pm
lad
Member Since: 17 May 2008
Location: Blackburn
Posts: 634
Looking good With the apple bluetooth its hit and miss, There is lots of info there, wether you need it all is another thing but still its good to see what the engine is doing. I was wondering if the bluetooth module you had, or the other small one would work with the iphone but looks like it might not do. But, with a bit of faffing with the settings maybe it might do
6th Feb 2011 4:40 pm
crwoody
Member Since: 09 Mar 2009
Location: Littleborough
Posts: 2109
I've got Rev Lite on my iPhone, (same as Wiggs had,) I connect using WiFi with the Kiwi device, I don't think bluetooth is supported on Rev.
It works pretty well and is quite responsive but the free version is somewhat limited, (aren't they all,) given that I have no "trouble codes" that need resetting at the mo, I couldn't justify shelling out 30 odd quid for the full version just to get a bit more info.Clive
6th Feb 2011 5:10 pm
wiggs
Member Since: 03 Sep 2006
Location: Manchester
Posts: 14368
i had the full version ( well still have it ) ...but i didn't pay the £30 G4 Gone ...but not forgotten
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Nice to see something happening while you drive, more dials and that! Look forward to more pictures and a little review 
