Hi Everyone -

I have one of these OBDII Bluetooth readers. I'd like to hook it up to my iPhone 4 so I can capture live data while driving.

I'm currently using my laptop, but it’s much too big to use on a regular basis.

I tried the "Rev2" program from the AppStore, but it doesn’t seem to connect.

Anyone using a setup like this?

thanks in advance!
Dave

 

See if this works for you PLX Kiwi Wifi - Connect your iPhone / iPod Touch to your car's OBD2 OBDII Port.

 

I've been playing around about a week now with the Free version of Torque for Android...don't know if it is also available for iPhone.

It's neat.....but I haven't really nailed down what I want from it, yet. Switch cars and a bunch of your parameters change...for instance some stuff recorded in the S_type comes up blank on the XJ and vice-versa. Also, my XJ has a recurring (coupla times a week) P0411 secondary air code....but this pops up on the ELM as three other codes, none of which are the P0411....it will clear them on the fly....or I can wait til I get home and check it with my corded Autel and confirm it is the P0411. Yes, I have considered that if my $21 Autel scanner disagrees with my $39.99 ELM327....maybe the ELM is right? but the Autel was in agreement with the WDS..so I think it is the correct one.

On the other hand...both scanners agree on the P0174 on my wife's S-type. Guess I need to order a full-set of vacuum lines....

 

No need to purchase a full set of vacuum hoses you just need to find the problem. It could be a hose, a connector, a gasket, a pipe or the MAFS. I use CRC Throttle Body cleaner and spray around the hoses and when the engine begins to shack I hit the spot. I also use CRC MAFS cleaner to clean the MAFS. Who knows you may have a hose or a pipe that is not connected correctly. These cars do not like a vacuum leak! This link might help! http://www.gusglikas.com/images/Auto...otos/P0171.pdf

 

I think it must be the SOFTWARE you're using with the Elm. The Elm really doesn't get codes wrong!

Or - at a real stretch of the imagination - you have a clone and it's broken. Unlikely to be broken like that, bearing in mind the underlying protocol. I'd blame the software. Or the car really IS replying with codes that vary.

 

Thanks John.....I tend to agree. One of these days I'll develop the patience to write the three down and see what they cross to. I got it from Amazon, 39.99....advertised as ELM...but who knows? Since I "smartly" got the BT version (no usb port) I'll hafta fit the laptop with BT before I can try the "real" software that came on the mini-disk with it.

 

@dbeardsl

Apples restrictive BT implementation allows their devices to only work with approved BT accessories.

To use Rev2 or any other iOS OBDII app, you need a wifi adapter like the one that Gus linked to.

 

The PLX is Bluetooth and you will need the transmitter device either from PLX or other Bluetooth devices that are compatible and at times cheaper like this one $52.99 - ELM327 Bluetooth OBD-II Wireless Transceiver Dongle - OBD/OBD2 Car Diag. Tools I hope this helps!

 

Gus

Thats wrong

The BT devices like the PLX Kiwi BT or the generic eBay ones wont work with iOS devices (though if you Jailbreak there is a way)

For iOS devices you need a Wifi OBDII dongle, like the PLX Kiwi Wifi

http://www.plxkiwi.com/kiwiwifi/

 

double post

 

Gus,

I've not used anything like this before. So this will allow me to turn my Windows Smartphone into a fully operational elm327 or what exactly?

The reviews on the website make it sound more like a product in the beta stages ????

Bob

 

It is bluetooth! And i now see it is both! PLX Kiwi Wifi - Connect your iPhone / iPod Touch to your car's OBD2 OBDII Port.

 

Yep indeed they do both - my point is, none of the BT devices will wiork with iPhones, iPads etc.

 

I can say it works on my Droid-2

 

I understand about Apple's (main reason I don't use their stuff) policy but what is unclear to me is whether you guys are talking about having the PLX device in addition or as a substitute for the Elm327 bluetooth donggle thingy?

I have a PLX device product in my race car. It's 5 years old now so they've moved on in another direction with their product line. Good idea! I was never impressed with their hardware or software though. Very hard to use and I lost a lot of data log files with that piece of junk. It was very reasonable for a datalogger though.

You guys are being a bit too terse in your replies so maybe someone who knows how this could work might take a moment and provide an outline of what's needed and how it would work? I think it would be very helpful for a lot of folks on here if you could.

I'm thinking of trying the one originally referenced on here because Gus says it works on his Droid. I wonder if it will work on the 3 year old Windows smartphone I'm about to purchase?

I also have an as yet unopened Ipad and that would be a much nicer interface but let's face it. I'll always have my phone with me. I haven't as yet reached the geeky level where I carry a laptop or Ipad around.

Bob S.

 

Just thinking aloud here but a Windows phone will have somewhat different software interfaces (APIs) as well as being a different CPU type than all the PCs out there. So, the so-common Windows aps won't run and the non-Windows apps also won't run. That may leave very few apps (if any, but I expect there will be a few). (I wouldn't start from here LOL)

 

I just thought there might be someone on here already doing this.

For Apple and others. Either one is OK with me. I'm not interested in a Droid based anything.

We did have someone who sounded like an Apple developer commenting on the restriction for their systems but I didn't understand how he was suggesting getting around this. A bit too terse.

I'm not buying the latest Windows phone because it won't work with my Outlook contacts list in the same way it does now. My cell phone requirements are pretty simple.

Otherwise the latest version of Windows Mobile Phone is much more capable and I might have a better shot at finding an OBDII app.

I suspect that the Ipad will be the easiest route followed by Droid based with Windows way off in the weeds somewhere.

 

Sorry for not being clear Straatsof...let me try again

All of these devices being discussed plug into your cars OBDII (OBD = On Board Diagnostics) diagnostic port and and sent data to a device (traditionally these devices have been special dealer equipment, or dedicated handheld devices, but in recent years software has become available for PCs, as well as mobile devices like Android, Apple or Windows Mobile phones)

The first interfaces were USB only - a direct cable from the cars OBDII port to the device.
More recently wireless interfaces have become available, meaning we can ditch the cable
The wireless interfaces are available in 2 forms. One sends the data wirelessly over bluetooth. The other sends the data wirelessly over Wifi.

USB devices:

OBDKey USB: OBDKey :: OBD USB

Wifi based devices:

PLX Kiwi Wifi: PLX Kiwi Wifi - Connect your iPhone / iPod Touch to your car's OBD2 OBDII Port.
ELMCanII-WLAN: OBDLink WLAN, USB, Bluetooth
OBDKey WLAN: http://www.obdkey.com/wifi/index.aspOBDLink Wifi: ScanTool.net LLC - OBDLink WiFi Scan Tool / Interface / Adapter - ScanTool.net

Bluetooth based devices:

PLX Kiwi Bluetooth: PLX Kiwi Bluetooth - Connect your Droid mobile device to your car's OBD2 OBDII Port
OBDKey Bluetooth: OBDKey :: OBD Bluetooth
OBDLink Bluetooth: ScanTool.net LLC - OBDLink WiFi Scan Tool / Interface / Adapter - ScanTool.net
Generic eBay ELM327 Bluetooth Dongle: e.g. (one of many) Bluetooth ELM327 Fault Code E-OBD-2 Scanner Live Dat | eBay

Note that the cheapest option of all is the generic ebay sourced device, typically manufactured in China or Hong Kong.
I know lots of people who've had success with these adapters, and others who have been less fortunate.
The developer of probably the most popular Android app (Torque) states this:


Now, what to buy??

If you have an Android device, then you have two options:

1. Buy an OBDII dongle that is Bluetooth basedOnce you have the interface, then you need an app. Most apps for Android devices support the Bluetooth based devices.
Like with apps for most platforms, these apps can give you nice realtime information in graphs / dials etc, as well as show and clear fault codes. Some apps are biased more toward realtime information than fault diagnosis and vice versa:

Torque: Torque — OBD2 Performance and Diagnostics for your Vehicle
DashCommand: DashCommand - Palmer Performance Engineering, Inc.

2. Buy an OBDII dongle that is Wifi basedSome apps (Torque I know at least) also support use with Wifi based devices.
Apps that support the Bluetooth based devices are more common so if you have an Android device I'd strongly advise getting a bluetooth adapter.


If you have an Apple iOS device (any iPhone or iPad) then you have two options:

1. Buy an OBDII dongle that is Wifi basedWifi based devices must normally be used because Apple has a very restrictive bluetooth implementation that only lets us use approved bluetooth devices - and as far as I know there are still no 'Apple approved' OBDII bluetooth devices.

Once you have the interface, then you need an app. Several apps exist for iOS devices. Like with apps for most platforms, these apps can give you nice realtime information in graphs / dials etc, as well as show and clear fault codes. Some apps are biased more toward realtime information than fault diagnosis and vice versa:

Rev2:OBDKey :: OBD WiFi :: OBD WLAN :: OBD Wireless Lan
DashCommand: DashCommand - Palmer Performance Engineering, Inc.
2. You can work around Apples restrictive bluetooth implementation by Jailbreaking your device.

If you have a jailbroken device you can supposedly use bluetooth based devices such as those I listed for Android.

Realistically, I don't know of anyone actually doing this, and I haven't tried myself, so this is based on theory and internet gossip.
If you have an Apple device I'd definitely advise going the route of using a Wifi based adapter.



If you have a Windows Mobile device:

Windows Mobile devices will work with either USB devices or Blueooth devices.

The most popular app is:

OBDGauge: OBD Gauge


If you have a Windows phone (the new Windows phones):

At this time I dont know of any apps for the new Windows phones for diagnostics so can't recommend anything for this platform.


If you have a Windows PC:

Then you have too many options to list.

Tons of apps available, most work with USB devices - some with Blueooth and Wifi based devices.
Lots of apps are manufacturer specific, but some generic ones available too.



Hope that helps!

 

Fantastico! One can't ask for anymore than that!

So it seems that the cheapie Elm327 Ebay device is not a good idea for me. I do have a Ford that I really need to use this on. I really hate flaky hardware anyway. My time is worth more than that and having spend 25 years working on a lot of bleeding edge & flaky hardware over the years I just try to avoid it now.
Is there a high quality version of this around?

Thanks so much for this and now let me digest it all.

 

Lots of people report success with the cheap eBay jobs, so may be worth a punt?

Any of the others are high quality devices.

I use the PLX Kiwi Bluetooth, and its been great since day 1.