OBD-II stats machines.

[doodles19]

Was thinking about getting one of these.

Anyone have experience with them? If so would you recommend any particular one?

I would also like to keep costs as low as I can, whilst also being able to get a good product that works properly.

[deadmau5]

If you just want it for reading ecu problems then this one is fine: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Diagnostic-Scanner-Fault-Cod...

It gives you a code, you look it up in the book, and then you can clear the code as well if needed.

[doodles19]

I was thinking more along the engine statistics side... I.e temperatures, fuel usage etc etc.

Sorry if this wasn't clear.

[Glyn84]

If you have an Android phone try Torque (http://torque-bhp.com/). It costs a couple of quid (or there is a free version) and you only need a £15-20 OBD2 Bluetooth dongle from eBay.

[doodles19]

Glyn84 said:

If you have an Android phone try Torque (http://torque-bhp.com/). It costs a couple of quid (or there is a free version) and you only need a £15-20 OBD2 Bluetooth dongle from eBay.

Afraid I have the dreaded iPhone. I've herd their not fans of using Bluetooth.

[R26Andy]

I used to have a VI Monitor. Top piece of kit but a little pricey.

You can also get apps for most smart phones.

edit: Ive also just remembered I was looking at a cheaper type on ebay for about £40. Seller was located near newcastle so just sort the results by distance nearest a newcastle postcode and you`ll find it.

Andy

[mcflurry]

If it's only £21.50 for a machine, surely it should be part of the tool kit

[R26Andy]

Found what I was jibbering on about in my last post.....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/READER-V-EOBD-OBD2-SCANNER-C...

Cracking little gadget.

Andy

[MX7]

You could use a laptop + bluetooth dongle.

[Mr Whippy]

If you have a laptop, buy an ELM327 cable (USB), and perhaps something like PCMScan (buy it)


Really good for watching engine sensors at varying rates, logging them against each other. You can even script things in there. Ie, engine sensors show their final output, say 80degC for coolant temp. But you can run a script alongside it to turn it into voltage or whatever else (if you know the curve/linearity of the conversion)... so you can then look right at equivalent voltage etc.

Or you can export to CSV and do stuff with it in Excel, which is cool too, but PCMScan offers that kinda functionality in-built.


All OBD logging/interface tools seem to work on a system of request/wait/get response per item being loggged. So if you are logging say rpm and speed, your device asks for rpm, waits, gets it back, asks for speed, waits, gets it back.
Thus if you get say 300ms to do a full request/response, you might only get about 1 frame of engine data per second. Not exactly crap, but not exactly brilliant either.

So if you want to log about 5 different streams side by side, you will find the data not so great. To get useful data in a certain engine state, you need to drive a specific way, ie, 40mph in 4th at full load, you'd need to find a hill, or use the foot brake to try get it in that state for about 4 seconds so you can easily look at all sensors values at constant levels.



Dave

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

There's some OBD gadgets here http://www.dealextreme.com/c/obd-obd2-car-diag-too...

[doodles19]

Thanks for the replies, with regards to the laptop suggestions, I realise these will probably offer me more information. However, I was looking for something I can just leave attached and used as more of an in-depth trip computer.

[Mr Whippy]

doodles19 said:

Thanks for the replies, with regards to the laptop suggestions, I realise these will probably offer me more information. However, I was looking for something I can just leave attached and used as more of an in-depth trip computer.

There is a tiny one that is USB that Mike (or Ed China), used on Wheeler Dealers the other day... The Saab 9-3 Turbo one... was quite a cool little device

Dave

[doodles19]

Has anyone had any experience with one of these?

http://www.scangauge2.co.uk/

[hyperblue]

doodles19 said:

Has anyone had any experience with one of these?

http://www.scangauge2.co.uk/

Yep, I have one mounted on my dash. Great for real time information and reading/clearing fault codes. It doesn't data log though.

[Piersman2]

I've just bought myself a set up this last week.

Downloaded 'Torque(free)' to HTC.

Bought this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wireless-Bluetooth-Diagnos...

Took about 1 min to get everything plugged in and working. I had my engine fault code cleared in another 30 secs. Brilliant. Even tells you what the fault codes are and what they mean. You can activate GPS in your phone and do lots of tracking with speeds, distances, 0-60 etc..., etc...

But I just wanted to re-set my engine light

[stemll]

Mr Whippy said:

doodles19 said:

Thanks for the replies, with regards to the laptop suggestions, I realise these will probably offer me more information. However, I was looking for something I can just leave attached and used as more of an in-depth trip computer.

There is a tiny one that is USB that Mike (or Ed China), used on Wheeler Dealers the other day... The Saab 9-3 Turbo one... was quite a cool little device

Dave

http://www.obd2.com/scantool/mini-dl.htm Pricey at $200 though

Or http://tinyurl.com/5ujzzma for £130

[Mr Whippy]

Yeah, quite steep, but quite cool too

PS, is the PID request/receive speed going to be the same on any device? Ie, I've yet to see anyone getting say 10 PID's requested and received in a second for example. I guess the speed of any call over OBD for a PID is limited by the OBD protocol?

Hmm

Dave

[Skindude]

I saw the Disco chanel show and found these two on ebay that are cheaper :

Texa OBD Log
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

Turbogauge 3 - like Scangauge
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TurboGauge-III-4in1-Vehicle-...

[ferkle]

If it helps, I use an Autel Maxiscan something or other, only cost me £40 odd, works great on my fleet.