Calling OBD/Torque nerds!

"merkyg" (merkyg) 10/17/2014 at 21:24 • Filed to: obd, torgue, android, forester, help, question, apps

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(Because I always type ODB out of habit)

Coupla questions if you'd be so kind:

1) I have one of those cheap bluetooth OBD/ELM327 cartridge things and want to use my phone to give some readouts via Torque (or some better app someones gonna tell me about hint hint) but getting the thing out of the socket in my Foz is ridiculously tight and needs needlenose pliers! so is it practical to have it permanently in place, basically would it cause any noticeable voltage drain to be there with the car off? (forgive me, electrics not my strong point)

2) Any tips on apps (Android) or tweaks to get the most out of Torque? what do you find the most useful gauges etc to have on display?

Cheers! have a err....umm, a Vauxhall Viva HC (first car I ever drove) for your trouble.

(edit because I forgot! shut up, its nearly 3am)

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > merkyg 10/17/2014 at 21:29

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I use torque, and have a a cheap ELM327 as well, and if it stays connected, it'll eventually kill the battery if you leave it in there, unless you can flip a switch to turn it off.

Bricks > merkyg 10/17/2014 at 21:30

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On #1, I don't think the OBD circuit is powered when the car is off. so there shouldn't be a problem with phantom drains

on #2, I have no clue due to having never used torque, but somebody else could probably be more helpful than me.

Redacted

Bricks > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 10/17/2014 at 21:31

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Huh, I always though the OBD port wasn't powered when the car was off.

dogisbadob > merkyg 10/17/2014 at 21:31

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The reason for the common typo is because diagnosing all that computer and emissions shit can be a real dirty bastard to deal with!

Hey, dirty (mechanics), baby they got your money!

whoarder is tellurium > merkyg 10/17/2014 at 21:35

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1. Eh, I've left it in mine for a day or two (having forgot) and didnt really notice a difference.

2. Since my car is turbocharged, I look at fuel trims, MAF flow, intake temp and coolant temp. I've got an actual boost gauge instead of using Torque now- as Torque is/was inaccurate. You can customize the views and gauges to your liking.

Best thing about Torque is reading/clearing fault codes with ease. There are also ever increasing selections of plugins.

merkyg > dogisbadob 10/17/2014 at 21:35

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I miss Dirt McGirt.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Bricks 10/17/2014 at 21:36

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Every car I tested my OBD scanner on kept the port powered, I tested this on a Ford Escape, Honda Odyssey, VW Jetta, and a BMW 330xi.

merkyg > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 10/17/2014 at 21:37

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Connected as in plugged in, not connected to the phone I'm guessing?

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > merkyg 10/17/2014 at 21:38

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Plugged in, I am sure it'll eventually kill the battery, although it never happened to me.

Bricks > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 10/17/2014 at 21:41

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Ok, thanks for letting me know. Also, does the ECU stay powered?

merkyg > whoarder is tellurium 10/17/2014 at 21:41

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Never managed to actually clear any with mine, airbag light in our Saab, ebrake sensor in a Renault, coupla others. I hear VW group cars are easiest to 'talk' to? I have a cheap handheld code reader too but no problems with my Scoob to deal with :)

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Bricks 10/17/2014 at 21:44

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I'm sure it doesn't, but it does have a small draw that keeps parameters settings in memory.

whoarder is tellurium > merkyg 10/17/2014 at 21:53

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Its not perfect as there are so many communication protocols out there. However, airbag faults and other subsystems (depending on the car) definitely cannot cleared with Torque. Its generally for powertrain fault codes.

merkyg > whoarder is tellurium 10/17/2014 at 22:16

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Yeah that might be what I read about VW, everything else is on a different system with AB/security stuff. I have a immobiliser keypad in my Subaru but as its used I have no idea how to what the code is or reset the code which would give me more peace of mind. Guessing OBD might not reveal that to me.

doodon2whls > merkyg 10/17/2014 at 23:46

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1) The J1850 OBD port shouldn't be that tight. Something isn't right. The OBD port is powered with the key off and an ELM327 device will eventually drain the battery.

2) I have the Torque App and it does everything I need it to on my Turbocharged car. I played with Torque extensively in both my car and truck when I first got it and set up several gauge pages, but only use it to diagnose bad behavior or read/clear fault codes now. That's not because it's a bad App... It's because I don't feel like setting it all up for every drive... I like to get in my car and DRIVE... not fiddle with my phone unless it's running googlemaps and guiding me away from the traffic jamz.

uofime > merkyg 10/20/2014 at 12:59

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those cheap obd readers have a pretty bad data rate that is not torque's fault

merkyg > uofime 10/20/2014 at 19:46

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It does struggle to stay connected for too long, but its ok for the money. I don't rely on anything its telling me (though a reliable distance to empty would be nice).