You can now manage your car in ways only mechanics used to be able to...
There are few things in life, in terms of cost, that are more unpredictable and harder to manage than running a car. Whether you want to check for fault codes, manage fuel consumption or simply ensure that you are driving in a way that keeps the engine in perfect condition, it can be tricky to even know where to start.
However, we have an answer and all you need is an Android app and a cheap accessory to see everything that is happening with your car over long periods and in real time. The power of Bluetooth means that you can leave the app running while you drive and every data point will be logged accurately – even more importantly, you can retrieve fault codes that could save a costly trip to a mechanic. We will show you how to set everything up and you will likely be surprised at just how easy it is. When you have finished reading this, you will have full control over your car.
1. Buy the accessory
To check data on your car, you will need to purchase a Bluetooth-enabled OBD2 reader. Do your research to locate where the port is in your car and then look for a compatible reader. They can be purchased very cheaply and most cars will support the functionalit.
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2. Download an app
For this tutorial we are going to use Torque Pro, which is available on Google Play. There are a variety of options available for checking car data, but we can recommend this one as being reliable and fully featured. Download and install the app to continue with the setup.
3. Attach the reader
Turn the ignition so that electricity is going to the engine and then insert the reader into the port. This will mean that it has power to be able to pair with your Android phone and set up a valid connection. Now turn Bluetooth on to start the connection process.
4. Make the connection
Once the reader has been discovered by your Android device, it will be listed with an obvious name in the Bluetooth settings screen. Tap it and then enter the PIN that is included in the instructions that come with the reader. It will now connect and confirm it is successful.
5. Open the app
Open Torque Pro where you will see a main screen that should show the reader is now connected and working. Tap the cog icon and then select Vehicle Profile to begin adding the information for your car. Try to be as accurate as possible for the best results.
6. Check your fault codes
Tap Fault Codes on the main screen and then let the app thoroughly read your engine. This may take some time for the process to complete, but be patient as it will be worth it to see how you can stop issues that could potentially turn into expensive problems in the future.
7. Read the results
The ideal situation will be to see ‘No fault codes stored in ECU’, which means that everything should be running fine. In reality, most cars will pop up some errors over time and the majority will not cause problems later on. Modern engine sensors are extremely sensitive.
8. Real-time information
Go back to the main screen and tap Real-time Information to bring up a series of dials. These will display the exact state of various aspects of your engine and a simple test is to depress the accelerator to see the Revs change immediately. It’s a very impressive setup.
9. Change the dials
Tap and hold any dial to bring up new options that will let you change the size, display type, title and even maximum and minimum allowable values. You really can customise every single aspect of the real-time information feature so that it suits your exact needs.
10. Manage graph data
The graphing feature lets you log data in real time and in a visual form. The logging can be saved and exported for later, and the actual results are impressively accurate throughout. They are particularly useful for checking engine performance over extended periods.
11. Map Your Routes
When you tap Trip View on the main screen, you will see a familiar mapping display appear. If you leave this enabled, your journey would be tracked in fine detail for you to check later. Everything from the route to the speeds are covered visually and through accurate data points.
12. Take It Further
In Test Results, you can see summaries of each part of the engine that has been tested. Some of these merely offer a description where as others can be tapped to bring up much more detailed data that can be read, ideally in the hands of a trained professional.
13. Install Some Plugins
A quick search on the Google Play store for Torque Pro Plugins will bring up a myriad of options that can be used to enhance the tracking and real-time experience. Everything from new themes to gear change apps are available to give you almost unlimited possibilities.
Enjoy The Pro Driving Experience...
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