Thread: Bluetooth live engine data

Originally Posted by jonesfam

OBD2 Bluetooth: Other Diagnostic Service Tools | eBay



I'm not good at this but I hope the link works?



Jonesfam

Yes thanks Mr Jones. That looks like the type of thing I thought must exist... I will investigate further. Thanks heaps.

Taking a punt I've ordered a wifi dongle http://m.ebay.com/itm/252420291696?_mwBanner=1

and I will try to read it with this app: OBD Fusion - OBD2 vehicle scan tool and diagnostics by OCTech, LLC
https://appsto.re/au/eOkYM.i

Might work, might not. Not much cost to try it. Will advise how I go if it ever arrives.

I don't know how different the OBD works in the Land Rover compared to the Ford Ranger, but with an easily sourced app and an old smartphone plugged into the OBD just about every possible mechanical thing that can be monitored can be screened either as analogue guage format or digital.
I've been meaning to do it myself.

My son is in a European Car Club in Brisbane and he says many of his veedub owning friends do exactly that.....he said some of them just bluetac the phone or velcroe it where it can be seen when driving.

apparently hundreds of variations of the display are available.

cheers Dennis

Thanks Dennis. Makes you wonder how they manage to sell $600 tools to do less than the same thing.

Originally Posted by Walruslike

Thanks Dennis. Makes you wonder how they manage to sell $600 tools to do less than the same thing.

The tools you are talking about can only "read" and display information. The $600 tools recommended (actually they are a lot cheaper than that at the moment) can do a whole lot more than that.

Originally Posted by BMKal

The tools you are talking about can only "read" and display information. The $600 tools recommended (actually they are a lot cheaper than that at the moment) can do a whole lot more than that.

I'm not sure that is correct... won't know till I try it, but the blurb says they can reset faults and change settings. Logically that seems reasonable... It's the same port that both types use... It's no harder to write Comms than it is to receive...

Wooohooo! The dongle arrived today and I've just had a play with it.

I downloaded a iOS app OBD Fusion and it connected and started displaying gauges and graphs no prob.

My observations so far:

- haven't yet found a app that specifically supports Land Rover

- can configure all sorts of gauges and readings

- should have got Bluetooth instead of wifi because wifi sucks power out of the old battery in my phone

- both phone and dongle got hot

- stupid place for data port near accelerator pedal. Would have been better in passenger footwell. Didn't kick it while driving but didn't like it being there.

- didn't have any trouble codes for my vehicle registering so pleased about that

- app seems to think it can reset check engine etc... don't know if that's true

- dongle cost (can't recall exactly) around $15 and app cost $12

- I've seen hints I might be able to manually advise the app of specific LR codes for things I want to track

- I can now see the engine coolant temp! (instead of that stupid stuck-in-middle graphic that is on the dashboard)

- dongle probably sucks some power or it might keep the data bus alive so removed it after use.

- at first blush I can't see the transmission oil temp. Don't even know yet if my FL2 MY13 has a sensor there.

- turns out you don't go blind playing with your dongle...

All up very pleased... hours of fun for the geekily inclined.

Here are a couple of piccys from the App Store page... It looked much like this for me...