SMARTPHONE APPS

Between Android (Google Play) and iPhone iOS (Apple Store) there are close to 500 apps that utilize sensor output from the OBD-II data link to supply
information to these applications. They provide a wealth of information, education, and entertainment, all at a low cost to the user.

Covering both the Android and iPhone market are hundreds of OBD-II
related smartphone applications to choose from. Ranging in price from
“free” to $5 or more, they are an inexpensive way to have a fully functional
scan tool that as a bonus makes phone calls Many of these applications
do more than simply read and erase trouble codes. They can display real-
time data from the car’s engine management system, provide instant fuel
SCAN TOOLS

economy numbers, create custom dashboards with all types of gauges that
can display any output from the OBD-II system, and more. With all the
OBD-II data available it’s no wonder that some of these applications also
offer some fun behind-the-wheel features. Most smartphones are equipped
with the accelerometers and GPS locating capabilities; using these functions
can provide a sophisticated view of a car’s performance. The vehicle’s weight,
horsepower, torque, and acceleration can all be calculated and displayed in
the form of gauges or graphs. Want to find out if that expensive exhaust
system or performance air cleaner really added 50 horsepower to the engine’s
output? Just run before and after acceleration tests using a smartphone
app that tracks vehicle acceleration. Coupled with GPS location, drivers’
ability to pilot their vehicle performance on track or street can be measured,
evaluated, and bragged about endlessly. Here is a quick look at several
smartphone apps that use OBD-II data.
The OBDLink splash screen provides the
OBDLink
gateway to numerous OBD-II functions and
The OBDLink app works with Android, Apple iOS, and Windows data. The app is easy to use and offers an easy
smartphone platforms. It is specifically designed to work only with OBDLink way to monitor a car’s emissions performance
adapters. The app turns a phone or tablet into a full-fledged diagnostic scan and other engine management information.
tool that can read diagnostic trouble codes, clear the “Check Engine” light, Courtesy ScanTool.net
check emissions readiness, estimate fuel economy, and more. In addition, it
can create customizable dashboards, display emissions readiness standards
specific for each state in the US, use multiple trip meters, and log engine
management data in a CSV format (used in Microsoft Excel). It offers GPS
tracking that plots vehicle parameters on a map in real-time, and e-mails
diagnostic reports. Even though the app is free, there are no ads. Unlimited
software updates are available at no cost.

118
 SCAN TOOLS
One of the many customizable gauge dashboards available in the OBDLink app. A phone can be mounted on a car’s dashboard or windshield, providing a
wealth of non-factory gauge information to the driver. Courtesy ScanTool.net

The trouble codes screen shows stored freeze
frame data, pending DTCs, permanent DTCs,
the manufacturer’s trouble code definitions,
and more. Courtesy ScanTool.net
The OBDLink monitors screen displays
emission testing status, readiness standard
(for Pennsylvania, in this example), and the
status of all monitors and if they are available
and/or complete for emissions testing.
Courtesy ScanTool.net
This is an example of one of the many graphs
that are possible to create in OBDLink. Top left
shows engine rpm (note the shift points at the
rpm drops); top right is vehicle speed; bottom
left is mass airflow; and opposite is manifold
absolute pressure from the vehicle’s MAP
sensor. Courtesy ScanTool.net

119
 TORQUE (OBD 2 AND CAR)
One of the most popular apps
that uses OBD-II inputs is
Torque (OBD 2 and Car), by Ian
Hawkins. This Android-only app
comes in both free (Torque Lite)
and paid versions (Torque Pro),
for $4.95. Torque functions as a
scan tool and provides the ability
to read and erase fault codes,
display freeze frame data, view
live sensor data, and check OBD
readiness monitors for emission
testing. Torque doesn’t require
anything more than the hardware Just one of the numerous dashboard gauge setups that Torque offers. From the top left are:
already present on your Android engine rpm, speed in mph, coolant temperature, engine load in a graph format, throttle position in
percentage, and engine load in a bar graph format.

phone to perform these function. When coupled with the smartphone’s

sensor data—like GPS antenna, internal compass, barometer and
SCAN TOOLS

accelerometer—Torque can calculate acceleration rate, fuel economy, 0

More than just a scan tool, Torque is packed
with automotive performance measurement
information. Want to know if the high-flow,
super performance air cleaner you installed on
your car really does anything in the horsepower
department? Now you can find out with before-
and-after 0 to 60 mph runs that are displayed
on a smartphone.
to 60 times, quarter-mile time and speed, horsepower, and engine torque.
Torque also has a turbo boost feature for vehicles that support MAP and
MAF sensors. Some of these features are found in the Pro version only.
Both the Pro and Lite versions of Torque can specify any grouping of data
parameters, along with GPS coordinates to be recorded via the apps’ logging
function. Users can e-mail their saved logs in KML format for importing
into Google Earth, or in a CSV format that can be imported into almost
any spreadsheet editor for conversion to whatever sort of chart or graph
is desired. After inputting vehicle-specific values for engine displacement,
vehicle weight, and fuel type into a vehicle profile, Torque Pro uses this
information to calculate estimates for fuel economy, engine torque, and
horsepower. Users can store multiple profiles for many different vehicles,
and store separate logs and dashboard layouts for each profile. The View
Map function displays a Google Map with a color-coded log of a user’s last
few trips; the log indicate relative speeds along a route. Users can also choose
to display G-forces or altitude logs on this map. This function is useful
for autocross events or amateur road racing as it indicates speed at various
points along a route (racetrack). The app provides lots of entertainment
value from software that costs less than $5. A word of caution: Trying to set
up all the screens, gauges, graphs, and other information while driving on
the road is not a good idea, as this activity is very distracting. Setup should
be done parked in a driveway or as a passenger during a drive.

120

This Torque screen shows test results for various OBD-II sensors. The app
compares known good values with what the sensors are reporting and gives
each an “OK” or “Not OK” status. This is quick way to ascertain if a sensor is
misbehaving and needs a closer look.
DASHCOMMAND (OBD ELM SCANNER)
DashCommand ($9.99) by Palmer Performance
Engineering works on Android, iOS/iPhone/iPad, and
Windows devices, and turns a smartphone or tablet into
an advanced display for engine data. In addition to reading
and clearing diagnostic trouble codes, and displaying IM
readiness status, DashCommand uses a phone’s built-
in GPS and accelerometer sensors to display vehicle
performance including: horsepower, engine torque in
real time, and G-forces that indicate cornering forces on
a race track. Displays include a skidpad showing lateral
and accel/braking Gs with min/max indicators. The
SCAN TOOLS
DashCommand’s capabilities allow users to create and display stunning
virtual dashboards with many styles of gauges including: digital, analog
and others.
Race Track feature visually maps out a vehicle’s location,
acceleration, and braking as it’s driven around the track.
This allows drivers to visually analyze different laps to see
how they performed from lap to lap. DashCommand even
has an inclinometer that shows rolling angle and vehicle
pitch for off-roading enthusiasts. There are screens that
monitor fuel consumption as the vehicle is being driven,
allowing drivers to improve their MPG as they drive.
One of the most impressive features is DashCommand’s
ability to create customizable gauges in groups called
dashboards. Broad categories include gauges for vehicle
performance, fuel economy, and engine data.
121
SCAN TOOLS

If you’re a gas mileage addict, Torque has your fix. These calculated We hope this 2001 Ford Mustang is being driven on the track, as the
values show instant mpg, average mpg, a bar graph showing mpg indicated speed is over 120 mph. Time to distance (1⁄4, 1⁄8 mile, etc.)
over time, fuel remaining in the tank, fuel range in miles, and fuel can also be displayed with a swipe of the screen.
flow into the engine in gallons per hour.

One of many custom dashboards that

can be created in DashCommand.
Ignition timing, coolant temperature,
intake manifold pressure, intake air
temperature, and mass airflow in
pounds per minute are just some of
the possibilities.

122
 Another DashCommand dashboard.
This one shows calculated
horsepower in the lower right corner.

SCAN TOOLS

Vehicle performance is quite impressive on this DashCommand screen. With This DashCommand screen shows racetrack activity. The colored line
the pedal-to-the-metal, calculated horsepower is 425, with engine torque indicates relative speed of the vehicle at various points on the track. This
at 398 ft-lbs. The vehicle’s weight and the smartphones acceleration sensor feature relies solely on the smartphone sensors; no OBD-II data is required
and GPS locator figure into the engine performance numbers. to create this information.

123