Topic: Kiwi WiFi iPhone Car Diagnostic Kit (Read 2685 times)

Kavik · « **on:** August 25, 2010, 11:44:55 PM »

http://www.thinkgeek.com/electronics/cell-phone/dcf4/

neat.

spoolordie · « **Reply #1 on:** August 26, 2010, 08:57:13 AM »

i saw something like that with the iphone alittle while ago

Kavik · « **Reply #2 on:** August 26, 2010, 10:58:10 AM »

I think this one had a few more functions over the original iPhone app. almost makes me wish I had one, it would just make an interesting toy....not sure I would put 100% faith in the results, but it would be fun

I was leaning towards a droid for my next upgrade, wonder if they have something similar for that platform

skyphix · « **Reply #3 on:** August 26, 2010, 12:02:25 PM »

Quote from: Kavik on August 26, 2010, 10:58:10 AM

I think this one had a few more functions over the original iPhone app. almost makes me wish I had one, it would just make an interesting toy....not sure I would put 100% faith in the results, but it would be fun

I was leaning towards a droid for my next upgrade, wonder if they have something similar for that platform

http://androidforums.com/android-applications/13211-obdii-apps-do-they-exist.html

Kavik · « **Reply #4 on:** August 26, 2010, 12:43:12 PM »

nice link...I'll deffinately dig into it some more if/when i actually get the phone

skyphix · « **Reply #5 on:** August 26, 2010, 02:31:20 PM »

I've installed the app but without a bluetooth ODB reader I'm DIW.

TheBigChill · « **Reply #6 on:** September 27, 2010, 09:59:04 AM »

I just downloaded oBDriod, anOBD and Torque, for Android. Also I have my bluetooth OBDII dongle coming in the mail. Should be pretty sweet...
There are much cheaper dongles than the PLX Kiwi, and they have been tested w/ the Android apps listed above.

spoolordie · « **Reply #7 on:** September 27, 2010, 10:11:48 AM »

http://www.ot-2.com/

Nismonic · « **Reply #8 on:** September 27, 2010, 10:15:21 AM »

Quote from: TheBigChill on September 27, 2010, 09:59:04 AM

I just downloaded oBDriod, anOBD and Torque, for Android. Also I have my bluetooth OBDII dongle coming in the mail. Should be pretty sweet...
There are much cheaper dongles than the PLX Kiwi, and they have been tested w/ the Android apps listed above.

I'm really interested in how this works out on the subaru. Be sure to update us when you get it up and running.

TheBigChill · « **Reply #9 on:** October 08, 2010, 04:12:09 PM »

Just got this dongle in the mail today (fuck you Hong Kong), and I'm pretty sure my girlfriend will want to break-up w/ me by Sunday. Obsess much ? I'll keep you posted on how it all works out. Torque has a "HUD" option, where you mount the phone w/ it's screen facing your windshield, and it transposes the gauge display on your windshield in the correct orientation for reading while driving. I'm gonna geek out HARD this weekend.

Photofixer · « **Reply #10 on:** October 08, 2010, 09:02:38 PM »

I need a cheapo Carputer set up ... I wanna hook up my DB9 and log and see pretty gauges on the screen.. HAHHAA

Those damm touch screens are a fucking grand .. BOOOOO... I guess watching porn.. I mean loading DVDS for my lil girl in the back seat would be cool and all.. but isn't it illegal to have a DVD player in the radio center.. LOL

ya ya ya I know . Still regardless I got this Wide band data aka.. software to install and use but don't have the means to use it ......

I like this Idea.. .hmm.... SO what it tells you the Diag code and what it means. and I saw it had real time gauges.. That's cool...

byroll01 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 08, 2010, 11:15:11 PM »

Maybe off topic here but are you still going to run the Hydra Kavik? If so I think you'll be like me and the OBD2 port is just for decoration... If you're gonna get that stock ECU tuned and run only that then you're good to go.

09legacyseoo7 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 09, 2010, 08:51:47 AM »

Since I am the resident Verizon Wireless guy i think there may be one other on here but I have to throw out there that i found several apps for droid that produce similar results for anyone using an android phone.

Torque: Customizable OBD2 ECU performance Diag tool that uses bluetooth elm/obd/plx adapters to connect to your car engine management system. Also uses gps to provide tracker logs with engine status. 5 stars out of 5 in market. shows and restets dtc and cel, dyno hp, 0-60, mpg, knock, turbo boost, $4.70

OBdroid-pro: Bluetooth based obd2 reader, from what i see it is a diag tool using bluetooth scanner.

Elm327 scanners which connect to these programs sound like they are anywhere from $30-150 bucks just doing a quick search

darroj · « **Reply #13 on:** October 11, 2010, 08:02:35 AM »

Quote from: Photofixer on October 08, 2010, 09:02:38 PM

I need a cheapo Carputer set up ...

Those damm touch screens are a fucking grand .. BOOOOO...

I have one, and you don't need a $1k screen. Check out the forums at mp3car if you're really interested... I'm using an old and crappy lilliput 619 screen. I can't say these are the best prices (haven't looked at any of this stuff in a while) but this would work for you and you'd have a clean mounting solution ready to go.

http://store.mp3car.com/Preassembled_Black_Double_Din_LCD_Frame_with_7_Li_p/mon-067.htm

They have other models also available...

Kavik · « **Reply #14 on:** October 11, 2010, 09:28:34 AM »

Quote from: byroll01 on October 08, 2010, 11:15:11 PM

Maybe off topic here but are you still going to run the Hydra Kavik? If so I think you'll be like me and the OBD2 port is just for decoration... If you're gonna get that stock ECU tuned and run only that then you're good to go.

I'm fairly sure that I'll continue running the Hydra and just have a stock ecu for that yearly sticker day

So, yeah...I know this is nothing I can use, I just thought it was a neat looking toy

TheBigChill · « **Reply #15 on:** October 11, 2010, 02:40:04 PM »

Quote from: 09legacyseoo7 on October 09, 2010, 08:51:47 AM

Since I am the resident Verizon Wireless guy i think there may be one other on here but I have to throw out there that i found several apps for droid that produce similar results for anyone using an android phone.

Torque: Customizable OBD2 ECU performance Diag tool that uses bluetooth elm/obd/plx adapters to connect to your car engine management system. Also uses gps to provide tracker logs with engine status. 5 stars out of 5 in market. shows and restets dtc and cel, dyno hp, 0-60, mpg, knock, turbo boost, $4.70

OBdroid-pro: Bluetooth based obd2 reader, from what i see it is a diag tool using bluetooth scanner.

Elm327 scanners which connect to these programs sound like they are anywhere from $30-150 bucks just doing a quick search

I have both of those apps, plus one or two more. Torque is the best so far. I didn't spend as much time as I'd like to play, but still found some nice features. The ELM327 scanner I use is $30, Ebay.

Dreaded1 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 10, 2011, 10:13:20 PM »

Somehow I missed this thread the first time and I am going to revive it. I just installed my ELM327, $64 new from Amazon, and installed Torque on my Droid Thunderbolt. So far I love it. There are a couple of things that I need to learn so it works correctly. But so far I have noticed the Speed, Coolant Temp, and RPMs are dead on.

I haven't used the HUD feature that Chill described but my phone is large enough that I can have 6 digital gauges on the screen at once and read them easily while my phone is mounted on my center vent.

Right now I am monitoring Coolant Temp, RPMS, Torque, Speed, instantaneous MPG, and Boost. There is a preset in boost that I don't know what they are looking for, so I think that reading is way off. The app comes with a screen full of analog gauges but I find the digi gauges easier to read on the fly. There are so many options for info that you can display, most of it I dont know what it is or what I would do with it. The good thing about Torque is that they have a free version to see if you like the app or not. If you are paying $30-150 for the dongle whats another $5 for the app.

I will have to look up the other apps later today. One thing I did notice is that if you have Pandora installed on your phone Torque will not communicate as quickly and has connection errors.

Chill, do you know if the preset for the Boost gauge is 0 or something different? Also did you plug in the dongle and leave it, or t do you plug it in only when you use it. I don't think it would drain the battery while its connected and the car is used.

Quote from: TheBigChill on October 08, 2010, 04:12:09 PM

Just got this dongle in the mail today (fuck you Hong Kong), and I'm pretty sure my girlfriend will want to break-up w/ me by Sunday. Obsess much ?

Once I grabbed mine from the Post Office I installed the dongle on the side of the street. I couldn't wait the 7 minutes it would have taken to drive home and do it. My order took for ever too. Ordered Mar 19 arrived Apr 7.

pcsuby312 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 12, 2011, 01:13:14 AM »

I just read about Dashcommand in the newest issue of Import Tuner, and it got me looking into all of this OBDII/bluetooth/android stuff. I'm curious to see how everyone is doing with their purchases and what scanner I should buy. I was thinking the PLX Kiwi but I'm open to suggestions.

Dreaded1 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 13, 2011, 02:40:36 PM »

Quote from: pcsuby312 on July 12, 2011, 01:13:14 AM

I just read about Dashcommand in the newest issue of Import Tuner, and it got me looking into all of this OBDII/bluetooth/android stuff. I'm curious to see how everyone is doing with their purchases and what scanner I should buy. I was thinking the PLX Kiwi but I'm open to suggestions.

I have one of the cheap Chinese made ones and it is working fine now that I removed Pandora from my phone. That being said, if I were to buy again I would definitely go with this product first. The devices are pretty cool. I have pulled mine out of my car, installed it in another car, and reset their codes in less than 5 minutes. The only problem I have and it may be vehicle specific is that I can not get what I consider a true MPG reading and it will not read my fuel level at all. Other wise its useful and fun.

TheBigChill · « **Reply #19 on:** July 14, 2011, 02:00:29 PM »

The Torque Ap for Android is pretty good. I haven't really used all features, and am not really interested to, but having the ability to just read / erase / define codes, is very useful, not to mention checking drive cycle, AIT, ECT, etc. You can log parameters and send to and graph in Excel. All of this for $35 (Ap and ELM327 unit).

I used my Nokia E71, and an Ap called "OBDScope", that I liked even better than Torque.

Kavik · « **Reply #20 on:** July 14, 2011, 02:54:01 PM »

i have the free version of torque.....and no obd adapter....but it's handy for the gps speedometer when your tires aren't the right size LOL
eventually I'll get the adapter, seems like a pretty slick program overall

TheBigChill · « **Reply #21 on:** July 14, 2011, 05:25:55 PM »

This is the one that I bought:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ELM327-V1-4-Wireless-Bluetooth-OBD2-Diagnostic-Scanner-/160611187023?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item25652c394f

hydrochloric · « **Reply #22 on:** August 17, 2011, 10:43:08 AM »

I've got the PLX Kiwi WiFi, my iPod automatically hooks up to the wifi when in the car (and sitting in its GPS dock).

It's great, but for two-ish things.

1. When viewing more than one OBDII metric, the refresh rate is abysmal. It's about 3 or 4 Hz with one metric. Each new metric takes away a hertz, because it's a single-channel device.

2. There's no way to use it with a computer for anything advanced without paying PLX for a license... Really don't want to do that since they want 100 for it.

3. It doesn't support any of the SSM metrics, so even though the Subaru system has a faster refresh and better measurements, you don't get them.

4. It's not really a failing of the WiFi module, but the "Trackday" mode of the Rev app is a bit of a joke because the iPhone and all external GPS have a 1Hz refresh. Sufficient for the street, but on a track when you're going 100MPH, you're also going 150 feet per second. A 1Hz GPS can't keep up. AFAIK, most of the expensive setups use 4Hz at least, and 10Hz seems to be the best.

Author Topic: Kiwi WiFi iPhone Car Diagnostic Kit (Read 2685 times)