Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Posted ImageWelcome to the all new Geo Metro Forum. We hope you enjoy your visit.

You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are features you can't use and images you can't see. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Join our community!




Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Torque setup?; OBDII app
Topic Started: Jul 14 2015, 11:00 AM (688 Views)
scratchpaddy
Member Avatar
Not so fast

I know at least a few forum members use the Torque app in their cars. For those of you not familiar with it, it's pretty much the best thing since sliced bread. :D It's an app for Android phones that, when used with a ~$20 Bluetooth OBDII dongle on a '96 or newer car, can give you all kinds of useful data about how your car's running, real-time. Finding out why the "Service Engine Soon" light is on is just scratching the surface.

Right now, I'm using a tablet sitting on the passenger side once in a while (quick n' dirty), but I'm looking to make a semi-permanent setup with a $15 burner phone, or possibly a cheap 7" tablet. I'll sneak a power cable behind the dashboard to wherever the thing's mounted. I'm interested to see what others have done.

  • Phone or tablet?
  • Where do you have it mounted?
  • Which gages do you find most useful?

Pics would be nice. ;)

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Freeman
Member Avatar
The Family Man

I use the free version because I really only use it sometimes in my Fit. I have a $10 adapter I keep in the arm rest that I plug in and remove when I'm not using it. I've heard mixed things about leaving the adapter plugged in and I can reach my OBD2 port without looking, so I remove it between uses. I use it for coolant temperature and check engine lights mostly. The Honda Fit doesn't have a coolant gauge, which is weird.

If I didn't have a spare radio, I was going to go with a 7" tablet for a display running my music and torque pro. I may still go this way in the future. It is incredibly easy to load GPS maps and such on your tablet before a trip, run music, and switch between the torque gauges you need.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
rmcelwee
Member Avatar


I have two adapters and one definitely eats the battery up. Not sure why it draws so much but I had to remove it.

I catch hell getting certain adapters to sync to certain devices. My new Galaxy S5 will not sync with the OBDII adapter that I use in my Miata for some reason. It just doesn't like it.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
geogonfa
Member Avatar


Have the same problem with the ones I have...temperamental equipment...but useful :type
modded one customers Metro by installing a 7" tablet where the radio goes and installing a micro 4 channel amp to power the speakers. Works decently.
[
Edited by geogonfa, Jul 15 2015, 11:29 AM.
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
evmetro


I really like using the tablet in place of the factory instrument cluster. When you are using your GPS to navigate to a new place, it is really easy to shift your eyes back and forth from the map to the road. It also makes it really easy to Skype or facetime.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
scratchpaddy
Member Avatar
Not so fast

evmetro
Jul 19 2015, 10:47 PM
It also makes it really easy to Skype or facetime.

:O :rad

:lol
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Freeman
Member Avatar
The Family Man

I guess it is still hands free? Hahaha.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
evmetro


TurboEF
Jul 20 2015, 09:05 AM
I guess it is still hands free? Hahaha.
It is hands free, but the person you are talking to can see your fingers on the back of the steering wheel. It is pretty safe, since our eyes have been trained to switch back and forth between the speedometer and the road with ease. I have experimented with using the center console for a tablet, but it just isn't the same as having it where the instrument cluster goes.

Posted Image

.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Freeman
Member Avatar
The Family Man

I will agree that it is probably better than holding a phone up to your head and definitely better than texting. My roommate literally snap chats while she drives. I'm just waiting for the police to show up one night instead of her.

Back to the torque thing. I've been using the MPG portion of it and it is pretty good from what I can tell. It confirms some things I was not aware of, like how bad my mileage is at any RPM in 1st and 2nd gear. haha. I am still on the free set up.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
evmetro


On my gasoline Metros, I like to use the vacuum gauge, the instant and average mpg, temp, tach, trip, speedometer, and I like to keep an eye on my o2 sensors. I also use the clock on all my Metros, gas or electric. During morning rush hour, I like to watch my local news station
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Freeman
Member Avatar
The Family Man

evmetro
Jul 20 2015, 11:33 AM
On my gasoline Metros, I like to use the vacuum gauge, the instant and average mpg, temp, tach, trip, speedometer, and I like to keep an eye on my o2 sensors. I also use the clock on all my Metros, gas or electric. During morning rush hour, I like to watch my local news station
What kind of data plan do you have? :hmm Watching any sort of stream plus using GPS and music seems data intensive.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
evmetro


TurboEF
Jul 20 2015, 01:16 PM
evmetro
Jul 20 2015, 11:33 AM
On my gasoline Metros, I like to use the vacuum gauge, the instant and average mpg, temp, tach, trip, speedometer, and I like to keep an eye on my o2 sensors. I also use the clock on all my Metros, gas or electric. During morning rush hour, I like to watch my local news station
What kind of data plan do you have? :hmm Watching any sort of stream plus using GPS and music seems data intensive.
My plan is a bit shameful. Two older kids out of the house with phones and tablets, my wife has an Iphone, tablet and blackberry, I provide my inlaws with phones, and I have a half dozen Ipads and tablets for the cars or where ever surfing, and I have an Iphone and a galaxy s5 phone. Devices are pretty popular in my home, so my 7 year old has a hand me down Iphone as well. The bill is breathtaking.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Freeman
Member Avatar
The Family Man

Well. How about this. How much data do you think that your car tablet uses by itself? haha. That is basically what I want to know so I can get an idea.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
evmetro


The one pictured above does not use any data for essential car functions, but I have no problem wasting a gig or two watching a little streaming video here and there and surfing with it in restaurants. I switch Metros on a whim, so I do this to more than one tablet. I have no problem using 10+ gigs myself every month.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Freeman
Member Avatar
The Family Man

Wooo! Wish I had an unlimited plan. That's far too much for me to consider on a gig/$$ plan.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
« Previous Topic · The Geo Metro Lounge · Next Topic »
Add Reply