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Best OBD-II app for iOS?

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ios obd obd-ii
57K views 30 replies 24 participants last post by  ericparker 
#1 ·
which app do you prefer? why?

also, is there a specific diagnostic code reader needed to use with the app? or, can i just get a generic obd-ii adapter?
 
#2 ·
I purchased OBD Fusion mainly because of the price ($5 or $10, can't remember) and the fact that it is a universal app. Many competing apps required purchasing separate version for the iPhone and iPad.

Torque is regarded as the best there is in regards to OBD apps.

Any ELM327 compatible reader should work (mine is manufactured by LYL?), but it MUST be wifi to work with the iPhone. iOS doesn't support the required bluetooth protocols for the bluetooth readers
 
#6 ·
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Any ELM327 compatible reader should work (mine is manufactured by LYL?), but it MUST be wifi to work with the iPhone. iOS doesn't support the required bluetooth protocols for the bluetooth readers
Kinda true. The real issue is Apple's MFI vendor certification. Bluetooth headset protocols and the music streaming protocols are exempt, but other Bluetooth protocols are not - including the bluetooth protocols used for OBD-II.

There are come BT adapters that have been certified and of course they cost more. Some lock you into their app because no one else will support their hardware or they won't share the interface spec. I tried this one and returned it for that reason because the app was buggy and limited:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DAA5A5M

The one notable exception is the expensive GoPoint BT1/BT1a adaptor which has a very nice iPhone BT app. It's also the only iPhone BT device supported by Dash Command. Other popular iPhone apps like OBD Fusion & EngineLink don't appear to support any BT devices on iOS as of 7/2014

The advantage of using BT on iOS is that your other data driven apps still work on LTE/3G instead of hopelessly trying to use the WiFi. You could for example run apps like Google Maps for turn-by-turn nav, etc.
 
#3 ·
I have u-scan software which uses actron hardware. I bought software for all vehicles and all systems for somewhere in the area of $200, But you can buy much cheaper vehicle specific software. It works well and I have a lot of real time telemetry at hand. One thing I don't like is that it sometime can be a little wanky in pairing but never has it not paired, just took a little time.
 
#4 ·
I'd recommend buying a cheap android tablet and getting Torque for it. The bigger screen is pretty awesome to have. Alternately, a used android phone and just don't activate it.

Apple's refusal to open bluetooth up is really irritating. I'd buy torque for my phone too if they'd do it.
 
#7 ·
What's the trick to get the elm327 to clear my codes? I tried it a few time but the codes remained so I disconnected the battery and that cleared them. Does the engine need to be OFF and they key in ACC for it to work? One guy on Youtube did it that way but did not say it needed to be off and another guy did it with his engine running but he did not show the end to see if it worked.
 
#8 ·
What's the trick to get the elm327 to clear my codes? I tried it a few time but the codes remained so I disconnected the battery and that cleared them. Does the engine need to be OFF and they key in ACC for it to work? One guy on Youtube did it that way but did not say it needed to be off and another guy did it with his engine running but he did not show the end to see if it worked.
Depends on what kind of code you're trying to clear some codes you are able to read but not clear it requires a higher level of access.
 
#10 ·
Though expensive I recommend Dash Command. I have tried other but the flexibility and diversity of data I can collect has been invaluable. I have used it on 4 different autos and of course my jeep via a kiwi wifi unit. None of my nav/map or gps functions have been impacted due to using wifi instead of Bluetooth. Dash Command also allows the creation of custom dashboards (a lot are posted on their dashxl site so you can download others to use), skid pad, lap timing, dyno and of course tilt/angle gauge that even uses a jeep in the graphic. It takes some time to dial in but in the end I am very happy with it. Looks great on an iPhone or iPad. I mounted an old iPhone on my dash so i can switch to whatever data I want to see at the time. Unfortunately it is presently proving my tuner was a waste of $.
 
#12 ·
I prefer Engine Link app, not only it could read and clear trouble code. it does live data and allows you to draw multiple pages of gauge layout including emission test report of the engine.
You can use a generic wifi obd ii adapter. I have a bluetooth low energy adapter LELink in my car.
 
#13 ·
I've only used Dashcommand with my iPhone/iPad and a wifi Odb-II adapter. In addition to the other comment above its also a universal app, and it has a nice inclinometer that uses the phone/pad gyro.


Curious, how did it make your tuner useless? Just proved that it didn't work? Which one?
 
#16 ·
There are a few vendors with OBD2 plug in that use wifi. These are usually certified for Apple devices. Most/all OBD2 dongles that use Bluetooth work with most newer Android devices. I'm using the $5 Torque app. I bought the upgraded MX OBD dongle. I wanted something more universal to work with multiple vehicles. I also bought an extension for the dongle to make sure I didn't hit it with my shins in my tow rig. The OBD dongles offer different information for different vehicles.


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006NZTZLQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1



Amazon.com: Scan Tool Right Angle OBD II OBD 2 Male to Female Extension Cable 60cm/2': Automotive
 
#18 ·
thanks for the info on the OBD2 gear

Might as well admit I was only interested in the issue after getting a P2096 engine fault code.
I would really benefit from any knowledge you folks have on narrowing the cause down. I hate to just start changing O2 sensors (shotgun approach)
 
#22 ·
I have dashcommand, OBD Fusion and engine link. I personally suggest OBD Fusion for a few reasons:

1. With one purchase you get iPhone and iPad.

2. There aren't additional purchases in the app you buy once and have all the features

3. You can add your own custom PIDs

4. The UI is straight forward and decent looking (I found engine link to be not that hot UI wise)

5. They have fantastic support. I was having an issue sorting out a custom PID format and they were super responsive to my emails helping to figure it out.

OBD Fusion does allow you to make custom dashboards just with slightly less flexibility in terms of looks than dashcommand does. If you can add custom PIDs in dash command I can't find it. Perhaps it's an add on purchase although I didn't see it there either.

Just my thoughts having tried those 3 apps. Also definitely check out the thread DC mentioned above I'm posting details for configuration in OBD Fusion for any PIDs that get sorted there.

For android I hear Torque is pretty much the bar that all OBD apps are held to. I don't have any android devices though so I can't confirm that.
 
#24 ·
I have an iPhone and am trying to decide between the Bluetooth and WiFi versions of these adapters. At first I thought I had to use WiFi, but there are now ones that are Bluetooth for iPhone. My concern is what will stop working on my phone while it is using one or the other ways to connect. For example, if I am using a map program that is downloading data over the cellular connection, will it still work fine with a WiFi adapter? If my phone is connected to my vehicle head unit via Bluetooth and I get a call, will I still be able to use the phone as a phone hands free with a Bluetooth adapter?
 
#25 ·
I have done some more research on this and it appears that, if you want to use an iPhone with the adapter, it is better to get a low power Bluetooth adapter instead of WiFi. This is because, once the phone is connected to device's WiFi, you can't use your cellular data to do things like stream Pandora, use Waze, Siri, get email, push notifications, etc... It's like you put your phone in airplane mode except for being able to take calls.

So the question is which low power Bluetooth adapter is compatible with the most software? So far, I am looking at the LELink due to its price point.
 
#27 ·
I have Dash Command here using the Gopoint BT1 (Bluetooth) with my iPhone 6+, works great!
 
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#29 ·
I'm a big fan of Torque because of the range of tools, ease of use, and clean interface (its little features like that all the trouble codes are linked to an in-depth library of code definitions specific to the make of your model.) Unfortunately Torque is currently only available for Android. If you are using iPhone DashCommand is a close second.

I have been running Kiwi 3 obd2 car to smartphone adapter for about 4 months, it works great, and despite the price tag I highly recommend it. A while back I purchased $25 adapter and it quit after about a month. Kiwi 3 runs Bluetooth LE which makes it compatible with both iOS and Android – It can be left plugged in my car, automatically connects when I start my car, and runs DashCommand great on both my Note and my iPad.
 
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