Petrol heads -- recommendations for a OBD II interface/app for Android smartphone?

[Aloha_Shooter]

I know there are a bunch of you out there ... are any of the OBD II interfaces/apps for Android phones any good? Any recommendations? It would be nice if it had a Bluetooth rather than cabled interface but accuracy and ease of use are more important.

[Gman]

I bought a generic sensor off Amazon that uses Bluetooth and use the Torque Pro app. The free Torque app works well if you just want to identify the codes and clear them once the repair is made.
http://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products-.../dp/B005NLQAHS

[DenverGP]

I'm using this one:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Connects via bluetooth. Along with the android Torque Pro app. Works great for me.

[mcantar18c]

I use Torque Pro and a Bluetooth OBDII thingy. The only thing it doesn't do that I wish it did is give me a readout of my fuel tank in gallons. Other than that it has tons of cool features... more than I'll ever use.

[Aloha_Shooter]

Thanks ... wanted to read out more than just the codes but I'll take a look at the Torque Pro app ...

[DenverGP]

Depending on your vehicle, it can read a lot more than just codes.

I think on all of them it'll read RPM, coolant temp, open/closed loop, speed, MAP, MAF, throttle position, fuel trims, o2 sensors, intake air temp, maybe spark advance.. I know on my 2001 pontiac, I get all those and some extra values (knock is one I really needed, only available in the Pro version of the app). I think the Pro app is required to get a lot of the sensors, but it's pretty cheap.

I'd suggest throwing away the little CD that comes with it... It's from china, some of the discs have all sorts of nasty viruses. You don't need anything on the disc.

[Jer]

I came to say cheap bluetooth OBDII dongles & Torque but it looks like others have already steered you in the right direction.

DenverGP: it varies from vehicle to vehicle. Whatever sensors your ECU reads it can most likely display if someone has created a PID for it. Some aren't incredibly accurate due to delays or other variables but you can get lots of useful information from about a $20-$25 investment.

[Aloha_Shooter]

Thanks for the suggestions. I like the way Torque's website gives you a quick summary and review of the various dongles that work with their software (http://torque-bhp.com/wiki/Bluetooth_Adapters). The OBDLink LX is a little more expensive than the ones that go for $10-12 but seems pretty powerful for the money.

[Jer]

Thanks for the suggestions. I like the way Torque's website gives you a quick summary and review of the various dongles that work with their software (http://torque-bhp.com/wiki/Bluetooth_Adapters). The OBDLink LX is a little more expensive than the ones that go for $10-12 but seems pretty powerful for the money.

Those are tested but many also pay a fee to be listed in their website so keep in mind that you're paying for that fee. The orange/blue label larger ones and the translucent low-profile blue ones work just fine and are cheap. The free version of the app is quite powerful and lots of folks just use that for most of their needs. I'm not one to pay for apps often but Torque is one of the few that I have paid the fee to get the Pro version of. Not that it's that much better but the dev has done a fine job developing this app so I like to reward those who put good work into something I benefit from. Most other apps I just use the free version and let them get their money through advertisers or whatever.

[cableguy11]

I bought a generic sensor off Amazon that uses Bluetooth and use the Torque Pro app. The free Torque app works well if you just want to identify the codes and clear them once the repair is made.
http://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products-.../dp/B005NLQAHS

I also have this one with torque pro...works great.

-Art