Android Torque app for OBD2 volvos

Post by **Pauloil** » 20 Sep 2012, 20:35

rmmagow wrote:QUESTION!
I don't own a "smart" phone, I only use a Tracfone for emer use and phone calls. No, I'm not a luddite, just can find it in me to spend 75~100 a month for a smart phone service. That being said, this looks cool and I want to set this up for my cars. Can I just by an Android smart phone, say used and non network functional and use it to USB or Wi-Fi connect to this thing? Any way to get the App without having it subscribed to some service? Any other method for using either this system or others with a WiFi enabled device? My kid has an iPad, it only is usable off my home network, so, it is just WiFi. I'm assuming I can run this device or some other type via Bluetooth to it and use a Wifi connection at home to dowlload the application.
If I'm totally missing the boat here, explain to me in technical terms what I need to do. I understand most tech, just don't use a lot of it.

that would work. bluetooth doesn't use internet

Post by **Pauloil** » 20 Sep 2012, 20:38

soliport one or the Elandpower bluetooth adapter for the ELM 327 Bluetooth OBD II port gizmo , or is either one functional?

Post by **rmmagow** » 21 Sep 2012, 10:47

I'm going to pick up a cruz t510(?) 10 inch screen, wifi 4GB android tablet. $149.00 which appears to be a good price. ELM 327, is this a brand or a protocol? Ebay has a lot of them but they all look a little different. As long as it suppoert Bluetooth is there any major advantage brand-wise? I'm more inclined to buy from a us based supplier for shipping times.

louty · Post by **louty** » 21 Sep 2012, 11:21

arent they all made in china ?
I am planning to get one, but amazon reviews are not great and if you read descriptions on various brands, many sound like written by the same people
of course the negative reviews could be people not knowing how to use or set up, and not going back to fix thier first review

would prefer usa myself

Post by **rmmagow** » 21 Sep 2012, 11:29

You can bet 100% none of these are made in the US, we don't make any consumer electronics here as far as I can tell. US Shipper I'm thinking may just have stock locally to help get the thing to me quickly. I'm good with the tech having been in the network industry for 40 + years. Should be fun getting this to do its thing. I have an AutoEnginuity setup on a PC via a serial port on the laptop (pretty hard to get a serial port now). It works, records etc. The hardware side really didn't like me trying to use a usb/serial converter cable. I like the torque app looks too.

tatonka12345 · Post by **tatonka12345** » 26 Sep 2012, 07:28

The ELM 327 Scanner is going for $12.12 w/ free shipping on amazon right now if anyone is interested. I just didn't know if this thing would work on a 2002 S60, but sounds like it works on older models

https://www.amazon.com/Elandpower-Blueto ... dpower+327

edit: I jumped in and bought one

Post by **vjaneczko** » 26 Sep 2012, 13:30

I have the Bluetooth setup with my Evo 3D and it works on my S60 and my 850. The one thing about the adapter is that it doesn't show that it's connected when I look at my BT connections, but it does in fact communicate properly to the phone and Torque.

Here's the BT adapter I bought: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004KL0I9I

A buddy picked up another one from Amazon and it did not work. Not sure which one, though.

One great thing about Torque is that it's also a code scanner and will reset a CEL. No need to spend $50+ bucks on a handheld unit from AutoZone...

One drawback about Torque is that you may wind up starring at the screen and watch the stats as you drive, which is a bad thing! If you want to play with it, I'd strongly suggest you have someone else drive while you set it up.

Post by **regent** » 04 Oct 2012, 10:15

Ok,
Got my chinese E237 CARB to BT adapter for 16 bux from eBay. With the free app from the Android market on my Tab I could not get the BT to connect, so I decided to look inside the CD before I throw it away

I only unpacked the Torque App that comes in it and installed on my Tab, and I got connected almost immediately. So far everything works on my 02 S60 n/a. Tested good on a 2004 Chrysler Sebring as well. Real time monitoring is fine, but since neither of the cars had problems, I could not get to pull any faults. There is a built in quick reference database with the codes.

As far as a trojan on the CD, I cannot say I found one. In reality, most intrusion detection products designed for Windows OS would declare false positives as soon as they see an .apk filetype. I scanned the CD with Symantec's Norton Security Suite (one of the most popular Symantec products) which I have on my Windows machine, and it found a total of 4 unresolved threats inside the chinese s/w folders and labeled them 'viruses'. (BTW, the Torque App is among those four.)
I remember having similar experience when I first tried to install VADIS and later on the same thing happened with VIDA.

If anyone has any specifics regarding malicious code residing on the CD, please post back or PM; I would really appreciate your input.

Thanks

tatonka12345 · Post by **tatonka12345** » 04 Oct 2012, 15:15

Thanks for the info folks. I'll try installing the software on my tablet and see what happens. No codes right now , but intrigued as to how the program works.

Post by **vjaneczko** » 04 Oct 2012, 17:33

I just had to pull a code Sunday. It seemed to take a few minutes but my guess was that it was hitting the 'net and didn't have all the codes stored on the phone. Since I was getting pulled out of the car to get some dinner by my kids, I didn't have a chance to clear the code so I can't comment on that bit.