Gen2 Prius: Custom PIDs for Torque (Android App) with formulas

Okay guys, I think I want to move forward on this. I’ve been thinking of buying a second scangauge for another vehicle. Now, however, I’m way more interested in trying this out and moving the one scangauge I have to the other vehicle (a diesel Sprinter) and getting the stuff I would need to run the Torque program in my Prius.

Given I’m an iPhone guy (and not giving that up as my smart phone of choice), I need everything. I figure the new scangauge would have cost me $160 so that is my budget. First, I need a Bluetooth OBDII connector. If I must buy the PLX Kiwi Bluetooth device, that is $100. It would be nice if a cheaper one would work. Anyone have any luck with a cheaper device?

If not, that leaves me only about $60 bucks to get a used, no contract, Android device. In that price range all I have seen is – a Samsung Intensity, a T-Mobile G1, a Sanyo Zio, and the LG Optimus. I plan on putting whatever device I get in the car permanently (like a scangauge) and hook it up so it stays charged. Any thoughts on any of those or recommendations for an Android device that might be good when used that way and still be at least near my budget.

Thanks for the help…

Bob

 

That is sure cheap for a tablet, but it does not seem to have bluetooth, so not really an option here. Did I miss something?

$5 is fine for the software (cheap actually for all it seems to do) I assume the paid version is also ad free? Their website seems to have very little useful information about the software on it....

The PLX Kiwi Bluetooth device is on order and the search for an Android device continues... Clearly its going to cost me more than another scangauge, but looks like its worth it..

 

Forgive my ignorance of smartphones. I'd love to go this route (torque + a phone or tablet) but I'm too poor to pay for a data plan on a device I want to just put in the car and work as a dedicated device.

1. Can you use an android phone/tablet over your home wifi without a data plan? Just to download an app like torque.

2. If not can you install torque by downloading it from a windows PC and copying it to the phone over USB or a SD card or similar?

3. Will torques GPS Speedo/Tracking work without a data plan (ie will an android device work as a GPS without paying a phone carrier)?

And if anybody feels like answering similar questions about iOS devices (iPhone/iPad) that'd be cool too. For example if someone gave me a working iPhone or iPod touch (1st generation) that is stuck on iOS 3 and no longer supported by Apple is it usable for ODBII hackery without paying for monthly data plans?

If you couldn't tell my house has numerous cell phones in it, just none that use Android or iOS so none of our phones do apps. We have one phone (LG Rumor) with monthly prepaid (unlimited data) through Virgin Mobile and a couple of prepaids with voice minutes only.

I'll get a phone that can run apps just to use for ODBII stuff when I can get a perfectly working new or used one for under $50 and can use it without a monthly plan (not even prepaid service like virgin mobile).

Although if prepaid unlimited data plans and capable phones get cheap enough I might consider getting one to use for texting/phone calls unrelated to the ODBII stuff.

 

All right, I’m making progress on this Torque for scanguage replacement and, of course, the budget got blown up. I looked for all kinds of Android devices that I could get that would serve for this. I thought about a tablet, but anything larger than 7 inches would be way to big as far as I’m concerned. I could not find a 7 in tablet that had Bluetooth and was not outrageously expensive. That left a cell phone and the one I set my sights on was a Asus Garminfone (stop laughing).

Since I was never going to get cell phone service for it, the Garminfone has some nice features like a 3.5 inch screen, built in mounting system with integrated power cord, its designed to be plugged in all the time – and of course, all the Garmin maps and navigation that work without a contract or cell phone service of any type. I found a used Garminfone on Craigslist in the area for $100. So now I have two navigation systems in my car. Garminfone only has Android 2.1, but that will run Toque and that is why I bought it.

I’ve bought and downloaded the Toque and now I’m waiting for the PLX Kiwi Bluetooth device from Amazon. Thanks usbseawolf2000 for all your help. Now to download your spreadsheet and figure out how to set up the gauges and other things I want while I wait …

Bob

 

Wow that was easy. Thanks so much for all your work on creating all those custom PIDs. It worked so easily - just copy over your .csv file and load... WOW!

At long last my kiwi device arrived and I plugged it in, paired it and added it to Torque (don't forget that step) and now its all working. Total cost $215 with the software and all hardware including the connectors to hardwire the unit in place. More $$$ than a Scanguage, but so much better.

So now I need help deciding what screens to create to have the most useful information displayed in the most organized way. What fun!

I've attach a couple of pictures to show where I put the unit including a shot of the Garminfone acting like a Garmin just for fun (sorry that one is so blurry).

Again, thanks to everyone here who made this a reality for us geeks who just love the insiders view of our cars.

Bob

 

In my cost figure I included this item which sticks nicely to the dash... I guess the unanswered question is for how long??? It seems solid now.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002T0EK64

 

I've converted the SGII Xgauges to be used for Torque.

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...6-scangaugeii-work-2010-a-9.html#post1042819?

Some of the equations have been changed after looking up the Repair Manual but may still contain errors. So feel free to make corrections as necessary.

Vincent

 

Looks like you need to get your car fixed. All the gauges are flatlining. ;-)

Very nice!

 

WOW!!!
That's a huge screen