I have been wanting to get one of those plug and play OBD2 readers to see my EGT's, and other random engine data and so far around $300-400 has been the going price on Ebay plus buying the mount for another 50 bucks.

Messing around on my Ipad one night I came across an app called Dash Command. Reading the app info it directed me to a regular website full of info but yet was very vauge as to what it could do for reading parameters on the Ford diesel engine setup. I decided to roll the dice and see what would happen as it is very economical considering you already own and Ipad, Ipod or Iphone. The app was $9.95 from the Apple app store, the wireless (wifi) cable adapter was $63.00 including shipping and I waited a few days for it to arrive in the mail while I played with the app on the Ipad.

The WIFI cable simply plugs into OBD2 port, and run other end some place you can easily access to press the button to turn system on. Follow the included instructions on how to set up WIFI info on Ipad. Start pickup and drive! I still need to buy some sort of Ipad mount but before I committed to that I wanted to make sure it would work. I did have to buy a $9.95 un-lock specific to 2008 Ford to get additional engine date such as EGT, engine oil temp, transmission temp, but I felt it was worth it for the EGT alone. After the pickup shuts off for 5 min the WIFI automatically shuts off and you need to be able to access the power button on end of cord. Think carefully where you hide cord to make sure you have easy access to power button.

I am in love with this setup and it does everything I wanted and more! You can choose style of gauge, colors of gauge, needles, wording, high/low warnings/colors, ect.... make them what ever size you want, move them to what ever part of the screen you want, and from what I can tell anything the OBD scanner could see as a parameter so can this! It also reads and erases error codes, includes an inclineometer that can be zeroed once you mount Ipad, acceleration and braking times. Everything works fast and is exactly what I had hoped for.

Once I buy a mount for less than $85.00 I have all a wonder tool in my pickup for monitor vital functions. Totally worth the money and I highly recommend it. Below are pictures of it so far in my pickup.



Jeff

 

Awesome!!! I have been dying to have the capability to see this info but just didn't have the money to lay down $ 300 to $400 for the device to do it. This is going to be a so cool. I ordered the module and it will be here on Monday. I have 2 iPad mini's so using one for reading the data will be awesome! Thanks so much for sharing this information and the pictures Jeff!

 

Hey Jeff, is there an easier way of making the gauges all the same color besides editing them individually? Like a copy and paste? I tried copying a gauge and all it does is copies the same gauge. Unless I'm missing something here. Just thought I'd ask instead of dic#*n around with it for hours. Also, did you have to buy anything to plug into the back of the wifi cable to get EGT's or is the PID built in? Thanks

 

I have not found a way to do it, I simply edited each gauge. Took me better part of two hours to get all the gauges matching and setup the way I wanted. There are a few gauges I need to change what they are displaying as they did not work like I thought or wanted, but that is the cool thing you can change them to what ever you want, when ever you want too! If you copy the gauge, once you created it you can go back in and simply change the type of gauge as in from fuel rail pressure to transmission temp, but the ranges would be all wrong and you would have to change all that anyway and in the end would take just as much time as creating a new gauge and changing colors.

Nothing extra other than buying 10 dollar unlock to get the pyro. Ford already has the EGT temp prob in right hand exhaust up-pipe, I am not sure what they are using it for but it is there. That 10 dollar unlock has around 20 extra things to be viewed. Most items were already in the main program/app.

Jeff

 

Good info,,,Thanks for sharing.

 

I received my Ipad mount over the weekend to complete my gauge install. I had hoped to use the fold down cup holder in the dash for this and be able to keep my cup holders in the console free but that did not work as I had hoped. With the spring loaded arms on the fold down cup holder the Ipad moves around to much especially on corners and bumpy roads. I settled for now putting it in the wife's spot and it works out really well. Very stable and easy to see as I drive. Still loving this setup!

Jeff

 

Again!! Thanks for sharing.

I don't have an Ipad so I use the Android App called Torque Pro.

 

Looks very similar to the Torque app. Why the wire setup? Does it not link via Bluetooth?

 

Apples don't work with bluetooth. But there is now WIFI adapters