Forgive me if this has been asked before.
Obviously, the Torque Pro is cheaper alternative and appears to be very sophisticated and configurable, would a hand-held OBD2 reader have any advantages over Torque Pro?
Thanks

 

If a person is just a little bit 'techie' by nature or 'nerdie' - there is NO comparison. Torque Pro is hands down better than any hand held that I have ever seen. In fact it is literally capable (given it's condigurability and flexibility) of doing the same thing(s) factory diagnostics machines can do. There is a learning curve with any of them. Torque included, but the more you learn about OBDII, the more you can get out of it while off the shelf units sorta hit a limit in what they are programmed to do.

I set up Torque with 17 dashboards and have hacked a bunch of PIDs that are NOT provided any other scanners. A sample of them follows.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post17715633

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post18663917

https://torque-bhp.com/forums/?wpfor...opic&t=10826.0

https://www.f150forum.com/f4/how-use...9/#post6206280

https://www.f150forum.com/f4/how-use...5/#post6188878

 

... for all your hard work to make the Torque Pro App such an incredible application for our trucks. You're the reason I've used it from the first week I've owned my truck. It has been a HUGE help, along with your information, in allowing me to monitor my truck. It's always on in my truck if it's running (via an old Note 3 phone).

I hate to hijack this thread, but, I have a question..... Do you have a "Cliff Notes" how to install (for dummies) your wonderful PIDs somewhere in all the information you've written? If so could you direct me to that post?

 

Thanks for the acknowledgement and kind words @Slicefixer . It is enormously satisfying to hear that my efforts have really benefited someone. Having written software myself gives me a big appreciation for the Torque developer's building in so much flexibility to allow users to adapt it so extensively.

No I haven't compiled a single place for the various Torque dashboards that I've put together. I probably should. Maybe this thread would be a good place to put links to them as I added above. But they are kinda 'problem specific' or 'system oriented'. PLUS the OBDII system's PID assignments are so non-standardized the information could be highly misleading to owners of vehicles OTHER THAN our generation (2004 to 2008 F150 gas engine). Even then I've encountered identical vehicles years / models that a given PID works on mine and doesn't work on another that was assembled at a different assembly plant. (That actually makes sense when you consider the plant may use a device or sensor from a different supplier - that has different characteristics). THAT'S WHY TORQUE PRO's configurability is so powerful.

 

I truly appreciate the response and all your hard work! I just wish I knew how to load your PID's, etc. I was able to go in and designate what items I wanted monitored and place them on individual pages. However, I'm such an amateur so all my pages are pretty basic.... Temps, fuel, total mif's, etc etc. Your work is so much more detailed and organized, etc etc
.
Cheers!

 

It is really fairly straight forward - and opens a whole new world in Torque Pro. Any of the screens I've attached a "CSV" file to --- just click on the attachment file name. Your browser should ask if you want to open or save the file (You MAY have to lower your brower's security settings - but the files are safe). Note the file 'Name' and where you save it on your computer so you can find it to download to your phone. Next, use a USB cable (or file transfer software) and copy that file to your android device (phone or tablet) into the android folder named '.Torque/ExtendedPIDs' . that is 'dot' Torque/ExtendedPIDs. It is a hidden folder and you will have to change Android File settings on your device to "Show Hidden Files".

After that - you're home free. Go into Torque, select >Settings >Manage Extra PIDs/Sensors. Then press the three button 'Menu' and >Add predefined set. The file name you just copied to your android device should appear in the list for you to select. It will import the PIDs. Then any one of those PIDs or Sensors can be added to any screen you want. [NOTE: I add an underscore ("_") character in front of all the non-standard PIDs that I add, so I can differentiate them from Torque Pro's standard set.

I recommend to everyone to change "Number of Dashboards" under >Settings >General Preferences to either 15 or 17 (I like odd numbers so there are the same number of screens swiping left or right. ALSO: 'Create new profile' for YOUR vehicle - and your wifes or second vehicles --- AND LEAVE THE DEFAULT profile. You can use it when your neighbor or friend want's you to read stuff on their cars (which 99% chance will be different from yours anyway). Then go into the Profile for YOUR and your wifes or second vehicle(s) and under 'Advanced', check the box "Use separate dashboard layout". In this manner - you have a custom scanner for each different family vehicle. They can have different PIDs, gauges, weight, MPG specification / everything. You can add dashboards / gauges to each that are unique to that vehicle. When you change profile back to another vehicle, you have not messed up that vehicles settings.

Hope this 3$ Torque basics class helps.

 

I'll give er' a shot! 👍

 

I have a question, I bought the obdlink mx+ and it came with OBDlink software that I have been playing with and seems pretty powerful, what extra things does Torque Pro do vs OBDLink?

 

I am by no means an expert on ObdLink (and admittedly not much of anything else either). I'm probably heavily biased by being a long time Torque User and very familiar with it. But my sense is that most others are much lighter on capability or flexibility -- beyond the basic stuff.

A few of Torques capabilities that go way beyond small cheap readers and MANY other apps that I've read about are: It Provides for 'multiple' vehicle profiles with separate sensors / parameter ID database, and dashboards (gauges/graphs) for each vehicle - effectively a custom unit for multiple vehicles You can WiFi the screen to a desktop on the workbench. You can 'share' screenshots (of any gauge or graph) via email, facebook, or twitter accounts, or download via cell phone USB cable. You can LOG (any) live sensor data or series of sensors and email the log file or download it to desktop for import into Excel.

Very importantly, you can ADD ADDITIONAL sensors / OBDII parameters that are custom to your vehicle or that will undoubtedly be implemented on future models. It can read ANY PARAMETER that the PCM is capable of outputting. It will read/clear ABS, BODY, TRANS codes, Freeze Frame data, and MODE $06 diagnostic reports. You can add gauges (of several types - graphs, dial, digital, etc) to any dashboard screen and position them on the screen as you wish. You can Export / Import (backup) dashboard setups and PID database. You can superimpose any gauge on your 'camera' view of the road ahead or racetrack and record video with the gauges right on the sceene, live. It keeps a 'Track Log' and superimposes GPS route and speed at all points on a Google Map (wonder if traffic court would accept it as speeding defense??). You can create 'Alarms' (below-equal-greater than) associated with any gauge / sensor in its database. I'll guarantee Torque will do anything the Ford IDS system will do.

It will 'SCAN' PID range(s) to determine if any sensor or PID exists (or responds) within that range. (This is how I found over 500 PIDs applicable to my F150.)

It will also 'Send' commands like Forscan - although I have not yet learned anything about structuring command strings. (Another while world). It comes with a 'performance' monitor screen that automaticlly (thru GPS position) detetcs "START" and calculates/displays 1/8 mile and 1/4 mile speed & time with Maximum RPM and Horse Power at the wheels (Ideal for 'fine tuning' or seeing if your tuneup work results in performance improvement). It allows converting ANY gauge to a 'Widget' to place on phone home screen. You can create additional dashboard screens. You have control of formulas (in case a sensor is off calibration). You can 'store' information in variables (for such as 'accumulators'). You can create 'SUEDO' gauges and write your own formula consisting of results from other gauge readings (ie trip meter or long term MPG calculations).

It will 'Send' OBD write commands to the PCM in the same fashion as Forscan - although I have not studied or expirimented with this feature at all yet. There is no reason it could not modify wheel size, shift points, or PATS parameters if the command strings were known and input correctly.

I could go on - but I already sound like a Torque salesman - which I am not. Just a very satisfied user.

 

F150Torqued - I was pretty sure - when I originally asked which was a better way to go that Torque was superior. Based on the very detailed previous posts by you I always thought you were a Torque employee/developer. Given your user name and avatar I can see you are extremely fond of this program and because of your work you have become a salesman at least to me. Thank you!

 

Thanks @ReddTruck . The 'backstory' on the handle --- I was just REALLY pi$$ed off at my F150 when I first hooked it up to Torque Pro. LOL, I'm not kidding

The backstory why I took to Torque Pro like a fish to water --- My career background is electronic engineering and I developed a lot of software and hardware for 'process control' systems that employed many similar concepts to those i see in the OBDII system. It didn't take any time to see the genius in the Torque Pro developer's ability to build in logx of user customization (much of which I haven't touched - such as Themes), and his intuitive human interface.

 

F150Torqued, can you please post the balance of your dashboards here so they are all located in one spot?

 

I've got a couple more that I'm getting "CLOSE" to feeling comfortable with. (I do not want to _publish_ BS information). And frankly - one of the difficulties is figuring out / verifying some of it on a WORKING truck. I usually don't like to 'screw' something up to verify PIDs or formulas. My Transmission one got too big (about 35 PIDs) so I'm breaking it into two - one for Torque Convertor and one for Transmission. And I have one I think is ready dealing with Alternator - that is kinda interesting.

 

I'd really like to get my hands on your transmission dashboards when they become available. Yesterday as my timing job, now finished and running great (after a faulty new spark plug), I experienced a flashing O/D light and "transmission fault" with MIL. The truck would not move, I restarted it and I just have the MIL. Granted when I pulled the dipstick for easier rt valve cvr removal I did loose some tranny fluid. So it needed a little over a pint, drove for 10 miles and still have the MIL nothing else. The auto parts store says I have a P0755. Why all of a sudden now?

My "el cheapo" ELM327 worked for 2 months then decided to stop communicating with the ECU just as I really needed it. Any recommendations on a better scanner?

 

Disclaimer (I'm not a Transmission mechanic - and have never dissembled an Automatic Trans. But much study working on the Torque Pro Trans Monitor dashboard indicates your DTC specifically deals with Shift Solenoid "B". More specifically: "The Shift Solenoid (SSA and SSB) output circuits are checked for opens and shorts by the PCM by monitoring the status of a feedback circuit from the output driver (P0750 SSA, P0755 SSB).

All vehicle applications will utilize an Inductive Signature Circuit to monitor the shift solenoids functionally. The ISIG circuit monitors the current signature of the shift solenoid as the solenoid is commanded on. A solenoid that functions properly will show a characteristic decrease in current as the solenoid starts to move. If the solenoid is malfunctioning, the current will not change (P1714 SSA, P1715 SSB). The lack of communication between the ISIG chip and the PCM microprocessor is also monitored (P1636)."

My dashboard has On/Off indicators for Shift Solenoid "A" and "B" which are energized in a binary fashion as '0 0', '0 1', '1 0' then '1 1' representing the states for gears. If one is sticking, certainly it would effect several gear functions. But looking at the different Diagnostic Trouble Codes that can be generated - your problem seems it would have to be pretty 'isolated' to SSB. "OPEN or SHORT" could be tested fairly easily. But if it ever works at all, I would lean toward a 'sticky' solenoid plunger. My electronic background helps me understand how a 'curent signature' would change as the plunger moves from one position to the other. Based on your symptoms & circumstances, I would put a can of "BG 44" Transmission Flush (From local vendor or Amazon) in it, and drive it -gently- for 40 or 50 miles to full temp, consciously shifting between different gears - 1st, 2nd, 3rd and overdrive to exercise both solenoids, then do a filter & TOTAL Trans / TQ fluid replacement - 15 / 16 quarts. If that didn't correct it, I'd replace SSB.

I did mine myself by removing Pressure line AT Trans cooler at front. Then dropped Trans pan & Replaced Filter & reinstalled pan. Put in 4 Qts. Cranked & let idle in neutral till it spit 1 gallon into a clear bucket. Shut down, added 4 Qts, and repeated till I had added 14 qts. Sealed everything up and added more little at a time till at proper level. Worked like a champ and you could easily tell when NEW fluid started spitting out the open pressure line.

Just my thoughts. Hope it helps.

"Do I have any recommendations on a scanner"? - You Ask F150Torqued ??