Gauges & use of the OBDII

[cooper1896]

So

I have a modified SE (Mania Stage 1 & 2) that currently has a boost gauge.
I would like to get some more gauges to monitor whats going on, as I am taking the car on the track.

I have herd good things about the use of a PLX kiwi Bluetooth tool + OBDII port transmitting to a tablet device.
I was intending to go down this road as it is a lot cheaper than buying separate gauges.

Does anyone have any experience with these?
Would I be better or with an Apple or Android based tablet?

Are there any significant gauges that the OBDII doesn’t provide data for?


Finally, to complicate this more, as my car runs an adaptronic ecu, can anyone tell me if it the OBDII will still work?

Cheers
Andrew

[kenson]

Not sure about your ECU, but I use this: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.prowl.torque&hl=en and an Android phone.
Not available on Apple devices.

[Sailor]

I'm also playing with Torque Pro...It's looking very good atm on my Nexus7 tablet

[dbr]

The On Board Diagnostic (OBD) regulations where introduced to standardise the communication requirements for diagnostic tools. This is how these aftermarket devices can be used on a varrietry of vehicles.
The regulations also require a number of tests to be run during the opperation of the car so a warning light can be illuminated if an engine malfunction will cause the exhaust emissions to fail the legal limits. It is unlikely that an aftermarket ECU would be calibrated to opperate the light correctly due to the extensive Emission testing required. Knowing this, the aftermarket ECU supliers usually don't spend their time writing extencive OBD software and a device relying on OBDII probably won't work. Try it before you pay for it.

[Lokiel]

I have an an Adaptronic e440, the PLX Kiwi bluetooth module and the Android Torque application.

>Are there any significant gauges that the OBDII doesn’t provide data for?
Boost
Oil Temperature
Oil Pressure

The reported OBDII Intake temperature is useless since the Adaptronic ECU does not pass the reading onto the OEM ECU (reports a fixed value).

The OBDII water temperature is useful since it gives you a real gauge as opposed to the dummy water temperature gauge we have in the car.

For track days I like my Contour GPS camera and overlay the following Torque data onto its video using DashWare:
* RPM
* Engine Load
* Throttle Position
* Water Temperature

If I ever get time, I plan to finish my Adaptronic logger using C++ and Linux on a MK802 mini-computer (about the size of a USB stick) - that'll give me lots of useful information for post-track day analysis and I won't need to use Torque.

See my post here for more details: http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=53529&hilit=Real+world&start=25

Torque is a great tool for diagnosing CELs and clearing them so it's something you should buy anyway.

[bootz]

It's a real pisser that the OBD does not do oil pressure.

Strange that on the SE the OBD does not receive data for boost.

Boost affects fueling and timing so I would expect it to be registered

[sailaholic]

But stock ecu see airflow through the afm, not manifolds pressure (boost) to determine fueling

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

[Lokiel]

But stock ecu see airflow through the afm, not manifolds pressure (boost) to determine fueling
:

Yup, the MAZDASPEED turbo was implemented as cheaply as possibly (they never even bothered to fit a boost gauge).

[16bit]

where is the plug for the adapter on nb's?

[Lokiel]

Remove the interior fuse cover above your right thigh - the socket sits above the fuses.

[kenson]

where is the plug for the adapter on nb's?

Note, not available on all cars. My 2001 NB didn't have it, but my 2004 SE did(does)

[Suspense]

It's only NB8C (Sept 2002 build) onwards.

[16bit]

balls

[cooper1896]

Sounds like OBDII based apps has some limited uses, thanks for the comments.
Seems so stupid of mazda to have a dummy water temp gauge

There seem to be some pretty cheap OBD2 transmitters (some WiFi some Bluetooth) on ebay. Any reason why I shouldn't get one of those?
something like this
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/WiFi-WLAN-Wi ... 116wt_1156

Also what are CELs?

It is unlikely that an aftermarket ECU would be calibrated to opperate the light correctly due to the extensive Emission testing required. Knowing this, the aftermarket ECU supliers usually don't spend their time writing extencive OBD software and a device relying on OBDII probably won't work. Try it before you pay for it.

Lokiel, my car has the older Adaptronic e420 edu, can you see any reason that i could't grab the OBD2 data as planned (not that worried about emissions, more the data that you had suggested).

"Are there any significant gauges that the OBDII doesn’t provide data for?"
Boost
Oil Temperature
Oil Pressure

Don't suppose anyone can suggest a cost effective method of getting these gages. (I'll will probably start another thread for that, or do a search)

[bootz]

Sounds like OBDII based apps has some limited uses, thanks for the comments.
Seems so stupid of mazda to have a dummy water temp gauge

There seem to be some pretty cheap OBD2 transmitters (some WiFi some Bluetooth) on ebay. Any reason why I shouldn't get one of those?
something like this
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/WiFi-WLAN-Wi ... 116wt_1156

Also what are CELs?

The Check Engine Light, records that there is an error message i.e. cat failure - can only be interpreted thru OBDII reader.
The Dummy gauge is the Oil Press, SO SO SO ARSE OF MAZDA to do this.
Only reason I would not get a cheapy trans is no on/off switch so you have to remove it when not in use

So the MAF handles the turbo boost fueling, now I am confused.