What's your startup process for your OBDLink?

[trabo]

This thing is a pain in the ass to connect to my iphone via the app... most of the time I cannot connect.

I have to unplug, plug it in, go to settings, go to bluetooth, then back to the app. This is absurd, so hoping I'm doing something wrong.

For you guys who are always tracking your batteries and stuff, what's your process when you get into the truck?

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[hatallica]

Mine isn't that bad. Android if that matters. I tried various connection settings but still have to unplug/replug, then hit the button in the app to get it to connect.

 

[Snakebitten]

Android + OBDLink MX + OBDLink app.

Turn on the truck
Launch the app
Click connect

Rarely have a failure.
When I do, the second attempt will connect.

 

[Buyer2021]

Android + OBDLink MX + OBDLink app.

Turn on the truck
Launch the app
Click connect

Rarely have a failure.
When I do, the second attempt will connect.

Same with
iPhone + OBDLink MX+ + OBDLink app

I was in and out of the truck several times today monitoring battery volts & SoC while running errands, no connection failures

 

[trabo]

Same with
iPhone + OBDLink MX+ + OBDLink app

I was in and out of the truck several times today monitoring battery volts & SoC while running errands, no connection failures

Do you leave the OBD plugged in? Turn on the truck, open the app, hit connect and you’re good? That never works for me. I have to open Settings>Bluetooh>OBDLink Device, then go back to app.

 

[Buyer2021]

Do you leave the OBD plugged in? Turn on the truck, open the app, hit connect and you’re good?

Yes, the OBDLink remains plugged-in and paired / connected when I last shut off the truck. I just 'swipe' the app closed sometime after leaving the truck.

 

[Nightranger4x4]

Android + OBDLink MX + OBDLink app.

Turn on the truck
Launch the app
App connects automatically when AA is connected. (This is a setting...somewhere.)
Occasionally the app 'loses' the extended PID's, but a restore fixes that. I think that may be my phone.
OBDLink MX stays in the truck, plugged in all the time.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

My connects very quickly every time.
I plugged the unit in
Press ignition
Go to the app and hit connect

I don’t think I’ve ever had any problems with it, not connecting the first time

 

[CowboyUP2022]

What Iphone version do you have? It may just be a coincidence but I used to experience the same issue as you (not as frequently) when I had the Iphone XR. I upgraded to the Iphone 16 back in Sep/Oct and have only experienced a connection failure once. I always do check that I have a good Bluetooth connection before using the app.

 

[Buyer2021]

So this morning when I went to check battery status after an overnight OTA update I had to push the pairing button on the OBDLink MX+ to get the app to connect (it was in a loop trying different connection protocols). The app connected and displayed my gauge dashboard promptly after pushing that button.

But I did not open the iPhone settings / BT page for that to happen, only the OBDLink app.

iPhone 16 running iOS 18.3.1

 

[bwdutton]

I'm having similar issues. Everything used to be perfect and fast, now I have to unplug almost every time. I have an android phone.

I think the cause has to do with updates. A couple of months ago I think the app updated as the data in the dashboard view stopped populating. I had to uninstall and purge the app data to get the values loading again (and had to import the 1.5 dashboard again). After I did that I saw there was a firmware update for the device so I did that too. Since things have been bad and I'm not sure which of the two changes was the problem.

 

[trabo]

What Iphone version do you have? It may just be a coincidence but I used to experience the same issue as you (not as frequently) when I had the Iphone XR. I upgraded to the Iphone 16 back in Sep/Oct and have only experienced a connection failure once. I always do check that I have a good Bluetooth connection before using the app.

iPhone 15PM, always current OS.

I drove it this morning and it connected quickly but I had the OBD unplugged before I started. We’ll see how easy it is when I leave for my next destination.

 

[Larrymoe]

What is an OBD?

 

[Snakebitten]

What is an OBD?

 

[Larrymoe]

Thank you. I had no idea what you're talking about. Still don't really, but I assume that's what connects your phone via Bluetooth?

My truck just does it. I don't do anything to connect my phone to the truck. I also rarely use it, but that's a different matter.

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