What's your startup process for your OBDLink?

[Bobcatou]

How long does it log data for. Can you save data for several weeks to refer to it? Would be nice if you had to prove something is flakey to a mechanic.

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[roadPilot]

Android + OBDLink MX + OBDLink app.

Turn on the truck
Launch the app
Click connect

Rarely have a failure.

Same here.

Do you leave the OBD plugged in?

Yup.

 

[roadPilot]

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?

OBD = On Board Diagnostics (port). It's what the dealership techs use to connect their various devices and computers to your vehicle with to perform diagnostics and program.

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.

No, not that. We are referring to plugging in an OBDLink or similar adapter to the OBD port, then connecting to the OBDLink adapter with our phone, tablet, or laptop computer using Bluetooth. We then use the connected device to do various things, such as read DTCs (diagnostic trouble codes), perform diagnostics or update module firmware using FDRS (Ford Diagnostic and Repair Software - the same software the dealership techs use) and a Mongoose-Plus or similar J2534 compatible VIC (vehicle interface cable), or perhaps read or modify PIDs (performance information data) using an OBDLink or similar dongle and FORScan to monitor or customize our vehicles.

 

[trabo]

Connected better this time. Seems to give me more trouble if I am driving and try to connect. I turned the truck ON, opened the app and connected right away.

still not sure why it would make a difference but I appreciate the help.

 

[roadPilot]

Connected better this time. Seems to give me more trouble if I am driving and try to connect. I turned the truck ON, opened the app and connected right away.

still not sure why it would make a difference but I appreciate the help.

You're not trying to connect to the adapter (while driving) while the phone is already connected to the truck via Sync, are you?

 

[Buyer2021]

You're not trying to connect to the adapter (while driving) while the phone is already connected to the truck via Sync, are you?

FWIW, I don't do my OBDLink connection while driving but my iPhone has invariably already connected to SYNC via BT by the time I open the OBDLink app to connect (my phone automatically connects to SYNC very quickly upon truck startup).

 

[Snakebitten]

FWIW, I don't do my OBDLink connection while driving but my iPhone has invariably already connected to SYNC via BT by the time I open the OBDLink app to connect (my phone automatically connects to SYNC very quickly upon truck startup).

Very similar to the timing I experience, except I'm not using my personal phone for OBDLink. Rather I'm using a second Sim-less Android for OBDLink.

I start the truck up.
The Sim-less Samsung will connect to the truck's Wi-Fi Hotspot and Sync4 Bluetooth before I get around to launching OBDLink.

My personal phone will also connect to Sync4 Bluetooth.

Sync4 in both the truck and the Mach-E manage both smartphones brilliantly if I designate their individual roles properly in the "Phone List" menu in Sync.

It's crazy all the connectivity that is going on in either vehicle when I'm rolling down the road.

 

[trabo]

You're not trying to connect to the adapter (while driving) while the phone is already connected to the truck via Sync, are you?

I connect my phone via cable, no Bluetooth. Too many places that interfere with CarPlay in my area, so the phone gets plugged directly into the truck. Then I am connecting to OBD. It’s working better now.

 

[SilverPigeon]

iPhone 12 or 16 + VeePeak BT+ (BTLE) + OBD Fusion
Step 1: turn on truck
Step 2: watch CarPlay connect OBD Fusion via the VeePeak and view pages of PIDs on my Sync 4 ?‍

 

[trabo]

iPhone 12 or 16 + VeePeak BT+ (BTLE) + OBD Fusion
Step 1: turn on truck
Step 2: watch CarPlay connect OBD Fusion via the VeePeak and view pages of PIDs on my Sync 4 ?‍

nice, don’t know there were apps that had CarPlay capability. Might have to drop $10 on Fusion

 

[Buyer2021]

Very similar to the timing I experience, except I'm not using my personal phone for OBDLink. Rather I'm using a second Sim-less Android for OBDLink.

DOH, you just made me realize I need to load the OBDLnk app on my infrequently used WiFi / no SIM iPad and see what that's like!

My iPad is mainly used for trailering-related stuff, various apps for monitoring my trailer's solar and electrical systems, a remote 'leveling' app, etc., likely the perfect device for OBDLink.

I really don't care for the app on the small-screen iPhone 16 (though I love the very pocketable '16' for my 'daily carry' comms device).

 

[Snakebitten]

DOH, you just made me realize I need to load the OBDLnk app on my infrequently used WiFi / no SIM iPad and see what that's like!

My iPad is mainly used for trailering-related stuff, various apps for monitoring my trailer's solar and electrical systems, a remote 'leveling' app, etc., likely the perfect device for OBDLink.

I really don't care for the app on the small-screen iPhone 16 (though I love the very pocketable '16' for my 'daily carry' comms device).

I think you'll love it.
And you won't likely need to touch your phone for anything if setup properly.

My text, corporate email, and of course Bluetooth calling, are all handsfree on the Sync4 screen.
Of course I lose the email and text if I switch to Android Auto, which is kind of a bummer, and the main reason I don't use Android Auto most of the time.

 

[SilverPigeon]

nice, don’t know there were apps that had CarPlay capability. Might have to drop $10 on Fusion

Looks like this:

 

[Snakebitten]

So cool!

 

[Buyer2021]

I think you'll love it.
And you won't likely need to touch your phone for anything if setup properly.

OBDLink with Ford extensions now installed on the iPad 10th Gen, dashboard configured to suit me, and indeed it's great on the 'big screen'!

Never touched the phone at all.

Thanks for the 'hint' , I swear I'm as thick as a brick for not thinking to do this long ago , but hey, better Nate than lever!

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