Very Basic OBD Scan Tool Functionality

[jmciver]

There are not that many OBD Scan Tool Apps for the iPhone that are really anything special. Very few have any advanced scan tool functionality, which your average user does not need in my pinion. All of them, however, have the same basic OBD II scan tool functionality which includes: Viewing live data from all available PIDs (some car manufacturers provide more data than others as you already know), viewing any engine fault codes, clear any engine fault codes, and viewing the emission calibration test status. The last item, the emission calibration test status, is an important one since if your car has not passed all of the tests (which the car's ECU continually monitors/performs and usually takes driving the car for a few days for them all to complete if you have to clear any fault codes) your car will not pass emissions in several states/countries and can't be registered.

The other thing these other apps try to do, but not nearly as well as HLT does, is incorporate some type of track performance evaluation functionality. HLT is already one of, if not the most capable smartphone based lap timer tool available, especially when you add OBD II data. So since you are already taping into the OBD II port, why not add some very basic OBD II scan tool functionality to really make HLT a very comprehensive app. Nothing too fancy, but the following basic OBD II scan tool functionality would be great:

1. Display live OBD II data from any available PIDs from the car's ECU (a lot of which you already do)
2. Display status of the CEL (Check Engine Light) and clear it if it is illuminated (thus clearing any fault codes)
3. Displayed any fault codes if the CEL is illuminated (just the code, such as P0174; the user can look up what the code means on the internet)
4. Display status of emission control calibration tests

In my case, I have some OBD II scan tool software on my laptop that I use that has the same functionality listed above (with the same OBD II interface that I use with HLT as well). It would be great if I could do the track stuff and OBD scan tool stuff all on one device and one app .

[hms]

Edited.
posted to wrong Forum!
h

[Harry]

Two issues here:

1. LapTimer is complex already, too complex for some users. I'd prefer to release a separate OBD app some time.
2. Each PId requested slows down the OBD update rate. This is the reason I fully focus getting RPM, VSS, TPS, MAF.

- Harry

[jmciver]

Two issues here:

1. LapTimer is complex already, too complex for some users. I'd prefer to release a separate OBD app some time.
2. Each PId requested slows down the OBD update rate. This is the reason I fully focus getting RPM, VSS, TPS, MAF.

- Harry

I understand your point about being too complex for some users. But then you could just release another variant of HLT called "HLT Pro Advanced" or something like that for those more "advanced" users .

Still a great app nonetheless and I plan to keep on using it.