kiwi 3 bluetooth obd reader

[kerryxeg]

https://www.telematica.uk.com/product/P ... GwodPf0PlA

I'm not one for tinkering with error codes, but have a new found interest in knowing what my car is up to. Just wondering if anyone has used one of these, looks like an interesting and helpful tool. Experience or alternatives?

[tut]

Like the look of that, and there are apps that work and add on to it.

tut

[tenkfeet]

I have a cheap bluetooth reader that works well with the free torque app on android phone or tablet. Interesting to see live figures. Have used it to clear faults on other peoples cars. You will use it a few times out of curiosity then it will end up in the glove box doing nothing.

Bought from Dragon diagnostics when they were £4 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-ELM327-O ... 1730971119

As you are now a Macca owner will sell you it for £50.

[graeme]

Was just about to buy a Scantool MX (wifi or bluetooth options) which is a bit cheaper. Not sure what the differences are, but will look at the Kiwi as well.

[anthonyyule]

I bought one for the Evora......
Occasionally get MIL light coming on since I installed the 2ubular system (car seems to sometimes think there is a Catalytic convertor problem..... well there is if you consider the fact they have been deleted as a problem!).... OBD reader and android app is a great way of clearing the code without resorting to garage services.

I haven't really explored all of the functions of the app - but I can see how it could be a very useful diagnostics check.

I've heard of some folks that kept them plugged in all the time - but power drain (despite being tiny) has flattened batteries over time. I keep mine in the car just in case I ever need it, as otherwise I would lose it.

[graeme]

Shouldn't drain the battery. A few mA in sleep mode, and not much more when awake. It would take a looooooong time to drain a car battery at that rate. But I guess user experience trumps theory.

These work with lots of other apps too, not just the proprietary one. Check out Torque, and also a cool app called Harry's Lap timer. It uses phone GPS, or an external GPS module for more accuracy, plus it takes the ECU data from the Kiwi/Scantool reader, and it will overlay it onto GoPro footage. Like this: http://www.gps-laptimer.de/

[DJ]

Check out Torque, and also a cool app called Harry's Lap timer. It uses phone GPS, or an external GPS module for more accuracy

Quick thread drift. Gordon on here introduced me to Harry's lap timer a couple of years ago. It has Knockhill on it and a few of us use it (eg me, Mike Scib) to have a look at lap times etc. Even without the video overlay it has some neat features.

[tut]

I presume the Petrolhead version at £15? Is it worth it? Will it work with an iPhone 6 alone without GPS add ons and give accurate results?

I have a great back road here that is almost empty and would double up as a race track, so it would be interesting timing that.

tut

[DJ]

Hi tut

Yes, the petrolhead one. Probably the same one although couple of years ago the price was something like £9 or £12. I have only ever loaded Knockhill and Croft as pre set tracks but believe there is the facility to create your own 'track' but never used this. I have an iPhone 6 too and just use the gps on that rather than anything external and works perfectly well. Knockhill for example picks up 68 gps fixes and breaks the lap into 5 sectors. The app can sometimes be a bit fiddly to find your away around and the speed seems to be fixed in km/h but for a tenner or so, it's a bit of sideshow fun. Good for a bit of banter when you see you are 2 secs a lap faster* than Mike!

*ok, maybe I meant slower

[graeme]

Thought I'd test the water with a cheap bluetooth dongle. Seems to work ok. I'll play with it for a while and report back. If I continue to find it useful I'll get something a bit nicer that I can leave plugged in all the time.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00UR5BRZU