Tuning Using ODBII and Your Phone

AndyCr15 · 14 Mar 2015 at 07:37

I've had an ODBII for some time, I used it on my last car for giggles mainly. See all the cars dials on your phone, in theory apps can record you 0-60 etc.

It was recently mentioned that a remap was a good idea, the gadget to do it would be $400 or so. Surely it can be done with a phone?

Has anyone used this - https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...id=com.sct.tsx

TUNE YOUR FORD OR GM VEHICLE WITH YOUR ANDROID BASED MOBILE DEVICE
NOTE: This app requires the TSX for Android Wireless OBDII Interface. Visit www.sctflash.com for more information or to find a dealer. Requires Android 2.2+ OS.
From the factory, your vehicle's computer is calibrated for the masses, designed with the average driver in mind, not the performance enthusiast. This not only leaves valuable Horsepower & Torque hidden inside your vehicle, but it also makes for a mediocre driving experience. The TSX for Android System unlocks your vehicle's hidden performance potential by wirelessly re-calibrating your vehicle's computer for Maximum Horsepower & Torque, Increased Throttle Response, Firmer Shifts and even Increased Fuel Mileage.
Using Bluetooth wireless technology, TSX for Android app lets you install a pre-loaded or custom tune into your vehicle, monitor or data log your vehicle's OBDII parameters and even measure your vehicle's performance (1/4 mile, 0-60 and even 60-0 braking), all using your Android based mobile device.

IC3 · 14 Mar 2015 at 07:43

Don't do it through an app, watch this video as it pretty much relates to what you're asking about.

IMO Just go to a garage with good reputation and do it properly, as all that advertising stuff is rubbish.

AndyCr15 · 14 Mar 2015 at 08:13

Thanks. I'm 20 minutes into this video and surely this isn't what I'm asking about? The little box they bought tries to trick the ECU (and fails). Wont the ODBII actually adjust settings in the ECU?

** EDIT ** Yup. I don't see how it relates. A cheap eBay box doesn't do anything. I'm wondering how a $400 box that plugs into the ODBII and changes ECU settings is different from a phone that plugs into the ODBII?

rodenal · 14 Mar 2015 at 08:46

I'd want t to hear from people who ha e actually used it - and not through the companies own site.

In theory I guess you should be able to tune via Bluetooth, my major concern would be that any Bluetooth obd2 I've used does not have a fantastically stable connection - what happens if it drops mid write?

In fact that brings me on to the next issue, should you screw up using conventional methods there is always a way back, be it from the back up flash or whatever - via a phone that would look to be extremely limited.

Also consider that you're just downloading a generic map, if you get the correct wired cable for your car it is normally possible to buy generic maps for about £200, even the well established tuners will usually do something for you to write yourself (from the generic set)

AndyCr15 · 14 Mar 2015 at 08:57

The connection shouldn't be an issue. Firstly, I've never had Bluetooth drop when I've been connected to it before. Secondly, most hardware transfers data over, once it has it, it applies it. If you did lose connection, I would hope simply the transfer gets interrupted, not the flashing of it.

This video suggests it gives close to a 10% increase.

There is an option to backup stock settings before you start, so I don't see that being an issue.

My only thought is what you then point out (I think) that you need someone to set up a map specifically for your car, which I guess might be what you're really paying for in a tune up?

rodenal · 14 Mar 2015 at 09:02

If the connection drops during transfer and you can't re establish it you are in serious trouble. You are just introducing more variables should something go wrong. It's all very well saying that you have never experienced it, but it is a real risk

You can usually buy either a generic map for your car type or a properly customised one. The generics can start at £200, especially if you already have the cable with which to write it (not hard to find). £400+ Mao's tend to be properly customised

AndyCr15 · 14 Mar 2015 at 09:04

rodenal said:
If the connection drops during transfer and you can't re establish it you are in serious trouble. You are just I troducing more variables should something go wrong.

Do you know this for sure? As I said, almost any type of hardware in the world transfers then flashes. Why would this be different? I'm not even sure it's possible any other way? All we're doing is changing the transfer method. The danger comes if you kill the power while flashing, which is the same if you use a cable.

Also, I use Bluetooth every day and have never had it just drop... it's very reliable.

rodenal · 14 Mar 2015 at 10:58

I'm not suggesting it will be unfixable, but the point is that if for some reason you cannot manage to re establish a connection ( I know you say it is reliable, I find obd2 Bluetooth not to be) then you have no method of completing or re starting. At least doing it via laptop you have some diagnostics available and know for a fact the physical connection is not a problem.

I guess what in getting at is that I just don't see the big benefit. I'd sooner do it myself via a wired connection and a reputable map. Then again I wouldn't personally even do that

Kenai · 14 Mar 2015 at 11:00

Bluetooth itself is pretty reliable but eBay special OBD Bluetooth adapters less so. I would trust mine to clear fault codes but not a chance I would try and upload a new engine map with it.

AndyCr15 · 14 Mar 2015 at 11:27

rodenal said:
I find obd2 Bluetooth not to be

Kenai said:
Bluetooth itself is pretty reliable but eBay special OBD Bluetooth adapters less so.

Yeah, this is a fair point actually. I've just tried, it's actually hard to tell when it's connected and not. The TSX app doesn't seem to work all that well. I might try it on iOS instead of Android.

On Android, 'Torque' seems reasonably reliable once it's connected to the ODB, but that might take an unplug and plug back in again of the device to get it to connect. TSX though, tough to tell if it connects or not.

Frozennova · 14 Mar 2015 at 12:55

I wouldn't entertain flashing an ECU over bluetooth.

Flashing a Subaru ECU with a Tactrix cable is nerve wracking enough and that's over a USB cable

sovietspybob · 14 Mar 2015 at 14:02

AndyCr15 said:
Do you know this for sure? As I said, almost any type of hardware in the world transfers then flashes. Why would this be different? I'm not even sure it's possible any other way? All we're doing is changing the transfer method. The danger comes if you kill the power while flashing, which is the same if you use a cable.

Also, I use Bluetooth every day and have never had it just drop... it's very reliable.

You've obviously never done much flashing of firmware on big IT networks then!

Some Cisco switches for example don't have enough memory to load the image and then flash it so you have to do it all on the fly, i imagine a lot of ECU's will be similar. Remember this isn't something designed to ever be messed with, it's not like firmware on your phone or a motherboard BIOS.

Mucky_Pup · 15 Mar 2015 at 08:08

I wouldn't trust that as far as I could throw it.

Dogbreath · 15 Mar 2015 at 09:19

AndyCr15 said:
Do you know this for sure? As I said, almost any type of hardware in the world transfers then flashes. Why would this be different? I'm not even sure it's possible any other way?

This is not true. In order to do this a device would have to buffer the entire flash contents into RAM, and very few embedded devices have more data memory than program memory. Typically just one page of flash will be buffered and written at a time, which can be a fairly small amount of data.

Remapping an ECU from a phone is just ridiculous. If it were that easy to get an effective and reliable map, why would people buy expensive dynos and gas monitoring equipment?