OBDLink PID Tutorial
Posted: Mon May 28, 2018 10:12 pm
The Custom PID information here is all Stewart's work , i am just putting it all in one place.
All the custom PIDs listed here work as I use them.
I use an Android tablet or phone to create and monitor my PID's, and of course the OBDLink app from the Playstore, this app is also available for IOS on Apples store.
There is also a WIFI version available and some connection settings may differ, Bluetooth vs WIFI.
I will explain the best I can how you create a custom PID.
Firstly download and install the OBDLink app.
Then open the app, Bluetooth doesn't need to be running at this stage.
Once opened this is the Home page.
Now you need to tap on Settings.
This will open up to this page.
It would be a good thing if you can enter as much info as you can before we get to PIDs.
Go to Vehicle Editor and enter your vehicles info.
For Temps select Metric.
Now tap on User-Defined PIDs. (OK the warning message/s)
In the top right hand corner you will see three dots, tap on that to open the Menu.
You will see this now.
Select New from the menu.
Now you will have this open.
The next 2 images are from that one User-Defined PID Editor
This is where you enter the custom PID information, take your time and get it right.
Some lines are left as they are so only enter data where the custom PID says to, very important.
Put a "C" in the Metric Units box.
Once done simply exit that page and it saves it, or if there is an option that says Done, press that.
If you want to Test the PID you can, but you need to be connected to the device.
If it fails I have found it is usually because the Equation was entered wrong, it's easy to do.
The next two images are for a custom PID for Transmission Temperature.
In the Name and Description line you can call it whatever you want.
Note down the bottom of the second picture, Priority Unknown.
Actually the Priority for that is High.
You have 5 options in the Priority choices, i consider the Trans Temp a high priority.
Now you have created a Custom PID, the next step is to activate it to screen.
Back to image 1 and select Dashboard.
Here you will have predefined Dashboards and Displays.
You can either ad Displays to the existing Dashboards, delete the predefined Dashboards or leave them and make your own.
I made my own and deleted the predefined ones later when i became more confident.
So for the exercise we will create our own Dashboards.
On the Dashboard page go to the bottom left corner and select the 3 dots, the Menu.
Now select Add Dashboard
When the new Dashboard opens go back to the same Menu and select Add Display
This page will open
You can choose between two Gauge types, select one.
Now tap on one, usually Vehicle Speed appears and many, many selections become available
This is the page you are now at and they all have PIDs.
Lets Select User-Defined PIDs
This is the page that opens (depending what PIDs you have) so select the PID you want then press Done in the top right hand corner.
Now you will see that the item that was Vehicle Speed has now changed name to the PID you selected.
Select the number of Decimals you want, 0 to 3 and press OK.
Only on some do I have decimal points, as you use it you will see why.
So now you have made and setup to use your first PID.
Now hold on the PID display you just made.
You will now have a Menu that allows you to move, change size, change configuration, delete and if you select Style, change fonts and colours.
You can even change the Display Configuration here, that is change it to another PID, easy.
There are many pre defined PIDs to choose from, but not all work.
Oil Temperature would be good but it doesn't work, there is no Sensor for it.
So if you try a PID and it doesn't work there are usually only two reasons it will fail, entering the wrong data or no Sensor.
The below images are on my tablet which sits comfortably on the console and leans on the dash.
All the custom PIDs listed here work as I use them.
I use an Android tablet or phone to create and monitor my PID's, and of course the OBDLink app from the Playstore, this app is also available for IOS on Apples store.
There is also a WIFI version available and some connection settings may differ, Bluetooth vs WIFI.
I will explain the best I can how you create a custom PID.
Firstly download and install the OBDLink app.
Then open the app, Bluetooth doesn't need to be running at this stage.
Once opened this is the Home page.
Now you need to tap on Settings.
This will open up to this page.
It would be a good thing if you can enter as much info as you can before we get to PIDs.
Go to Vehicle Editor and enter your vehicles info.
For Temps select Metric.
Now tap on User-Defined PIDs. (OK the warning message/s)
In the top right hand corner you will see three dots, tap on that to open the Menu.
You will see this now.
Select New from the menu.
Now you will have this open.
The next 2 images are from that one User-Defined PID Editor
This is where you enter the custom PID information, take your time and get it right.
Some lines are left as they are so only enter data where the custom PID says to, very important.
Put a "C" in the Metric Units box.
Once done simply exit that page and it saves it, or if there is an option that says Done, press that.
If you want to Test the PID you can, but you need to be connected to the device.
If it fails I have found it is usually because the Equation was entered wrong, it's easy to do.
The next two images are for a custom PID for Transmission Temperature.
In the Name and Description line you can call it whatever you want.
Note down the bottom of the second picture, Priority Unknown.
Actually the Priority for that is High.
You have 5 options in the Priority choices, i consider the Trans Temp a high priority.
Now you have created a Custom PID, the next step is to activate it to screen.
Back to image 1 and select Dashboard.
Here you will have predefined Dashboards and Displays.
You can either ad Displays to the existing Dashboards, delete the predefined Dashboards or leave them and make your own.
I made my own and deleted the predefined ones later when i became more confident.
So for the exercise we will create our own Dashboards.
On the Dashboard page go to the bottom left corner and select the 3 dots, the Menu.
Now select Add Dashboard
When the new Dashboard opens go back to the same Menu and select Add Display
This page will open
You can choose between two Gauge types, select one.
Now tap on one, usually Vehicle Speed appears and many, many selections become available
This is the page you are now at and they all have PIDs.
Lets Select User-Defined PIDs
This is the page that opens (depending what PIDs you have) so select the PID you want then press Done in the top right hand corner.
Now you will see that the item that was Vehicle Speed has now changed name to the PID you selected.
Select the number of Decimals you want, 0 to 3 and press OK.
Only on some do I have decimal points, as you use it you will see why.
So now you have made and setup to use your first PID.
Now hold on the PID display you just made.
You will now have a Menu that allows you to move, change size, change configuration, delete and if you select Style, change fonts and colours.
You can even change the Display Configuration here, that is change it to another PID, easy.
There are many pre defined PIDs to choose from, but not all work.
Oil Temperature would be good but it doesn't work, there is no Sensor for it.
So if you try a PID and it doesn't work there are usually only two reasons it will fail, entering the wrong data or no Sensor.
The below images are on my tablet which sits comfortably on the console and leans on the dash.