Android Tablet for Car Diagnostics

[Sundayjumper]

I've just ordered a Thinkdiag widget, it's a bluetooth OBD dongle that communicates with software running on your phone / tablet. The software is available for iOS & Android but from what I've read the iOS version is shite so I think I may need an Android device. I'm also expecting this to be shite as every encounter I've had with Android has been thoroughly underwhelming.

The requirement is apparently Android 5.1 to Android 11. It doesn't need a hi res screen or masses of processing power. Something slightly rugged seems like a good idea, even if it's just rubberised so it doesn't slide off wherever you put it. This has drawn me to look at kids tablets e.g.:

https://www.currys.co.uk/products/pebbl ... 10761.html

This one in particular because the colour matches my DeWalt tools

So question: it looks as though it comes with some specific Android version that's locked down for safety. Can it be wiped and then do a fresh clean install ? I've never tinkered with Android stuff before.


Edit: or the Cars version would be a lot more appropriate

https://uk.pebblegear.com/collections/t ... ids-tablet

[mik]

I use a Wi-Fi obd2 dongle with the “Car Scanner” app. Other than having text that is too small for old eyes - it’s been great.

[DeskJockey]

Not easily, if at all. Buy a cheap secondhand Lenovo or similar on eBay.

Edit: in response to the "wipe it" question.

[Matty]

Not easily, if at all. Buy a cheap secondhand Lenovo or similar on eBay.

This TBH. If it's just for knocking about with diagnositics just buy a used one from one of the refurb places like:
https://www.backmarket.co.uk/en-gb/p/le ... ca26f#l=11

[Sundayjumper]

Not easily, if at all. Buy a cheap secondhand Lenovo or similar on eBay.

Edit: in response to the "wipe it" question.

Ta. I suspected as much but was all excited about the bright colours

Same (/similar) issue with Amazon tablets ? I can pop down to the local argos and pick up one of these very easily:

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/1238118 ... =plp:11:71

[Sundayjumper]

Not easily, if at all. Buy a cheap secondhand Lenovo or similar on eBay.

This TBH. If it's just for knocking about with diagnositics just buy a used one from one of the refurb places like:
https://www.backmarket.co.uk/en-gb/p/le ... ca26f#l=11

Sensible but correct by the looks of it.

[Carlos]

It is possible but there may not be much online tech information for a low value/spec tablet to start with. It also may be short on memory/processing power for the diagnostics as well.

Back in the day a few of us on here had cheap locked down tablets from PC World that I can't remember the name of now but there was a massive online presence for them.

I'd go higher spec and used to start with.

[Sundayjumper]

OK, snap decision made, I have bought this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225852454240

Appears a reasonable spec and this particular one has a rugged case with it. Bingo. Hopefully.

[Sundayjumper]

Dongle received. I’m not totally convinced by some of the readings I’m getting. This is with engine off & the car stone cold:

IMG_2662.jpeg (39.26 KiB) Viewed 2903 times

[Mito Man]

[DeskJockey]

Does it still count as water when it is 4x the temperature at which it turns to steam?

[Sundayjumper]

Does it still count as water when it is 4x the temperature at which it turns to steam?

Well, up to the critical point, yes, it remains a liquid - "water" - but after that it all gets a bit complicated, the separate liquid & gas phases no longer exist and you have what's called a supercritical fluid.

Water gets there at 374° so 464 is well into that area. The effect all the additives have on that either up or down..... no idea.

I need to do some more testing here but I'm inclined to think that in fact the scanner might be wrong.

[DeskJockey]

It is certainly a hypothesis to test. If only there were other clues...

[Sundayjumper]

I'm wondering if the 580km/h is the tangential speed of the surface of the earth at my current latitude, rather than the speed of the car across the ground.

[Ascender]

What's the advantage to these bluetooth ones with apps compared to a "traditional" handheld one with the LCD display etc? Is it that you obviously get a better UI and it's easier updated over the air?

We need to get one of these for a few cars and had been looking at the Autel bluetooth one but it got cancelled by Amazon and they don't seem to have any more so the timing of this post is very handy although I guess I'd also have to buy an android tablet!

Any idea what makes the iOS version "shite"?

[Sundayjumper]

What's the advantage to these bluetooth ones with apps compared to a "traditional" handheld one with the LCD display etc? Is it that you obviously get a better UI and it's easier updated over the air?

That plus the fact you've already got the hardware (your phone / tablet) means the system should be cheaper to buy as you're not doubling up. Your phone has way more processing power than one of the little LCD jobbies. The software could do some very nice data logging / plotting with that hardware.

....I'd also have to buy an android tablet!

Any idea what makes the iOS version "shite"?

A post I read somewhere - I can't remember where - talked about the iOS version being very buggy and some features simply did not work, whereas on an Android device it was fine. All the bigger units (I was looking at THIS, many others are available) are literally an Android tablet with a rubber coat on.

[Ascender]

Thanks @Sundayjumper, that's pretty much what I thought.

I think its worth a punt then...

[Sundayjumper]

OK, further testing done. Still on iOS (iPhone 8 FWIW) as although I paid for the Android tablet on Saturday the seller didn't bother posting it until yesterday.

Cayenne - pretty rubbish. It'll read engine & gearbox but nothing else. There's a lot of modules on the car - it won't read any of them. I already have other devices to cover those so I won't bother with the ThinkDiag again. 2/10.

360 - pretty rubbish. It'll read engine, gearbox & air bag but nothing else. I'm very disappointed it won't read the ABS / ASR (stability) system as I've been getting occasional ASR warnings and there's multiple possible causes, you need the codes before you start chucking money at it. The other feature that I very specifically needed was setting the gearbox parameters and I'm glad to say that part does work. For the ability to fine tune to your heart's content it is worth the £100 compared to taking it to a specialist. 5/10.

MINI - looks very good. Everything I looked at connected straight away, it can read the build info (SA / VO codes) and it even has coding functions, although I've not tried using them yet. 8/10 but I might revise that upwards if it turns out all advanced features work.

I'll update again once I've tried the Android version.

[tim]

You have a Fezza and a Benters, so clearly you need this: https://www.autel.uk/product/maxisys-ultra/

[Sundayjumper]

Without having a unit to try out I honestly wouldn’t trust it to anything more than I already have. I’ve been researching stuff for ages. Biggest bugbear - nothing but PIWIS & Durametric will reset the “Service Now” message on the Cayenne and I’m not buying one of those just to add one feature to my list. I have Foxwell, Delphi, VCDS and now ThinkDiag. They say they’ll do it, but they won’t.

And that Autel at £5k is more than half what the Benters cost to buy in the first place