Torque PRO was the first OBD2 app I ever tried with their free version and my first OBD2 adapter on my old Fiat Punto many years ago. Now I came across it again to try what it is capable of with a little more understanding of OBD2 scan tools.
Torque is a great app for beginner DIY mechanics and car owners who want to dive deeper into their car health state.
I gave the Torque PRO rating of 7,5. The app is fairly good, and of course, I didn’t expect much for $5. However, there are a few functions that the Car Scanner ELM OBD2 does better.
VIDEO: What is Torque PRO?
Torque is one of the most famous OBD2 apps. The biggest problem is that it won’t work on iOS devices, but you can use it to start with car problem diagnosis on your Android phone. To be honest, Androids are better for working with your vehicle’s diagnostic system anyway. There are more Android-only apps, and it has fewer connection issues than Apple.
Compatible adapter
You can use cheap Veepeak, it will work just fine. Just remember that Blue Veepeak is for Android only. You will need the gray Veepeak adapter for your iPhone.
How much does the Torque Pro cost?
You can try their Torque Lite version, if there even exists anymore since I couldn’t find it when searching for this app. Torque PRO currently costs $4.95 in the Google Play Store. Don’t forget that you also need to have an OBD2 adapter to connect to your car.
What can you do with Torque PRO?
Torque PRO will let you scan your car for fault codes, read the live data and display them as graphs. You can also view your driving history in integrated maps. It is basically same as simple engine code readers, with some additional features like displaying custom dashboard.
1. Read and erase fault codes
Torque app can read fault codes from the engine and also erase them. You can also reset your check engine light by erasing the engine code causing it to illuminate. It reads codes only from the engine, so you wont be able to scan other systems like ABS, Body and other control modules. It works like a basic engine code reader.
2. Read engine live data
Read engine live data values and watch how they change to diagnose problems in your car. If you are new to this, live data can be confusing. Here is an explanation of engine live data basics. You can use the data to diagnose engine faults without replacing bunch of parts in the process. It will just require you to have knowledge on those fuel trims and air-to-fuel ratios.
3. Watch test results
Even when you understand the live data, every car’s optimal sensor values are different. These test results will tell you the minimum and maximum acceptable values for multiple engine sensors. I like when the scan tool tells you minimum and maximum values for these sensors, since the values wil differ from car to car. You will now know if the sensor measures data in the optimal range.
4. Watch performance data while driving
You can build your own performance dashboard with different gauges. The whole page is fully customizable. You can choose which data you want to monitor, a display form, and even the colors and sizes of gauges/graphs. Not that useful, but displaying those data on the car’s radio during driving will give it a sporty feel.
5. Watch your driving history
Your driving routines are automatically saved to the app if the adapter is connected to your car. You can display your trips on integrated maps in the app or export them in maps or coordinates Excel document.
OBD-II scanner Buyer’s Guide
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I test OBD-II scanners and make DIY Engine diagnostics guides to help you solve your car problems without having to depend on the mechanic. A lot of them will try to scam you or are just no help at all. About Juraj Lukacko