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Your car’s computer doesn’t need to be a black, locked box. It’s accessible via a vehicle’s OBDII port. There’s a long list of OBD port uses, starting with reading vehicle diagnostic codes. But that’s just the beginning.
All cars produced after Jan. 1, 1996, are equipped with OBDII, the onboard vehicle diagnostics port. The OBDII is a universal port that opens up vast possibilities for many dashboard hacks. Here are a few of our favorites.
OBD Port Use #1: Interpret Engine Codes
Pulling the trouble code with an inexpensive OBDII reader can quickly put your mind at ease.
Like it or not, today’s cars are computers on wheels. That means a vehicle’s onboard processors and sensors are generating engine codes. Professional mechanics have tools to interpret warning codes, but everyday drivers have been locked out from that OBD port use.
Not anymore: A high-quality yet affordable OBDII reader for your car’s data port can grant you access to those codes.
Tell me moreOBD Port Use #2: Create a Powerful Digital Cockpit
What gauges do you dream about putting on your dashboard? It’s all possible by integrating a tablet on your dash and using an app like Dashlink.
Have you ever wanted a comprehensive set of gauges for your car? That’s a readily available OBD port use.
Plug a wireless onboard diagnostics accessory into the OBDII port under the steering wheel. Then, fire up a tool like AutoMeter’s DashLink or the Torque app. Voila!
Tell me moreOBD Port Use #3: Transform Your Work Truck Into an Mobile Office
If your car isn’t equipped with Wi-Fi, you can either use your cell phone as a modem or invest in an adapter. Self-contained mobile hotspots such as Verizon’s MiFi plug into a 12-volt power point and contain batteries for use outside the car.
There are many powerful Wi-Fi car adapters. It’s one of the smartest and most useful OBD port uses. See all the ways to increase productivity in your work truck.
Tell me moreOBD Port Use #4: Download Engine Tunes from the Web
In the middle of a tuning run on a 2017 Ford Mustang.
The mechanical components of today’s cars are controlled by software. That makes computer-based performance tuning one of the most immediate ways to customize your car’s power dynamics.
What’s the key to making that happen? You guessed it. Boosting engine output is an OBD port use to increase speed. We’ve got everything you need to know about DIY digital-based engine tuning.
Tell me moreOBD Port Use #5: Add an Aftermarket Heads-Up Display
Despite stricter laws, the use of smartphones while driving remains a significant health hazard. An increasing number of drivers are injured or killed by distraction.
One solution is a heads-up display (HUD), a technology first used in aviation. A HUD presents useful vehicle information—and, in some cases, data from your phone—directly in the driver’s line of sight. No need to lift your eyes from the road to see vehicle info. Goodbye distraction.
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As soon as we learn about more OBD port uses, we will add them to this page. What cool uses for the OBD port have you discovered?
