OBDLink MX+ Bluetooth OBD2 Scanner and Vehicle Performance Monitor

OBDLink MX+ OBD2 Bluetooth Scanner and Real-Time Performance Monitor for iPhone, Android, and Windows

If you’re like me and would like to keep a closer eye on the vehicle data in real-time, but find the info provided by the gauges of 5th Gen 4Runners to be lacking in that department, look no further. This is the ticket. Introducing the OBDLink MX+ Bluetooth OBD-II Scanner.

Easily connected to a vehicle via the under dash On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) port, the OBDLink MX+ wirelessly transmits data to any iPhone, iPad, or Android device.

The device includes free access to a fully-featured OBDLink app, that allows for real-time monitoring of many factory sensors, including ABS, SRS, TPMS, transmission temperature, and more. It can also connect to and provide data to a number of popular 3rd party apps, with customizable “dashboards” that can be configured as desired.

Need to read and/or clear trouble codes from the ECU? The OBDLink MX+ can do that.

Want to gather performance data, like 1/8 mile, 1/4 mile, and/or 0-60 MPH times? The OBDLink MX+ can do that too.

Find it Online:

• OBDLink MX+ OBD2 Bluetooth Scanner for iPhone, Android, and Windows Check Price

FEATURES:

The OBDLink MX+ Bluetooth OBD adapter is small in size but large in features. It works with all 1996 and newer vehicles sold in the United States and includes free OEM data upgrades for not just Toyota/Lexus/Scion, but also Ford, GM, Mazda, and Nissan/Infiniti.

It is 300% faster than competitive products, for smooth graphs and gauges in real-time. Unlike other devices, the OBDLink MX+ provides wireless access to proprietary GM-LAN and Ford MS-CAN vehicle networks. The variety of vehicle makes and models that the adapter can connect to is great for 4Runner drivers who might also have other brands in their fleet, and it is super easy to switch between them.

The adapter uses Class 2 Bluetooth 3.0, which provides 128-bit encryption, and a range of ~33 feet. Connecting to the OBDLink MX+ is secure, as it does not broadcast the device name or use a simple PIN. Pairing the adapter requires physical access, but easily done by pressing a button on the face of the unit.

Once it is installed into the OBD port of a vehicle, there is no need to remove it for fear of battery drain. Built-in BatterySaver Technology allows the OBDLink MX+ to automatically sleep, but then wake when connected via Bluetooth, the doors are unlocked, or the engine is started.

The OBDLink MX+ Bluetooth OBD adapter has a 3-year warranty and 90-day money-back guarantee.

INSTALLATION:

Installing the OBDLink MX+ adapter could not be much easier. Under the driver side dashboard, to the right of the emergency brake cable, there is a large white plug. This is the OBD port, and it is highlighted in green below.

Orient the OBDLink MX+ in a manner that matches the shape of the OBD port, and plug it into the port. It’ll only go in one way, and on a 5th gen 4Runner, that is with the label upside down. The fit is snug, so it won’t fall out once it’s installed.

I used one hand to support the backside of the OBD port, and the other hand to press the adapter into place. The power indicator is a green light on the far end of the device. If it is lit, you’re good to go.

APPS:

The OBDLink MX+ Bluetooth OBD adapter is compatible with dozens of apps for iOS, Android, and Windows on phones, tablets, laptops, and desktop PCs.

Here are a few of the popular OBD apps iOS and Android:

• OBDLink for iOS (free and exclusively for OBDLink devices)
• OBDLink for Android (free and exclusively for OBDLink devices)
• DashCommand for iOS
• DashCommand for Android
• OBD Auto Doctor for iOS
• OBD Auto Doctor for Android
• OBD Fusion for iOS
• OBD Fusion for Android
• Torque Pro for Android

Bluetooth Pairing and App Connection

For Android:

1. Turn ignition to Key On, Engine Off position
2. Open Android “Settings” App, and enable “Bluetooth”
3. Press the “Connect” button on OBDLink MX+. The blue LED will blink rapidly, and allow for connection within 2 minutes
4. Open “Bluetooth settings” menu and tap “OBDLink MX+” to pair the device
5. Tap “OK” in the “Bluetooth pairing request” dialog box
6. Launch the OBDLink app. Set “Communication Type” to “Bluetooth”. Go to Settings > Preferences > Communications, and tap “Bluetooth”
7. Tap “Connect” from the OBDLink app main menu
8. Choose “OBDLink MX+”
9. The app will establish a connection with OBDLink and detect which OBD-II protocol your vehicle uses. Once the app establishes a connection with MX+, the “BT” LED will display a solid blue light.

For iOS:

1. Turn ignition key to Key On, Engine Off position
2. Open iOS “Settings” App, and enable “Bluetooth”
3. Press the “Connect” button on OBDLink MX+
4. Tap “OBDLink MX+” to pair the device when it appears in “Other Devices”
5. “OBDLink MX+” will now appear as “Connected” under “My Devices”
6. Launch the OBDLink app. Set “Communication Type” to “Bluetooth”. Go to Settings > Preferences > Communications and tap “Bluetooth”
7. Tap “Connect” from the OBDLink app main menu
8. The app will establish a connection with OBDLink and detect which OBD-II protocol your vehicle uses. Once the app establishes a connection with MX+, the “BT” LED will display a solid blue light.

OBDLink App

Settings

The settings section of the OBDLink app can be used to configure preferences, vehicle-specific info, user-defined PIDs, get enhanced OEM add-ons, enable/disable LED lights on the device, download/install firmware updates, enable logging for GPS and OBD2 data, and a lot more. I could write a lot about this section, but I think it would best to do some poking around in the app yourself and learn by doing.

Dashboard (Custom)

The dashboard option in the OBDLink app allows for creating custom dashboards that display information for all the available on-board diagnostics Parameter IDs (PIDs). There are a ton of PIDs in the app – many of which are vehicle brand specific (like Toyota, Lexus, and Scion that are part of the enhanced OEM option), along with others that are related to fuel, sensors, SAE PIDs, calculated PIDs, trip user-defined PIDs, and GPS.

Here some examples of OBDLink custom dashboards on one of the T9 head units from Car Trim Home. If you haven’t already seen it, take a look at Derek’s T9 Head Unit Review and Setup article for more info on the T9. The OBDLink MX+ is displaying individual tire pressures, engine RPM, voltage, vehicle speed, transmission oil temperature, engine oil temperature, and coolant temp.

How sweet does that look??

One of the items that I was most excited about, is the ability to display tire pressure (TPMS) for individual tires. In the OBDLink app, this involves using the “Add Display” option in a custom dashboard, then selecting PIDs from the “Toyota, Lexus, Scion” set.

Once there, select the Tire Pressure Monitor network, and PIDs called “IDx Tire Inflation Pressure”. When setting my dashboard up, I fou front TMPS sensor is “ID1 Tire Inflation Pressure”, passenger front TMPS sensor is “ID4 Tire Inflation Pressure”, driver rear TPMS sensor is “ID2 Tire Inflation Pressure”, and passenger rear TPMS sensor is “ID3 Tire Inflation Pressure”.

Each of the individual displays can be customized to be a radial or digital style gauge, along with labels, colors, borders, sizes, and positions. Here are some of those options, along with a modified version of the above dashboard, where I’ve removed the bezel on the digital gauges and changed the color of the display for the voltage meter:

A sort of limitation of the custom dashboards is that getting data from certain PIDs requires a “connection” to a certain “enhanced network”. For example, to display TPMS sensor data, you must be connected to the Tire Pressure Monitor enhanced network.

Other enhanced networks are Generic OBD2, Network A (included in Generic OBD2), Occupant Detection, Immobiliser, Telematics, and Network F. It took me some time and experimentation to figure out which PIDs and enhanced network connections were required to return 4Runner specific data. In addition to experimenting, I found a lot of good OBD PID info in various forums and groups online.

Diagnostics, aka Check and Clear Codes

The Diagnostics section of the OBDLink app allows for easily scanning for trouble codes that are stored in the ECU, getting info on those codes, and clearing those codes.

Uh oh, look at those dashboard warning lights…

An initial scan will provide high-level details on existing codes. I created the condition related to the above warning lights, and code below by disconnecting the wiring harness that goes to the mass flow sensor.

Clicking on a specific code brings up a dialog that contains additional information, along with an online lookup link that may provide even more information, as well as a possible solution.

Click the “Clear Codes” button, select modules related to the codes, and click OK. Voila! The codes are gone. I my case, I corrected the underlying problem by reconnecting the mass airflow sensor, but had that sensor truly been in a problem state, further troubleshooting would be required to prevent the code from coming back.

Maps

If logging options for GPS are enabled, the Maps portion of the app provides location and trip-related info. Upon opening Maps, a Google street or satellite view of the last known location of THE OBDLink MX+ adapter is displayed, along with an option to get directions to that location. This would be handy in a scenario where you forgot exactly where you parked.

Log files from previous trips can also be opened. Doing so will show data such as the route on a Google map, as distance traveled, and time spent traveling.

Performance

There are two performance tests, which are fun to play with. For safety, these tests should not be performed on a public roadway, and the driver should not interact with the application while performing the app.

The 0-60 MPH Results test records the last and fastest time that it takes to go from zero to sixty miles per hour. Come to a stop, click the Start button, and accelerate to start the timer. Once you hit 60 MPH, the timer stops and displays times. The values for starting and finishing speeds can be changed if desired (i.e., a timed highway acceleration test, from 55 to 75 MPH).

The 1/4 Mile test records the amount of time it takes to go 60 feet, 330 feet, 1/8 mile, 1000 feet, and 1/4 mile, along with MPH at each of those distances. In addition, speed splits show the amount of time it took to get to a specific speed (i.e,, 0-30 MPH, 0-50 MPH, 0-70 MPH, etc.).

Questions or comments? Leave them below!