Should I be logging

Mikesb · January 21, 2014, 12:14:46 AM

I don't really know anything about it. I will go the mx route and nexus 7
I do have some idea what it does, (A/F - Boost ) have no idea what you mean by LIMBADA?
Will it show how my systems are functioning, like if it is running rich, lean or has missing issues ?

My meth system will be here tomorrow and the DP's as soon as there done, so I was thinking with all these mods on my new car I sure would like to monitor its health

Mikesb · January 25, 2014, 09:28:26 PM

Got my stuff
1. Do you leave the mx/bt plugged in - lights always stay on?
2. Any help on torque set up, I just kind of guessed through the vehicle profile and have not got to far on setting up screen that shows the gauges

DJE624 · January 25, 2014, 09:38:35 PM

You are supposed to be able to leave the MX plugged in. I usually unplug mine. But I don't run my Nexus in the car all the time. So, I just plug it in when I'm using it. Try leaving it for a short time and see if it goes off. I think Larry said about five minutes or so. Your AFR gauge will show your fuel mixture. I think cruising is mid-14's. (14.7?) Lambda is another way of measuring fuel mixture but I'm not sure Torque has it. Larrylu knows more about Torque. I like measuring intake temps and 0-60's. Stuff like that.

Mikesb · January 25, 2014, 09:56:50 PM

I left the mx plugged in all afternoon then when I looked at it a few hours later and it still had two lights on

I'll keep working with the torque app. But it's pretty Greek to me

Larrylu · January 26, 2014, 12:38:02 AM

Quote from: DJE624 on January 25, 2014, 09:38:35 PM
You are supposed to be able to leave the MX plugged in. I usually unplug mine. But I don't run my Nexus in the car all the time. So, I just plug it in when I'm using it. Try leaving it for a short time and see if it goes off. I think Larry said about five minutes or so. Your AFR gauge will show your fuel mixture. I think cruising is mid-14's. (14.7?) Lambda is another way of measuring fuel mixture but I'm not sure Torque has it. Larrylu knows more about Torque. I like measuring intake temps and 0-60's. Stuff like that.

Yes I have left the MX plugged in from day 1. I assume the lights that remain on are of no consequence. I have left my car parked and unused for as long as 9 days while vacationing in Orlando last month with no noticeable impact to the battery. I have Torque and the Nexus 7 set to go to sleep automatically on ignition off so I walk away without touching a thing. When I start up I also don't have to plug in a thing. It basically functions like an OEM accessory.

Torque has the option to monitor LAMBDA as well as fuel air ratios from at least two other sensor/sources. I show my ignorance by admitting that I don't know enough about the other signals to see an advantage or disadvantage in them. I picked LAMBDA because it was easy for a newby like me to understand that the ideal mixture with LAMBDA is represented by a value of 1. Less than 1 is rich and might be seen at WOT. More than 1 is lean and would be expected when decelerating. I'm also displaying bank 1 and bank 2 STFT (short term fuel trim) which is a rapidly changing plus or minus figure which governs the injectors (I think) to actually achieve the LAMBDA reading. I just like looking at them. I wanted to display the EGT value but the Ford did not feed that value to the Torque app. I settled for bank 1 and bank 2 cat temps which is a bit downstream from what I wanted but it was close and available. I'm also displaying coolant temp, ambiant air temp, intake air temp, advance, FRP (fuel rail pressure), and of course my main reason for doing the whole project the boost/vacuum gauge. That's on my main screen. I have other screens I'm playing with but hardly ever use them really. I have done nothing with logging so there is much for me to learn there. I was also hoping to find something like a "intake charge temp" or an oil temp, or tranny temp, but no luck on those. Torque would display if Ford supported I think.

Larrylu · January 27, 2014, 07:39:55 PM

Quote from: Mikesb on January 25, 2014, 09:56:50 PM
I left the mx plugged in all afternoon then when I looked at it a few hours later and it still had two lights on

I'll keep working with the torque app. But it's pretty Greek to me

I got a chance to check out the lights that remain lit on the MX. If the car is unattended with doors closed for a period....I don't know how long but I was gone for about 45 minutes, and you peek in the window without opening a door only one light does a little strobe flash every couple of seconds. When the door is opened, two lights are on steady. When you fire up the engine, multiple lights are winking and blinking like crazy as communication is established. The answer is don't expect it to go totally dark.

Mikesb · January 28, 2014, 12:33:18 AM

Thanks I'll give it a try. It would be nice to just leave in in the car. When I got my mx/bt I didn't download the scantool app I just loaded torque pro and started using it. I did find a bt sleep mode function in the app that I had to check, but haven't got to see what it does yet

Larrylu · January 28, 2014, 10:38:50 AM

If I remember correctly you need to set up sleep mode for the Nexus as well as the Torque app. I'm not using another app to do the turning non and off. I know some have opted for that but for me it was not necessary. Another thing I'm assuming you have done is to find yourself a power source for your tablet that is hot on ignition on, and cold on ignition off. If you have not done that as yet, and you would like to pick my brain on that, just let me know. If you think Torque is Greek, you should have tried setting up gauges on the MYCAL touch. The logic for that device was pure "engineer geek". Some guys might be ok with it, but not me! LOL

Mikesb · January 28, 2014, 11:33:59 PM

I'm thinking I would just charge the nexus apart from using it. The USB in the console will charge it, I hope? I don't think I would ever want to leave it in view in the car anyway. Another thing I found with the torque app is it has a HUD mode, have you ever tried it? I've got my stereo shop looking for some mounting ideas for my nexus, if that HUD function works, I should probably let them know

Larrylu · January 29, 2014, 08:32:12 AM

You could get a car adapter and plug it into the cigaret lighter also. That way you could insure that you provide a 2.1 amp output. Some of the chargers and USBs only provide a 1 amp output and the Nexus charges really ridiculously slow on 1 amp.
I would love a good HUD display. I just haven't run across one that I thought was perfect. For instance I use a Garmin as my GPS of choice and they just came out with a HUD option. When I looked into it, turns out you have to put a clear film on the windshield to act as a screen. Yes you can look through the film but you also can see that it's there. Sort of spoiled it for me. So I'm thinking the Torque HUD display might under perform the conventional by a fair amount. If you try it and like it let me know. I have been leaving my Garmin in my locked vehicle for too many years to count with no problems. Car electronics have been getting more common and cheaper as time goes by so less attractive to theft. I do live and generally drive and park in relatively low crime areas but so far my Nexus has been unmolested. My whole goal in the Nexus project has been to make it totally automatic. It's not often I get 100% of what I set out to accomplish in a project! but I have to say I love the way my Nexus turned out.