I've been using those dongles (specifically, this, very old by now: ) in my other vehicles, plugged in permanently, in the Jeep in particular. There, it was priceless as a real time telemetry provider (with Torque app being the front end) - watching the engine load could give you a clue that the speed you set at the cruise control during climbing a mountain road could have dropped by 10mph already and if you look in the rear view mirror, you will see a line of very anxious drivers behind you.

Here, that is not a problem, but I wonder, what pain points does OBD2 telemetry expose? I mean, besides the fact that L663 dashboard doesn't display any telemetry at all

Off the top of my head, here's what I would love to see:

• Coolant temperature. Nice to know when you're boiling up and need a break.
• Engine oil temperature.
• Transmission temperature.
• Battery voltage. This would be especially useful if the telemetry stream was still being sent when the ignition is off (yes, I know, weak battery, but I'd rather use some of its life and know what's going on than rely on luck). Does L663 send any in this state, btw?

Last bullet brings up another question, what brands can be trusted as far as dongles are concerned? I see that OBDLink MX Wi-Fi is no longer sold, and the only WiFi adapter mentioned on the Torque site is (for that price, already in the mail), but maybe I'm missing another great dongle/app ecosystem?

 

All of that telemetry can be viewed with a GAP tool, which is the best scan tool you can get. Not only can you read and clear codes, you get the telemetry (everything you mentioned can be viewed with this tool), the ability to program in features that you didn't have via the car configuration (CCF) files, ability to adjust your air suspension, and so much more. It isn't cheap, but it is well worth it, especially because it is so much more than a basic scan tool.

https://www.gap-diagnostic.com/shop/iidtool-bt/

 

$20-30 versus $650 - I think there's a place for both. But I've also contemplated the former and a retired iPad to give engine data visibility that isn't shown on the dash (temperatures, charging, etc.)

 

The 3 I really like to see in cars full time are:

batt voltage
coolant temp
oil temp

Everything else I don’t really care about. Trans temp maybe if towing but I’ve never actually in any car had a trans temp issue, ever. I’ve had trans fluid LEVEL issues though.

Fun fact. I use my radar detector to see battery voltage in real time all the time in the Defender, I find it quite useful. Escort Redline 360c is I think the model. That’s the one thing I really like to see full time. I do wish I could see coolant and oil temps full-time as well on some readout. But I dont have it now.

 

BTW - great video on this topic -

 

No argument here, it's on the list - can't do everything at the same time
All true, but is it a *portable* tool that I can keep plugged into the OBDII socket at all times and that consumes little enough not to be a battery killer when the vehicle is parked outside for a few days? Does it have a real time information display app as simple to use as Torque (which is "fire and forget", gets to that panel with no extra clicks) so that I can have a phone mounted within view as an instrument cluster extension? Maybe even a dedicated old phone with that app being the only thing installed on it.

This is how I had things set up in the Jeep. Running vehicle telemetry on a tablet is overkill (too little information for too big of a screen), but the phone was in the cradle with that panel on every time I sat behind the wheel. 10" tablet turned out to be a bit too big and heavy for the mount (looking back, 8" would've been fine - but the mount design and vehicle aesthetics of the Rover are different so it might just work here as well). Side question for a different thread later, which offroad navigation app to use. I've been happy with Gaia GPS until they got bought and went downhill, the renewal is in a few days, I'm going to give them one last chance.

 

Yes. The GAP tool is plugged into the OBD2 port and ran through an app on your phone. Here's a Powerful UK video that explains how to set it up and use it:

 

Gap tool heats pretty good, don't know if it's ok for long run use.
Battery voltage you can get from any lighter accessory.
Coolant - not needed really. It will pop the message about coolant and ATF over temperature.

 

as others have said GAP gets the job done. You can display up to 8 live values at once.

I mostly use it when airing up. I can sit in the car as my tires inflate to my desired psi.

the tool does get a bit hot if you leave it plugged in. There is no heat sink or if there is it’s puny. I have left it plugged in for long periods when I’m on the trail and making use of my on demand eLift. A LLAMS in disguise.

yes GAP is more expensive than a basic code reader but it does it as a side hustle.

it’s a bit like the miracle blade sold on TV.

throw out those drawers and drawers of unwanted code readers.

 

OBD2 is an open protocol for emissions testing. No reverse engineering, just install and implement. It only pertains to emissions relevant systems, tho: the motor and an auto trans (if fitted). That's why there are Chinese dongles for $20 using it. And why they work on all cars made for the OBD2 standard.

The GAP Diagnostic IIDTool is a comprehensive Land Rover Diagnostic Tool that communicates with any system on a modern Land Rover. It's development encompassed tens of thousands of man hours (no exaggeration). Hence the price difference. The IIDTool G4 gets warm due to the DoIP chip required for 2017> LR vehicles. The internals of the IIDTool have been uprated to function with the heat. There should be no issues with leaving it plugged in for longer periods. We still do not recommend leaving it plugged in permanently, tho.