Monitoring your vehicle’s tire pressure is crucial for safety, fuel efficiency, and tire longevity. Modern vehicles are equipped with Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS), and with the right tools, accessing this data becomes straightforward. This guide will walk you through the process of reading real-time tire pressure using an OBDLink MX+ scan tool and the OBDLink app, focusing on Toyota, Lexus, and Scion vehicles.
This tutorial assumes you have a Samsung Galaxy Tablet S2 (or similar Android device), the OBDLink Android app installed with the Toyota, Lexus, and Scion Enhanced OEM Add-Ons (as per OBDLink MX+ user manual), an OBDLink MX+ (firmware v5.3.1 or later), and a compatible vehicle (in this case, a 2019 TRD ORP 4Runner). The OBDLink MX+ is capable of reading TPMS data in real-time, whether your vehicle is stationary or moving, as long as the engine is running.
Prerequisites:
- OBDLink MX+ scan tool
- Android device (e.g., Samsung Galaxy Tablet S2)
- OBDLink app installed on your Android device
- Toyota, Lexus, Scion Enhanced OEM Add-Ons installed within the OBDLink app
- Compatible vehicle (Toyota, Lexus, Scion)
Step-by-Step Guide to Accessing Obd2 Tire Pressure Data:
Before diving into reading tire pressure, ensure your OBDLink MX+ firmware is up to date and your app settings are correctly configured.
(1) Setting Vehicle Parameters in the OBDLink App:
Proper vehicle parameters ensure accurate data retrieval.
- Open OBDLink App: Launch the OBDLink application on your Android device.
- Do NOT Connect to MX+ yet: Ensure the app is open but not connected to the OBDLink MX+ adapter.
- Navigate to Settings: Tap on the “Settings” option within the app.
- Access Vehicle Editor: Select “Vehicle Editor” from the settings menu.
- Enter Vehicle Information: Input your vehicle’s specific details (Year, Make, Model).
- Enhanced Network Setting: Crucially, for “Enhanced Network” setting, choose “Prompt”. This allows you to select the specific network (like TPMS) you want to access.
- Default Settings: Leave the remaining settings at their default values unless you have specific adjustments to make (like engine size or fuel tank capacity).
- Save and Exit: Hit the back button to save your vehicle parameters and return to the settings menu.
(2) Updating MX+ Firmware via OBDLink App:
Keeping your OBDLink MX+ firmware updated ensures optimal performance and compatibility.
- Plug in MX+: Connect the OBDLink MX+ adapter into your vehicle’s OBD II port.
- Open OBDLink App (if not already open): Launch the OBDLink app.
- Do NOT Connect to MX+ yet: Ensure you are not connected to the adapter. Disconnect if already connected.
- Go to Firmware Updates: In the “Settings” menu, select “Firmware Updates”.
- Check for Updates: Tap “Check for Updates”.
- Update Firmware (if available): If updates are found, select “Update Firmware” and follow the on-screen instructions to update your OBDLink MX+.
- Return to Settings: Once the firmware update is complete, hit the back button to return to the settings menu.
(3) Setting Units Preferences in OBDLink App:
Configuring unit preferences ensures tire pressure is displayed in your desired unit (psi in this case).
- Open OBDLink App (if not already open): Launch the OBDLink app.
- Do NOT Connect to MX+ yet: Make sure you are not connected to the adapter.
- Go to Preferences: In the “Settings” menu, select “Preferences”.
- Access Units Settings: Select “Units”.
- Set Pressure Units: Choose “psi” for “Pressure”. Configure other unit preferences as needed on this page (temperature, speed, etc.).
- Save and Exit: Hit the back button to save your unit preferences and return to the main app screen.
With the preliminary settings configured, you are now ready to create a dashboard to display your OBD2 tire pressure readings.
(4) Adding a Dashboard and Displays for OBD2 Tire Pressure:
Dashboards in the OBDLink app allow you to visualize real-time data from your vehicle, including tire pressure.
- Navigate to Dashboard: From the main page of the OBDLink app, tap the “Dashboard” icon, usually located in the lower left corner.
- Add New Dashboard: In the Dashboard view, tap the vertical ellipses (three dots) to open the menu. Select “Add Dashboard”. A new, blank dashboard will be created.
- Add Display to Dashboard: Open the menu again (vertical ellipses) on the new dashboard and select “Add Display”.
- Select Digital Gauge: In the “Display Type” pop-up, choose “Digital Gauge”. This type is ideal for displaying numerical tire pressure values. Select “Dark” from “Built-Ins” for a clean, borderless display style if desired.
- Select PID Item: In the next pop-up (which might initially show “Vehicle Speed”), tap the “Item” dropdown menu (it usually displays “vehicle speed” with a down arrow).
- Choose Toyota, Lexus, Scion PIDs: On the “Select PIDs” page, scroll down and select “Toyota, Lexus, Scion”. If this option is not visible, double-check that you have correctly installed the Enhanced OEM Add-Ons.
- Access Tire Pressure Monitor PIDs: On the “OEM Add-Ons Select PIDs” page, find and select “Tire Pressure Monitor” in the “Tire Pressure Monitor” section.
- Select Specific TPMS PIDs: On the “OEM Tire Pressure Monitor Select PIDs” page, scroll to the bottom and then slowly scroll back up. The relevant TPMS PIDs are usually located near the bottom. Look for PIDs labeled ‘ID# Tire Inflation Pressure’.
- Identify Tire Positions: For the test vehicle, the PIDs were mapped as follows:
- ID5: Spare Tire
- ID4: Right Front Tire
- ID3: Right Rear Tire
- ID2: Left Rear Tire
- ID1: Left Front Tire
- Select PIDs: Select the checkbox next to each relevant ‘ID# Tire Inflation Pressure’ PID you wish to monitor.
- Complete PID Selection: Once you have selected all desired TPMS PIDs, tap “Done” at the top of the page.
- Identify Tire Positions: For the test vehicle, the PIDs were mapped as follows:
- Customize Display Title: Tap on the default title of the newly added display (e.g., “Vehicle Speed”). Rename it to something descriptive and shorter, like “Spare PSI”, “RR Tire PSI”, “LF Tire PSI”, etc. Tap “Done” on the virtual keyboard.
- Save Display to Dashboard: Tap “OK” to save the customized display to your dashboard.
- Customize Display Style (Optional): To further customize the display’s appearance (font, colors, etc.), tap and hold on the display until the “Edit Display” pop-up appears. Select “Style” and modify the settings as desired. You can save custom styles for reuse.
Repeat steps 3-11 in this section to add displays for each tire’s pressure you want to monitor.
(5) Connecting and Viewing Real-Time OBD2 Tire Pressure Data:
With the dashboard and displays set up, you are now ready to connect and view your OBD2 tire pressure readings.
- Plug in MX+: Ensure the OBDLink MX+ is plugged into your vehicle’s OBD II port.
- Start Vehicle Engine: Start your vehicle’s engine. The system needs to be running to read TPMS data.
- Open OBDLink App: Launch the OBDLink app on your Android device.
- Connect to MX+: Tap the “Connect” icon in the OBDLink app to establish a connection with the MX+ adapter.
- Select Tire Pressure Monitor Network: When prompted by the “Enhanced Network settings” dialog, select “Tire Pressure Monitor” from the list and tap “Connect”.
- View TPMS Dashboard: Tap the “Dashboard” icon. Swipe left or right to navigate to your newly created TPMS dashboard. You should now see real-time tire pressure readings for each tire displayed on your digital gauges.
Conclusion:
Successfully reading OBD2 tire pressure data with OBDLink MX+ and the OBDLink app empowers you with real-time insights into your vehicle’s tire conditions. This capability is invaluable for proactive vehicle maintenance, ensuring optimal safety, and maximizing fuel efficiency. By following these steps, you can easily monitor your tire pressure from the convenience of your Android device, making regular checks and early issue detection simpler than ever. This detailed guide equips you with the knowledge to leverage your OBDLink MX+ for comprehensive tire pressure monitoring, contributing to safer and more efficient driving.
