How to Customize Your OBD2 Gauge Settings for Optimal Performance Monitoring

Modern vehicles are equipped with sophisticated onboard diagnostic systems, commonly accessed through the OBD2 port. Performance gauges that connect to this port offer a wealth of real-time data about your car’s engine and systems. Customizing the settings of these gauges allows you to prioritize the information most relevant to you, ensuring you can monitor your vehicle’s health and performance effectively. This guide will walk you through How To Change Obd2 Settings on a typical digital gauge, focusing on removing, restoring readouts, utilizing peak recall, and managing diagnostic trouble codes.

Understanding Your OBD2 Gauge Readouts

Before diving into customization, it’s crucial to understand the common readouts available on most OBD2 performance gauges. While specific readouts can vary by model and vehicle compatibility, here are some of the most frequently encountered:

• Boost: Measures manifold pressure, indicating turbocharger or supercharger boost in PSI or BAR, and vacuum in inHg. This can be sourced from the MAP sensor via OBD2 or an analog boost sensor.
• Coolant Temperature: Displays the engine coolant temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit, offering a precise reading compared to the dashboard needle.
• Air/Fuel Ratio (AFR): Shows the ratio of air to fuel mixture, essential for engine tuning and performance monitoring. Displayed as XX.XX:1.
• Intake Air Temperature (IAT): Indicates the temperature of the air entering the engine, in Celsius or Fahrenheit.
• IAT2 / Post-cooler Temperature: For vehicles with intercoolers, this shows the air temperature after cooling, crucial for monitoring intercooler efficiency. Displayed in Celsius or Fahrenheit.
• Oil Temperature: Monitors engine oil temperature, vital for engine longevity, in Celsius or Fahrenheit.
• Charge Air Cooler Temperature (CAC-Air): Specifically for vehicles with charge air coolers, displaying the temperature within the cooler system. Displayed in Celsius or Fahrenheit.
• Ignition Timing (Igntn): Shows the spark plug firing timing relative to piston position, measured in degrees before or after Top Dead Center (TDC).
• Transmission Fluid Temperature (Trans): Monitors automatic transmission fluid temperature, critical for transmission health, in Celsius or Fahrenheit.
• Oil Pressure (OIL-PRES): Displays engine oil pressure in PSI, essential for lubrication system monitoring.
• Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT): Measures the temperature of exhaust gases exiting the engine, useful for performance tuning and detecting potential issues. Displayed in Celsius or Fahrenheit.
• Throttle Position: Indicates how open the throttle plate is, in percentage or degrees, reflecting driver input.
• RPM / Engine Speed (rp-Shift): Revolutions Per Minute of the engine, often with a programmable shift light feature.
• Speed: Unadjusted vehicle speed directly from the ECU, which may differ slightly from the speedometer reading due to factory adjustments. Displayed in MPH or Km/h.
• Battery Voltage (batt): Monitors the battery and alternator performance in volts.
• Acceleration Timers (0-60, 0-100, 60-130): Automatic timers for measuring acceleration times in seconds, adjustable for MPH or Km/h units.
• Braking Timers (60-0, 100-0): Automatic timers for measuring braking times in seconds, adjustable for MPH or Km/h units.

Removing Unwanted Readouts from Your OBD2 Gauge Display

To declutter your gauge display and focus on essential data, you can easily remove unwanted readouts. Here’s how:

1. Enter Gauge Mode: Ensure your gauge is displaying live readings in its standard gauge mode.
2. Select Readout to Remove: Tap the right button repeatedly to cycle through the available readouts until you reach the one you wish to remove.
3. Initiate Removal: Hold the left button. You will observe a bar graph moving back and forth on the screen while you hold the button. Continue holding until you see “- – – -” displayed.
4. Readout Removed: The selected readout is now removed from the standard display cycle. It will remain removed until you choose to restore it.

Restoring Removed Readouts to Your OBD2 Gauge

If you decide you need to monitor a previously removed readout again, restoring it is a straightforward process:

1. Enter Configuration Menu: With the gauge powered on, hold both the left and right buttons simultaneously until “ConF” appears on the screen. Then, release both buttons.
2. Navigate to Vehicle Configuration (cc.x): Tap the right button repeatedly until you see “cc.x” displayed. The “x” represents a placeholder for various vehicle configuration options. Consult your gauge’s configuration chart or manual to identify the correct “cc” setting for your specific vehicle.
3. Confirm Vehicle Configuration: Tap the left button to cycle through the “cc” options. Even if the displayed “cc” setting appears correct for your vehicle, cycle through the options and stop again at the correct setting. This step is crucial for forcing a re-scan.
4. Save and Exit: Once the correct “cc” setting is displayed, hold the right button until the gauge screen turns off. This action saves the configuration changes and exits the menu.
5. Restart and Rescan: Start your vehicle’s engine (if it’s not already running). The gauge will power on and initiate a re-scan of the ECU to retrieve available readouts based on your vehicle configuration. This initial startup after restoring settings might take slightly longer than usual.
6. Readouts Restored: After the re-scan, all available and previously removed readouts should now be restored to your gauge’s display cycle.

Utilizing Peak Recall for Performance Analysis

Many advanced OBD2 gauges offer a peak recall feature, allowing you to review the highest recorded values for specific parameters. This is particularly useful for performance analysis after a run or lap.

• Accessing Peak Values: For most readouts, a quick tap of the left button in gauge mode will display the peak value recorded since the last reset or vehicle start.
• Background Peak Recording: For critical parameters like Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT), Intake Air Temperature (IAT), and Coolant Temperature, the gauge often stores peak values in the background, especially in 2008+ model year vehicles. This allows you to switch to these readouts after a driving session and easily recall the peak temperatures reached during that session.

Reading and Clearing Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs)

OBD2 gauges can also function as basic diagnostic tools, allowing you to read and clear engine diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs).

Reading Diagnostic Trouble Codes:

1. Enter DTC Menu: Hold both buttons until “ConF” appears, then release. The screen will automatically switch to “d.t.c.” indicating the Diagnostic Trouble Code menu.
2. Display Codes: Tap the left button repeatedly. If any DTCs are stored, they will be displayed one at a time on the gauge screen. Consult your vehicle’s repair manual or online resources to interpret these codes.

Clearing Diagnostic Trouble Codes:

1. Key On, Engine Off (KOEO): Ensure your vehicle’s ignition is turned to the “ON” position, but the engine is NOT running. While code clearing might sometimes work with the engine running, KOEO is the recommended procedure.
2. Enter DTC Menu: Hold both buttons until “ConF” appears, and then release. The display will automatically switch to “d.t.c.”.
3. Initiate Code Clearing: Hold the left button. The display will initially show “HoLd” while you are holding the button. Continue holding until the display changes to “CLrd”, indicating that the code clearing process is complete.

By mastering these OBD2 gauge settings, you can tailor your device to provide the most relevant performance data, effectively monitor your vehicle’s condition, and even perform basic diagnostics. This customization empowers you to take a proactive approach to vehicle maintenance and performance optimization.