Are you a car enthusiast who loves to keep a close eye on your vehicle’s performance? Imagine accessing real-time data from your car’s engine directly on your Android Auto screen. With the Android Auto Obd2 Torque plugin, this becomes a reality. This innovative tool bridges the gap between your car’s diagnostic system and your Android Auto interface, transforming your in-car display into a powerful performance monitoring dashboard.
This article dives deep into the world of the Torque Plugin for Android Auto, a game-changing application that allows you to display a wealth of information from the Torque Pro app, right on your car’s screen. Built upon the foundations of projects like Chillout’s Performance Monitor and Martoreto’s aa-stats, this plugin takes customization and data accessibility to a whole new level. No longer limited to generic dashboards, you can now tailor your display to show exactly the parameters you’re most interested in, pulling virtually any PID (Parameter ID) available through the Torque app.
Key Features of the Android Auto OBD2 Torque Plugin
This plugin is packed with features designed to give you unparalleled control and insight into your vehicle’s operation directly through Android Auto. Here’s a breakdown of what makes it stand out:
- Comprehensive Torque Data Display: Seamlessly display a wide range of data captured by the Torque app, including custom PIDs. This means you can monitor everything from engine temperature and RPM to boost pressure and fuel consumption, all in real-time.
- Highly Customizable Interface: Personalize your dashboard with numerous themes, fonts, icons, and backgrounds. Create a visual experience that matches your style and preferences, making performance monitoring both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
- Multiple Dashboards: Organize your data effectively with support for up to 10 different dashboards. Categorize your displays by function (e.g., engine performance, fuel economy, sensor readings) or driving scenario for quick access to the information you need.
- Rotary Dial Optimization: Navigate effortlessly through dashboards and data displays with full rotary dial support, ensuring safe and intuitive control while driving.
- Advanced Custom Expressions: Go beyond simple data display with custom expressions powered by EvalEx. Perform calculations, create derived metrics, and tailor the displayed information to your exact requirements using a powerful expression language.
- Configuration Management: Easily backup, restore, and share your custom configurations. Save your preferred dashboard layouts and settings, and effortlessly transfer them between devices or share them with fellow car enthusiasts.
Getting Started: Installing the Android Auto Torque Plugin
Before you can unleash the power of OBD2 data on your Android Auto, you’ll need to install the Torque Plugin. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you up and running:
Preparation
- Torque Pro is Essential: Ensure you have the Torque Pro app installed on your Android phone. This plugin acts as a bridge, leveraging Torque Pro to access and display vehicle data.
- Enable Developer Mode in Android Auto: This is crucial for installing apps from outside the Google Play Store.
- Open the Android Auto app on your phone (while disconnected from your car).
- Navigate to the “About” section.
- Tap the “About Android Auto” header repeatedly (around 10 times) until a message confirms you are now a developer.
- Access “Developer options” from the top right menu.
- Enable “Unknown sources” to allow installation of apps from sources other than the Play Store. For a visual guide, refer to this tutorial on enabling Android Auto Developer mode.
Installation Steps
- Download the Plugin: Get the latest release of the Torque Plugin from the official releases page. Note that pre-releases might require Kingstaller for installation.
- Install the APK: Use your preferred package installer to install the downloaded APK file on your Android phone.
- Force Update (Recommended): Open the “AA Torque Settings” app on your phone. Access the options menu and select “force update.” Follow the prompts to reinstall the app, which helps ensure your phone recognizes it as a Play Store-sourced application.
- Kingstaller (Alternative Method): If the force update method fails, Kingstaller can be used to install the plugin. Consult the Kingstaller README for detailed instructions if needed, especially for Pixel phone users who may require reinstalling/updating the Google PackageInstaller.
Important Installation Notes:
- Installation can be device-specific due to Google’s restrictions on Android Auto apps. The provided instructions are generally effective, but troubleshooting for every phone model is not possible.
- Android 14 Compatibility: Users upgrading to Android 14 may encounter issues and might need to uninstall and reinstall the plugin. Check the discussions page for community support and solutions.
- AAWireless Dongle: If using an AAWireless dongle, enabling developer mode within the AAWireless settings can sometimes resolve installation challenges.
Watch a video guide on YouTube to see the Android Auto Torque plugin in action.
Using the Android Auto OBD2 Torque Plugin
Once installed, using the plugin is straightforward:
- Grant Permissions: Open the “AA Torque Settings” app and grant all requested permissions. The plugin requires these permissions to function correctly.
- Connect to Android Auto: Connect your Android phone to your car’s USB port and launch Android Auto on your car’s head unit.
- Access AA Torque: Find the “AA Torque” plugin within the Android Auto app launcher, usually located in the bottom right menu (often represented by a dashboard clock icon).
Visualize Your Car’s Performance: Screenshots
Explore the visual capabilities of the Android Auto Torque Plugin with these screenshots showcasing its customizable dashboards and data displays.
Animated GIF showcasing the customizable album art background and gauge style of the Android Auto Torque plugin.
A screenshot showcasing the chart view option within the Android Auto Torque plugin, ideal for visualizing data trends.
Unleashing Advanced Customization with Expressions
For users seeking even greater control over their data display, the Android Auto Torque plugin supports custom expressions using EvalEx. This powerful feature allows you to create calculated values, combine data points, and implement complex logic directly within your dashboards. Refer to the EvalEx documentation to explore the full range of functions and possibilities for creating truly personalized performance monitoring experiences.
The Android Auto OBD2 Torque plugin empowers you to transform your driving experience by bringing vital car performance data directly to your fingertips, safely and seamlessly integrated into your Android Auto interface. Start monitoring your car like never before and gain a deeper understanding of your vehicle’s health and performance.
