Unlock Your 1998 Ford Explorer OBD2 PID List: Advanced Monitoring with Torque App

For owners of a 1998 Ford Explorer looking to dive deep into vehicle diagnostics and performance monitoring, the OBD2 (On-Board Diagnostics II) system is a powerful gateway. While standard OBD2 scanners offer valuable insights, enthusiasts often seek to monitor parameters beyond the basics. This is where understanding your 1998 Ford Explorer OBD2 PID (Parameter ID) list becomes crucial. This article explores how you can significantly expand your monitoring capabilities, going beyond the typical OBD2 readings, by leveraging the Torque app and readily available aftermarket hardware.

Initially, using apps like Torque with a standard OBD2 adapter seems like a cost-effective solution for basic diagnostics. You can read trouble codes, monitor live data like engine coolant temperature, RPM, and vehicle speed, and get a general overview of your engine’s health. However, for those wanting more in-depth data – parameters like Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) or fuel pressure – standard OBD2 and apps like Torque, on their own, often fall short. The 1998 Ford Explorer, while OBD2 compliant, has its limitations in terms of the parameters readily available through the standard OBD2 protocol.

Many users discover that while Torque is versatile, directly monitoring parameters such as fuel pressure or EGT on a 1998 Ford Explorer isn’t natively supported. This is because the Engine Control Module (ECM) in many older vehicles, including the 1998 Explorer, doesn’t necessarily broadcast these specific data points through the standard OBD2 protocol. The stock sensors and the ECM might monitor these parameters internally, but they aren’t always part of the standard PID list accessible via a generic OBD2 scan tool. For instance, you might find that Torque can monitor basic oil pressure if the ECM reports it, but often, the factory oil pressure gauge is more of a basic indicator than a precise reading transmitted via OBD2.

The limitation, however, isn’t the end of the road for comprehensive monitoring. Innovative solutions exist to bridge this gap. One such solution involves utilizing external sensor modules and a specialized OBD2 adapter, like those offered by PLX Devices, in conjunction with the Torque app. This approach allows you to effectively add parameters to your 1998 Ford Explorer Obd2 Pid List that weren’t originally accessible through the standard OBD2 interface.

The key to unlocking these advanced monitoring capabilities lies in the combination of the PLX Kiwi 2 Bluetooth (or WiFi) OBD2 adapter and their iMFD (Intelligent Multi-Function Display) adapter. This hardware, along with external sensors and modules for parameters like EGT and fuel pressure, allows you to feed data from these external sensors into the Torque app via the Kiwi 2 adapter. Effectively, the iMFD adapter acts as a bridge, translating the analog signals from the external sensors into digital data that the Kiwi 2 can then transmit to your smartphone or tablet running Torque.

The setup process involves physically installing sensors for the parameters you wish to monitor. For EGT, this means installing an exhaust gas temperature sensor in the exhaust manifold or downpipe. For fuel pressure, a pressure sensor needs to be installed in the fuel system. These sensors then connect to their respective PLX module boxes. These modules, in turn, are daisy-chained together and ultimately connect to the iMFD adapter, which plugs into the Kiwi 2 OBD2 adapter. The modules require a 12V power source, which can be easily tapped using an add-a-circuit fuse tap.

Once the hardware is installed and connected, the software side is relatively straightforward. After pairing the Kiwi 2 adapter with your device and launching Torque, the newly added sensors will appear as custom PIDs within the Torque app’s PID list. PLX devices are designed to integrate seamlessly with Torque, presenting the external sensor data in a format Torque can readily understand and display. You can then add these custom PIDs as gauges in Torque, just as you would with standard OBD2 parameters. In the example provided, you can see “PLX-EGT” and “PLX-Fuel Pressure” appearing in the PID list, demonstrating the successful integration of these external sensors.

The result is a customized monitoring solution that significantly expands the diagnostic and performance data available for your 1998 Ford Explorer. You can now monitor critical parameters like EGT and fuel pressure, which are invaluable for performance tuning, towing, and overall engine health monitoring, especially for older vehicles where these parameters are not part of the standard OBD2 output.

It’s important to consider a few points when using this type of setup. The refresh rate of the external sensor data might be slightly slower compared to the near real-time data from standard OBD2 PIDs. In the example, the refresh rate was observed to be around 1.5 to 2-second intervals, which is acceptable for most monitoring purposes but might be noticeable compared to faster OBD2 data. Additionally, occasional “Faulty OBDII adapter” messages might appear, although these might not necessarily indicate a functional issue. It’s advisable to monitor for any consistent problems and consult with PLX Devices or Torque app support if needed. Another minor inconvenience noted was that the Kiwi 2 adapter might turn off automatically after a period of inactivity, requiring manual reactivation upon restarting the vehicle, unlike some OBD2 adapters that offer automatic connection.

Despite these minor considerations, the PLX Devices and Torque app combination offers a powerful and relatively affordable way to overcome the limitations of the standard 1998 Ford Explorer OBD2 PID list. For enthusiasts and owners who demand comprehensive engine monitoring, this approach provides a significant upgrade, enabling you to keep a closer eye on your vehicle’s vital signs and ensure optimal performance and longevity.

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