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One of the cooler features that we'll certainly make use of when validating suspension and tire improvements in our cars is the Skidpad feature. The Skidpad feature doesn't just show lateral Gs, but also forward Gs as well. All data points throughout a run are displayed as a friction circle, giving you an easy visual to verify data anomalies. In the corners are displayed current lateral and forward acceleration numbers, as well as peak numbers for left, right, braking and acceleration. The left and right max numbers, as well as the friction circle, are especially useful for verifying your alignment and corner balances are being maintained throughout a weekend without busting out the scales and tape. You also don't have to worry about whether or not your device is mounted perfectly level, as you can zero it out after it's been mounted for accurate reading.
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| No, that's not Hurricane Ditka. The Skidpad feature is actually really cool, and is especially useful for seeing inconsistencies between left and right cornering grip, as well as bragging rights for your buddies. As you can see, I still have some fun on my commute, though I'm skeptical of that 0.53g acceleration reading. |
Finally, all of this information can be datalogged. In any of the above features, the option to datalog inputs is available. Simply select start, and stop whenever you're done (or you run out of space). The datalogging is separated based on the vehicle you logged the information on, so you can easily discriminate between data logs at later dates.
Installation of the Palmer Performance Engineering Wi-Fi interface was as simple as plugging in the OBD-II cable, then plugging in the Wi-Fi adapter. Since we were running this software on an iPhone 3GS, Wi-Fi was our only option. Android users have the option of saving a couple of bucks by being able to use Bluetooth for connection as well as Wi-Fi. Since the OBD-II cable does not have a 90* bend out of the connector, plugging in the cable with the OBD-II connector in the stock location on Project Jetta TDI means your knee and the cable attempt to occupy the same space at the same time. Physics says this is impossible. To fix this situation, we simply unbolted the connector, undid a couple of harness clips, and positioned the connector behind the fuse panel on the side of the dash. This made connection easy in case we needed to plug other items into this port (or smog the car), and also relocated the bulky OBD-II cable out of our knees. The Palmer cable is about 6' long, so we ran the cable through the dash, under the center console, and positioned the Wi-Fi adapter under the e-brake handle. We initially hid the Wi-Fi adapter under the console, but the auto power-off feature made this cumbersome. When not in use, we stow the adapter in the glovebox, and leave the cable.
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| To keep the OBD-II Wi-Fi plug out of our knees on Project Hypermiler, we unbolted the stock connector and relocated it behind the fuse panel cover plate. This proved to be the most convenient location for the OBD-II plug, still allowing easy access to the plug, with the added bonus of actually being able to see the plug. |
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| We initially mounted the Wi-Fi adapter under the center console. However, the auto-off feature proved to be troublesome, so we put it below the e-brake handle between the seats, allowing us to unplug it when not in use. |
Once you've got the hardware out of the way, once you power everything on, simply connect to it like you would any other WAP (no password needed), and load the DashCommand software. Once there, you will need to select Connect, wait for the connection process to complete, and start messing around with all the features. Before you get too far, make sure to set your vehicle up under “Vehicle Manager” so you can start getting accurate numbers as soon as possible.
