| Pictured is the DashBoss Bluetooth gateway module with OBDII cable and accessory cable, shown with optional Roadster Dash Mount. The interface is intuitive and straightforward to use. iOS device not included.
Chances are, if you’re reading this you probably own a diesel or gas truck and at one time or another you have wanted to improve the performance, be it for power, economy, or both. The trouble is, most of us do not have unlimited access to sophisticated test equipment or unlimited time on a dyno to compare before and after results.
So we rely on seat-of-the-pants differences or claims of improvement from the manufacturer, which typically include tiny print indicating that our results may vary. Until now, that is. If you happen to be one of the millions of iPhone, iPod, or iPad users, then you are in luck. The DashBoss is a relatively low-cost, extremely comprehensive data logger/gauge package/performance monitor for your truck. The company iMiken has developed the DashBoss, which is the only device of this type certified by Apple to work with the iPhone\iPad Touch at press time. Furthermore, the team at DashBoss is constantly improving and enhancing it based on feedback from users.
| no Such Thing As Bad Data Testing The Dashboss dashboss Interface
The DashBoss provides real-time gauge display, performance monitoring, and data logging, and it can read and clear diagnostic trouble codes. The DashBoss connects to the OBDII (onboard diagnostic series 2) port under the dash and transmits the CAN (controller area network) wirelessly via Bluetooth to an iOS device and displays the information in the downloaded app. The installation takes only a few minutes and requires no tools. Because the DashBoss interfaces with the OBDII and CAN, it should work on most vehicles manufactured after 2007, and it is extremely likely that it will work on models made between 2003 and 2007.
“The DashBoss is a relatively low-cost, extremely comprehensive data logger/gauge package/performance monitor for your truck.”
With the DashBoss installed and the app running, there are literally thousands of possible gauge display options to choose from. The only difficulty is deciding which parameter to monitor and how to display the information. The user can select from analog (dial indicators) or digital display and can select low, medium, and high alerts for each parameter. The record function (data logging) captures all the information on the gauges in a log file that can be viewed on the device or emailed for more detailed analysis.
To determine if that newly installed part is really living up to its claims, jump into the performance tests. The DashBoss has six performance tests: Acceleration (0 to 60 mph, 0 to 100 kph); Speed (quarter-mile, eighth-mile); Braking (60 to 0 mph, and 100 to 0 kph). Comparing before and after results with this tool is easy and accurate because of its data-logging capability.
The Check Engine light is no longer a mystery. The DashBoss can read (and in many cases diagnose trouble codes) and clear the code. The tool can also display historical codes. Another feature not found in most code readers is the ability to view the two different types of Emissions Readiness Monitors: Continuous Monitors and Trip Monitors. The status of these monitors can be used to ensure your vehicle is ready for an emissions test.
| With big and bold analog-style gauges, this screen also provides at-a-glance digital display of the dial indicators.
Don’t let the small size and ultra-portability of this device fool you. The DashBoss is a feature-rich, performance-monitoring device. It can display hundreds of vehicle parameters, calculate precise 0-to-60-mph and quarter-mile times, set parameter alerts, diagnose trouble codes, and data-log all of it. No more seat-of-your-pants guessing about performance benchmarks—you can use real data to see what your truck is doing.
