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PLX Devices 2340 KIWI Wifi Description:

PLX Devices KIWI Wifi is a plug and play wireless device measuring only 2.75 x 1.25 x 0.6 inch. KIWI wifi comes attached with a 6 feet OBDII cable for easy installation. It also comes included with a power switch built-in to prevent the need to constantly disconnect your unit from the OBDII port. This wireless device is compatible with 1996 and later vehicles. Connecting to your iPhone / iPod touch is made by 802.11 a/b/g connection in adHoc mode.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11406 in Automotive
• Size: small
• Brand: PLX Devices
• Model: 2340

Features

• KIWI Wifi turns your iPhone in to a powerful automotive tool
• Will check for engine diagnostic codes, when your “check engine” light become illuminated you can view and reset the code
• Easy installation, simply plugs into OBDII port and will mount virtually anywhere in your vehicle
• Allows you to view sensor data such as engine RPM, vehicle speed, coolant temperature and throttle position
• MPG gauges, basic engine sensors, check engine scan tool, trip computer

Customer Reviews:

Great geek gadget
If you just want to fool around with your iPod Touch or iPhone as a dash-mounted instrument, or if you want to understand your vehicle performance, or if you want to learn about OBD2 or if you want to develop more cool apps for this device. It is great fun tool to have in you gadget kit bag.

Rev, Dash Command and FuzzyCar are very cool companion apps to get from AppStore.

The device uses the ELM327 chipset and simply opens it up as a TCP port, so you can use any of the various PC apps that support the ELM327 chip as well – e.g. rom Palmerperformance.

I’ve tried it on various vehicles and it hasn’t failed. It does get a bit hot when it is active. It has a 802.11 peer-to-peer Wifi radio inside.

You may find that the OBD2 connector is a bit in the way as it is on my Honda Ridgeline. You need make sure that you run the cable where it won’t tangle or interfere with you feet, accell and break pedals. Make sure you cable tie it down neatly.

Lacking in software
I purchased this device a few months back for use in my 2005 jeep, and I should have done a bit more research first. What I was primarily looking for was an MPG computer, and it seemed the perfect solution to get the MPG data as well as have a customizable dash. The much cheaper KIWI MPG claims to do this, so I figured that at least this basic functionality would be built into the ipod software for the KIWI WIFI.

You have three software choices: Rev, Dashcommand, and Fuzzycar. Rev is the only one that seems to have an evaluation version at the moment. Unfortunately, the first time I cranked up Rev, I found that the MPG data is unavailable. It seems there’s a couple of different ways to compute MPG. Many cars (in particular those that use mass airflow sensors) report the MPG data directly. Other cars (in particular those that use IAT/MAP instead of mass airflow) do not. My 2005 jeep happened to fall into the “do-not” category, so no MPG data using Rev. Contacted the Rev developers and they say they’re workin’ on it.

Most websites lead you to believe that any 1996+ Vehicle will support the data streams you want, this really just isn’t true.

The other two options are DashCommand and Fuzzycar. DashCommand has a very nice preview up on their website showing what fuel economy stats will look like when they are finished with that feature. That was about a month ago, they’re still working on an update (last update of DashCommand was July). Since there’s no evaluation version, I didn’t want to plunk down money at the itunes store for something that I don’t know if it’ll work. Better to wait for the new version to become available.

Fuzzycar has a pretty plain looking interface. It does look like it shows MPG, but again I don’t know if it works with my vehicle or not. Again no eval version to try it, and I’d rather plunk down my money for the much nicer interface on DashCommand or Rev, so I’m waiting to see what new versions arise.

Given the “work-in-progress” status of the software, it’s hard to recommend this device. KIWI should really publish a free port of their KIWI MPG software over to the ipod/iphone, so we’d at least have the same basic functionality that their $89 device does.

The thing also has a power switch, which is something that mystifies me…. Am I supposed to turn it on and off each time I use the car? Will it run down the battery? I don’t know… If it was me, I would have at least provided the option to switch it on an off via a switched ignition source for a permanent install.