I have Torque Pro set up on a LG Tablet. I have been logging trips. I guess I do not understand the feature. I was assuming that I would be able to email data logs about the performance of my truck engine from one trip to the next.

Upon enabling and disabling data logging for a significant number of trips I discovered that I only emailed myself data about the GPS and a few other trip related categories. I emailed the data to me because the truck engine did act up yesterday and I was hoping that Torque Pro had logged why it acted up. I was wrong.

How do I get Torque Pro to keep a log of various engine functions so that I can see which engine function was diagnosed as failing while the vehicle was in operation?

There is something that I am having a problem with in my truck engine and I am trying to get Torque Pro set up in such a manner that it will help me diagnose what in the engine is actually causing a problem.

Thanks for helping.

Quote from F-150Torqued on March 12, 2017
Sounds like you have gone into >Settings >Data Logging & Upload >Select What to Log, and specified sensors to you want Torque to log.
I went into Settings and set up the sensors for GM. However, I did not check the sensors to monitor. Yeah, I know, not too bright.

Did you check “Log when Torque is Started”? If not you have to long tap a dashboard screen and “START Logging”.
I know this option is available but I have been manually starting the logging from the settings gear icon on an instrument cluster screen. I think I will go ahead and initiate the ‘Log When Started’ feature.

Have you gone to Torque Web Server, entered your “Torque ID” and set up your password access to Torque’s WEB Server.
I thought that I had done this but I must have again been wrong. Where do I obtain the “Torque ID” and how do I register to the server? I have been on the Torque Wiki page and I assume that is the correct location to be at. I see the log in option but I have not located a register option.

If you have done these things in some order or another, your LOG files are either sitting in the “.Torque” folder on your Tablet, or on Torque’s WEB server waiting for you to log on and view/zoom/download them.
For some odd reason it is difficult for me to make heads and tails out of the Torque website (if it is Torque Wiki). It seems quite non user friendly and unexplained. I have done computers for years and years but I am not gelling with Torque’s user interface for some reason.

You can copy the log files from the .Torque folder to your desktop and import them into Excel to manipulate the data and create graphs in endless ways.
This part was easy to figure out. I do know where the logs are located on the tablet. Excel is how I determined that I had missed something about the sensors; of which you now made clear. I was able to email them to me (for use with Excel on my desktop PC) and also able to install the free Excel app from Google Play onto my tablet.

Also – as a side note, I recently downloaded the Plug-In – “Realtime Charts for Torque Pro” from Google Play, and it is a fabulous, intuitive App for graphing ANY sensor/group of sensors selectable in Torque in a variety of ways. I give it absolute 5 stars and the highest praises.
I will also be looking at this RCTP app once I get squared away on the rest of the above.

However, none of this can satisfy the natural human desire that Torque is somehow going to “Tell us what’s Wrong with our vehicles.” We still have to logically figure out what’s wrong based on these various data points.
Obviously understood. I realize I have to combine data and reports to get the overall picture of what ‘might’ be negatively happening in my truck.

Which leads me to a few questions. If a sensor in the GM group is blacked out then I cannot use that sensor – correct? Finally, I am not a modern day mechanic and I do not know what all of the sensors are meant to be representing. Question 1 – how, or where, do I learn about the individual sensors and what their data implies? Question two – are there any sensors that should ‘not’ be selected – meaning – can any sensors back feed data to the ECU that could ultimately be harmful?

Good Luck

In closing to this reply;;;; correct, I am not a professional mechanic and yes I am preying upon the forum to help me with as much of a jump start as I can possibly get from the forum. Once I zero in on everything discussed above I think I will be off and running. For now, it is just me trying to get past some of the clutter with Torque and from my own mental stumbling blocks.

Thanks

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The stall engine issue seems to be prevalent
with the not-fully-OBDII-compliant pre-2004
Ford diesels with buggy ECU according to
Ian. (Unknown PIDs and commands).

Torque is marketed for fully OBDII compliant
vehicles but some users have figured out how
to work around the issues and choose to use it
anyway.

Special care must be taken when using Torque’s
command features:

Diagnostic Start Command
Diagnostic Stop Command
Send OBDII Command display

I suggest leaving those alone if you
don’t know what you are doing/sending.

As always… I could be wrong.

(Just another user).

Thank goodness I am not facing the difficult situation, but I do believe that Torque gives a far better chance than any of the other options you properly identified above (wiggling wires or taking it to a dealer).

I believe if faced with the problem, I would double down – purchase Real Time Charts for Torque Pro, dedicate a phone or tablet to monitor EVERY drive cycle, chose a bunch of critical sensors / functions and monitor (LOG/GRAPH) them till the damn thing died. At that instant, transfer that file to my desktop and trash all the prior files for storage considerations. Then analyze the saved file from every angle possible depending on how the monitored signals should relate to each other. Ie: PCM reference voltage, sensor voltages, FICM or injector control pressure, Throttle, Exhaust Gas Temperature, Exhaust Gas Backpressure, Boost pressure, Barometric Pressure — whatever else I could think of.

At the time it dies, SOMETHING had to change – and whatever it is might be being effected by something else – but could point in the direction to look. Might have to ‘throw’ some parts at it once or twice, or That might lead me to choosing additional or different sensors / functions the next go around.

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Quote from F-150Torqued on March 16, 2017
…I would double down – purchase Real Time Charts for Torque Pro,
Will be doing so.

dedicate a phone or tablet to monitor EVERY drive cycle,
Already done (LG G Pad X 10.1

chose a bunch of critical sensors / functions and monitor (LOG/GRAPH) them till the damn thing died.
Chose them as best as my knowledge allowed me.

At that instant…At the time it dies, SOMETHING had to change – and whatever it is might be being effected by something else – but could point in the direction to look.
This is EXACTLY what I have pictured/envisioned form the start when I purchased TorquePro.
…

What I am going to seek from the forum now is as follows. I’ll try to attach some screen shots to this post from my tablet. I don’t know hoe many I’ll be able to attache at one time – so I may have to do a few extra posts. We’ll see.

I would like the forum to tell me if my chosen sensors will provide adequate data logging for when the truck does die. Actually I have chosen every sensor that is available when the Torque Pro is running and active for my truck. Please be careful when reading because some of the sensors checkmarked are not highlighted with green because the vehicle was not running when the screenshots were taken. I don’t know what to do about the ones that are blacked out. I think some of the blacked out ones would be helpful but I guess they can’t be read by my OBDLink MX Bluetooth. Maybe the OBDLink is the problem for the limited available sensors. Any Input on that from anyone??????

Once I get all my ducks in a row with help from the forum then I’m gonna set the “Initiate, Wait, and See” plan into motion.

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW SCREENSHOTS OF MY SELECTED TORQUE PRO SENSORS.

http://imgur.com/a/X3cGc

My experience with pre OBDII vehicles
without setting codes…

A bad crankcase position sensor which
kept the vehicle from running and didn’t
set code.

A bad post on a dash amp gauge for a Dodge
4×4.

Just tossing out some ideas.

I wish the screenshots had been KOER. No way to determine if some sensors are available or not. I would like to be seeing some Throttle position (absolute or pedal position D,E,F) and DPF Pressure / Temp, FICM Logic signals or Injector pulse width. If the ‘crank position sensor’ is flaky as @Capp777 submitted, I would think it would be reflected in PIP signal, injector signals or fuel pressure. (I don’t think ‘Fuel Trims’ are maintained on diesels – IDK. But injector pulse width is).

I am neither GMC -OR- Diesel expert, and as @Capp777 said – requirements for OBDII were lax for diesel units of your vintage. But if some of those PIDs are not available in the GM Custom pid set, I would suggest browsing or joining a good GMC / Duramax / or Diesel Forum and try to find more PIDs that you could ADD to Torque Pro’s custom PIDs for monitoring. I know for sure that custom PIDS you add to Torque become available to Real Time Charts for logging/graphing.

But those you have selected provide at least a starting point – if for nothing else just learning how to set it up. Hopefully they will provide some direction. (I would point out, as you may already be aware, the acceleration readings are solely from the accelerometer in the phone. It seems any information from them would be “After the Fact”, thus not too useful.)

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@dekade wrote: “Just for clarification – the truck is an 8.1L gas.”

OMG – My BAD! That changes everything – except how STUPID I feel. Proves I’m not only no expert on GMCs or Diesels, but ALSO at reading posts!

Understanding how ‘spark’ engines work much better, I can almost guarantee @Capp777 has already ‘hit the nail on the head’ – CHANGE THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. (Your engine is loosing (What is called on a FORD) the PIP (Profile Ignition Pickup) signal momentarily – Flaky sensor or wiring problem. As little as two revolutions of the engine without crankshaft position signal to synchronize with the camshaft position will kill a gas engine with Electronic ignition – very often without a DTC. May even give you trouble starting back up right away or difficult starts. IMO, you could reasonably forego the LOGGING, replace the CPS and use Torque Pro like I do to know that my truck running PERFECT.

This link might be a very useful read for your situation:

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/27938-81l-engine-stall/

Hope this helps.

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I posted right before this post so check it out for new Torque Pro screenshots.

I just talked to my mechanic. About a week ago I went into him and talked to his partner (his cousin). I gave him the whole scoop on what was happening (even though I had already done so about 5 times before in the last 3 years).

Anyway, I had not heard anything from him this past week. I then read the post URL link today from F-150Torqued. Wow! Spot on to my situation.

I called up my mechanic and asked him for a price on the CPS. He asked if I had heard from his partner. I said no. My mechanic then went on to say that they had come up with the CPS determination based on a lot of research and even GM notes from somewhere (not sure where). His comment – ‘GM even made lots of mentions about penetrating oil because of the CPS seizing up in the block. So, that’s makes me believe they have known for quite some time that this is a problem issue.’

Pretty cool that he – and Torque Pro forum – and I – were all apparently on the same page.

His price 5.00. From what I have read about the CPS in the past three years I think it is a very scary situation for a high quality shade tree mechanic like myself … (Ha Ha, chuckle, chuckle). Just about broke my arm patting myself on the back with that one.

Anyway, I think I’ll save up the money and git ‘er done. Probably the best shot that any of us can come up with at this time.

Then – I can get back to the game plan of benefiting from the original intent of Torque Pro.

Quote from F-150Torqued on March 22, 2017
Maybe making that good relevant Google find ‘vindicated’ me for the stupid diesel assumption!

My friend … you are definitely off the hook!

I still am pleased with the fact that three different people were zeroing in on the same thing at the same time. I have been with this particular mechanic for over 10 years. You can always tell when someone is a ‘for real’ straight shooter – and this mechanic fits that bill perfectly! Thanks again for the link!