Torque Gauges and LED tail Lights
09/10/2022
I've always been a fan of gauges and vehicle data. If there's information available, I want to see it.
Naturally, that led me down the rabbit hole of ScanGauge installations. I spent a few evenings researching mounting options, wiring routes, and ways to monitor engine data without cluttering up the interior.
Then it hit me.
I already had a solution. Back when I owned my 370Z, I used Torque Pro paired with a Kiwi 3 OBD-II adapter and an in-dash tablet to monitor boost, temperatures, and various engine parameters. The setup worked great, and more importantly, I already had most of the hardware.
The Kiwi 3 is one of my favorite OBD adapters because it's tiny. Unlike some of the larger Bluetooth adapters that stick halfway into the driver's footwell, the Kiwi is compact enough to leave plugged in permanently. Its low power draw also means I don't have to worry about it draining the battery while the vehicle sits. Within a few minutes I had Torque Pro connected and streaming live data from the 4Runner.
At the moment I'm just using my phone as a display, but let's be honest—that probably won't last forever. Knowing myself, there's a good chance I'll eventually build some sort of dedicated monitoring setup. Whether that's another tablet installation or something custom remains to be seen. For now, though, I have access to more vehicle data than Toyota engineers probably ever imagined back in 1999. While I was in the upgrade mood, I also installed LED brake and reverse lights.
The improvement was immediately noticeable. The brake lights are brighter, the reverse lights are more useful, and overall visibility is much better than the factory bulbs. Considering I had already tinted the taillights, the extra brightness also helped ease some of my concerns about reducing rear visibility. The LEDs are a definite improvement, but there's still room for more light when backing up at night.
For now, though, I have better visibility and more vehicle data than ever.