Getting started
- No car or adapter yet? Open Grip and tap Demo on the Connect screen. The whole app runs on a simulated engine — dashboard, performance timer, trip recording and trouble codes all work.
- With a real car: plug a standard ELM327 Bluetooth adapter into your car's OBD-II port (turn the ignition on), then tap Bluetooth in Grip and pick your adapter.
- Read live data on the dashboard, time a run in the Perf tab, record a trip, or scan for trouble codes.
Frequently asked
Do I need a special adapter?
Any common ELM327-based OBD-II Bluetooth adapter works — brands like OBD, ELM, Vgate, Viecar and VLink. These are inexpensive and widely available. Wi-Fi-only adapters are not supported.
My car won't connect.
Make sure the ignition is on, the adapter's light is lit, and it's paired in Grip's Bluetooth screen (not just iPhone Settings). If a reading looks blank, your car may not report that particular parameter — Grip only shows what your vehicle supports.
Is it safe for my car?
Yes. Grip is read-only. It reads live values and stored trouble codes but never clears codes or writes anything to your vehicle.
How accurate is the performance timer?
Times come from your car's speed signal (whole km/h, with slight latency), so treat them as roughly ±0.2–0.3 s — great for comparing your own runs, not a substitute for a timing beam.
What data does Grip collect?
None. Everything — live readings, trips, saved runs and settings — stays on your device. Grip transmits nothing to the internet. Bluetooth is used only to talk to your local OBD-II adapter.