Questions
Not answered here? Ask on Discord or email sales@forbes-automotive.com.
Will it work on my car?
If your car has an OBD port, almost certainly. Any car from the OBD-II era can be read through the port, with a wire or a Bluetooth dongle. VW Group PQ, MQB and MLB cars get the most, because can2gauge listens to their CAN directly and talks to their modules over the K-line. See Compatibility.
How much is it, and when can I get one?
can2gauge is £200. We’re finishing the first units now. Register your interest and we’ll email you when they’re ready to order.
Do I need OpenHaldex to use it?
No. It’s the best way to see and change your Haldex mode, but can2gauge is a full gauge on any car without one. The Haldex page and menu item hide if you don’t have one.
Do I need an app?
No. The gauge serves its own web interface over its own Wi-Fi; open 192.168.1.1 in your phone’s browser. The can2gauge Link app is only for Google Maps navigation.
Which OBD dongles work?
Bluetooth LE (“iPhone compatible”) ELM327-type adapters such as the OBDLink CX, Vgate iCar Pro BLE, Veepeak BLE and vLinker, and any Wi-Fi ELM327. Bluetooth Classic adapters, including the OBDLink MX+ and LX, don’t work because the gauge has Bluetooth LE only. See the adapter list.
Which phones does the navigation work with?
Android, with Google Maps. The can2gauge Link app reads the turn notification Maps already shows, which iOS doesn’t allow, so iPhone isn’t supported. See Navigation.
How bright is it?
The glass is a 2.1″ round IPS panel rated around 1000 nit. Day and night brightness are set separately, and it can follow your dash lights.
Is it touch screen?
The board is wired for a touch glass and the firmware supports it. Without touch, everything the glass does is also available from the web UI.
Can I run more than one?
Yes. The power and CAN plugs pass straight through, so gauges daisy-chain on one harness. One gauge reads the car and shares its values with the others over CAN or Wi-Fi.
Can I leave it on permanent power?
Yes. It can take its ignition from CAN terminal 15 or the dash-light wire, then shut down and deep-sleep. It still draws a few milliamps asleep, so check the current before leaving a car for weeks.
How do I update it?
From the OTA tab, over Wi-Fi: straight from GitHub, or from files. Settings are kept, and a new firmware that doesn’t confirm itself within 60 seconds rolls back. On a chain, one gauge passes the update to the others.
Does it write anything to my car?
Mostly it listens. It sends OBD-II and diagnostic requests when you choose a source that needs them, OpenHaldex mode commands when you ask, and fault-code clears or basic settings only when you press the button. It never writes ECU flash; the ME7 flash dump is read-only.
Is it open source?
The firmware, web interface, simulator and tools are on GitHub.
Is it affiliated with any car maker or Google?
No. can2gauge by Forbes Automotive is an independent product. Make names and logos are used only to describe compatibility, and Google Maps is a trademark of Google LLC.