Support

Stuck? Email contact@simulate.zone and we will get back to you, usually within two working days. It helps to include your iPhone model, your car (make, model, year, fuel) and the name of your OBD2 adapter.

Getting started

1. Plug your OBD2 adapter into the car’s diagnostic port. It is usually under the dashboard, near the steering column.
2. Turn the ignition on, or start the engine.
3. Open Motorsport Zone. On the Dashboard, tap SCAN, then CONNECT next to your adapter.
4. Allow Bluetooth access when iOS asks. The app connects, detects your car’s protocol and starts showing live data.

Next time, the app reconnects to the same adapter automatically. You do not need to pair the adapter in the iPhone’s Bluetooth settings; the app finds it directly.

Which adapter should I buy?

You need an ELM327-compatible OBD2 adapter that supports Bluetooth LE (often sold as “Bluetooth 4.0”, “BLE” or “works with iPhone”).

• Classic-Bluetooth-only adapters do not work with any iPhone app. iOS does not allow apps to talk to them. If the box only says “Bluetooth 2.0” or “Android only”, it will not work.
• Wi-Fi adapters are not supported yet.
• Cheap clone adapters generally work. Motorsport Zone is built to cope with slow and unreliable adapters, but a good adapter gives faster updates.
• Unplug the adapter when you leave the car for a long time. Some adapters keep drawing power and can drain the battery.

Troubleshooting

My adapter does not show up when I tap SCAN

• Check the adapter supports Bluetooth LE (see above).
• Make sure Bluetooth is on and Motorsport Zone is allowed to use it: iPhone Settings → Motorsport Zone → Bluetooth.
• Turn the ignition on; many adapters only power up with it.
• If you paired the adapter in iPhone Settings → Bluetooth, choose “Forget This Device” and scan again from the app.
• Close any other OBD app. An adapter can only talk to one app at a time.

It connects, but no data appears

• Turn the ignition fully on or start the engine. With the ignition off, the car’s computer does not answer.
• Give it up to a minute on the first connection: older cars (K-line, KWP) are slow to start talking.
• Your car must use standard OBD2. Some vehicles, mainly older non-EU or non-US models, are not OBD2 compliant.

A tile shows NO SIGNAL

The tile has not received a fresh value for a while. The app keeps retrying in the background and the reading usually comes back by itself. If it does not, tap RELOAD on the Dashboard: it re-initialises the adapter and, if needed, reconnects. If a reading never appears at all, your car may simply not report it; choose a different one with EDIT PIDS.

The connection keeps dropping

• The app reconnects automatically. Keep it open and the phone near the adapter.
• Very cheap adapters can reset themselves under load; the app detects this and recovers, but a better adapter is more stable.
• Check the adapter sits firmly in the port. A loose plug causes random drops.

Fault codes

Open the Diagnostics tab and tap SCAN. Only clear codes once the underlying problem is fixed: clearing them also resets the car’s readiness monitors, and a car may fail an emissions inspection until it has completed a drive cycle.

FAQ

Can I try the app without a car?

Yes. Settings → Demo Mode runs every feature against a simulated car.

Does the app work on iPad?

Yes, with the same Bluetooth LE adapters.

Does the app change anything in my car?

No. Motorsport Zone only reads data. The single exception is clearing fault codes, which you start yourself and confirm first.

Where is my data stored?

On your iPhone. There is no account and no cloud sync. See the privacy policy for details.

Is it safe to use while driving?

Set up your dashboard before you set off, and never interact with the app while driving. Mount your phone legally and follow local traffic laws.

Contact

Email contact@simulate.zone. Motorsport Zone is made by RACERANK S.R.L., Baciu, Cluj, Romania.