# 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix - obtaining advance data

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-pontiac-grand-prix-obtaining-advance-data/136170>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** pontiac, grandprix\
**Created:** [March 9, 2019, 9:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-pontiac-grand-prix-obtaining-advance-data/136170 "2019-03-09T21:41:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![GeorgeMeitzner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/779978/32.png) [@GeorgeMeitzner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GeorgeMeitzner)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2019, 9:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-pontiac-grand-prix-obtaining-advance-data/136170/1 "2019-03-09T21:41:19Z")

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I live near Denver. My Pontiac (below) runs cooler and gets better gas mileage only in the mountains, on high-octane gasoline. I think this has to do with the ping sensor and timing retarder.

Is there a way to configure a gauge that reports timing advance, on a modern car where it’s varied by the computer?

Enjoyed your radio program, and now column, maybe for decades.

Thanks.

George (no last name)

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2019, 10:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-pontiac-grand-prix-obtaining-advance-data/136170/2 "2019-03-09T22:44:02Z")

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Yes, an app by the name of Torque Pro is available for android smartphones and tablets (not iPhones). It can stream spark advance data (and a whole lotta other data) in real time as you drive. You just need a Bluetooth adaptor to plug into your OBD2 diagnostic connector.

There are other products that will do this as well, but this is a popular one.

BTW, the data stream won’t look like you expect it will! 😀 But have some fun with it anyway!

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**Author:** ![GeorgeMeitzner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/779978/32.png) [@GeorgeMeitzner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GeorgeMeitzner)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2019, 11:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-pontiac-grand-prix-obtaining-advance-data/136170/3 "2019-03-09T23:05:12Z")

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Thank you. That’s something I’m able to do.

I usta be charmed by vacuum gauges but now I know without a gauge. Now ignition timing moves around and I think I can decide what kind of gas to buy if I know what it’s doing.

George

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 12:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-pontiac-grand-prix-obtaining-advance-data/136170/4 "2019-03-10T00:22:01Z")

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You should also be able to display spark knock counts in Torque as well. That is easier way to identify knock you can’t hear.