Another OBDII tool

[2TonJellyBean]

http://www.davisnet.com/drive/produc...p_products.asp

No feedback, but it datalogs...

[Red]

For the price you could get an elmscan

http://www.scantool.net/

[rh77]

I have the Davis Carchip E/X which is great for logging and charting feedback.

What I'd really like to have is realtime feedback from OBD-II to a laptop or Palm device -- I recall some freeware out there, but can't remember/find it. The trick is getting a compatible cable...

RH77

[cfg83]

Red -

Originally Posted by Red

For the price you could get an elmscan

http://www.scantool.net/

This looks very tempting for $50 :

ElmScan PWM Scan Tool
http://www.scantool.net/products/index.php?cPath=8_1

It appears that it is OBDII -> Scan Tool -> Serial Port -> PC. Sooooo, for $50, you could build-up a custom interface/program. For $10 more you could get the USB version.

And it comes with open source!!!!!!!!!!! :

ScanTool.net 1.13
http://www.scantool.net/?mode=displa...Scan Tool.net

Display current sensor data, including:

* Engine RPM
* Calculated Load Value
* Coolant Temperature
* Fuel System Status
* Vehicle Speed
* Short Term Fuel Trim <---- Not in SG!!!
* Long Term Fuel Trim <---- Not in SG!!!
* Intake Manifold Pressure
* Timing Advance
* Intake Air Temperature
* Air Flow Rate
* Absolute Throttle Position
* Oxygen sensor voltages/associated short term fuel trims <---- Not in SG!!!
* Fuel System status
* Fuel Pressure
* Many others...

Upcoming Features:
* Data graphing and logging
* Freeze Frame data
* Continuous and Non-Continuous Oxygen Sensor test results

This looks like all the things that the SGII is promising, as long as you provide the PC (If there's one thing I have lying around, it's old and useless notebook PCs). If the Saturn OBDII protocol is the same as GM, then I think this could be a weiner for me.

CarloSW2

[Red]

I have the ISO version for the Heep, coupled with a software like Digimoto its a fairly powerful real time scanner.

You can also get the spec sheets for the IC that the controller uses and write your own software to interface with your car.

Originally Posted by cfg83

Red -



This looks very tempting for $50 :

ElmScan PWM Scan Tool
http://www.scantool.net/products/index.php?cPath=8_1

It appears that it is OBDII -> Scan Tool -> Serial Port -> PC. Sooooo, for $50, you could build-up a custom interface/program. For $10 more you could get the USB version.

And it comes with open source!!!!!!!!!!! :

ScanTool.net 1.13
http://www.scantool.net/?mode=displa...Scan Tool.net


This looks like all the things that the SGII is promising, as long as you provide the PC (If there's one thing I have lying around, it's old and useless notebook PCs). If the Saturn OBDII protocol is the same as GM, then I think this could be a weiner for me.

CarloSW2

[Fourthbean]

cfg83, Could you explain to me what you see this has compared to the Scangauge? I looked at both but don't have an understanding of the wording being used.

Specifically the following:
* Short Term Fuel Trim <---- Not in SG!!!
* Long Term Fuel Trim <---- Not in SG!!!

Thanks!

[cfg83]

Fourthbean -

Originally Posted by Fourthbean

cfg83, Could you explain to me what you see this has compared to the Scangauge? I looked at both but don't have an understanding of the wording being used.

Specifically the following:
* Short Term Fuel Trim <---- Not in SG!!!
* Long Term Fuel Trim <---- Not in SG!!!

Thanks!

This is my understanding of what the SG has versus what it doesn't (see http://www.scangauge.com/support/pdfs/SGIIManual.pdf) :

Elmscan........................./ SG? / ScanGauge Acronym (Degrees F and Mile units)
* Engine RPM..................../ Yes / RPM
* Calculated Load Value........./ Yes / LOD
* Coolant Temperature.........../ Yes / FWT
* Fuel System Status............/ ??? / ---
* Vehicle Speed................./ Yes / MPH
* Short Term Fuel Trim........../ No. / ---
* Long Term Fuel Trim.........../ No. / ---
* Intake Manifold Pressure....../ Yes / MAP
* Timing Advance................/ Yes / IGN
* Intake Air Temperature......../ Yes / FIA
* Air Flow Rate................./ No. / ---
* Absolute Throttle Position..../ Yes / TPS
* Oxygen sensor voltages
associatedshort term fuel trims./ No. / ---
* Fuel System status............/ No. / ---
* Fuel Pressure................./ Y/N / Not supported in all cars
* Many others...

Upcoming Features:
* Data graphing and logging...../ No. / ---
* Freeze Frame data............./ No. / ---
* Continuous and Non-Continuous
Oxygen Sensor test results....../ No. / ---


Here is what I think is going on. The SG is displaying the set of variables that are defined by the OBDII specification to be *uniform* across automobile computer platforms. There are other inputs available, like short/long term fuel trim, but they are up to the manufacturer to specify, so they are not offered by the SG. In a future version of the SG software, you will be able to program for these inputs and store the data to a flash drive for post-driving analysis. Also, in future SG versions, I think there will be make/model specific firmware updates.

If you go to the ElmScan site, there is FREE software and the source for you to download :

ScanTool.net 1.13
http://www.scantool.net/?mode=displa...Scan Tool.net

I haven't spent time staring at the source, but that is where the goodies are, so I suggest you take a look. From my POV, this is fantastic, because I can create my own multi-input gauge => ANSWER: CONTROL!!!! Are you a programmer?

Very skewbe-ish of them I do declare, .

CarloSW2

[theCase]

Originally Posted by cfg83

Red -
It appears that it is OBDII -> Scan Tool -> Serial Port -> PC. Sooooo, for $50, you could build-up a custom interface/program. For $10 more you could get the USB version.

And it comes with open source!!!!!!!!!!! :

ScanTool.net 1.13
http://www.scantool.net/?mode=displa...Scan Tool.net


This looks like all the things that the SGII is promising, as long as you provide the PC (If there's one thing I have lying around, it's old and useless notebook PCs). If the Saturn OBDII protocol is the same as GM, then I think this could be a weiner for me.

CarloSW2

Yes you could do this, but....have you ever driven with a laptop running opened up on the passenger seat? I tried it ONCE with a GPS and a laptop and wouldn't do it again. Here's why:

• The laptop grows when it's in a car, it's physical size can become unwieldy.
  
• Securing the laptop can be difficult, just normal driving causes it to slide around like a upside-down turtle on a slip-and-slide.
  
• Forget about keeping track of your cursor let alone using a mouse.
  
• Hitting the right key to change the display or function can be very difficult (hmmm, wheres the SHIFT-F7 key....).

Now all that said, I think this would be a fun project! I always liked programming stuff using VB6 and a project like this would be very enjoyable. If you plan on either using this as a passenger or just as a data logger (fire it up and close the lid), I'd say go for it! Just don't plan on running a PC while driving a car, heck, the 5 buttons on my SG is almost too much sometimes.

Good luck!

[2TonJellyBean]

And another...



http://www.powertraincontrolsolutions.com/

To bad their products (screen, TCU, fuel enhancement system) are all geared at the quarter milers instead of the hypermilers. I guess it's our fault for having shallow pockets.

I'd love to have control of my slushbox - 5th would happen much much sooner.

[Fourthbean]

Originally Posted by theCase

Yes you could do this, but....have you ever driven with a laptop running opened up on the passenger seat? I tried it ONCE with a GPS and a laptop and wouldn't do it again. Here's why:

• The laptop grows when it's in a car, it's physical size can become unwieldy.
  
• Securing the laptop can be difficult, just normal driving causes it to slide around like a upside-down turtle on a slip-and-slide.
  
• Forget about keeping track of your cursor let alone using a mouse.
  
• Hitting the right key to change the display or function can be very difficult (hmmm, wheres the SHIFT-F7 key....).

Now all that said, I think this would be a fun project! I always liked programming stuff using VB6 and a project like this would be very enjoyable. If you plan on either using this as a passenger or just as a data logger (fire it up and close the lid), I'd say go for it! Just don't plan on running a PC while driving a car, heck, the 5 buttons on my SG is almost too much sometimes.

Good luck!

I am looking into buying a 7" lcd screen to replace my radio in my dashboard, this will be connected to the computer with the obd2 adapter on it. Hopefully I can make it user friendly enough with the touchscreen interface to not cause an accident. Though I don't plan on doing much touching while I am driving!

cfg83, thanks for the detailed post. I am not a programmer, however I wouldn't back away from writing some stuff. I have a few friends up at work that could help me out if it was anything with Perl, php, etc.

[cfg83]

Fourthbean -

Originally Posted by Fourthbean

I am looking into buying a 7" lcd screen to replace my radio in my dashboard, this will be connected to the computer with the obd2 adapter on it. Hopefully I can make it user friendly enough with the touchscreen interface to not cause an accident. Though I don't plan on doing much touching while I am driving!

cfg83, thanks for the detailed post. I am not a programmer, however I wouldn't back away from writing some stuff. I have a few friends up at work that could help me out if it was anything with Perl, php, etc.

Ha ha, I was going to say a touchscreen would solve alot of in-car problems. But yes, just set it to datalog and/or your favorite and forget it for the trip. Even if you don't program, you have the option if you ever want to.

The source is in C language. Here is a requirements excerpt from the README.TXT :

Windows:
- 486DX 25Mhz Processor or better
- 4Mb RAM
- Windows 95 or higher
- DirectX 7 or newer
- 640x480 display
- Serial port

DOS:
- 386SX 10Mhz Processor or better
- 1Mb RAM
- DOS v3.0
- 640x480 display
- Serial port

CarloSW2

[Fourthbean]

Ya, I THINK I can get a computer together to meet those requirements.

[Fourthbean]

Hey, you can take 15 bucks off the single protocol elmscan to make it 35 dollars. That will make my budget for this project jump for joy .