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Another OBDII tool

For the price you could get an elmscan

https://www.scantool.net/

Chip and Logging

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

Red -

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red (Post 73537)

For the price you could get an elmscan

https://www.scantool.net/

This looks very tempting for $50 :

ElmScan PWM Scan Tool
https://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
https://www.scantool.net/?mode=displa...y=ScanTool.net

Quote:

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

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfg83 (Post 73556)

Red -

This looks very tempting for $50 :

ElmScan PWM Scan Tool
https://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
https://www.scantool.net/?mode=displa...y=ScanTool.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

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!

Fourthbean -

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fourthbean (Post 73892)

This is my understanding of what the SG has versus what it doesn't (see https://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
https://www.scantool.net/?mode=displa...y=ScanTool.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

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfg83 (Post 73556)

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
https://www.scantool.net/?mode=displa...y=ScanTool.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!

And another...

https://www.powertraincontrolsolution...d200_alone.jpg

https://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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by theCase (Post 74005)

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....).

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.