ODBII connector and software

[floppy]

Hey folks,

I thought I'd ask here, any clues on where to buy an ODBII to USB cable and software?

Its for my non-toyota vehicle that is playing up.

I looked into some of the nice hand help ones, the basic ones seem ok, but I was aiming to get something that can log data on the laptop instead (handheld systems that do live logging are way too expensive!!!)

Thanks
Dave

[pandaah]

dont really know about the software and / or programs for the laptops but i know those cheapie ebay ones are a piece of s**t .. they do like GM, ford and chrylser and thats about it.....

some cars might have the obd2 plug but may not run the obd2 software, i use an ultrascan brand scanner at work and yeh ya right there bullshit expensive... but there worth it, best bet is go down to your local honest mechanic and get him to scan it, it doesnt cost much

[timbosaurus]

The hardware is not tricky.... just a CAN (and sometimes serial) interface really. The software is what sets them apart, as some can only decode the legislated OBD stuff (common across most OBD2 cars), while some also read manufacturer specific data. On CAN you usually have periodic data which can be easily read, but needs manufacturer information to properly understand, then you have OBD diagnostic modes which most tools can access, and also manufacturer specific diagnostic modes, which most can't. What is it you want to do? Just read/clear codes?

Let us know which car.... as different brands are best for different cars. For GM, chrysler, and Ford, the best I have used is the NeoVi hardware and Vehicle Spy software from intrepid... but they're not cheap. My innovate wideband O2 controller has a built in OBD scanner that i've been meaning to try, as I'm sure it will be at the lower end ofthe capability scale.

[JP]

I've got an autotap OBDII laptop interface, bought secondhand from the US. It works quite well.
http://www.autotap.com/

[floppy]

Hey,

yeah I've looked at a few of the ebay ones and decided against it.

The car is a Mitsubishi Magna (TE 3.0L).

My neighbor works for Midas and put it on the Scan-Pro handheld one they have and it came back as the Air flow Meter, so I have put another AFM in which has made the car drive better, but there is still an intermittent problem where sometimes when taking off its shuddery, could be fuel, could be spark..... hard to tell.

Figured if I could get the plug and the right software, I could log the data on the way to work and see if anything stood out.

I was looking at the AutoTap site, but was just unsure if there software would work on our cars.

It seems you can pick up the cable to go ODBII to either USB or serial (my laptop doesnt have serial).

Dave

[pandaah]

tried looking for vacuum leaks?, does it feel electrical?, if not maybe clean your injectors too..ALSO maybe try plug the car in again, i had a bmw once at work which registered a fault with the air temperature sensor.. once i fixed that i scanned again to realise the crank angle sensor fault registered after that...... once i then fixed the crank sensor the car ran sweet as a bell

[EldarO]

replaced fuel filter?

[floppy]

Hey guys,

I've been looking for vacuum leaks today, couldnt find anything.

I was aiming to the do the fuel filter this weekend as well

Its hard to tell if its electrical, its way better than before and only has a slight judder / miss at low revs taking off from the lights (and not every time), that kinds makes me thing fuel more than electrical,although I went out to the wreckers today and got a spare dizzy for the module.

(Leads, plugs, cap etc were all replaced new about 10months ago)

I am also going to try and get the neighbor to get it scanned again sometime next week when he has time.

thanks for hints guys, slowly getting through the bits and bobs.

Dave

[petergoudie]

Dear Floppy. I have a TF and Mitsubishi couldn't tell me if it was OBDII. Is your TE really OBDII because if it is my TF will be too.

Also, there is a small data logger gizmo that you put into the OBD socket and drive around then download the data via USB. Try to find a mechanic who has one.

[floppy]

Dear Floppy. I have a TF and Mitsubishi couldn't tell me if it was OBDII. Is your TE really OBDII because if it is my TF will be too.

Also, there is a small data logger gizmo that you put into the OBD socket and drive around then download the data via USB. Try to find a mechanic who has one.

Hi,

The scanner my neighbor plugged in was the Scan-Pro and I am almost 100% certain it os ODBII because he didn't have to change the connecter from a car he was just testing and it was ODBII.

however the plug may have been the same and the scanner compensated?

A friend has just ordered a ECU reader for ODBII from ebay, going to plug it in this weekend and see how it goes, will post back then for you.

Changing out the AFM seems to have done the trick though, still the odd "tickle" at idle..

Dave

[pandaah]

obd2 is the plug.... theres about 7 pins or 9 pins are the same then the other pins are manufacturer specific sometimes...

[petergoudie]

1) As I understand it, on some of the earlier cars, while there was an OBD socket fitted the computer was not OBD software loaded.

2) Those odd tickles at idle can be a problem that takes years to find out what it is. My experience on a few cars is that if there is a resistor either in the spark plug (will normally have an R in the plug number), or a resistor in the dizzy cap, or a separate resistor between plug & lead these can cause that problem. I fixed mine by bypassing the resistor with a straightened out paper clip. Also, I had another car that had a broken wire just at the point where the conector fitted into the coil. The connector was poorly designed (Ford) but I just cut the cable shorter and rejoined. It took at least two years to find because it was intermittant and I was constantly in trouble with my wife and daughter..

[floppy]

1) As I understand it, on some of the earlier cars, while there was an OBD socket fitted the computer was not OBD software loaded.

Yeah, the TE being a 96 it was at the beginning of the time when this standard was coming about, so yeah it may not be.

2) Those odd tickles at idle can be a problem that takes years to find out what it is. My experience on a few cars is that if there is a resistor either in the spark plug (will normally have an R in the plug number), or a resistor in the dizzy cap, or a separate resistor between plug & lead these can cause that problem. I fixed mine by bypassing the resistor with a straightened out paper clip. Also, I had another car that had a broken wire just at the point where the conector fitted into the coil. The connector was poorly designed (Ford) but I just cut the cable shorter and rejoined. It took at least two years to find because it was intermittant and I was contsantly in trouble with my wife and daughter..

The painful thing about this is that my wife complained about the car running rough one day, so i took it for a drive and it was a little miss that was it that disappeared the next day (put it down to bad fuel....)

Drove it to work for 2 weeks without it missing a beat, give it back to her and the next day its running bad, like it felt as though it had done a head gasket, until the reves picked up over 2500, then it was good.

Tried to diagnose the usual, fuel, spark etc to no avail. Thats when the neighbor chucked it on the Scan-Pro.

The main thing I have learnt from this, without some diagnostic tool, or access to one, modern engines are a pain in the ass

dave

[lilcrash]

ive got the cable sitting here if you still havent got one, i can probably source the program too.(sorry for not geting back to you sooner about the corona, had some dental issues that put a hole in my wallet, im still interested if you still want to sell it)

[floppy]

ive got the cable sitting here if you still havent got one, i can probably source the program too.(sorry for not geting back to you sooner about the corona, had some dental issues that put a hole in my wallet, im still interested if you still want to sell it)

Hey,

Wouldn't mind testing it out, my dad said he got some software but not sure what it is.

Corona is still there, pop round on the weekend sometime and take a closer look at it.

Dave