Plugging a computer to your car

[Marek]

I wasnt able to find much on the subject and i am very curious how this works.
Ive seen it done already: Plugging a Laptop to the onboard computer of the car and being able to see the "precise" readings from all sensors, checking the compression, exact temperature and RPM's and so on, knowing all the power goes to the right places. I wanted to know, whats the minimum configuration required for this, what plugs/adapters are needed, basically ALL the info i can get on this
thanks!

[Blair_355]

From what i know you need to get a cable that plugs into the cars computer, not sure if its anything special or whats goin on there.

Umm as far as i know basically anything with the software will run the application you need.

[Marek]

Originally Posted by Blair355

From what i know you need to get a cable that plugs into the cars computer, not sure if its anything special or whats goin on there.

Umm as far as i know basically anything with the software will run the application you need.

Ok, but you need a specific type of adpater like a cluster? or is it just a bunch of wires with clamps you connects to the propers ends or the computer output, or do you have to crimp onto the wires to plug yourself in parrallel?

[v_dub_ya]

if your talkin about On Board Diagnostics (OBDI & OBDII) then the connector should look like this



and the location varies from vehicle to vehicle, the majority that ive enountered are under the dash on the drivers side and usually are very accessible and visible, but i have run into some that are under center consoles, under ash-trays and so on

hope this helps

[Soup]

The only ones I've actually heard of people using were specifically made for their cars ( I think Utek lets you do it for WRXs) I'm sure there's some way to get a laptop plugged into your car to do tuning but you might end up paying mucho dinero for the custom ecu.

[Traction Issuez]

the obd connector on the volvo should be in the arm rest compartment. but hooking a laptop to it don't ask me.

[BOTLFEDLT1]

I connect my laptop via the serial port to my car's pcm through the OBDI diagnostic port. I bought a cable made for a gm car ($30 from ebay) and run a program called "Freescan" (free from the guy that wrote the code) that allows you to monitor things like intake air temperature, knock retard etc. I dont do my own tuning, but if I wanted to,I could buy a program that would let me adjust parameters on the pcm as well. You dont need a very powerful laptop to make it work.. Im using an old P3.

If all you want to do is monitor stuff, you can use something like this: http://www.diydiagnostics.com/

I bought this for my dad to check and clear trouble codes for his car, but it also lets you monitor most of the engine's sensors in real time. It will work on any OBDII car (i.e. built after 96).

Originally Posted by Marek

I wasnt able to find much on the subject and i am very curious how this works.
Ive seen it done already: Plugging a Laptop to the onboard computer of the car and being able to see the "precise" readings from all sensors, checking the compression, exact temperature and RPM's and so on, knowing all the power goes to the right places. I wanted to know, whats the minimum configuration required for this, what plugs/adapters are needed, basically ALL the info i can get on this
thanks!

[Marek]

From what i've read on some volvo sites, my car is OBD-I

General Notes on On-Board Diagnostics in Volvo RWD Cars. Volvo started using self-diagnostics on its Bosch LH 2.4 engine management systems in 1988 on 700 series non-turbo cars and in Regina-equipped cars. Earlier Bosch LH 2.2 and Turbo cars until 1990 had very limited self-diagnostic capability using an LED tester. In LH 2.4 cars, If a system fault occurs, then the "check engine" lamp will illuminate, signifying the presence of a fault code. For every model year using LH2.4 up to and including the '95s (except 200 series DLs and GLs), you can flash out fault codes, as well as perform input and output testing, through the OBD-I diagnostic connector unit simply by inserting a little self-contained probe and pressing a button. You do not need a special scan tool to read codes. As electronic systems were added to more Volvo models, more socket options and even more diagnostic connectors were added. Unfortunately, you cannot use a generic code reader on any of these OBD-I cars: you have to manually extract the codes from the systems as noted below. 1996+ cars have the entirely different OBD-II system which requires a computerized code scanner to read codes through a special data link.

Manually extract codes... WTF!!!!

[Marek]

The diagnostic connector units for OBD-I systems are small black rectangular boxes mounted in front of the left-side(driver-side in LHD countries) shock tower. Earlier cars have only one unit ("A"); later cars have two ("A" and "B"). Diagnostic connector "A" contains the test terminal probe (the wire mounted on the side of the box in the picture) used in both A and B along with the test button and the LED readout lamp. In diagnostic connector A, socket 1 is for the electronic transmission (if your 960 or 90-series car has the AW30/40), socket 2 for fuel injection or Motronic, socket 3 for ABS, socket 6 for ignition and socket 7 for the instrument cluster. If the 1992+ car is so equipped with connector B, socket 1 is for the climate control, socket 2 for cruise control, socket 5 for the SRS and socket 6 for the memory seats.

For later 1996+ OBD-II equipped cars, the diagnostic connector was changed to an electronic data link and moved from under the hood to in front of the shifter in the console. As a result, you need a computerized scan tool to do everything from checking for codes to resetting the maintenance light. Maintenance light resetting, by the way, was returned to a push-button method in the very late '90s.

Note that 200 series DLs and GLs have self-diagnostic capability only for fuel and ignition control. All other systems except 1990-93 SRS require a proprietary tool. For '90 to '93 models with air bags, just jump a terminal to ground to get codes out of the system.

Hmmmm does that look safe?

[Marek]

im a bit lost and confused, and from what i understand i have to buy this

and i have to "decrypt" my sh1t...

[BOTLFEDLT1]

You might want to look at whether there is software for your volvo. My car is obd1 as well.

[Marek]

Originally Posted by BOTLFEDLT1

You might want to look at whether there is software for your volvo. My car is obd1 as well.

i will, i'll keep you posted, thanks for the input man :thumb:

[BOTLFEDLT1]

When you figure out how to get a scanner or laptop plugged into your car, this is a good article to interpret the readings from the various sensors.

http://members.aol.com/InjuneerZZ/ScanMast.htm

[Marek]

Originally Posted by BOTLFEDLT1

When you figure out how to get a scanner or laptop plugged into your car, this is a good article to interpret the readings from the various sensors.

http://members.aol.com/InjuneerZZ/ScanMast.htm

thanks man! thats gold^^^ i'll keep you posted as soon as i get into playing with it.

I'll go ask at the Volvo Stealership how they do diagnostics, as it will be a sure bet not to waste my money on something i dont need

Ps: if i can get a laptop plugged, i could put a wireless Transmitter on the Cluster of the computer and do wireless diagnostics from the warmth of my house during these cold winter days

then i have to get a wireless screwdriver....

Hey Do you know if from that point you can reprogram the Comp' or from that how to reprogram it?