From: Ralph Mowery on
Are there any inexpensive interface devices and programs that will hook a
laptop with a USB port to the car computer ?
If so what and where ?


From: Hachiroku ハチロク on
On Sat, 17 Oct 2009 18:20:31 -0400, Ralph Mowery wrote:

> Are there any inexpensive interface devices and programs that will hook a
> laptop with a USB port to the car computer ? If so what and where ?

I think there are some USB to OBD-II devices. Why? You wanna turn your
Corolla into a Corvette? ;p



From: Ralph Mowery on

"Hachiroku ????" <Trueno(a)e86.GTS> wrote in message
news:pan.2009.10.17.22.54.50.924514(a)e86.GTS...
> On Sat, 17 Oct 2009 18:20:31 -0400, Ralph Mowery wrote:
>
>> Are there any inexpensive interface devices and programs that will hook a
>> laptop with a USB port to the car computer ? If so what and where ?
>
> I think there are some USB to OBD-II devices. Why? You wanna turn your
> Corolla into a Corvette? ;p
>

I did see some on e-bay but most were in China.
Thought it might be interisting to see what was going on in the car computer
while driving. There is probably a lot of data such as miles per gallon
that can be gotten out of all the onboard computers.

Don't have a Corolla, but want to turn my Tacoma into a Mac..


From: SMS on
Ralph Mowery wrote:
> Are there any inexpensive interface devices and programs that will hook a
> laptop with a USB port to the car computer ?
> If so what and where ?

"http://www.obdpros.com/"

Of course you can buy a standalone OBD-II/CAN scan tool for less than $70.
From: Ray O on

"Ralph Mowery" <rmowery28146(a)earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:pMKdnT8N-eZn5UfXnZ2dnUVZ_o6dnZ2d(a)earthlink.com...
>
> "Hachiroku ????" <Trueno(a)e86.GTS> wrote in message
> news:pan.2009.10.17.22.54.50.924514(a)e86.GTS...
>> On Sat, 17 Oct 2009 18:20:31 -0400, Ralph Mowery wrote:
>>
>>> Are there any inexpensive interface devices and programs that will hook
>>> a
>>> laptop with a USB port to the car computer ? If so what and where ?
>>
>> I think there are some USB to OBD-II devices. Why? You wanna turn your
>> Corolla into a Corvette? ;p
>>
>
> I did see some on e-bay but most were in China.
> Thought it might be interisting to see what was going on in the car
> computer while driving. There is probably a lot of data such as miles per
> gallon that can be gotten out of all the onboard computers.
>
> Don't have a Corolla, but want to turn my Tacoma into a Mac..
>
>
Check out autotap.com for OBD II PC software and cables.

Be aware that the OBD II protocol does not display what is going on in the
car computer while driving. A higher end OBD II scanner and/or software
will display the voltages output by the various sensors in instantaneous,
freeze frame, and average mode, but unless you know the conversion from
voltage to whatever is being measured, the information is not that useful
while you are driving along. For example, the coolant temperature sensor
puts out X volts when the coolant temperature is one temperature and Y volts
at a different temperature. The OBD software would display voltage, not
coolant temperature.

What the car's electronic control unit (ECU or computer) does is determine
if the voltage range from a particular sensor is within the programmed
values under certain conditions, and if the voltage range is incorrect, the
ECU illuminates the malfunction indicator light (MIL).

A higher end OBD II scanner will also tell you whether the system is in open
or closed loop and whether or not there are pending codes.

Some software can also display MPG, fuel consumed, and miles to empty by
using the OBD II data stream to make those calculations.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)