From: Ralph Mowery on 17 Oct 2009 18:20 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 17 Oct 2009 18:54 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 17 Oct 2009 22:12 "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 17 Oct 2009 23:12 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 17 Oct 2009 23:21
"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) |