I've been trying to get the girlfriends car ready for the emission check and would like to look at the engine live data. There appear to be a number of PC interfaces for the ODB connection. Here is one:
Jeff
Hi, I've been using it long time. I use free shareware and laptop thru USB hook up. I assembled interface in a small metal enclosure using a kit. All my family car is Japanese so the coneector is ISO spec. Domestic ones may have different connector.
Hi, They are very useful. Try free shareare first. And domestic cars may have different connector.
Hi, They are very useful. Try free shareare first. And domestic cars may have different connector.
Hi, They are very useful. Try free shareare first. And domestic cars may have different connector.
I haven't used them so don't have a recommendation on which would fit your needs. I don't know how your state checks emissions, but here in Illinois they don't even put a sensor in the exhaust anymore for the later ODBII cars. '96 and later I think. Just use their ODBII scanner. The key to a scanner here is that it can clear codes. You don't want to go to emissions testing with a stored intermittent code. Just did the test here last month and had my son check it with his scanner a couple days before I went. He cleared an intermittent EGR code. That would have flunked me I think. We have an older ODBII reader that would only read the code, but he's got one that can clear them. It's a "pricey" Snap-On, but he's a mech. I'd talk to some pro mechs before I'd put any heavy money into scanning equipment. There's a lot of stuff on the "net" too. There are also real "gotchas" with some older model ODBII cars regarding the interfaces. But I think the newer cars are pretty consistent.
--Vic
Here's one for $60 that can also erase trouble codes.
Hi, Even an El Cheapo VERY basic reader can clear code.
You can clear the codes with a paper clip. Just be sure you ground the right pin. You can also pull the fuse for the computer or disconnect the battery.
Hi, The value of robust OBD II software is the ability to tweak the engine parameters by going into ECU if one knows whats/he wants to do. Also you can monitor engine performance real time. My son used to play with it quite a bit when he was a high school kid. After realizing he squeezed every drop out of his car he quit doing it. The car is Subaru WRX STi.
I used a paper clip to read ODBI codes. Flash sequence on dash light. Don't know if you can reset trouble codes with a paper clip on ODBII, and don't even want to know. I'll use a scanner for that, thanks. Since I do my own repairs I need the scanner anyway. As far as disconnecting the battery, you can fail emissions on "readiness" if the ECU hasn't done its test cycles after a battery disconnect. That can take many hundreds of miles of driving. But supposedly the same "readiness" states are reset to zero when you clear a code with a scanner. Different cars get back to "readiness" differently too. Anyway, scanners are cheap and can save you lots of money. I don't want to disconnect my battery and lose my radio presets.
--Vic
Also doesn't show live data. Otherwise tempting.
Looking at this ($49):
Tony, which one do you have? What software?
Jeff
Autoenginuity seems to be the best value PC based scanner that displays live data and has some test / actuation capabilities as well. I have it with the extended Ford coverage to get more data from my diesel truck and it works acceptably for me.
Agree. I doubt you can reset codes with a paper clip on ODBII, which is what cars have been using for many years now.
That's right. It's not as simple as just clearing codes before going for an auto inspection. You can clear them, but the test facilities that rely on OBDII require that the flags for the items requiring monitoring be set. And that takes a certain amount of driving and or time. Here in NJ they will pass late model cars with all but one of these set. Older cars can have two that are not set and still pass. If the check engine light is on, you always fail.
The flag that take the longest to set is the fuel system evaporation one. I don't know why, as all it would seem to measure is if the tank system will hold a small pressure. But, for whatever reason, it takes a long time to set and it;s not even clear what exactly sets it, ie driving, type of driving, engine starts/stops, amount of fuel in tank, etc. I've gone through inspection here in NJ with that one not set a couple times after fixing something and clearing codes.
I guess I'd evaluate how much a hand held scanner costs versus one that is an interface to a PC and what the feature tradeoffs are. I would expect on the PC type you can see more info and actually change some parameters. But for most auto repair all you need is the code that any of the hand-held type will give you. Then if you need further insight usually googling with that code and the vehicle model will give more info.
The more information the better - unless you don't need it or it confuses you. So far all I've needed is the code. Got right to the problem. I'm sure there are tricky problems where somebody can make use of this software, just never ran across a use for it myself. Simple OBDII code diagnostics are pretty good IME. They put a lot of work into OBDII But I only drive simple Chevys and Pontiacs, and maybe am lucky. Most sophisticated testing I ever did was put my old VOM on the injectors in my pre-OBD '88 Celebrity 2.8 when a mech told me the rough running was one or more injectors. They were all within spec so I bought 6 new ones. Expensive, since the damn things were about 70 bucks each. But it purred like a kitten ever after. Maybe this software could have pinned it on just one or two of the injectors. But they didn't have this software then. I may end up buying it yet, though I haven't had a bad injector since. First I need a laptop. But my kid has plenty of spare desktops, and I have 2 unused CRTs, so that might do. I hate laptops anyway.
--Vic
Hi, Keep in mind code is a starting point, it is not necessarily pointing to a bad parts. For the job, older IBM Thinkpad or Panasonic Toughbook is well suited. I use an old TP42P.
What additional information that you find useful do you get using a PC connected to the car instead of the basic handheld scanners?
You're thinking OBDI. You can't clear OBDII this way.
You get real time data, and you can log it. In my case, I'm throwing a P1131 which could be caused by a dizzying array of things.
Knowing when and what the lean fault conditions were would be a big help. Excatly what was the engine doing when it set the code; the code has no specifics behind it.
Jeff
Jeff
Yeah, I guess it could give you more insight into what could be wrong and might help identify the cause. In some cases the code is all you need, as in "left bank oxygen sensor heater circuit". But in other cases, like the lean fault, the code doens't point it to a specific component that is the likely cuprit.
If you get one, I'd be interested in finding out how well it works for you. The price of $139, less 30% off sounds reasonable. I looked at them a while back and wound up going with the more basic handheld one. Back then, the PC type cost significantly more. It's been OK for some things, but the additional info you get with a PC one, might indeed be well worth the added cost.
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