Laptop Owners/OBD2 interface: HELP

[rjwest]

Trying to make some sense out of the data on a laptop
with a serial OBD2 interface.

I am using a "CarCode" program, I am interested in
anyones's experiences with the Laptop Programs,
Any Maker,

Any help, input, " Links" would be usefull.

[slagona]

I've used CarCode and AutoTap. AutoTap has a much friendlier user interface and gives you all of the entended parameters. I tried CarCode about 6-8 months ago. It wasn't working for diesels when I first purchased it. A version for diesels was released about 6 monts ago, but it didn't correctly read many of the extended or generic parameters "for my vehicle". I gave up on carcode and returned it. The only useful reading I could get was Intake Air Temp.

Autotap does function correctly and is much easier to use. It is also over twice the price. Let me know if you have any specific questions on either of these.

--Scott

swlag@joimail.com

[rjwest]

I do get some diesel parameters, with 2002 K L65
selection in " enhanced " page. But not all I
would expect...

Also get a lot of monitored " Codes " which I do not
understand at all, They do not appear to set error
codes but seem to be indicating something is not correct?? When you say you returned CARCODE, do you mean Cable? I down loaded the " program "

How is the " Instruction Manuel " on the AUTOTAP ?
Does it explan the differnet screens... I have not
a clue what the screens do on the Carcode.

Lastly, Where can you get a detailed info on GM
OBD2 ? Thanks....

[slagona]

I purchase Car Code after waiting about 4 months for the L65 portion to be completed. It took another month or two to get anything to work on the L65. There are almost no enhanced parameters for the L65 that show up. There should be about 160 or so - I think 10-12 showed up on car code. I was told that it didn't work for my model year only....... However, I believe that it won't work any better for ANY L65. Like I said, for the parameters I was interested in, only IAT showed up.

Since I was in constant dialog with the developer on Car Code and bought it specifically for the L65, he was very good about returning my purchase price about 6 months after I bought it. Yes, I just returned the cable.

Yes, trying to decipher the cryptic codes isn't easy - and there is no documentation to speak of. I decided that I would just buy a gauge for anything I was interested in the future or go with autotap. Problem is where to put the new guages, my pillar already holds EGT, Boost, and Trans Temp. To be complete, you need to have an EGT guage anyway - that isn't monitored by GM. Also, boost is the sum of barometric pressure and your boost - so you have to subtract BARO from your boost reading - something you would easily get used to. But it was always hard to read the laptop screen while driving......

Autotap is much more user friendly, but didn't really have an Instruction Manual. There is no cryptic codes, so everything is pretty much self explanatory. You could easily get by on the fly with autotap.

If you can find detailed info on GM ODBII, let us know. I'd love to get that. I don't think they are required to share info on the enhanced parameters, so that info is probably hard to come by. They do have to follow the ODB Protocol for generic parameters - so that is available out there. Here's a site that I was looking into for the generic protocol.

ftp://download.intel.com/design/intarch/papers/j1850_wp.pdf

I decided I didn't have the time to play with it.

Good luck.

--Scott

[rjwest]

Thanks Scott..... My calls to CarCode were answered quickly but after talking to rep, I was just as confused.. He did say maybe some more data in a few months. I guess I'll give up. At least it works on my 97 buick......
I am going to look into the Auto Tap, sounds much better...What was the cost? Do they send CD or do you download program?

I have boost,egt,and fuel pressure on the top of the dash, left side, nice 3 gage housing, also have a 2 gage side mount on left window pillar panel.
oil and tran temp...

Had a FSD Fail a couple days ago. ( re-testing suspect bad one ) Nice to know fuel pressure was there, Swapped in good one ( underdash ) ran
plugged bad one again ( failed ) read codes when I got home " none " Tryed " Bad one again " Ran "

I can see why the reliability is suspect on these
engines.... If someone knows nothing, the repair
bills will kill them.....

I am off hunting for 2 months, will persue the codes this winter, Hope I get to maine and back.

Donw to 2 spare FSD's

[slagona]

Autotap with enhanced parameters goes for $290 retail - but is available for about $272 from retailers. It comes with a CD, but you can download it also. They have some screen shots on their website.

www.autotap.com (http://www.autotap.com)

There are several people here who have autotap.

Car Code will eventually get there - especially if enough people are interested. The price is really good - less than 1/2 of autotap - just needs to get the diesel parameters. Keep pressuring them, they will get them going. It took me several months, but I finally got them to get it started.

2 Months in Maine Hunting - that would be nice..... Have a great trip.

[rjschoolcraft]

Does AutoTap work on OBD I (pre 96) vehicles?

[slagona]

Autotap is an OBDII scan tool.

[MJEasly]

Here (http://www.diy-efi.org) is an interesting site dedicated to the OBD-II interface and do-it-yourself coding.

[Edit]Just checked it out - it's gone. However, there are a bunch of sites that get deep into coding OBD-II ECMs.

Here's some:
ECM Guy (http://http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Shop/9938/index.html)

PCM Tutorial (http://para.noid.org/~lj/PCM%20Tutorial/PCMtutorial.htm)

Custom FIS (http://www.customefis.com/)

Car Programmer (http://carprogrammer.com/Z28/PCM/Dyno/Dyno%20Tuning%20Advice.htm)

FIS FAQ (http://www.ag.auburn.edu/users/gparmer/efi/myfaq.htm)

and a topica list (http://www.topica.com/lists/TunerCat)

[ 10-01-2003, 01:17 PM: Message edited by: MJEasly ]