Hey All:

Just checking to see if anyone would be interested in ODB2 Software that you can load onto your laptop, and read information in real time from your ODB2 port on your car.

Here is a list of some thing that you will be possibally able to view.

- Engine RPM

- Calculated Load Value

- Coolant Temperature

- Fuel System Status

- Vehicle Speed

- Short Term Fuel Trim

- Long Term Fuel Trim

- Intake Manifold Pressure

- Timing Advance

- Intake Air Temperature

- Air Flow Rate

- Absolute Throttle Position

- Oxygen Sensor Voltages / Associated Short Term Fuel Trims

- Fuel System Status

- Fuel Pressure

I am going to be running tests next week, and will give more information. so there may be more features, or less features then listed. I will let you all know. But am wondering if anyone would be interested in this type of product.

Thanks
Dan
Pilo Racing

 

I'd be interested...

 

I might be interested if it would run on either linux or Mac OS X... no windows machines for me.

(That and if the price was right)

 

Yes, definitely interested.

Would the software support the OBD2 generic powertrain parameters? Or Mini specific ones too.

 

I'd be interested if, rather than just getting Speed, I could get the raw data pulses from the ABS Sensors. Can that be done from the OBDII Port?

 

As I am not the programmer of this software, I will have to find the answers to those questions. I will get them as soon as possible.

Thanks
Dan
Pilo Racing

 

>>I'd be interested if, rather than just getting Speed, I could get the raw data pulses from the ABS Sensors. Can that be done from the OBDII Port?

I can be done from the OBDII port but its not OBDII data so generic OBD loggers can't read it. Im sure Andy can elaborate on this further...



--
Cheese

 

You can get free software from scantool.net that uses
their $85 interface board.

Or you can get just the PCB for $14 and the ELM232
for $16 and build your own interface for $30.

Really inexpensive if you ask me.

And I ported their older code to Linux in about 1 day.

 

I'd be interested!!

Tired of my CarChip......

 

So what kind of sample rates are you guys getting with your various setups? Most OBDII loggers arent geared towards performance and dont have high sample rates. I get about 30 samples/second with my Pocketlogger.


--
Cheese

 

This is an evert driven Real Time Logger, which means that it does not have a sample rate, but when an event happens it is recorded. This means that it will go as fast as the port/computer can function.

Thanks
Dan
Pilo Racing

 

Dan, can you explain this "event-driven..." business as it applies to OBD-II?

The way OBD-II works is that the computer sends a message to the car
asking for a particular value and then it gets the result back.

So, what kind of "Events" happen that cause them to be recorded?





Also, the OBD-II standard limits the time between messages, and so
if you play by the rules, you can get about 10 samples-per-second, so
if you sample 10 sensors, you will get about 1 sample-per-second
for each sensor.

You can try and run faster, but it's up to the MINI's EMC to try and keep up,
and it can drop requests whenever it wants to, so be careful.

 

MiniPilo wrote:

Could you elaborate on this? Every generic OBD-II logger I have ever seen has a sample rate.

As Trippy indicated, there are some very cost-effective generic OBD-II programs out there. The problem is that BMW/MINI are forced to comply with OBD-II, but only for emissions-related Engine functions. Generic OBD-II barely scratches the surface of the Engine functions, while BMW-specific diagnostics tools go way beyond that. In a typical MINI, there are over a dozen different controllers having nothing to do with emissions, and these are completely inaccessible to generic OBD-II. For example, there are controllers for:

Engine (DME)
ABS (also ASC & DSC)
Power Steering
Steering Angle
Airbags
Immobilizer (EWS)
Climate Control
Xenon control
Park Distance Control

Let's say you wanted to log the DME for upstream air pressure (something about which generic OBD-II has no clue):



Or let's say you wanted to log the ABS controller for individual wheel speeds to see the effects of wheelspin:



You wouldn't be able to do any of these with generic OBD-II. In the near future, there will be solutions available for accessing the BMW/MINI specific controllers and functions.

That said, if you need a recommendation for generic OBD-II scanners, this is one I have used with some success:

http://www.obd-2.com/

 

Dan

I would be interested in a software package that can work with either a notebook or a PC, and can both log to file as well as display a number of parameters selected froma menu. It would be nice if display and logging could be done on different parameters, and if the display could be selected in terms of digital numeric readout vs analog gauges displayed on the palm screen (e.g. for rpm).

There are also nice possibilities for turning this into a very fancy tool comparable to the G-tech logger:
you could add programmable shift points (flash a marker on screen at given rpm), and you could calculate and display 0-60 times and acceleration values (this would actually be more difficult because of the slow sample rate of OBD2 port, unless you can figure out how to drive it at a higher sample rate). You could also combine the OBD2 data with rpm data received not from OBD2 port but a la G-tech from an unregulated voltage line.

Anyway, I would be very interested in such a tool - mostly for a palm or small computer, because I am very interested in such data but don't have the time to play around setting stuff up on my own, so for me a ready to go solution would be great.

Markus

 

I have a feeling that Andy's (Rosstech's) tool will probably be the best MINI engine management tool on the market... if it ever gets here (Just kidding Andy, I know it takes time)

So the big decision is what to do in the mean time? scantool.net looks like it might be a good start as there are a few programs out there (including one for PalmOS) Plus I like the fact that they have all the specifications including the wiring diagrams so you can build your own. (Of course you need the chip)

Also Andy: any plans to port to Linux using say the winelib project?

 

The OBDII system will respond to requests using the ELM chips at about a rate of once every 300ms (but there is variance in that). The software will send the next query immediately after a response from the OBDII port is received. The “event” is the response from the OBDII system. The decent thing about using the OBDII instead of the ECU is it provides a buffer to keep programmers from damaging your vehicle. There is a reason the OBDII was created ~ for diagnostics. And that is what this tool is, a diagnostic system.

Thanks
Dan
Pilo Racing

 

MiniPilo wrote:
Do you actually believe there is a separate computer in the vehicle for OBD-II and a different one for the ECU? FYI, OBD-II was not created for diagnostics, it was created so that the government can monitor our cars to make sure we are complying with the EPA's emissions laws.

_________________



1/4 Mile Database

 

>>MiniPilo wrote:
>>>>
>>Do you actually believe there is a separate computer in the vehicle for OBD-II and a different one for the ECU? FYI, OBD-II was not created for diagnostics, it was created so that the government can monitor our cars to make sure we are complying with the EPA's emissions laws.

>>

Diagnose/monitor...basically the same...it still means your watching the system, not taking action to alter or change nothing to get testy about...

 

Point well-taken.

BTW, MiniPilo, where is the MINI's fuel pressure sensor located? I think mine is acting up.

 

I dont follow... isn't the OBD port used to reflash the ECU? This means the OBD port has write permission to the ECU programming... so a bug in some OBD "monitoring" software could change something in the ECU and mess things up (highly unlikely, but possible.)

And some OBD2 monitoring software gives the ability to change some basic ECU parameters: fan on/off, retard timing, etc.

Here is another OBD2 monitoring company... focusing mostly on US cars (and toyotas): http://www.obd2.com/

Generic OBD2 data:
http://www.obd2.com/scantool/cardata/obdiigeneric.txt

Sample Car specific data:
http://www.obd2.com/scantool/cardata/gm2powertrain.txt
http://www.obd2.com/scantool/data/cardata/gm2body.txt

 

>>I dont follow... isn't the OBD port used to reflash the ECU?

It is.

>> This means the OBD port has write permission to the ECU programming...
>> so a bug in some OBD "monitoring" software could change something in the
>> ECU and mess things up (highly unlikely, but possible.)

Really REALLY RREEAALLYY unlikely since that requires
very specific information to be sent to the ECU, and even requires
things like checkums to match etc.

I don't think I'm going out on a limb to say it's impossible for an
errant monitoring program to accidentally reprogram the ECU.
(Even though, it IS possible. Like a single monkey banging on
a typewriter and coming up with exactly this message) ... (Besides me of course)

>>And some OBD2 monitoring software gives the ability to change some basic ECU parameters:
>> fan on/off, retard timing, etc.

I haven't seen this. Could you post some more information about it?

Also, look at THIS!!!

Software that lets you reprogram the ECU!!!

MTH Cartune

So how about getting a car all hopped up with some latest ECU update
like the SharkInjector or whatever, and then unloading the FLASH image
and sending it to me!!!

Then I can hack the reprogramming protocol and have the update for free.

 

Here's what I have on my Sony Clie. OBD II software and a Dyno. I've made a few Dyno runs and based on my mods it has come out very close in HP and Torque to the Chassis Dyno charts that I've seen for the MCS. You can also monitor all OBD II diagnostics that are supported by each vehicle, check 0-60 times, 1/8 and 1/4 mile times. I've hooked it up to my MCS, Porsche Boxster, and GMC Yukon. You also get all the DTCs for just about every manufacturer. Great piece of gear.

http://www.auterraweb.com/index.html

s/f
Marty

 

Guy's This has been some good information. I will be sure to work with the programer, and get as much of this to be part of it as possible.

Thanks
Dan
Pilo Racing

 

Looking forward to seeing what response you get.