Drivetrain $200 cartune chip in deutschland
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Houston
Do you need the interface or can you get by with a simple OBD2 male to DB9 female cable like #7 on the Multiplex Engineering site?
Edit: Oops, make that male DB9, I've got a female port on my laptop.
Edit: Oops, make that male DB9, I've got a female port on my laptop.
Last edited by Traveler; Aug 5, 2004 at 06:15 PM.
2nd Gear
Joined: May 2004
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I asked Franz and he said that the interface is needed. If you buy the German interface you will need an OBDII cable to connect the OBDII port on your car to the interface(black box), and a RS232 cable to connect the black box to the com port on your computer.
As for the Multiplex Engineering products, my guess is that you will use their T16-002 interface which plugs directly into the OBDII port of your car, and a RS232 cable to connect the interface to the com port on your computer. Alternatively you can use their T16-006 interface and connect it to the OBDII port on your car with their #16 cable, then a RS232 cable to connect the interface to the com port on your computer. What is not clear is whether their interfaces are compatible with ISO9141. Someone who lives in the US might want to give them a call and find out for sure.
Despite Franz's advice I will try using just an OBDII/R232 cable directly between the OBDII port on my car and the com port on my computer later today and let everyone know if it works. It might, but there could also be data loss.
DDTUNG
As for the Multiplex Engineering products, my guess is that you will use their T16-002 interface which plugs directly into the OBDII port of your car, and a RS232 cable to connect the interface to the com port on your computer. Alternatively you can use their T16-006 interface and connect it to the OBDII port on your car with their #16 cable, then a RS232 cable to connect the interface to the com port on your computer. What is not clear is whether their interfaces are compatible with ISO9141. Someone who lives in the US might want to give them a call and find out for sure.
Despite Franz's advice I will try using just an OBDII/R232 cable directly between the OBDII port on my car and the com port on my computer later today and let everyone know if it works. It might, but there could also be data loss.
DDTUNG
Last edited by DDTUNG; Aug 5, 2004 at 06:46 PM.
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2004
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Traveler,
I paid for my cable with PayPal. For me that was easier than going to the bank since I live in the boonies, 35 miles from my bank.
Someone in this thread or another said that a straight OBDII cable would work. I prefer using the ISO 9141 because it provides opto isolation. That means that there is no electrical connection between your computer and the car. This protects the comuter and the car from electrical overloads, etc. It's the safe way to go.
I understand your hesitation about buying the cable. I was at the same crossroads and almost just threw in the towel and said the heck with it. Then Franz sent me the same info that Alex just offered you and then I got off dead center and had the cable in a few business days, no big deal.
I paid for my cable with PayPal. For me that was easier than going to the bank since I live in the boonies, 35 miles from my bank.
Someone in this thread or another said that a straight OBDII cable would work. I prefer using the ISO 9141 because it provides opto isolation. That means that there is no electrical connection between your computer and the car. This protects the comuter and the car from electrical overloads, etc. It's the safe way to go.
I understand your hesitation about buying the cable. I was at the same crossroads and almost just threw in the towel and said the heck with it. Then Franz sent me the same info that Alex just offered you and then I got off dead center and had the cable in a few business days, no big deal.
2nd Gear
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 54
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Originally Posted by LilRedMini
Traveler,
I paid for my cable with PayPal. For me that was easier than going to the bank since I live in the boonies, 35 miles from my bank.
Someone in this thread or another said that a straight OBDII cable would work. I prefer using the ISO 9141 because it provides opto isolation. That means that there is no electrical connection between your computer and the car. This protects the comuter and the car from electrical overloads, etc. It's the safe way to go.
I understand your hesitation about buying the cable. I was at the same crossroads and almost just threw in the towel and said the heck with it. Then Franz sent me the same info that Alex just offered you and then I got off dead center and had the cable in a few business days, no big deal.
I paid for my cable with PayPal. For me that was easier than going to the bank since I live in the boonies, 35 miles from my bank.
Someone in this thread or another said that a straight OBDII cable would work. I prefer using the ISO 9141 because it provides opto isolation. That means that there is no electrical connection between your computer and the car. This protects the comuter and the car from electrical overloads, etc. It's the safe way to go.
I understand your hesitation about buying the cable. I was at the same crossroads and almost just threw in the towel and said the heck with it. Then Franz sent me the same info that Alex just offered you and then I got off dead center and had the cable in a few business days, no big deal.
DDTUNG
2nd Gear
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 54
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I borrowed an OBDII cable for VAG Audis(with a built in interface) from my tuner yesterday and successfully downloaded the file from the car. Franz turned around the file in less than 12 hours. How'w that for great service?
As mentioned by someone previously, stick with WIN 95, 98 or ME. I used WIN XP and the program was interrupted numerous times by the OS. Fortunately I know a few things about computers and completed the download nontheless.:smile:
DDTUNG
As mentioned by someone previously, stick with WIN 95, 98 or ME. I used WIN XP and the program was interrupted numerous times by the OS. Fortunately I know a few things about computers and completed the download nontheless.:smile:
DDTUNG
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 219
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From: Houston
Well you guys have me all fired up about this now. I dusted off and powered up my old Windows 98 laptop and will try to get it to work with one of my wireless cards tonight. (not mandatory, just to make file transfers less hasssle)
I am still on the hunt for a US interface supplier. I know a basic cable will work (thanks to cheese) but there appears to be some risk in doing so. I have found another potential vendor at Scantool.net. I have e mailed them this evening asking if there is anything proprietary about their interface that would keep it from working with other (i.e. MTH) software. It looks pretty generic to me. The bonus of Scantool is that you get their "free" diagnostic software along with the $99 interface kit. All the cables are included. I am seriously leaning towards this route.
I am still on the hunt for a US interface supplier. I know a basic cable will work (thanks to cheese) but there appears to be some risk in doing so. I have found another potential vendor at Scantool.net. I have e mailed them this evening asking if there is anything proprietary about their interface that would keep it from working with other (i.e. MTH) software. It looks pretty generic to me. The bonus of Scantool is that you get their "free" diagnostic software along with the $99 interface kit. All the cables are included. I am seriously leaning towards this route.
Last edited by Traveler; Aug 6, 2004 at 06:52 PM.
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 218
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Traveler,
The scantool looks pretty good. If it will work with MTH, it will be a great way to go since it sounds like you don't already have OBDII software.
I have OBDII software and cable. That cable did not work with MTH. I think there may have been security firmware in mine. The scantool looks like it is only providing opto isolation which is a very good thing.
I would say that there is a little risk that the cable won't work with MTH. But my gut says that it will. Worst case if it does not work, you will then have OBDII scanning capabilities.
Keep that old laptop charged and in good shape. It will be really handy for automotive work. I have an old laptop that is about six years old and that's all I use it for, OBDII and MTH. It doesn't have a bright display like newer units so I can't use it in bright sunlight, but I always have a car in the shop when I'm hooking up to it anyway.
DDTUNG,
I guess Alex is sitting on the beach taking care of business. Who said he's on vacation?
The scantool looks pretty good. If it will work with MTH, it will be a great way to go since it sounds like you don't already have OBDII software.
I have OBDII software and cable. That cable did not work with MTH. I think there may have been security firmware in mine. The scantool looks like it is only providing opto isolation which is a very good thing.
I would say that there is a little risk that the cable won't work with MTH. But my gut says that it will. Worst case if it does not work, you will then have OBDII scanning capabilities.
Keep that old laptop charged and in good shape. It will be really handy for automotive work. I have an old laptop that is about six years old and that's all I use it for, OBDII and MTH. It doesn't have a bright display like newer units so I can't use it in bright sunlight, but I always have a car in the shop when I'm hooking up to it anyway.
DDTUNG,
I guess Alex is sitting on the beach taking care of business. Who said he's on vacation?
im really fired up for one of these now
anyone did a dyno run on this yet? also i'd really like to know whether there are any problems so far with the mod... im still waiting for the giac chip to come out but if this does have proven numbers then i might as well save the money and go for this!
anyone did a dyno run on this yet? also i'd really like to know whether there are any problems so far with the mod... im still waiting for the giac chip to come out but if this does have proven numbers then i might as well save the money and go for this!
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