I want to determine when/if the colder range plugs are needed with my mods. I have the stock in now and cannot feel any timing being pulled. It's very obvious in my other car when that happens, and it's a good sign that the plugs are due for a change - usually the gap has widened by that point.

Is there monitoring software that can track timing on the fly? This would be a good tool to show if it's being pulled using stock plugs on a hot day, and if installing the IK22's makes a change, yes?

 

There are lots of software packages out there. At all price ranges. If you only want to measure a few parameters, there's a gizmo that hooks onto the OBD-III port and logs away. I can't remember the name now.... But search, and ye shal find! I've tried some low cost palm stuff, but the bundle of cables is pretty much a hassle.I'm waiting for BIM-COM......

Matt

Edit: Search on CarChip E/X

 

I know there are lots of packages - I didn't know if they could track timing pull. I'll start searching - it was going to be my next purchase anyway.

 

Car chip E/X approx $130 at AutoZone...

The unit will sample at 5 sec intervals, giving you plenty of info to chew on.

You could chose, timing, boost pressure, water temp, speed....etc.

peter

 

Cool, thank you - I'll look into that as well!

 

I had breifly spoke to Randy or Ross I think it was? Regarding BIM-COM - the graphs I saw were one important feature I am very interested in - I just don't want to hold out for an indefinite time, no release date was given for it. But looking at the feature set of VAG-COM it does look like my ideal software. Maybe I'll buy something less capable now and buy up when BIM-COM is released.

 

andy isn't randy, and the biz is ross-tech. I've seen his proto-ware work and it is amazing.

 

Andy - yes, sorry!

 

If you have a laptop, a company called laplogger has software that enables you to monitor eight functions (including timing) and also allows for 0-60 and 1/4 mile times. Costs about $60.00.

 

I'm going to have to start a long list of comparisons - there are quite a few options out there...I sure with BIM-COM was out now :(

 

 

www.scantool.net is good for free OBD-II monitoring software, for use with an OBD-2 cable. You can buy one from them for $80-100, or make your own for about $30-$40.

 

LapLogger comes with the Elm interface, and is very inexpensive. But the software is VERY limited. The other free software is better, and works with the Elm interface. The nice thing about LapLogger is it comes with source code, and if I were a programmer, that's how I'd spend some evenings!

The ScanTool.net software runs on the Elm interface... So there you go! The cabling is a bit of a pain, so the Car Chip E/X is an atractive alternative. I may go that way until BIM-COM is out (which may be quite a while......)

Matt

 

You need to start your own thread. That's a whole other topic.

 

I see quite a few cables on ebay in the $20 range, I need to do some more research when I get time to figure out which will work. Most I see are listed for VW/Audi.

 

 

I don't want to go into this because - we are NOT on this topic - I am asking about software in this thread. In short, monitoring the timing shows you if the computer is responding to knock, ie. the need for colder plugs. Please don't hijack peoples threads, start your own.