Re: OT
- Posted by 1evan at sbcglobal.net Aug 29, 2003
- 380 views
I have a VW and a Toyota and possibly a Chrysler. Modifying ECU's would be neat. Having them programmable "on-the-fly" would be an extra bonus. Efficiency for everyday driving and performance for fun. I'll probably take a little time reading up on it before actually doing anything. In between work, working on my Master's, and the family, it could take a while. (Not to mention the 5000 other hobbies/projects that I have going on ) I'm in Michigan. Where are you? Jonas Temple wrote: > > >No problem, glad to help! > >If you need any help please let me know. This might go faster if two >people are working on it! I have an OBD-II Ford that I could use for >testing. I also have a Chrysler and GM ECU at home. Just haven't >figured out yet how to use them without being in the car. > >The other thing my friend and I were discussing is creating an app that >would modify or create an ECU chip. Since the ECU controls things like >oxygen flow/fuel rate/etc the ECU's values could be changed to get >better gas milage or performance, depending on the needs of the car's >owner. Of course these changes would still require the car to be within >EPA limits for CO emissions. This would be targeted to your everyday >driver. The other side of the coin would be custom ECUs for racing or >high performance applications. As you probably now know, there are some >OBD-II Windows apps out there but you won't find many programs to modify >and/or create an ECU chip. > >If you want to "dive in" and would like me to help test/code anything, >then we'll need to agree on the hardware interface since we'd both have >to get the same one. > >Where are you located? > >Jonas > > >1evan at sbcglobal.net wrote: > > >>Found ScanTool.net, thanks for the other two links. This is exactly >>what I have been looking for. I am also thinking of writing an OBD-II >>Windows app (Possibly Linux too, since I have been playing with that for >> >>a couple of years now. Time to get serious with it.) Also, if I can >>find the time! >> >> >>Jonas Temple wrote: >> >> >>>Funny you should mention this. I've been doing some research on the >>>same topic (for a while now). >>> >>>I have a friend that is a mechanic and we've been looking into writing >>>our own OBD-II Windows application. I've gotten so far as downloading >>>some technical specs from various web sites and even have 3 ECUs at >>>home. >>> >>>Basically, OBD-II is an automotive standard regulated by the federal >>>government that says all cars produced 1996 or after must have an OBD-II >>> >>>compliant interface in the car. OBD-II as a standard only dictates the >>>data that must be available through the interface and the physical >>>connection that must be present. However, what the standard doesn't >>>dictate is how the communication must be done and each of the big auto >>>mfgs have their own. In the USA you'll find 4 different flavors: ISO, >>>PWM, VPW and Keyword 2000. >>> >>>>From a programming standpoint you unfortunately can't just hook up the >>>OBD-II cable to the car and plug it into the serial port on your laptop. >>> >>>What you'll have to have is a piece of interface hardware. You can >>>either make them yourself or buy them from one of many sites. I found >>>one for $80 bucks that supports the 4 mentioned, but I haven't gotten >>>one yet. >>> >>>I also know that the complete OBD-II standard is available in document >>>form but it's not free. You'll need the SAE OBD-II reference guide to >>>know how to interpret the information returned from the ECU. I found it >>> >>>at Amazon for $140 USD. >>> >>>If I had a lot of free time I would like to explore this and maybe come >>>up with a Windows/Linux OBD-II Diagnostics application. That is, IF I >>>had free time. >>> >>>Here's some other sites that might help: >>>www.obddiagnostics.com - this is where I found the interface for $90. >>>Also has a really good description of OBD-II and some free software >>>available for donwload. >>>www.andywhittaker.com/ecu/obdii_software.htm - another good information >>>site, he's also got an OBD-II ISO interface for sell (I tried to contact >>> >>>him, but he never returned my emails). >>>www.scantool.net - you can buy a combo package with ISO, VPW and PWM >>>interfaces for $184 >>> >>>Be prepared, you could REALLY burn a lot of time on this! >>> >>>Jonas Temple >>>1evan at sbcglobal.net wrote: >>> >>> >>>>Does anybody know where I can get specs on OBD-II? >>>> <snip> > >