Anyone ever consider this? There are tons of programs out there that allow you to plug into your car via serial connection to your notebook or PDA. Then you can get feedback from the car.

That would be sweet. What kind of cars support this? Any links?

I think every car supports it... the connections are different for some of the manufactures and some cars give you more info than others..... but here is a link:http://www.obd-2.com/ The "Virtual Dashboard" could maybe work as a visual? These things are sweet. You can find out what the Check Engine light is on for (or at least what the trouble code is) and even reset it.

This link if for Windows, but it runs on Windows 3.1, so I assume the empeg wont have any trouble with a Linux version.

Another link: http://www.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=119661

This link if for Windows, but it runs on Windows 3.1, so I assume the empeg wont have any trouble with a Linux version.

With *what* Linux version? I don't see the source to the Windows version so I'm guessing a Linux version would have to be written from scratch? Are the specs open?

This sounds like a neat feature (and very wel-suited to the Empeg since it's in the car) but writing something from scratch sounds like a massive project...

I'm sorry, I meant a "theoretical" Linux version. The protocol for the car is open and may require some more digging.... let me see what I can find.

This would be very cool.

No, I was pretty sure you meant "theoretical" but I thought you might know of an open source project that could do it... The ideal project wouldn't have any graphics or user interface at all, just the calculations and data reading portions.. Something written in C or C++... Java would be bad. On a quick net search I saw a Java OBDII Sourceforge project but it had barely started and I don't know anyone who's going to want to port a Java program to C code that's efficient enough to run in the Empeg's tight memory and CPU requirements.

If we had to start from scratch I'd certainly think about contributing, but I'd need to see some very detailed specs.

Looks like the hardest part is to get a cheap ODB2-RS232 converter.

But this seems to be the solution:
http://www.elmelectronics.com/Products/Connect/Connect.htm
I'll order one and let you know how far I get.
(BTW: I drive a ford, so I'll use the PWM version.)

By looking at their sample app (see pdf) this shouldn't be to hard at all...

Cool link.

Just ordered two chips myself. (For GM that is, no Ford here )

TommyE

I'll be anxious to know how those things work out, especially the ones that interface with GM.

I'm a Ford guy as well so keep us posted.

Alex Peper sells one for cheap. Search for him on the internet.

Calvin

There is a Linux based OBD2 diagnostic command line project in the works.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/freediag/

Calvin

Doesn't look very active...

I have the freediag code, but haven't had time to get it going yet. The interface that it uses is available from: http://www.andywhittaker.com/
Another good interface is: http://www.multiplex-engineering.com/
I started writing the code for the empeg, and got as far as writing the screen routines to output the various available engine params, as text and bar graphs.
I have just received a new 60Gb empeg, which is going to stay in the house (and on the LAN) so I may get a chance to carry on with the project.

Philb.

Am I a complete dope? I can't find the freediag software anywhere on that Sourceforge project, nor anywhere on the web. That andywhittaker site just links to the Sourceforge project which doesn't seem to have anything on it.

I'm very interested in this stuff, and also glad to see another Empeg hacker showing up on the BBS. Don't be a stranger...

Honestly I can't figure out how to download the freediag code.

The ideal setup is to plug the empeg in the car, the serial port to an adapter to the OBD2 port. Then in the ethernet jack an 802.11b wireless adapter of some kind, and a laptop with another 802.11b wireless card. Then you can datalog using a larger amount of real estate to do real real!

Calvin

Have a look at past articles on ODB-2 in the Circuit Cellar website.

I've actually done some work (with a buddy) decoding ODB-1 data (from my '95 Camaro) in Linux and sending the data via serial to another VFD. I had hoped to port something to the Empeg early on, but never got around to it. see http://hud.cz28.com for a little more detail and some links.
There's a whole bunch of interesting things that could be done with the diagnostic data sent in the ODB-I stream. I'm not familiar with specifics on ODB-II, except to know that it's hard to find a freely available source on protocol.
I'll be happy to share what I have, if that helps the group.
Dan

are these for OBDII ? I only see references to OBD does it matter would they work for either ?

I don't think Richard has released the code yet. I got a very early version, but didn't get very far with it, due to lack of time.
Hopefully I'll get a chance to have a look at it again in a weeks time, when I get back from a holiday.

Phil.

ODB-II Project is underway man,

I'm on the case, currently with windows based software to perfect, but soon with some empeg stuff!

The windows platform is easier for me because I'm familiar with it, but the empeg stuff is just pure interest and challange to do what I haven't done before!

Expect a posting here, err, within, err, say a month!

Cheers,

M.

Eagerly awaiting! go go go go go!

Interfaces for non-N.American cars seem easy - this site claims it is just standard serial data but not at RS232 voltage levels.

http://www.andywhittaker.com/ecu/obdii_software.htm

It's a sad day,

I've been trying for ages to get some OBD-II software to work, with little success, seem to be talking OK but not anything meaningfull!

I downloaded some other sample software from the net and now it looks like the problem might be my motor might not be fully compliant!

If it doesn't support the standard codes then I have no way of testing the software! so I can't continue with the project!

And I was really getting into it as well!

Anyone waiting for a result, sorry guys,

Someone lend him your car!

Thanks for the thought!

I've been chatting to a guy that makes diags tools and he's gonna give me some tests/pointers to see if it's compatable or not....

.... so all may not yet be lost !!

I hope not, this we be the unlttimate feature to have in my mind.

I'd be willing to help out. My car (1998 Pontiac Grand Prix) is fully OBD-II compliant. Many gearheads at www.clubgp.com/forum interface the obd-ii with a program called Autotap on a laptop, or with some hardware called Scanmaster. I only know of one other empeg guy with a grand prix that might be more into this than me since I'm not much of a gearhead.

In reply to:

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... and now it looks like the problem might be my motor might not be fully compliant!

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Did you check the maker's web site and see if they had an update for it? Or is their idea of update "buy next year's model"?