Connecting PC to the car

Kaan · 22-12-2009, 01:19 AM

Hi all. I want to connect my laptop to the computer. I am totally a newbie on this, so I've done a bit of research. There is a cable called OBD2 cable to connect PC to the car. And I found some diagnostic software too. All I need is the cable. Now, my question is where can I get this cable from and what type of cable should I get, 16 pin or 20 pin or something else? Cheers

Gobes32 · 22-12-2009, 09:37 AM

You can try Jaycar, but you can bet it will be hard to find. The service depts need to protect themselves somehow.....

**russellw** · 22-12-2009, 10:01 AM

SPX Australia supply the interface cables for most local manufacturers as long as your laptop has an available 9 or 25 pin serial port.

If it doesn't there are some EBay sellers that have USB to OBDII cables.

Just bear in mind that for non CAN models you'll need the 16 pin connector.

Cheers
Russ

Kaan · 22-12-2009, 11:35 AM

Thanks a lot for the info. I'll buy one of the 16 pin ones. Cheers

**Luke Plaizier** · 22-12-2009, 12:14 PM

Be warned, it's not light reading:

http://www.fordmods.com/ecu-fuel-sys...un-t25010.html

Lukeyson

Kaan · 22-12-2009, 12:22 PM

I don't want scantool. I want only the cable to connect to the PC, if it's possible. Some people say if you have the right software installed on your laptop, you can use just the cable to connect to the PC. Some others say you have to have a obd2 diagnostic machine to read the results from the car. Don't know how true they're but if it works with just one cable, I'll give it a try. cheers

**Luke Plaizier** · 22-12-2009, 12:31 PM

You've not read that thread right then. That's exactly what the thread is about - connecting a PC to my car(s) and working with the modules.

The term 'scantool' there was used in reference to the box that converts from USB/Serial to one of the OBD protocols supported on the BA Falcon onwards (CAN 11/500 or ISO9141).

Lukeyson

Kaan · 22-12-2009, 12:38 PM

Thanks a lot Luke. I'll give it a try

**Luke Plaizier** · 22-12-2009, 01:25 PM

I have a couple of cheap ELM327 based scantools at home that I use for the easy stuff - using software like PCMScan or Dashcmomand.

I also have a slightly more expensive Drewtech Mongoose ISO/CAN that I use with the Motorcraft FMP software for basic Falcon Module reprogramming or replacement. The FMP software can do PCM reflashing, but the Mongoose doesn't technically support - although with some crafty pin breakout and applying 16V we've been able to get it to work.

Lukeyson

Kaan · 23-12-2009, 01:12 AM

Thanks for the info Lukey. I want to be able to change pcm settings using software installed on my laptop (connected to the car with obd2). Is this possible? If it is, which cable or scantool can do this?

**Luke Plaizier** · 23-12-2009, 08:05 AM

You can't do this with any of the cheap stuff. You need one of the SCT products and accompanying software in order to play around with PCM stuff. The FMP software I mentioned above only works with Factory PCM tunes.

What's preventing anyone with a cheap OBD tool doing it for themselves is:

(a) There is no software written to do it.
(b) To write it yourself would require that you figure out how to do the PCM security access - which is some sort of challenge hash process.
(c) The PCM can't be part written - it's all or nothing. So to activate cruise control, or to change the tyre size, you have to reflash the whole PCM and not just re-write the section that contains that data.
(d) PCM flash writes require that a voltage be applied to a pin on the OBD port - something that cheap scantools can't do (except for full-spec J2534 tools, but to get this feature the cheapest 'cheap' J2534 scantool is about $500USD - an eepod llc)

If you had some way to apply OBD2 pin foltage (FEPS), knew the challenge algorithm, knew how the mapping is encoded within the PCM, had a cheap scantool that is fast enough (500kpbs) and you were good at coding - then you might stand a chance of writing the software yourself to program a PCM.

Good luck with that though!

Lukeyson

Kaan · 23-12-2009, 01:33 PM

$500 USD is way too much for me. I might go for basic obd2 scanner. Thanks for the info lukey.

BuckTooth · 23-12-2009, 05:40 PM

Hey mate, a quick search on google came up with an american website. (www.scantool.net) they have some very good looking options for connecting your computer to the car. If ya go ahead with it let me know, i've been thinkin about this for my au for a little while now.

Cheers Doug

Gavin · 23-12-2009, 06:50 PM

Hi Kaan, i recently purchased an OBDII scantool and software for my BF. it works a treat see my posts in The Work Shop/General Tech...or try this link http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11273954 you might have to copy and paste it into the address bar

Cheers Gav

Kaan · 24-12-2009, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gavin

Hi Kaan, i recently purchased an OBDII scantool and software for my BF. it works a treat see my posts in The Work Shop/General Tech...or try this link http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11273954 you might have to copy and paste it into the address bar

Cheers Gav

cheers Gav, I'll have a look