OBD2 / OBDII

[turps]

With the price of OBD2 plugs being very very cheap these days (under $30). Just wondering what Software people are using. I used a plug in USB one on a Falcon today for testing. And we got some good info. But cant find any good software. At the moment until I can see some screen shots and guarantee I can get it to work.
I dont really want to spend to much money on something thats essentially a gadget.

We where using a 05 Falcon. And used or tried most of the freeware that a google search brings up and some dont work with the falcon. Guessing because it was relatively new to OBD2.

[bru21]

my little bro has one for his android phone. works well. Think he said it was $40 plus $14 for the software

[chimpboy]

I think the android one is called Torque Pro... could be wrong though.

[turps]

I have been looking at getting the Dash Command app for iphone. But at $50 I would like to know it works with a falcon first.
For something that that tells me more stuff than I know what it means.
I think for those with later model engine conversations in there toys it would be great for finding out what the engine is doing. Especially hooked up to a small tablet.
As I have read that some of the programs that are windoze based. You can adjust the temp fans, pumps etc kick and then turn off. And adjust basic functions like idle.

I havent found anything under $500 that can do tuning though. But I dont need that, I just like gadgets.

[AussieCJ7]

There is some good resources found on this site http://www.mp3car.com/engine-management ... stics-etc/

Is a UK site so not so much for Falcon stuff but should get you a shopping list of better quality software you can then talk to the vendor to find out more on you application

[bru21]

Far as I know OBD2 is a standard - hence it should work with OBD2 equipped car like a falcon

[DamTriton]

Far as I know OBD2 is a standard - hence it should work with OBD2 equipped car like a falcon

Yes and no......

It is a standard, but there is a range of codes (1001-1999) that are brand specific and may change from brand to brand. Some connectors are also non standard although supporting the OBD II communication protocol, the requirement for standard plugs in Australia is a relatively recent thing (IIRC mid naughties), unlike the US who have had them since the early-mid nineties.

BIL is an RACV service guy with a tray full of adapters.

[V.W.Dave]

Cars could not be sold in America without a OBD2 connector from jan 95 onwards. From jan 97 in the north american market that plug had to be within 40 inches of the base of the steering wheel at its lowest setting.

All cars with a OBD2 connector can be read with a basic code reader, and they will give you the basic P codes for the engine management system. That does not include the entire engine management system.

All OBD2 connectors have power at pin 16 and ground through 3 or 5 (i think, its been a while since I had to know that)

If you go back to (most not all) cars that were out between 95 and 98 any code reader would read just about read every code in every car sold in the American market. 98 was the first year that all the Euro automobile makers started using Can-bus and PWM (pulse width modulation) on every car. That made the basic code readers start to fall behind. Some upper end market cars like Audi, Merc, BMW, Lambo, VW had been using what they call L and K wire communication and the modules that use those do not always communicate with basic or non factory scan tools from the early 80s. This is why most workshops hate to diag euro cars built after 95.

The reason behind the requirement of the OBD2 to provide the basic info to a basic scanner is in most states in the U.S. to get a yearly state inspection the car must be hooked up to the state scanner and have no fault regarding to emissions and the vin must not be stolen or meant to be off the road. ( the vin can only be read from cars that are sold after 98 some euros from 95)

There is way to much info to go any further into it then that.

Now as for a cheap code reader that will do every car...... Good luck with that. I have seen $20k machines not be able to read a ford laser. Thenyou hook up a $20 job from super crap its its all good.

Your saying $50 is to much, if that's the case can you really afford to have a car?

I spent $1800 on a "Basic" scan tool that pulls P codes off 99% of cars and trans/airbag codes out of about 50%. It works better on euro cars but thats because I mainly worked on them so thats what I got. I also (cough cough) aquired a VW factory scan tool worth ummmm (yahh lets just say its more then most tradies yearly income) that can do anything on any VW, Audi, Skoda, Seat, Scania, Lambo, Bugatti and a few others but its near useless on anything that is not under the VW umbrella because it talks to the cars through the Bus system. It can also change long coding but thats a hole other story.

[raptorthumper]

turps pm sent.

ScanXL is one of the best software. Virtual gauges and full datalogging and replay capability.

Works awesome on my BF XR6 engine in my GU. I have an ELM327 V1.4 USB device.

[turps]

Dave the reason why I said I was wanting to know it worked before handing over $50. Is because I really have no need to know this info. There is enough gauges and idiot lights on a falcon to tell me what I need to know. So $50 and it not working is annoying. I want go bankrupt but I would be hella shitty.
I just like gadgets.

Thanks raptor for the info. Thats what I was after. I had been looking for a demo of ScanXL as I found some neat skins for different gauge sets. As can make a WindozeCE PDA look like a Nissan GTR screen. As i read on a ford forum that some of the software didnt work on a Falcon. So wasnt sure.