Using laptop as OBD ll scan tool?

[bnichols04]

i have this old laptop that i can't sell and i thought maybe i could use it as a scan tool? does anybody make a cable and a program to do this? I thought buying just the cable and the program might cut the price down too.

[Metric]

There's a bunch of cheap USB-OBDII cables on eBay that will do that for you.
You'll also need to run a piece of software, but there are a lot of free options out there if you just want a simple generic reader. I personally use the full (non-free) version of VAG-COM (http://www.ross-tech.com/) -- I use it as a VW/Audi scanner -- but I heard the combination free version + eBay cable works just fine as a generic OBDII reader.

[grillmasterp]

I have been using this OBD scanner with my laptop for over 4 years

http://obddiagnostics.com/

[jmack]

I have been using this OBD scanner with my laptop for over 4 years

http://obddiagnostics.com/

LOL - yes their mid 90s era looking website looks well maintained - including the link for their DOS program. Luckily there are instructions for creating floppy disks (assuming you have a computer that has a floppy drive.

[eschoendorff]

Unfortunately none are made for teh MAC platform. Then again, neither are most viruses...

[Defender Chassis]

http://www.diydiagnostics.com/USB327_specs.htm

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OBD-II-OBD2-2-SCANNER-CODE-SCAN-TOOL-USB-CAN-BUS-OBDII_W0QQitemZ120354417854QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMoto rs_Automotive_Tools?hash=item120354417854&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A727%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C2 40%3A1318

[Defender Chassis]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OBD-II-OBD2-2-SCANNER-CODE-SCAN-TOOL-USB-CAN-BUS-OBDII_W0QQitemZ120354417854QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMoto rs_Automotive_Tools?hash=item120354417854&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A727%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C2 40%3A1318

[Nik_95Cobra]

I too use the full version vag-com

[charlie_nj]

Unfortunately none are made for teh MAC platform. Then again, neither are most viruses...

I'd rather risk the virus and be able to actually use the computer for something, lol.

Check out the cable and software at

http://obd-2.com/#products

The website is hard to navigate, but basically, for around $200 you can get a cable and software that will work with virtually any OBD-2 vehicle made. He constantly updates the software and the updates are free once you make the initial purchase. I've had it since 2003 and I love it. It's way much more than a code reader, you can get volumes of data, you can data log, obtain voltage outputs from sensors, read timing, etc, etc. It does require you to learn a lot on your own though, as support /help isn't that great. It's not quite a Tech II, but it's not $4000 either.

It will run quite well on an older laptop, I was using an IBM 560, Pentium 1, that I bought in 2003 for $50, until I dropped it on a driveway. Now I'm using an IBM 600E, Pentium 2, that I paid $50 for.

No MAC version though, sorry MAC guys.

[rcleaver]

I'd rather risk the virus and be able to actually use the computer for something, lol.

Check out the cable and software at

http://obd-2.com/#products

The website is hard to navigate, but basically, for around $200 you can get a cable and software that will work with virtually any OBD-2 vehicle made. He constantly updates the software and the updates are free once you make the initial purchase. I've had it since 2003 and I love it. It's way much more than a code reader, you can get volumes of data, you can data log, obtain voltage outputs from sensors, read timing, etc, etc. It does require you to learn a lot on your own though, as support /help isn't that great. It's not quite a Tech II, but it's not $4000 either.

It will run quite well on an older laptop, I was using an IBM 560, Pentium 1, that I bought in 2003 for $50, until I dropped it on a driveway. Now I'm using an IBM 600E, Pentium 2, that I paid $50 for.

No MAC version though, sorry MAC guys.

I've run it on Win95, NT, 2000 and XP with no problems.

[ovilla]

Does anyone know of vehicle specific ODBII software that will let you do data logging and test individual sensors? I'd like to be able to individually test each of the four Oxygen sensors on my 02' Honday Odyssey. I'm sure one (or more) are bad as I'm getting horrible gas mileage. Thanks

[caper]

Autoenginuity makes a pretty comprehensive package.Deluxe kit was around a grand canadian when we bought 2 yrs ago.

[bnichols04]

thanks for all of your responses! how does the computer program work. is it just like a normal scan tool where you can read the codes on the fly or do you have to run the car and let it record everything? will it let me clear codes?

[Danglerb]

What seems best for a cheap cable and free software?

I don't have an Audi, Seat, or VW, mostly what I am looking for are things to talk to my 91 Mustang and 99 Lincoln.

[Torque1st]

If you want to monitor some functions check out:
http://www.scangauge.com/
Other than that I just use an off the shelf $80 scan tool I purchased years ago.

[Fedwrench]

What seems best for a cheap cable and free software?

I don't have an Audi, Seat, or VW, mostly what I am looking for are things to talk to my 91 Mustang and 99 Lincoln.

Your two cars are like apples and oranges. the 91 is obd1 and has a different data link connector (dlc) and the 99 is obdII which means it has a 16 pin standardized dlc. Most laptop diagnostic platforms are geared to obdII systems from about 1995 and newer depending on make. Each system has different protocols and levels of electronic control. You may be better off getting something used on ebay for obd1 to use on the older mustang and look at something else for the Lincoln depending on how much money to want to spend. I think Innova makes a low cost obd1 and 2 scanner for around $250. I'm not sure of its capabilities though. Scan tools are not the end all tool. They only allow you to see what the control modules see depending on the diagnostic platform. They can be like a pig looking at a wristwatch if you can't interpet the displayed data.:beer:

[charlie_nj]

The obd-2.com software will allow you to read codes in real time, both stored and pending codes, it will give also you a history of codes, and allow you to clear them. But like I said earlier, it does way more than just codes. It's a great diagnostic tool.

The cable and software package can be bought for about $122 if you don't need a universal cable that will work with everything. If you click on this link, you can plug in your vehicle and year and it will tell you which cable to buy:

http://obd-2.com/dlcnet.html

If you are looking for something cheaper, try this:

http://www.aldlcable.com/

His OBD 2 stuff is $100 or so. The site is also very informative and contains links to some free OBD 2 software. Theres also some free software available at.

http://www.obd2crazy.com/software.html

I don't have any experience with the free software so I can't say how well it works.

My only experience with OBD 1 software is on my LT1 Impala, I have a program called Freescan which works quite well. It required an OBD 1 cable which is different than an OBD 2 cable. I don't know if there is something similar available for free for a 91 Mustang.

[rcleaver]

Does anyone know of vehicle specific ODBII software that will let you do data logging and test individual sensors? I'd like to be able to individually test each of the four Oxygen sensors on my 02' Honday Odyssey. I'm sure one (or more) are bad as I'm getting horrible gas mileage. Thanks

Did you bother reading the other posts? Several products were described that will do the job.

[bizioto]

Check out this OBD II Scan Tool (http://www.carplugs.com/obd2usb.html) for laptop and desktop computers.

Nice little tool.

[AutoTech]

If you want a good OBD-II set up for a laptop I would look no further than AutoEnginuity! I use it professionally, the enhanced version that is it cost about $1100. You can get the Generic version for about $225 and add the enhanced Gm, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, etc. when you need it! AE has some of the best tech support I've seen in a tool. Here's the website:
http://www.autoenginuity.com/

[Danglerb]

Thanks for links, I surfed a few and found,

http://www.tunerpro.net/

A free software tool that supports even my old Mustang EECIV. I'll post back once I learn more details, but I think I've heard about it with good reviews in an older (mustang) thread.

[bnichols04]

would this be good to buy? has anybody used this one before?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Serial-CAN-BUS-ODB-OBD-2-OBD2-PC-INTERFACE-SCAN-TOOL_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a 2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q 3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZite m230317708760QQitemZ230317708760QQptZMotorsQ5fAuto motiveQ5fTools#ht_3485wt_1479

[User_Name]

would this be good to buy? has anybody used this one before?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Serial-CAN-BUS-ODB-OBD-2-OBD2-PC-INTERFACE-SCAN-TOOL_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a 2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q 3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZite m230317708760QQitemZ230317708760QQptZMotorsQ5fAuto motiveQ5fTools#ht_3485wt_1479

Personally, I wouldn't buy it. There are a lot of choices for software that will work with interfaces based on Elm327 chips. You can buy Elm based cables all over the place or you can build one yourself (sample schematic available in the 327 technical paper). This guy doesn't say what interface chip he uses nor does he give a direct link to the program.

[bnichols04]

ya i know it looked kinda fishy

[Fedwrench]

would this be good to buy? has anybody used this one before?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Serial-CAN-BUS-ODB-OBD-2-OBD2-PC-INTERFACE-SCAN-TOOL_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a 2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q 3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZite m230317708760QQitemZ230317708760QQptZMotorsQ5fAuto motiveQ5fTools#ht_3485wt_1479

I would be extremely wary of buying any electronic automotive diagnostic tool via Ebay directly from China but, that's just me.

[bnichols04]

ya for only $9 maybe too good to be true :lol_hitti

[Jeeper]

Has anyone tried Autotap?

www.autotap.com

[humpty]

Hi all...long time lurker havent found a reason to post until now.

I do use Auto Tap and it does work very well but it is pricey. I have used VAG as well and while I did like it, it was limited to the VW family.
I have the ATS one with the serial port only because the crappy shop laptop didn't do usb very well. In retrospect i should have done the usb one but oh well. I did also get the Ford license as well but I have checked tons of other makes and it hasn't failed me yet.

So in short I would recommend it but I haven't had much chance to try anything else so ymmv.

humpty

[terabyte]

Has anyone tried Autotap?

www.autotap.com

I would also like to know. I have heard pretty good things about them in the past.

[Gearhead559]

well i have a cable coming...what free software is worth trying?


or should i just spend a few bucks and get good software. whos got the best bank for the buck in this area?:headscrat

[Tarheelgarage]

well i have a cable coming...what free software is worth trying?


or should i just spend a few bucks and get good software. whos got the best bank for the buck in this area?:headscrat

autoenginuity.com

[T56 Impala]

Is there any one thing that works on Audi, BMW and US OBDII stuff? I have 2 late model Audi's, a late model BMW and a late model Chevy. (A4, A8l, 745Li, Yukon XL) 2 are 09's, one is an '08 and one an '05. The Audi VAG stuff seems to be stand alone, which sucks......

I have used Autotap and several of the freeware scanners for OBDI. (1995 Impala) All seemed to work just as well as the others. I also used LT1 edit (i think that was the name of it) to modify the PCM in the Impala. I'm not looking to modify anything, I just want to keep my eye on things and correct any issues I might run across.

Any suggestions?

[Gearhead559]

autoenginuity.com
way to much to invest in right off the rip.
Is there any one thing that works on Audi, BMW and US OBDII stuff? I have 2 late model Audi's, a late model BMW and a late model Chevy. (A4, A8l, 745Li, Yukon XL) 2 are 09's, one is an '08 and one an '05. The Audi VAG stuff seems to be stand alone, which sucks......

I have used Autotap and several of the freeware scanners for OBDI. (1995 Impala) All seemed to work just as well as the others. I also used LT1 edit (i think that was the name of it) to modify the PCM in the Impala. I'm not looking to modify anything, I just want to keep my eye on things and correct any issues I might run across.

Any suggestions?
tell me more how the lt1 edit works...i would like to know more..a buddie is looking into doing some major mods on his. and looking for a good way to tune it