C230 Sport Coup

Anyone used Carsoft on their W203?
I'm looking at getting one of the Chinese multiplexers.

Before you ask a million questions, please answer my poll.
I want to know if anyone here has any idea what I'm talking about.

Then you can read this 18 page thread on benzworld, and then you will.

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r170...oft-7-4-a.html

C230 Sport Coup

OK, looks like people here so far don't know what it is.
If you read the thread above, you'll know a lot.
But in a nutshell, it's software and hardware that works with a PC to access
most of the systems that the DAS system does for much less thru the ODB port, and works with cars going back quite a few years.
It also does the normal OBD stuff, but I'm going to buy a scanner just the same to keep in the car and clear the codes, since I just became aware that a CEL can actually put the car in limp mode.

That being said, it's still quite expensive, unless you uh, well,
read the thread... you'll find my comments on page 18, but lots
of screenshots etc. prior to that. Puttin' my order in soon.

C230 Sport Coup

So.... I asked this question a while back...
has anyone gotten carsoft 7.4 multiplexed interface to work with
their W203?

EDIT: Screw it. I finally broke down and bought it.
My ODB scanner died, and I needed a new one.
From what I found, on the C Class it will do the normal ODB functions, read codes and
clear them, + it will read errors and live ESP data.
I've had ESP errors since day one, and the dealer has been clueless, works on it, and a
few thousand miles later, it comes back.

I also ordered a PCMCIA serial port interface.

Hopefully i can get it to work.

Total invested about $150.

Crossing my fingers.

johnand

Missed this thread the 1st time. Curious to see your results.

PA_Pete

Same here, this is something that I am interested in.

polarbexar

Definatly intrested in how this works. I've been wanting something similar to what I had with my VW and VagCOM.

PA_Pete

Hey C230, let us know when this all comes in, I'm really interested in knowing what all you ordered and how your going to hook it up. I wouldn't mind doing the same thing for the cost.

kcheng86

+1

acr2001

Very interested if this can be used to change settings like SDS can (turn lock / unlock sounds on and off, code gauge cluster for COMAND unit, turn off seatbelt chime, etc).

C230 Sport Coup

This
http://www.alpha-bid.com/product55.html
and this serial PCMCIA card
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/SKUSearch_v2.asp?

Just wait, I'll let you know if I can get it working.
According to the site, it only reads ESP stuff in addition to the
regular stuff....I'll see if I can even get it to work.
USB serial adapters do NOT work, FYI, I've read.

It's all shipped, I'll have it by next week.

Glyn M Ruck

i Know what it is - I have no experience of it. It's could be dangerous in the wrong hands. I look forward to your comments

polarbexar

That's Right!!! Iceman- I am dangerous.

C230 Sport Coup

Well, the postman cometh, and bring unto me,
1 serial interface, one Carslut interface from China.

After a few hours of screwing with it, and it not working,
I'm taking a break.

I installed the card, NP, was able to do a loopback test, to be sure the
serial port was good.
Installed the software,
but the CS interface just doesn't seem to do anything.

There's 2 LED's on it, labeled MCU in red, and K in yellow.
Neither light up at all...
and no communication is all the software tells me....

People in the SLK forums have used these hacked interfaces, but maybe I just got a bad one?

Input would appreciated...
more to the point 'output', pun intended.

DarthBudice

I've known of Carsoft for several months but haven't ponied up the cash for a mux yet.
That's a very nice price you found C230 SC...
My BR-3 interface has worked very well for several years but I want MORE LOL.

I could probably breadboard one if I had a schematic and IC / parts list but maybe
I'm just getting lazy... =)

Is the ignition enabled and/or engine running when attempting to connect?
(Sorry - had to ask)

C230 Sport Coup

There are schematics out there...sorry I don't have a link.
I see there is no one selling these on Ebay anymore.
Likely for a good reason.

Now the only question is, can I get my money back? Dang it.
I tried off, 1st position, 2nd position, running...nada....says check the cables.

DarthBudice

Find an ohm meter and verify the electrical continuity of the 2 cables.
It's possible to have a bad serial and/or bad OBDii cable...

Once, the first 2 cat5 cables I pulled out a box of 50 were both bad.
There's a reason I build all my own cables myself...

Good luck.

C230 Sport Coup

Good point...I'll do that.

splinter

Any luck?

C230 Sport Coup

Hmmm....well, I have no idea what the correct pinout of the cable from the interface to the ODB connection is...
the serial connection, I connected with and without the extension cable supplied, so likely thats not it.

I tested the serial cable by shorting pins 2&3 and then typing text into hyperterminal, and it worked, ie a loopback test....
I COULD try setting it up on a desktop....
wish I had an old win98 system...I wonder if that would work?
DOS based windows system are um...not sure how to say it, um...it's like the OS
allows direct control of hardware whereas in NT based systems don't allow direct access to 'ring zero' in the OS, ie hardware control. I'm on XP.

Gave them all to charity not long ago. Dang....

C230 Sport Coup

OK, listen up people. Guess what? The OBD port has it's own damn fuse!
And I blew mine fumbling in the dark trying to connect my original scanner, also purchased from alpha-bid.com

I thought the scanner had died so I purchased the CS 7.4.
Well, SOMEWHERE around here or on benzworld, someone said something about a fuse...and then also someone mentioned the lights should light on the interface if it's getting 12v power from the OBD port.

Well, guess what, the damn fuse # 62 5A was blown!

My old scanner works, AS WELL AS CS 7.4 !!!!!!

If you search CS 7.4 on ebay you can find these interfaces for as little as 110 shipped.
You will need a serial port, and the card I posted the SYBA cardbus to serial port adapter works just great!!!

I didn't run a complete diag yet, as my laptop battery needs to charge a bit, but I WAS able to read the ESP errors codes (now I just need to find what they mean, I think one was 1175?)

I also was able to read AND codes the DB2 ring, well I could've.
I also read the front SAM, and all info stored there...
wow...so cool....

I'm so fuking happy I could just sheet!



PS the Serial card is here
SYBA cardbus to serial port adapter
It's about 25 bucks with shipping, much less than most other PCMCIA serial port adapters.

EDIT: Here's a copy of the report...
now to find out what the ESP codes mean.

Also, if you have a pdf printer it makes things SOOO much easier.
A good free one can be had a http://www.cutepdf.com/


Hmmm....the pdf doesn't match the screen...guess I just need to jot it down....

johnand

Great! Glad to see it is working for you. Since you have been researching this, can you tell me, what is the deal with it only working up until 2004 model year? Is that just one of those things they haven't updated the spec sheets to include the newer models, or is this a software or hardware limitation?

Glyn M Ruck

Good News - OBDII Plug pins if you ever need them.

valexv

2005 and up uses MOST, different animal so that could be it.

acr2001

Someone really needs to explain this to me because MOST is the type of communication the optical loop for the radio is using. This should have NOTHING to do with these ODB devices which use the CAN bus (other than the inability to diagnose audio items on the MOST bus VS the older D2B bus). I don't understand why this piece of misinformation keeps getting posted - unless I'm missing something here. Glyn? Anyone?

Glyn M Ruck

acr - Your understanding is the same as mine. For a vehicle to be OBDII/CAN-BUS compliant means just that. Vehicles using the OBDII plug should all comply with this. The MOST Comm loop should not effect this in any way but maybe I'm missing something???? It is possible for an older vehicle to be OBDII but not CAN compliant but that is not what we are talking about?