My new OBD-2 logging toy
07-17-2004, 01:12 AM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2006 Corvette Coupe
My new OBD-2 logging toy
A few days ago I decided to order two OBD-2 data logging tools. One of them is for my PDA which includes data analysis software on the PDA plus a bluetooth (i.e., wireless) interface to the OBD-2 port. For this tool I eventually want to do real time analysis of engine parameters to see how things run. Originally, this was the only OBD-2 tool I was going to purchase, but along the way I also read about another tool more directed at less serious and offline data analysis.
I'll report on the PDA based tool in 1-2 weeks, as that tool apparently arrived DoA. After consulting with tech support, we've concluded that I have to arrange for a hardware swap.
The second tool works as promised however.
The second tool is called Carchip E/X, and its a tiny little plug which plugs into the OBD-2 port. It doens't support the CAN protocol, so it won't work on 2004 Mercedes, but it seems to work just fine on pre-CAN cars, like my 2002 C32. Carchip logs a set of OBD-2 parameters every 5 seconds and stores it in an internal 512K memory. It includes a cable and software for the PC to permit you to pull the plug and download collected data for analysis on the PC. With a sampling rate of 1 set of samples every 5 seconds its not designed for serious tuning, as there would be alot of data you can miss, but it seems decent for long term data collection and ocassional analysis just to see whether your car's engine parameters have changed.
The downloaded data can be displayed by the software as tables or graphs.
Here's a sample run I did and a few graphs generated from the gathered data:
The CarChip always records speed data every 5 seconds. (You can also configure deceleration thresholds and if you exceed a threshold and then stop the car, in case that stop was an accident it logs speed for each second for the last 20 seconds before the stop.)
You can choose 4 other OBD-2 parameters to log. Here I choose engine rpm as one of them.
This is IAT.
And this is timing advance.
What do these numbers really mean? I have no clue, perhaps one day I'll know more about how everything works, but at least I can gather data and make graphs, lol.
Here's a sample of data with different parameters from a different run (truncated after a few samples as you can get the idea):
View / Trip Log / Trip 5 / Table
Elapsed Time Speed Engine Speed Intake Air Temperature Intake Manifold Pressure
(MPH) (RPM) (°F) (psi)
1 0:00:00 0 596 147.2 8.8
2 0:00:04 1 584 145.4 8.6
3 0:00:09 1 573 145.4 8.4
4 0:00:14 1 560 143.6 9.3
5 0:00:19 0 603 141.8 8.7
6 0:00:24 4 1,296 140.0 5.1
7 0:00:29 6 1,012 140.0 10.2
8 0:00:34 13 1,590 136.4 4.4
9 0:00:39 15 646 138.2 6.8
10 0:00:44 3 543 138.2 8.0
I'll report on the PDA based tool in 1-2 weeks, as that tool apparently arrived DoA. After consulting with tech support, we've concluded that I have to arrange for a hardware swap.
The second tool works as promised however.
The second tool is called Carchip E/X, and its a tiny little plug which plugs into the OBD-2 port. It doens't support the CAN protocol, so it won't work on 2004 Mercedes, but it seems to work just fine on pre-CAN cars, like my 2002 C32. Carchip logs a set of OBD-2 parameters every 5 seconds and stores it in an internal 512K memory. It includes a cable and software for the PC to permit you to pull the plug and download collected data for analysis on the PC. With a sampling rate of 1 set of samples every 5 seconds its not designed for serious tuning, as there would be alot of data you can miss, but it seems decent for long term data collection and ocassional analysis just to see whether your car's engine parameters have changed.
The downloaded data can be displayed by the software as tables or graphs.
Here's a sample run I did and a few graphs generated from the gathered data:
The CarChip always records speed data every 5 seconds. (You can also configure deceleration thresholds and if you exceed a threshold and then stop the car, in case that stop was an accident it logs speed for each second for the last 20 seconds before the stop.)
You can choose 4 other OBD-2 parameters to log. Here I choose engine rpm as one of them.
This is IAT.
And this is timing advance.
What do these numbers really mean? I have no clue, perhaps one day I'll know more about how everything works, but at least I can gather data and make graphs, lol.
Here's a sample of data with different parameters from a different run (truncated after a few samples as you can get the idea):
View / Trip Log / Trip 5 / Table
Elapsed Time Speed Engine Speed Intake Air Temperature Intake Manifold Pressure
(MPH) (RPM) (°F) (psi)
1 0:00:00 0 596 147.2 8.8
2 0:00:04 1 584 145.4 8.6
3 0:00:09 1 573 145.4 8.4
4 0:00:14 1 560 143.6 9.3
5 0:00:19 0 603 141.8 8.7
6 0:00:24 4 1,296 140.0 5.1
7 0:00:29 6 1,012 140.0 10.2
8 0:00:34 13 1,590 136.4 4.4
9 0:00:39 15 646 138.2 6.8
10 0:00:44 3 543 138.2 8.0
Last edited by cschow; 07-17-2004 at 01:15 AM.
07-17-2004, 02:17 AM
#2
Super Moderator
What PDA ODB2 system did you get ? I ask becuase I am using the Nology oriduct, It did not work with my 2003 CL55 at first, however after some trouble shooting I was given a beta verson of the software that made it work.
07-17-2004, 11:17 AM
#3
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2006 Corvette Coupe
For the PDA version I'm using Auto Enginuity's ScanTool for Windows CE ( http://www.autoenginuity.com/products.html ), running on my HP Ipaq 4350. I ordered it with the optional CAN protocol module and the AirCable blue tooth cable replacement. It should be pretty cool once its up and running.
