newbie seeking help on integrating OBD-II with carputer

**Brycestro** · 02-11-2007, 04:44 AM

Ok, i'm new to the carputer scene but have plans on doing a full setup starting in the next few weeks when i have some time off work.

I've read the sticky thread here and now have a general idea about OBD-II and that it is a standard which allows data to be recorded/monitored/extracted from a vehicle. My question here is, what sort of options are there as far as interfacing this information to a Car PC?

I'm fairly computer literate and am through my first year of a Bachelor Of Information Technology. Are there devices/adapters out there made for the purpose which allow you to extract the information and present it on a VDU (aka monitor)? How customizable is it? How would you go about accessing such information if you were to incorporate it into a custom developed program? (I have some programming experience).

My Vehicle is a 1997 Holden VS Commodore (Australian Car) so i'm fairly sure it would have OBD-II after reading the sticky saying all vehicles after 1996. It definitely has fault diagnostics and i've already used some primitive methods to examine fault codes through that (which involved bridging a few pins with a paper clip and watching flashes on the instrument cluster).

Basically, i want to be able to extract data like speed, temperatures, rpms etc and display it on a monitor... Any help is much appreciated as i'm very new to this. Cheers, Bryce.

**michbound** · 02-11-2007, 06:09 AM

Originally Posted by Brycestro

My Vehicle is a 1997 Holden VS Commodore (Australian Car) so i'm fairly sure it would have OBD-II after reading the sticky saying all vehicles after 1996. It definitely has fault diagnostics and i've already used some primitive methods to examine fault codes through that (which involved bridging a few pins with a paper clip and watching flashes on the instrument cluster).

Basically, i want to be able to extract data like speed, temperatures, rpms etc and display it on a monitor... Any help is much appreciated as i'm very new to this. Cheers, Bryce.

The 1996 timeline is for US based cars only, I think Australia did not mandate OBD II until almost 2003, so most likely your Holden is not OBD II but ALDL. I think someone here posted a link to an ALDL software that needs just a cable to run.

Check this thread

OBD GM ALDL software

and this site

http://www.techedge.com.au/vehicle/aldl8192/8192hw.htm

Paul
www.obdpros.com

**Brycestro** · 02-11-2007, 07:25 AM

Ok, looks like i've got a little reading to do. I've had a brief look at the second linke and found this line of text on it:

"Later Australian Commodore models (VR, VS, etc.) use a 16 pin OBD-II style connector, but the pinouts are unique to Australia. This connector is located under the steering wheel. "

I'm assuming this means that the VR and VS use OBD-II (and not just an OBD-II style connector with an older protocol - is that even possible?). I own a VS, so it's looking like I may have OBD-II.... Lets hope so, cheers and thanks for all the info, if i get stuck after some reading i'm sure to have more to say, Bryce

**michbound** · 02-11-2007, 08:11 AM

Originally Posted by Brycestro

I'm assuming this means that the VR and VS use OBD-II (and not just an OBD-II style connector with an older protocol - is that even possible?). I own a VS, so it's looking like I may have OBD-II.... Lets hope so, cheers and thanks for all the info, if i get stuck after some reading i'm sure to have more to say, Bryce

Nope, it means exactly what it says, it's an OBD II style connector but the protocol is not OBD II

**Brycestro** · 02-11-2007, 05:11 PM

Originally Posted by michbound

Nope, it means exactly what it says, it's an OBD II style connector but the protocol is not OBD II

Ah damn. Oh well, looks like some more reading and research for me.

**Bradisbest** · 02-14-2007, 05:40 PM

I have a newer car that is equipped with ODB-II. Is there any front-end software that can display some of the data?

I have been looking at the posts on this forum and all the software seems to be stand-alone. I would like to take one of the software front ends and have an additional screen that will display some data from the ODB-II interface.

Thanks.

**michbound** · 02-14-2007, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by Bradisbest

I have a newer car that is equipped with ODB-II. Is there any front-end software that can display some of the data?

I have been looking at the posts on this forum and all the software seems to be stand-alone. I would like to take one of the software front ends and have an additional screen that will display some data from the ODB-II interface.

Thanks.

Checkout centrafuse www.fluxmedia.net, that software has an OBD II plugin and it works great with the OBDPro interface www.obdpros.com

Paul
www.obdpros.com

**digimotojoel** · 02-14-2007, 07:05 PM

StreetDeck as well.

**HDTechnology** · 02-20-2007, 08:12 AM

OBD-II is in VX Commodores and up. Thats right VT's didn't have it. Your VS would have standard OBD-I. Similar plug but different codes.

Apparntly OBD-I is heaps easier to read codes off but i'm not sure because ive never done it.

Sorry to be the one to give you the bad news buddy, but their should still be a way to intergrate OBD-I into a PC