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Reply With QuoteCheck Maestro's thread on HVAC before working on this too much!
Depending on the vehicle the system can operate in several ways.Originally Posted by canadapettit
-The most common is vacuum-assisted moduation where the knobs are vacuum chambers and merely direct a vacuum charge from area to area to determine which way the air travels.
-Electronic systems use a variety of switch and control the flapper doors by small servo/motors.
-The least common way which I dont even know if it is in practice is operational over the I-bus and uses the automatic climate control systems and makes adjustments through the ECU. This would work and is theoretically a great way to further integrate older systems into a new and more elegant system but I dont know of any examples utilizing it.
Now as far as controlling a system via carPC, its possible but it would require being completely custom to each application and would need some little bits and pieces and some coding. I am currently working on the idea with vacuum solenoids and electronic modulation via a serial port. I unfortunately dont have a car fitting to install the system in but as soon as I allocate a 300zx I plan to begin work.
~Kris
[1995 Nissan 240sx]
Planning.........[::::::::::] 90%
Parts.............[::::::::::] 60%
Construction...[::::::::::] 10%
Software........[::::::::::] 50%
[1994 Mazda RX-7]
Check Maestro's thread on HVAC before working on this too much!
Want to:
-Find out about the new iBug iPad install?
-Find out about carPC's in just 5 minutes? View the Car PC 101 video
That is quite impressive, although it saddens me to think I wasnt innovative or original in my thought process for the idea. lol
Although I see some flaws in his system. Particularly that of cars already equiped with an automatic climate control system. The other flaw is working with a vacuum-based flapper control car... although it seems his design requires removal of the dash to replace the vacuum/electrical doors with R/C servos. My plan is to use all the OEM equipement, only modifying the electrical front-end and interfacing it with a VB visual 'dash' on the PC.
~Kris
[1995 Nissan 240sx]
Planning.........[::::::::::] 90%
Parts.............[::::::::::] 60%
Construction...[::::::::::] 10%
Software........[::::::::::] 50%
[1994 Mazda RX-7]
Not trying to steer this off OBDII, but I thought some of the new cars were sending that stuff over the CAN-Bus?
As an aside, my car (a 2002) uses a proprietary signaling system that's more or less I2C (called SWS) for everything (lights,switches,buttons) except HVAC.
From my limited understanding CAN-Bus is a manner of data transmission but OBDII is still the functioning source of emissions and troubleshooting data. The dataport is shared for the CAN-Bus IIRC. GM uses a special serial databus that their radio, HVAC, switch control, guages, etc go through which is great because it seemlessly integrates all the systems together. What is REALLY cool about them all being on a single system is that each item has their own controller so that you can say, plug in Pontiac Grand Prix guages into a Pontiac Grand Am and they will function normally. My friend had two sets of Grand Am guages running at one time in his car by running power and a connection to the OBDII connector for data. I wish my car had a similar system.
I have found my car is OBDI (transmission to OBDII was done midyear in the 240sx)... I'm actually happy though because my plans for turbocharging are now made easier being OBDI. Nissan's CONSULT system was boardering on being OBDII compliant to begin with so I still have many of the data benifits without the drawbacks.
~Kris
[1995 Nissan 240sx]
Planning.........[::::::::::] 90%
Parts.............[::::::::::] 60%
Construction...[::::::::::] 10%
Software........[::::::::::] 50%
[1994 Mazda RX-7]
I just finished building my own OBDII port interface from a kit purchased at http://obddiagnostics.com/ for $55. I also had to purchase about $15 worth of electronics and spend an hour or so soldering it together. Much to my amazment... it works! They also provide free downloadable software that can read and reset engine error codes, do high-speed data logging (3 or 4 samples per second), a cool-looking gage display and several other features.
My CarPC is still in the assembly state (on my work bench) so I used a 15' network wire as the serial cable. I was going to shorten it when the PC gets installed... but it's so cool, I think I leave it long enough to reach other cars... you never know when a friend might need an engine code reset!
Just wondering, can the OBD software be running as well as the stereo stuff? I have a dual head video card and was wondering if the main monitor could continue with all the entertainment stuff and I could add a smaller monitor somewhere and have it only display engine data. Like having a digital water temperature gauge, digital oil pressure, a more precise voltmeter etc... I THINK it would work. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
1999 Black Pontiac Trans Am
CarPC's in F-bodies
How To Relocate Climate Controls on the 97-02 F-body Cars
(AMD Sempron 3000+, Opus 150)
Car PC system is out, Alpine system is in.
I've used dual monitors a lot and the only featur I've ever had problems with was showing video (including visualzation in Media Player) in the NON-primary display. So if you run your stereo stuff in the display marked "Primary" you should have no problem showing OBDII stuff in the other.
So Ive noticed alot of these readers are for 1996-2002, is there something that changed for 2003? I have a 2003 and I would like to get one of these Would it work? The site doesnt say. Ive googled for an answer, but to no avail. Is that what the CAN is that it wont support?
Hey Grimoire,
I'm pretty darn sure it would work for an '03. The OBDII protocol for Ford's OBDII port is PWN, and I can't imagine them changing it in 03'
I ordered the $55 version and had to spend about $25 to purchase additional electronic parts to solder onto the board and a project box to put it in. Also, I'm a little upset the OBDII connector did not come with the hood to cover the the wires. If I were to do it again, I'd just but the assembled product for $96
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