OBD-II cables/software

Sh0cker · 08-18-2003, 08:47 PM

Probably many of you have this up and running, but once again I'll ask you for help abut it. I'm the owner of VW Golf '95 which has that connection (as long as I know its ISO 9141-2).

Where would you recommend me to buy the converter/adapter wich connects to the computer (usb, serial, parallel, etc), OR any schematics to build one.
Also which software you recommend, I'm new in this and i dont know if the software supports all the vehicles or just a specific ones. I rather use a free one but you can post other also (there is more things online for free than you think).

cproaudio · 08-18-2003, 11:40 PM

look at the manufacture date. If its before 01/96, not likely its an OBD-II. OBD-II is not manditory til 01/96. Before that date, Auto makers are not required to equip their cars with OBD-II.

Sh0cker · 08-19-2003, 02:48 AM

I dont know what to say but I saw it in my car

Its right in my dashboard hidden behing little plastic cover.

_maelstrom · 08-19-2003, 04:05 AM

Just because the vehicle's a 95 doesn't mean it can't have OBDII. It wasn't made mandatory til 96 but it was available on cars before that.

In this case, however, cproaudio is right. The 95 VW Golf has the J1962 16 pin diagnostic link connector, which is used for OBDII, but it doesn't support OBDII. I guess the best way to tell for sure is the car has to have the J1962 DLC and an under-hood OBDII sticker.

SOBIL · 08-19-2003, 09:48 AM

not that i should be telling you,

You can either buy a Seimens VAS5051 (one beast of a macheine)
or a VAG-COM with VAG-COM windows based software
VAG-COM sells its "dongles"/adapters for a fair bit
- however you can make one yourself (search DIY VAG-COM)

You can build one your self for cheaper, and the software is free. works on most efi VW's/AUDI/SKODA/SEAT, not some early transporters. highly recomended.

you know the most expensive part of the DIY is the dame OBD style plug.
they cost a packet.The cheapest i've seen is $35au.

it is also possible to splice the wire behind the dash as on a golf 3 there is only a "K" wire which requires little electronic protection, apposed to the newer CAM bus which cannot easily be spliced. This will make your mounting easier I would think as you could mount all your wiring behind the dash. (watch out for your heater control matrix as they fequently break when removed)

=]

chut · 08-20-2003, 07:51 AM

This something I will do eventually also.
I found this on the site www.obdII.com. It is a direct quote from their webpage. I think this will tell you which pins you need to wire up to your serial plug in order to use the home made plug. "ISO 9141-2--The connector should have metallic contacts in pins 4, 5, 7, 15, and 16." I believe this means these are the only pins that are actually needed to be connected to your serial port in order for the software to work. I don't know for sure, because I haven't tried it. If anyone here has, I would appreciate it if you could let me know.

chut · 08-20-2003, 07:56 AM

Hi!

can you tell me where I would find the plug end and pins so that I could build one myself? I already have a long serial cable.

Thanks

Quote: Originally Posted by SOBIL

not that i should be telling you,

You can either buy a Seimens VAS5051 (one beast of a macheine)
or a VAG-COM with VAG-COM windows based software
VAG-COM sells its "dongles"/adapters for a fair bit
- however you can make one yourself (search DIY VAG-COM)

You can build one your self for cheaper, and the software is free. works on most efi VW's/AUDI/SKODA/SEAT, not some early transporters. highly recomended.

you know the most expensive part of the DIY is the dame OBD style plug.
they cost a packet.The cheapest i've seen is $35au.

it is also possible to splice the wire behind the dash as on a golf 3 there is only a "K" wire which requires little electronic protection, apposed to the newer CAM bus which cannot easily be spliced. This will make your mounting easier I would think as you could mount all your wiring behind the dash. (watch out for your heater control matrix as they fequently break when removed)

=]

jcdillin · 08-20-2003, 08:15 AM

Just go to http://www.obddiagnostics.com they have the software for free and they sell partial or complete kits.

Quote: Originally Posted by chut

Hi!

can you tell me where I would find the plug end and pins so that I could build one myself? I already have a long serial cable.

Thanks

SolacE · 08-20-2003, 05:56 PM

you can also check out www.autotap.com

Its $200.00 for the hardware and software package. The interface is the nicest that I have seen. But for the price it should be.