Just got a laptop computer and I want to load up OBD-II software on it for tuning and modifying. Whats the best for our cars? If possible I would like to do this as cheap as possible (make my own cable and find free downloadable software). Thanks!

I got the cheapest one I could find at http://www.obd-2.com/ $122 and it works great.


95 Eclipse RS : 5 speed
15.7 @ 87.9mph
Jeep TB writeup - http://www.dimensia.com:81/jimbo/JeepTBfor2gnt.html

What exactly can you do with this one besides clear/read codes??

Just wondering if anyone has used any of the OBDII scanners on ebay? I was thinking about getting one cause all the Autozones around here dont provide there CEL service.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2455030767&category=43989

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2454539721&category=43989

I tried helping a guy last week with a similar question. I don't know of any free software avail over the net, but I work at Snap On and they do (just like alot of other comp.) make scanners for our cars. They have a top end scanner with troubleshooting for $2000 and up or they just put out a low end, scan, read, and clear only scanner for about $700. I have seen the low end models in Autozone and stuff. I'll just say you get what you pay for. If its a short term investment, buy one, if you plan on scanning cars for the next 10 years step up and spend the money.

I am not looking for a scanner. I am looking for just software and a cable. Thanks

http://www.obd-2.com/

is the best for the money and works great!!! i have it.

Once you get your cable, use http://roadraceengineering.com/obd/obdtool.zip as your software. It's public domain and unsupported, but free.

Originally posted by thedawg
Once you get your cable, use http://roadraceengineering.com/obd/obdtool.zip as your software. It's public domain and unsupported, but free.

Where can you get a cable from? And will it work with a PDA? I just bought a $35 cable and a PDA (running free software) to act as a datalogger on my Laser. Is there anything similar to this for our cars? Like can I just buy an OBDII cable and use a freeware software version that runs on a PDA? (if there is a PDA that exists).

Ok, resurrectiong this one. I got the obdII software from the roadrace.com download thing (free) and I just bought the $16 cable from digimoto to connect to my laptop. Do I need any type of adapter or intermediary or anything to connect between the cable and the laptop? I just dont want to fry anything. The stuff they offer on digimoto.com is something like "elmsource" or something, I dont know, do I need that? Thanks

Zaskar be careful telling anybody about the snap on mt 2500. (i have one) This is a top line scanner for 2000.00 but that is for domestic and generic obd2 only. the foreign update is another 3000.00. This is the shit and so expensive because it has the Troubleshooter cartridge which amost tells you how to test each component and resolve the code. Basically its almost a mechanic in the box. This is the top of the line in the industry....matco, otc...nobody make a scanner so robust. Not even the genesys has all the info preloaded on it. hence all the cheaper prices. You can get it cheaper on ebay if you know what you are looking at. Pushin420a had one for sale at an awesome price.

now for Laptop systems the cheapest i have found is www.digimoto.com it has all the features the obd-2 has and the web site ha automated presentations to show you how it works....all for 109.00

Terry
96 Eagle talon ESI
Star Stage II - Boost/oil/EGT gauges

97 Eclipse
Greddy header/evo exhaust - SFMU/return line - Stage 2 6 puck Sprung hub MIBA clutch - Shortened shifter - Koni Yellows w/eibach prokit - Stillen Fr/Rr swaybars - ceramic intake - DEI Keyless entry alarm - Niche 17" Shoks

Waiting to be installed: Apexi AFC, HKS EVC IV, 450 Turbo injectors, GSX Front brakes (need rotors)

Originally posted by Keith2172
Ok, resurrectiong this one. I got the obdII software from the roadrace.com download thing (free) and I just bought the $16 cable from digimoto to connect to my laptop. Do I need any type of adapter or intermediary or anything to connect between the cable and the laptop? I just dont want to fry anything. The stuff they offer on digimoto.com is something like "elmsource" or something, I dont know, do I need that? Thanks

Yes, I'm 98% sure you need some sort of adapter to act as an intermediary between the laptop and the car...you should have seen them on digimoto's website when you bought the cable. It looks like a little black box with two connectors on it...


Thats all I can remember from when I read up on it..


good luck,

- Marc

P.S.

Make sure you get the right one!

with my dads Snap-On mt2500 I need a Mitsu 16 pin conncector and a little extra card (K7) Also you'd need the chrysler troubleshooting module.

i think ill be purchasing the OBD-2.com setup. this weekend i installed an inverter in the car and have the laptop so im ready to go there. what other free/cheap software programs can we get that helps? i know RRE, but i remember someone on here a few weeks back sellin his laptop setup running like 3-4 diff programs.

and to my knowledge, the obd-2.com software is the only avail program/cable that will run on a laptop. the rest of them are for the palm pilots. i dont think datalogger offers a laptop version...just a software to get the data off your palm and into a lap or desktop

Originally posted by 96eclipse2nr
i think ill be purchasing the OBD-2.com setup. this weekend i installed an inverter in the car and have the laptop so im ready to go there. what other free/cheap software programs can we get that helps? i know RRE, but i remember someone on here a few weeks back sellin his laptop setup running like 3-4 diff programs. and to my knowledge, the obd-2.com software is the only avail program/cable that will run on a laptop. the rest of them are for the palm pilots. i dont think datalogger offers a laptop version...just a software to get the data off your palm and into a lap or desktop

That was me. I was running obdtool, obd-2.com, Tunerstein, Elmscan, MSD DIS2, and 034efi software.

If you don't pay at least $50, you're not buying the right cable. There is electronic circuitry in every cable that is necessary to interface with the car. Obd-2.com's cable just happens to be very compatible and easy to use, just slower data rate than most other cables.