ODB-II for older vehicles

[antidamage]

Are there any off-the-shelf ODB-II setups to add metrics to older vehicles that don't have ODB-II normally? I ask this question every few years and I'm getting scarily close to having to make one myself.

 

[OregonLC]

Trying to do the math on the effort / reward equation for that and can't see the benefits. The number of sensors you'd need to mount, wire, and somehow cajole into playing nice with a computer that has no available control path is beyond my tiny brain!

 

[george_tlc]

Sounds like you're looking for a problem to build a solution for. The reason new vehicles have obd2 is because of all the engine management s*** that goes on - it already has all the sensors in place due to the need to provide the inputs for the fuel management control system. It's such a complex system that there needs to be a way to report a failure of a sensor since it drastically impacts the control loop.

Older vehicle already has all the info you need, water temp, oil pressure, battery voltage and fuel gauge. Then check the obvious like tyre pressure, fluid levels, filters etc the old fashion way with your eyeballs.

I can see the day that I feel the need to add obd2 to my old diesel patrol right up there with the 2nd coming....

Oh, and I'm an EE, so predisposed to adding electronic crap to everything, but I'm also a pragmatist when it comes to a 4wd in the bush.

cheers,
george.

 

[Elbert]

There are aftermarket fuel injection systems that can adapt to older vehicles/engines.... but trying to adapt a factory OEM engine management system to an old engine would not have any positive benefits relative to cost and actual performance/feedback. If you want something like that....transplant a new engine from whatever you are trying to execute and buy a stand alone wiring harness (engine management). This brings new engine and new fuel management to old vehicle. Of course you have to understand if there is a stand alone wiring harness available etc, or potentially modify the donor harness. Read some of the engine swap threads. Not a pain free process.

 

[langsen]

I don't know of any off the shelf setup that does this. I assume you want it just for gauges and data logging? There is some discussion of it here but no recent activity:

http://www.gps-laptimer-forum.de/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=1714

I made one a couple years ago for the HJ60 but I don't see how it could be a successful commercial product since (a) as indicated by the responses above, there is very little interest; and (b) the software to read the gauge senders needs to be customized for each combination of gauge senders, so every unit sold would need to have custom software. That said, it's pretty cool to be able to log the data and then go back and look at it all overlaid on the map.

Here's a quick video of mine, you'll probably need to view it in full screen HD to see the display:

 

[gahi]

I don't know of any off the shelf setup that does this. I assume you want it just for gauges and data logging? There is some discussion of it here but no recent activity:

http://www.gps-laptimer-forum.de/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=1714

I made one a couple years ago for the HJ60 but I don't see how it could be a successful commercial product since (a) as indicated by the responses above, there is very little interest; and (b) the software to read the gauge senders needs to be customized for each combination of gauge senders, so every unit sold would need to have custom software. That said, it's pretty cool to be able to log the data and then go back and look at it all overlaid on the map.

I'd like to know more about your setup. I've been thinking of this also.

I've installed a few racepaks, and they work well, but need to use their display. Which costs way more then a tablet, or phone you already have.