Howdy All,

I was directed by someone to post here you might be interested in something I've been working on which is a little interface to the ECU in my 1994 TS. AFAIK, most pre-1995 mitsubishi cars have this kind of diagnostic link. Of course after that they are all ODB2 (but even 'ODB2' isn't exactly standard .. you still have MUT, CANbus, etc .. its much more sane with cars made in the last 10 years or so most of them are a fairly standard canbus)

I have a youtube video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8df5mVIZQFA&feature=email

Essentially right now, it's a little micro-controller (AVR ATmega8535) and 20x4 character LCD and prints the HEX value from the RPM reading.

Obviously that's not fantastically useful right now, but I am working now on writing some better software for more interesting readouts. I'm also in the process of converting to a 128x64 graphical LCD and will obviously get it off the breadboard and into a more useable form at some point. :) Sensor readouts, with graphs, and alarm values are my plan .. and as a more "practical" / useful project I plan to get it to log fuel milage (based on injector duty cycle) to tell me to stop being a lead foot. :)


My mate who has a Nissan Skyline (GTR R32) is also doing something similar, hoping to make the software modular so you can drop in a different set of communications routines - obviously anyone with a post-1996 Magna with ODB2 wouldn't be able to use this but you can make a different kind of hook-up to speak to that, perhaps if I get access to such a car I'll work on that at some point :) In the case of the GTR, it has a similar serial port hook-up.

Creds to MMCDlogger = http://mmcdlogger.sourceforge.net/ - that project documented a bunch of the information you need to get this going - it was *very* difficult to find exact information on ECU/diagnostic in the 1994 TS - turns out it is very similar to the Diamond-Star Motor (DSM) cars . but spent many hours and hours of googling to figure that one out. :)

Any questions/info/tips appreciated! Flames welcome but no promise of caring. :)

Thanks
- Trent

Sounds like a good little project, i would be interested in a petrol usage guage in my car eventually.

First of all, welcome to the Aussie Magna Club. :) Your project opens up a world of new possibilities for those of us with pre-1996 Mitsubishi Magna's and Verada's, and quite a few of the users have been following it with great interest (even though most of us probably have no experience with electronics and integrated circuits). Prior to this I wasn't even sure data could be retrieved from that port in any significant form (apart from use of a 12v test light), so I guess we learn something new every day.

The only question i'm curious about has to be the compatibility between the Astron II (4-cylinder) and 6G72 (6-cylinder) ECU's. As far as I know both are relatively similar and the interface is exactly the same, so I would assume the hex values output by the unit would be the same as well. I suppose that will be seen later on, although I wouldn't expect any major differences.

Be interested to know how it's made (once it's ready), would like to give this a shot on the V6 engine and see how it goes.

Cheers
- Michael (Cruiser)

haha how weird, I posted your youtube link up then next thing you are a member. welcome!

Welcome to AMC!!! I am just gob-smacked at how clever some folks are. (meaning OP, in this instance).

Will be following your progress with this gizmo with much interest. Well done, mate.

haha how weird, I posted your youtube link up then next thing you are a member. welcome!

Where did you post the youtube video?

EDIT: Nevermind - found it in the youtube thread. :)

First of all, welcome to the Aussie Magna Club. :) Your project opens up a world of new possibilities for those of us with pre-1996 Mitsubishi Magna's and Verada's, and quite a few of the users have been following it with great interest (even though most of us probably have no experience with electronics and integrated circuits). Prior to this I wasn't even sure data could be retrieved from that port in any significant form (apart from use of a 12v test light), so I guess we learn something new every day.

The only question i'm curious about has to be the compatibility between the Astron II (4-cylinder) and 6G72 (6-cylinder) ECU's. As far as I know both are relatively similar and the interface is exactly the same, so I would assume the hex values output by the unit would be the same as well. I suppose that will be seen later on, although I wouldn't expect any major differences.

Be interested to know how it's made (once it's ready), would like to give this a shot on the V6 engine and see how it goes.

Cheers
- Michael (Cruiser)

Thanks mate - I'm 99.99% sure its the same between the Astron and the 6G72. Unfortunately mine is an Astron .. hehe. The same pinout and software will also work on a bunch of other Mitsubishi cars such as the Galant VR4, the Eclipse, etc. There is between models a few changes sometimes the values read differently - or don't exist.

For example my TS doesn't have a rear O2 sensor (only forward O2) - but some cars do etc - but 99% of it should work fine.

I'll work in the next couple weeks on developing it up to something a bit nicer to look at than the current video. :)

Thanks mate - I'm 99.99% sure its the same between the Astron and the 6G72. Unfortunately mine is an Astron .. hehe. The same pinout and software will also work on a bunch of other Mitsubishi cars such as the Galant VR4, the Eclipse, etc. There is between models a few changes sometimes the values read differently - or don't exist.

For example my TS doesn't have a rear O2 sensor (only forward O2) - but some cars do etc - but 99% of it should work fine.

I'll work in the next couple weeks on developing it up to something a bit nicer to look at than the current video. :)

Someone just reminded me in the other thread .. if you have ABS plugging this in will actually disable the ABS (it throws the ABS computer into diagnostic mode too)

You can hack around it but it requires cutting a cable link .. if anyones getting into doing it let me know we can chat about it.

(My car doesn't have ABS so it's a non-problem for me .. you can tell if its a problem for you because the ABS warning light will light up on the dash if its disabled)

To test all I would have to do it put in a little jumper between earth and the diag pin yeah?

Might give this a shot later on.

Welcome

love the ideal....seen the vid.

as most 2nd gens run rich or lean how about an o2 interface? or does that work with your unit?

Sounds like your onto a good thing just hope you can get a good price back for you effort.

As its in diag mode if you make it spit out std factory fault codes i'll have one if its at the right price.

all the best and go for it!

Welcome

love the ideal....seen the vid.

as most 2nd gens run rich or lean how about an o2 interface? or does that work with your unit?


Yes .. you can read out the O2 sensor value .. and also the low/medium and high fuel trim values - so if they are maxing out you know something needs sorting out.


Sounds like your onto a good thing just hope you can get a good price back for you effort.

Well it's mostly for my own playing around I plan to post up some stuff about it .. not really planning on a profit or anything.



As its in diag mode if you make it spit out std factory fault codes i'll have one if its at the right price.

all the best and go for it!

Yeh actually the fault codes are easy .. I could build a little device to do that - that might make sense and something people are interested in buying I guess! A little 20x2 LCD screen + the stuff plug it in .. read fault codes .. button to reset them.

It's actually quite easy to do both (read and reset)

Being able to read fault codes and especially reset would be handy for most people. Depending on cost i'll have one.

Also being able to get live feed from o2 sensor out of diagnostic mode would be fantastic to nut out service issues.
maybe an air fuel read out..but might be a bit time consuming with the program?

Would be good if it could mount in the single spare din. That would be a nice touch.

I realize from your vid you are using a type of test make up board thing?

Once transferred to a proper board i assume it would be fairly small or would it be too dear? its been awhile since that A+ in electronics year7 lol.....

Maybe an on/off switch next to the panel when finished with data plugin cable at front of unit?

Not telling you how to do it..just a thought as im killing time.

Taking it off the bread board and putting it onto a PCB would be a pretty big step. Talking of mounting it into a DIN slot is pretty far out there to.

Yer thought so!

Any way let me know how you go!

Taking it off the bread board and putting it onto a PCB would be a pretty big step. Talking of mounting it into a DIN slot is pretty far out there to.

not so big if you are handy at Eagle, and if you have already designed the circuit in that. you can transfer the parts over to a pcb design, then send the files to a batch pcb shop, who make and send them out.

Yeh I'm still trying to figure my way around eagle .. it's not so daunting a task (I know) but trying to get to know how to use eagle .. it's a bit fiddly. :P

have you drawn up a circuit diagram? i might be able to have a go!

Thx for the offer - but not yet .. I have some new bits coming - moving to an Arduino Mega because I need more serial ports and the 1280 only comes in SMD version so Arduino makes it easy to do all that and will make it easier for other to duplicate my work.

And I have a GM862 GPRS+GSM module coming .. wee.. then I will need to build some boards similar to this => http://www.nkcelectronics.com/arduino-megashield-pcb.html but with my custom bits on it .. if I need a hand then I'll let you know!

good too see its coming along

all the best and good luck, sorry i cant help as your above my knowledge with this.

May the board be with you! lol

I have posted a stack of updates/extra information to my geekmyride.org page if you are interested - includes lots of photos:

http://www.geekmyride.org/wiki/index.php/Trent%27s_Magna

EDIT: Unfortunately the engine diagnostics stuff in particular is not yet overly progressed .. working on improving that at the moment need to do a little testing .. I should probably turn this into a Member's machines thread. :)

Sounds good man, keep up the good work, could turn out to be a good little money maker for ya even tho that wasnt the intention!!

I want to find out what that unused pin is for, it's annoying.

Yeh I agree I might look into that .. I know if you have an ABS model there's some extra funkyness there may be for the ABS computer [for example when you short the two ground pins to turn diagnostic mode on .. it turns ABS into diagnostic mode as well and actually it's offline and won't kick in .. so you can't leave it permanently connected without hacking off the ABS disable .. at least not if you care about your ABS working, which you should..]

(mine doens't have ABS) .. perhaps SRS too.