For the Noobs

[dk]

G'day all.

For a noob regarding all things ECU, monitoring, logging, fault codes, what's the best way to start?

1) Connector for the car's OBDII, which I assume goes to a USB on the other end?
2) Software application and it's relevant Operating System?

Want and need to start learning about the brains of these cars.
Any advice?

[JoeDijeaux]

The best monitoring app by far is Torque for Android. Dashcommander for IOS is good too, but Torque beats its socks off. You would need a bluetooth OBD2 dongle to connect the app to the ECU.

The drawback of Torque is that it only monitors standard parameters. If you want to monitor Subaru-specific parameters, you'd need to know their address and create a custom gauge.

Then there's the Tactric cable which would allow you to log all the Subaru-specific parameters, but unless you want to keep it connected to a laptop while you're driving, you can only see what's going on once you download the log file and inspect it in Excel or Open Office's Calc.

The tactrix cable is around R2500 delivered and the RomRaider and ECUFlash applications for the laptop are free. Torque + the Bluetooth dongle would work out around R300.

[dk]

Thanx!

I don't mind getting my fingers blistered with code and raw data, I'm in the dev industry.

Any alternatives to tactrix which can provide the same info but at a cheaper price?

[JoeDijeaux]

Thanx!

I don't mind getting my fingers blistered with code and raw data, I'm in the dev industry.

Any alternatives to tactrix which can provide the same info but at a cheaper price?

I'm a software developer too! Alternative? You can try a VagCom cable. But getting it talking to your Subaru is a huge PITA. It's possible though. Well, the internet says it's possible: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1914025 .

[FozzieDriver]

Thanx!

I don't mind getting my fingers blistered with code and raw data, I'm in the dev industry.

Any alternatives to tactrix which can provide the same info but at a cheaper price?

I use a VAG cable and ROMRaider.
Pull logs and set your parameters you want to log.
Then load them up to datazap me to see what the logs look like.
But you cannot tune without a Tactrix cable. I don't think you can even see tables without Tactrix.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[sav]

The best monitoring app by far is Torque for Android. Dashcommander for IOS is good too, but Torque beats its socks off. You would need a bluetooth OBD2 dongle to connect the app to the ECU.

The drawback of Torque is that it only monitors standard parameters. If you want to monitor Subaru-specific parameters, you'd need to know their address and create a custom gauge.

Then there's the

Even so, your garden variety OBD2 dongle can't read SSM parameters so you won't be able to see things like feedback knock, IAM, etc.
Like Tim has said, the cheapest and best way to get meaningful data is Romraider + Vagcom cable.

[sav]

You can try a VagCom cable. But getting it talking to your Subaru is a huge PITA.

It's plug & play, just ensure you've got the correct Romraider logger defs for your ECU. None of this is any effort at all and you don't need to be a developer to get it going.

[sav]

The drawback of Torque is that it only monitors standard parameters. If you want to monitor Subaru-specific parameters, you'd need to know their address and create a custom gauge.

Just to be very clear - the above statement is wrong.

[Theo]

Don't know if it has been mentioned before, I found an app that can display SSM parameters, like IAM, using a Vagcom cable.
It's called BtSsm, costs  around R225.00 from the Appstore
Only got my Vagcom cable on Saturday, so have not played around much yet.
The cable was R289.00 from Zasttra

[sav]

Don't know if it has been mentioned before, I found an app that can display SSM parameters, like IAM, using a Vagcom cable.
It's called BtSsm, costs  around R225.00 from the Appstore
Only got my Vagcom cable on Saturday, so have not played around much yet.
The cable was R289.00 from Zasttra

Yep, it's awesome.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VAGCOM-USB-KKL-Cable-For-AUDI-Volkswagen-OBD2-OBDII-Car-Diagnostic-Scanner-UR-/161800823868?hash=item25ac14a43c:g:XBsAAOSwgQ9V1o24
60 bucks if you don't mind waiting.

[dk]

Any help please.

1) Tactrix cable - I assume purchase online from ebay etc, any pitfalls, incompatabilities to look out for?
2) RomRaider and ECUFlash applications - anybody have a link saved somewhere or need I scour the internet for the apps?

I'm assuming with this setup I can get into the TCU (Transmission Control Unit) and alter parameters in there as well?

[sav]

What do you want to change in the TCU?

[FozzieDriver]

Any help please.

1) Tactrix cable - I assume purchase online from ebay etc, any pitfalls, incompatabilities to look out for?
2) RomRaider and ECUFlash applications - anybody have a link saved somewhere or need I scour the internet for the apps?

I'm assuming with this setup I can get into the TCU (Transmission Control Unit) and alter parameters in there as well?

Tactrix will set you back R2800 maybe more. I would never buy it off eBay. If you just want to log then get a VAG cable. They like R300 off eBay and actually work.
Romraider you can download from the site and install. Same with ECUFlash.
No you cannot change anything in the TCU, what did you want to change?

[dk]

Besides ebay then where can one find a tactrix cable?

As for the TCU, I've heard of tuners being able to fiddle with the ferocity/smoothness the box shifts at etc.
Best way forward is just to start logging and figure out why I'm getting hesitation on pulloff, random slight vibrations when standing still etc.

[sav]

You can't tune the TCU directly, they're manipulating it via the DBW tables. Not sure if your model is cable or DBW?