Communicating with my V8
Discussion
Pretty much anything that can log OBDII will work. You got Autotap ( www.autotap.com/ ), Harrison Logger ( www.obdscan.net ), Alex Peper logger ( www.obd-2.com ), the offering on LEW ( www.lotusespritworld.com/EMaintenance/OBII.html ), Ease ( www.obd2.com/ ), etc. Lots of choices.
Personally I have the Harrison RD logger and am pleased with it. I used to use the Alex Pepper logger when I owned my Eclipse. OK software, crappy construction on the cable. Heard he has upped quality since though.
Everyone has a favorite, and some have more features then others. Give each a look, take price into account as they all basically do the same thing, and hopefully some more opinions will be provided.
>> Edited by njgsx96 on Wednesday 25th May 18:18
Personally I have the Harrison RD logger and am pleased with it. I used to use the Alex Pepper logger when I owned my Eclipse. OK software, crappy construction on the cable. Heard he has upped quality since though.
Everyone has a favorite, and some have more features then others. Give each a look, take price into account as they all basically do the same thing, and hopefully some more opinions will be provided.
>> Edited by njgsx96 on Wednesday 25th May 18:18
Hi All,
Freescan is a PC-based programm that works with an ALDL-interface. It is ONLY suited for the 4-cylinder Lotus Esprit.
It´s a great program with many features.
If you like to know more about it just visit the authors site: www.andywhittaker.com/ecu/
The ALDL-interface cable you can get from many sources ... also from us ;o)
Cheers
Marcus (www.PUKesprit.de)
Freescan is a PC-based programm that works with an ALDL-interface. It is ONLY suited for the 4-cylinder Lotus Esprit.
It´s a great program with many features.
If you like to know more about it just visit the authors site: www.andywhittaker.com/ecu/
The ALDL-interface cable you can get from many sources ... also from us ;o)
Cheers
Marcus (www.PUKesprit.de)
Thanks for the advice so far guys!
What sort of costs for a system that I can use to identify faults, and get realtime engine details into a laptop, ideally with good software?
I see the costs vary a bit so some focus would be very useful, I noticed this oneBay - It is very cheap, I assume unsuitable ?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30921&item=7976324559&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
Thanks Mark
What sort of costs for a system that I can use to identify faults, and get realtime engine details into a laptop, ideally with good software?
I see the costs vary a bit so some focus would be very useful, I noticed this oneBay - It is very cheap, I assume unsuitable ?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30921&item=7976324559&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
Thanks Mark
The Esprit V8 uses OBDII ISO 9141 (well, my 2000 S350 does!) so it should work as far as reading fault codes.
What it won't do is let you see live engine data, monitor boost pressure, the oxygens sensors, fuel trim, and all the other goodies that the more complex boxes / PC interfaces can do.
I've got one of these ...
www.gendan.co.uk/viewproduct.php?product=EZ4000&page=3
I imported from the US and I think it worked out at about £230 after shipping / duty. Seems a nice bit of kit, and no need to have a laptop kicking around in the car. Worked on wifes Ford Galaxy, fathers Citroen Xsara ..
I've also built Andy Whittaker's OBDII kit for the V8 but haven't wired up the OBDII connector yet.
>> Edited by scoule on Thursday 26th May 01:47
What it won't do is let you see live engine data, monitor boost pressure, the oxygens sensors, fuel trim, and all the other goodies that the more complex boxes / PC interfaces can do.
I've got one of these ...
www.gendan.co.uk/viewproduct.php?product=EZ4000&page=3
I imported from the US and I think it worked out at about £230 after shipping / duty. Seems a nice bit of kit, and no need to have a laptop kicking around in the car. Worked on wifes Ford Galaxy, fathers Citroen Xsara ..
I've also built Andy Whittaker's OBDII kit for the V8 but haven't wired up the OBDII connector yet.
>> Edited by scoule on Thursday 26th May 01:47
The article on LEW suggests that the Gendan one just allows fault reading - is this the case, or does it also provide live analysis also?
Also my Esprit V8 is one of the very first (early 96), will this connector be compatible (as I usually see it listed for 96 onwards)
Finally, any thoughts on which connector type the V8 has?
www.digimoto.com/which_of_the_three_obd.htm
>> Edited by markuskj on Thursday 26th May 09:39
Also my Esprit V8 is one of the very first (early 96), will this connector be compatible (as I usually see it listed for 96 onwards)
Finally, any thoughts on which connector type the V8 has?
www.digimoto.com/which_of_the_three_obd.htm
>> Edited by markuskj on Thursday 26th May 09:39
markuskj said:
The article on LEW suggests that the Gendan one just allows fault reading - is this the case, or does it also provide live analysis also?
The Xray 4000 has live readings, it can also log a period of data which can be uploaded to a PC although I've not tried this. The list of live parameters are shown on the web link I included.
markuskj said:
The article on LEW suggests that the
Also my Esprit V8 is one of the very first (early 96), will this connector be compatible (as I usually see it listed for 96 onwards)
Mine has two connectors, one VERY hard to get to under the passenger side dash near the wheelarch, the other near the battery on the edge of the block of relays
Mark:
OBDII connectors are pretty standardized. You can buy a hand held scanner from Actron (www.Actron.com) which will allow you to read the codes, interpret them and clear them if necessary. The Actron scanner (the higher end models 9135, 9145 or 9150) will also allow you to read data as it's produced while driving. These are available at AutoZone parts stores.
Mark Pfeffer
www.LotusCarClub.org
OBDII connectors are pretty standardized. You can buy a hand held scanner from Actron (www.Actron.com) which will allow you to read the codes, interpret them and clear them if necessary. The Actron scanner (the higher end models 9135, 9145 or 9150) will also allow you to read data as it's produced while driving. These are available at AutoZone parts stores.
Mark Pfeffer
www.LotusCarClub.org
Dear Mark - cheers for the post, this site suggests that there are 3 different connectors, I am keen to avoid getting the wrong one.
Could someone who can remember the plug have a quick look and let me know?
www.digimoto.com/which_of_the_three_obd.htm
Thanks so much!
Mark
Could someone who can remember the plug have a quick look and let me know?
www.digimoto.com/which_of_the_three_obd.htm
Thanks so much!
Mark
I don't know which connector the Lotus has without inspecting, but if it has an OBDII port, I think the plugs will fit, it only matters which pins are wired up. My autoxray 4000 picks up on PWM mode in the wifes ford galaxy, ISO9141 for the esprit etc ... some of the cheaper units only support one of the communication protocols. I think if you get an OBDII unit with ISO9141 support you should be ok.
I've got an EZ scan 4000 and V8 number 287 (early '97) and it works fine. It was about £370 direct from Gendan. I did loads of research first and bought both the 4000 and a PC interface for the following reasons:
1. If I go 100 miles away from the nearest dealer for a weekend or something and the MIL comes on, I want to know if it's "Stop right now or risk rogering your cats" or: "Best get a dealer to do a full Tech test at some point in the next four weeks" without having to carry a laptop or PDA everywhere.
2. I have, touch wood, only had the MIL on twice. Once undiagnosed and the other time it was a faulty wastegate. I could have ordered the parts in advance and had my car diagnosed formally and repaired within hours instead of off the road for a week waiting for parts.
Your problem is definitely going to be the fact that early V8 cars ('96MY) used a different engine management system than later cars. I would strongly recommend you give Gendan a call as they seem to know what they are talking about and don't seem interested in just selling you something which might not work.
Further to this, I downloaded the freescan software available from a link on the Gendan website ,but all this does is read the same data as the 4000. I then purchased the digimoto software for PC and for PDA (love gadgets !) This cost abou £50 all in. This Digimoto software only worked about one time in twenty and Gendan gave me an instant refund. I looked at the rest and I am currently awaiting delivery of Scantool software ($45). The reason for selecting this is that it was the only other software I have seen so far which is available from a link on the Gendan website (therefore presumed more likely to work !) and which is able to do the 0 to 60 time readout. The alternative was Pro scan which (I think) is the one with the virtual dashboards (but I may be wrong)
I would go to the Gendan websit (www.gendan.co.uk) and then to the software link and take a look at the various screenshots. I would also give Gendan a call and ask about compatibility with your car.
I think you can get some idea about compatibility by identifying which connectors are present in the OBD socket on the car (dead hard to find under the passenger dash or dead easy to find next to the fusebox in the rear luggage bay just in front of the battery). This is also covered on the Gendan site.
As you can tell, I'm a bit of a retent with gadgets so if this isn't clear, please feel free to e-mail me with any other questions or if you want me to give you a call.
So excited am I at being able to get pictures onto the forum (see "Dream car- a whole new meaning !"
that I will now attempt to get a photo of my car's diagnosis socket (nestling between fusebox and battery positive lead) and the relevant plug from the 4ooo lead. Hope this helps !
1. If I go 100 miles away from the nearest dealer for a weekend or something and the MIL comes on, I want to know if it's "Stop right now or risk rogering your cats" or: "Best get a dealer to do a full Tech test at some point in the next four weeks" without having to carry a laptop or PDA everywhere.
2. I have, touch wood, only had the MIL on twice. Once undiagnosed and the other time it was a faulty wastegate. I could have ordered the parts in advance and had my car diagnosed formally and repaired within hours instead of off the road for a week waiting for parts.
Your problem is definitely going to be the fact that early V8 cars ('96MY) used a different engine management system than later cars. I would strongly recommend you give Gendan a call as they seem to know what they are talking about and don't seem interested in just selling you something which might not work.
Further to this, I downloaded the freescan software available from a link on the Gendan website ,but all this does is read the same data as the 4000. I then purchased the digimoto software for PC and for PDA (love gadgets !) This cost abou £50 all in. This Digimoto software only worked about one time in twenty and Gendan gave me an instant refund. I looked at the rest and I am currently awaiting delivery of Scantool software ($45). The reason for selecting this is that it was the only other software I have seen so far which is available from a link on the Gendan website (therefore presumed more likely to work !) and which is able to do the 0 to 60 time readout. The alternative was Pro scan which (I think) is the one with the virtual dashboards (but I may be wrong)
I would go to the Gendan websit (www.gendan.co.uk) and then to the software link and take a look at the various screenshots. I would also give Gendan a call and ask about compatibility with your car.
I think you can get some idea about compatibility by identifying which connectors are present in the OBD socket on the car (dead hard to find under the passenger dash or dead easy to find next to the fusebox in the rear luggage bay just in front of the battery). This is also covered on the Gendan site.
As you can tell, I'm a bit of a retent with gadgets so if this isn't clear, please feel free to e-mail me with any other questions or if you want me to give you a call.
So excited am I at being able to get pictures onto the forum (see "Dream car- a whole new meaning !"
that I will now attempt to get a photo of my car's diagnosis socket (nestling between fusebox and battery positive lead) and the relevant plug from the 4ooo lead. Hope this helps !
That last one is the page in the workshop manual which shows where these things are.
That's one other thing you'll need, is a list of the generic and custom Lotus trouble codes. I think you can get these from the Gendan website but it's much more convenient to have them on paper. The easiest way to do this is to purchase the engine management supplement from your local dealer. Technical assistance (great guys, really hepful - seriously, they can't help enough) at the factory will give you the part number. You need section EMM 1 through EMM 4. I think the part number is: L082T0327J but best check. Hope this helps but let me know if you need more.
That's one other thing you'll need, is a list of the generic and custom Lotus trouble codes. I think you can get these from the Gendan website but it's much more convenient to have them on paper. The easiest way to do this is to purchase the engine management supplement from your local dealer. Technical assistance (great guys, really hepful - seriously, they can't help enough) at the factory will give you the part number. You need section EMM 1 through EMM 4. I think the part number is: L082T0327J but best check. Hope this helps but let me know if you need more.
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