I've reading a bit on OBD interface cables and I don't seem to be able to find the answer I'm looking for... What are the main differences between the OBD 2 from a regular import car(like Mitsubishi and/or Honda) and the OBD 2 from a VW. Plenty of interfaces are available out there but most(if not all) say VW compatible

Just so you know, if you don't already... I puchased this cable and I'm wondering if I made a mistake

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWN%3AIT

And for those who don't know... the interface cable is what allows your computer and/or Pda to interact with the obd2 port.

 

OBD-II is a standard so they're supposed to work on all cars that are OBD-II equipped (1996-2005, some 1995s and a few 1994s)

 

That's what I think too... but was looking forward to confirm

 

I think it was that VW/Audi had like a different type of software or something, the obd-II port is the same. But i'm not going to garantee anything either. That is just what i had though.

 

^along those lines. for generic obdII, all manufacturers include iso pinouts for generic OBDII. other than that, there are two standards: iso and sae. most of the euro and asian cars happen to run iso and domestic cars run sae. i believe this is for manufacturer specific sensors and codes.

 

There's actually 4 different OBD II standards, and rhyzin is right, ISO is used by most all imports, but I know that here in the US, there are 2 standards used by different companies ( don't remember which ones now ) So if you got an ISO one you should be ok

 

I stand corrected... shoulda known "standard" meant "well, kinda similar"

 

i am also standing corrected

 

Interesting, so with this cable, you can hook up a PDA, and using some special software, you can monitor the car? That would be rather nice.

 

heh, well, you'd need a serial port on your pda, or buy a compact flash card which has a serial port on it. Something really cool I saw, was this OBD II connector which had a bluetooth transmitter attached to it, and you got this compact flash bluetooth card and you could monitor the OBD II stuff wirelessly, from I think a max of 300 ft (100m) for class 1 bluetooth
I don't have the link for it anymore, but I remember the whole thing was upwards of $300.
Also, when I get some time I'll look through my bookmarks, I should have some OBD II info in there, check my other post about the Lancer ECU to see what I wanted to do

 

yes they sell software that could monitor the car.
www.digimoto.com

 

also if you go to digimoto you can look up what kind obdII we have which is ISO according to them... but it lists for a lot of different cars and gives you the different outputs... i guess thats what you would call them.

 

Thanks guys... so hopefuly this cable will work.

These are the softwares I will try during the next 2 weeks:

Auterra
Digimoto
Vag-Com
ProScan
AutoEnginuity

 

Got my cable yesterday and tried a few softwares last night

Auterra > Seems to be working but I only have the Demo Version right now.
Digimoto > Does not Work so far
Vag-Com > Unable to read the Interface > Unable to connect to OBD2
ProScan > Haven't tried it yet

I kinda whish I never connected Auterra to the OBD port. I've got like 6 or 7 Trouble code stored in there

 

well, the demo software for the auterra is the same as the release software. if it's working with the cable, then great!