Question about the Lancer's ECU
 

So I was reading about someone building a car computer for a BMW a while back and the person managed to splice into the actual car computer (I'm not sure if he did it through the OBD-II port) but he was able to control electronic stuff from his car computer (like the windows for example). So I'm wondering if it would be possible to do that on our lancers, because I thought the OBD-II port could only be used to receive data, not also send it (in this case, not for ECU reflashes and that type of stuff)

I hope you're good at writing software. Sure, it's POSSIBLE, but unless you're handy as a mother****er, it ain't gonna happen. I'm thinking of doing that with my EMS, but the interface is already there so it's not much of an issue. My real problem is figuring out a way my broke ass can create a display and mouse and/or touch screen without spending much money. I have a laptop with a busted screen that would do the job wonderfully. :dunno:

you should be able to get a screen off ebay, since you already have the laptop, if only the screen is busted, the controller should still be ok. Just need to do some soldering. Or get a cheap ass P2 laptop.
As for writing software, that's what I do. Plus I'm still in college, so I'd could always have friends help me. It's gonna have to be some pretty low level programming and I'd need the specs of the chip and everything, but if anyone is willing to help, I'd try it out and I'd make my program open source :) I don't have an EMS system, so I'd have to get an OBD-II to serial connection and then use some free software to read the codes. I'd probably need another type of connection to be able to send signals back to it though.

You'd have to figure out how to write to the ECU as well, which may not be as simple as just sending it a command. But yeah, that's the basic principle. I don't want to use a laptop monitor if I set this thing up in the car. Basically I just want to use the external monitor function and hook it up to a screen with either a trackball or touch screen for controls. Doesn't really matter now though because 1. I don't have my car 2. It isn't drivable anyway and 3. I have no money. I'm also going to have to work out an automatic power down so that I don't have to shut it down every time I turn the car off. Nothing hugely difficult, just tedious and annoying.

Your idea is very intriguing. I'm currently toying with the idea of having the side mirrors automatically tilt down when the car is in reverse, like some BMWs and my parents Aurora, and then go back to their previous positions when taken out of reverse.

Making an interface and controls would be more work than it'd be worth IMO. I'm sure it's a delightful feature, but I use the ole "finger" approach.

If it isn't much work, it isn't much of a hobby. :)

I prefer not to cause myself an aneurysm over a hobby. :lol:

Hobie -- http://store.earthlcd.com/s.nl/sc.7/category.222/.f ($99 for a LCD touch screen)
and... -- http://www.xenarcdirect.com/store/pr...cat=256&page=1 (In-Car PC starting at $329)

With that car PC, you could do it pretty easily if you just hooked up the right software to it. Everything goes thru the CAN system in the cars, so everything is wired to the ECU in one route or another. Its completely possible. All you need is the wiring diagram for the car, ECU specs, and know how to write a simple program with a GUI for the in car PC. I know people at my college have already done it.. along with developing automatic windshield wipers and rolling up windows for when water gets on the surface of a sensor on the car. (U of M Dearborn) Most of them develop this stuff for Ford, but they are around my age. (19-22)

eh, I don't want to get a pre-built car computer, I'm gonna do it myself (when I get some spare cashizzle). As for the computer shutting down when you stop your car, it won't, it'll continue to draw power from the battery (if hooked up correctly), but for that you need a special power adapter thing. That'll also monitor the output of the battery and if it gets too low, it'll shut down the computer itself. Kinda like a laptop's power management.
wiretap I'm interested to find out what exactly that CAN system is and how I could use it. Also I wonder where I could get the ECU specs. That's what I was thinking, that the OBD-II port can be used to control other interfaces on the car. Maybe some shops that do active work with the ECU of the Lancer have the ECU specs we'd need ? Like RRM, since they build the piggybacks, maybe they have the ECU specs ? I don't think mitsubishi will just give me the spec manual :)

The CAN system is just how all the cars wiring is wired up to terminals and the different ECU's the car has. (one under dash, one under hood). I don't think you would control the windows and all that from the ECU though. You would have to make a separate box or something and hook it directly to the wiring of those things you want to control. It would be tough to figure out and program. But as far as getting ECU specs, RRM probably has them, because I know they tried a ECU brain flash replacement, but currently WORKS wants to get in on a project and make a better one for our Lancer's. They might be the better people to contact. I doubt you control windows and stuff though thru the ECU, its all done thru hard wiring with relays and switches in the lancer. (at least it LOOKS that way)

It can definitely be done. It just needs to know what the key position is. I don't mind it it shuts down on battery power, but I don't want to have to manually power it up and down all the time. I'd wanna put it on like a 10-20 sec delay on startup and then shut down when the key's removed

They sell a device specifically made to do that. I forget where I found it, I'd have to search for it later, I think I have it bookmarked at home. But the device goes inbetween your power cable from the battery and power supply of the computer. When you start your car, it has a timed delay you can set, but when you turn off your car, the computer stays on, but shuts down automatically by itself. Its like a turbo timer for your computer lol.

I'm sure this is what you're looking for Hobie: http://www.mp3car.com/store/product_...products_id=66
So it'd be worth it to get the Lancer repair manual since that should show me exactly where all the wiring and stuff is connected through, so in the worst case if I'd need to build my own controller (which would allow me to go with a controller I'm familiar with) I'd know where the best placement is.

Good luck with finding wire routes in the service manual. Maybe I'm just dumb. I know I'm not electrically inclined, but that thing is freakin' IMPOSSIBLE to read for wiring. The mechanical stuff is pretty straight-forward though.

Alex, I love you for that link. Now if you'd give me money I'd love you even more. :lol: