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[alanfp]

Hi
Just got a tech2 (made by obdfactory).

Do I just plug it into the car and my laptop?  Do I need to have the CD provided in the CD drive - I assume I do.

The files on the CD are things like eculist, but they appear to be just that - lists of codes, rather than any clever program type files like .exe etc.

Bear in mind I'm not a computer expert, nor a car expert, but I feel I should be capable of plugging an instrument into a socket and at least reading the results, even if I don't understand them.

just don't want to damage the tech2, or my wife's laptop or the car...

[Jay w]

Hi
Just got a tech2 (made by obdfactory).

Do I just plug it into the car and my laptop?  Do I need to have the CD provided in the CD drive - I assume I do.

The files on the CD are things like eculist, but they appear to be just that - lists of codes, rather than any clever program type files like .exe etc.

Bear in mind I'm not a computer expert, nor a car expert, but I feel I should be capable of plugging an instrument into a socket and at least reading the results, even if I don't understand them.

just don't want to damage the tech2, or my wife's laptop or the car...

sounds like you hae one of the cheap tech 2s that you find on ebay.

nothing wrong with them, wont do as much as the real thing.

there are  a few people who have experience of them, no doubt they will be able to give you hints/tips

[tunnie]

as stated you have the "cheapo" tech2, this can just read codes, and reset airbag lights... its limited compared to the full tech2 but that costs £2,000 odd.

You cheapo tech2 would have come with a lead to connect to the car, this will be a com port lead.... now you must have a real com port on your laptop. USB to com adaptors will not work....

[alanfp]

Mmmmm...

Yes, it's definitely the cheapo one - the real one would have cost more than my car's worth , if they're £2000.  I only wanted it to read codes and re-set the airbag light (assuming that there's no inherent fault there).

Using the current Mrs P's laptop at the moment - it doesn't seem to have the right port  .  As well as USB, it has a 15 pin (or rather, 15 hole) port.  So if a USB/com adaptor won't work, these units are only useful if I've got the appropriate port on my laptop?   :-/

I'll have to have a look at my 'work' laptop tomorrow.

Thanks so far, though.

PS If it's of any interest, just got a (free) trade card at Halfords by showing my university engineering certificate (fluid engineering, thermodynamics theory, design of large pumping systems, molecular structure of materials, electrical power theory etc. etc., nothing to do with car mechanics).  

[tunnie]

The port you describe (15 pin) sounds like VGA output (for connecting an external monitor)

I don't have cheapo tech2, but those who have had one, have had no luck with the USB to COM adaptors.

Generally older laptops are best, ones over 4/5 years  

[Craig_R]

you will need one of these a serial port as tunnie says

[TheBoy]

The port you describe (15 pin) sounds like VGA output (for connecting an external monitor)

I don't have cheapo tech2, but those who have had one, have had no luck with the USB to COM adaptors.

Generally older laptops are best, ones over 4/5 years  

My p4 tosh worked with a prolithic usb2serial adapter. Struggled, by did work...   ...seesm to be luck of draw though.

[The Doctor]

I've got a lot of experiance using USB com port and software on laptops, for anyone that understands what i mean try this and maybe the results can help someone less technical,..

I found that the FIFO buffers were causing the problems a lot of the time, simpler RS232 kit is less advanced in communications and the buffering was screwing up the sensitive timings, reducing the thresholds down to 0, 1, or 2 seemed to help most of the time. results were different on each device though.

[tunnie]

I've got a lot of experiance using USB com port and software on laptops, for anyone that understands what i mean try this and maybe the results can help someone less technical,..

I found that the FIFO buffers were causing the problems a lot of the time, simpler RS232 kit is less advanced in communications and the buffering was screwing up the sensitive timings, reducing the thresholds down to 0, 1, or 2 seemed to help most of the time. results were different on each device though.

Does seam the luck of the draw if the adaptor works then!

[TheBoy]

I've got a lot of experiance using USB com port and software on laptops, for anyone that understands what i mean try this and maybe the results can help someone less technical,..

I found that the FIFO buffers were causing the problems a lot of the time, simpler RS232 kit is less advanced in communications and the buffering was screwing up the sensitive timings, reducing the thresholds down to 0, 1, or 2 seemed to help most of the time. results were different on each device though.

The way the cheapo tech2 uses serial port, the FIFOs won't make a different. The cheapo tech2 is not using the COM port as a serial port, but simply as a I/O device.

[moorej91]

Have just seen your post and was about to buy a "cheapo" tech2 off ebay. Could anyone tell me if it will only read fault codes? I do not have eml light on but have a fault when car gets warm and runs really lumpy (see my thread). Will it show a fault ie a sensor that is not covered by fault codes? If I take it to a Vauxhall dealer will they be able to pinpoint a fault that is not an eml fault?

Thanks

[Doodley]

does anybody know if these work with laptops and the cheap tech 2s?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RS232-Com-Port-9-Pins-PCMCIA-Laptop-Card-Cardbus-Serial_W0QQitemZ260205446456QQihZ016QQcategoryZ96913QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I have vista, have e-mailed to ask if it will work with vista.

[TheBoy]

Have just seen your post and was about to buy a "cheapo" tech2 off ebay. Could anyone tell me if it will only read fault codes? I do not have eml light on but have a fault when car gets warm and runs really lumpy (see my thread). Will it show a fault ie a sensor that is not covered by fault codes? If I take it to a Vauxhall dealer will they be able to pinpoint a fault that is not an eml fault?

Thanks

It cannot do live data, so fault codes only.

[Kevin Wood]

does anybody know if these work with laptops and the cheap tech 2s?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RS232-Com-Port-9-Pins-PCMCIA-Laptop-Card-Cardbus-Serial_W0QQitemZ260205446456QQihZ016QQcategoryZ96913QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I have vista, have e-mailed to ask if it will work with vista.

I'd say they are more hopeful than a USB adaptor. I keep meaning to try one so I don't have to nick a laptop from work, but then I'm thinking I might just get an ELM based cable as my car ought to work with one.

Kevin