ELM 327 OBD II bought on ebay - not working. Anyone have one of these?

[carcollector]

I bought an OBDII diagnostics connector from Ebay - eBay Australia: Buy new & used fashion, electronics & home d

I've loaded the software, and when I plug it in, the software on the PC talks to the scanner OK, but when I plug it into the car, the scanner briefly runs through the comms LEDs (ie all of the Rx and Tx LEDs flash, then go out except for the power LED), and the software reports that the comms fail with the car.

Does anyone have one of these that can assist, or offer any help?

any help or tips would be much appreciated,

[Krisp]

Sorry dude, but i have to laugh hard. Spend that kinda money and expect it to work. If you have a look in his negative feedbacks alot of the same item are faulty

[VRCALAISS]

they speak the wrong protocol,not faulty.

[Jarp]

What software are you using? Is the car switched on. Have you checked that the communication protocol in the software is set on ELM327?

[ivabiggen]

i don't see any GMH cars listed in the specs for that device.

[StoneX]

I have one but am yet to test it... Which software did you try? If I remember I can try mine when I get home tonight.

[Zerone_V]

I have the exact same model, and have had no problems with it...
(I just cleared some DTC codes set by my new exhaust)

I remember though that I had to set the baud rate for the USB to Serial driver to work at at different baud rate to the 9600 one set.
(Using Windows XP).

Also a lot of the software will only support the old 9600 Baud rate. (The newer V1.3 and onwards) ELM chipsets work at a faster baudrate.
There are two different free ware software that works with this model. (The software needs to allow configuration of the baud rate).
I will find this out for you sometime tonight, when I get home from work.

Also, one more obvious thing, Im sure you have tried this already, the Ignition needs to be On for the BUS to be active.

Will let you know the extra information soon....

[BowTie]

If you by chance have a Nokia phone, there is excellent software called "OBDscope".

No computer required. With my phone and elm327 bt i regularly scan and diagnose my sisters sv6. Also has on board logging and realtime configurable gauges and dasboard.

Can read every protocol from iso to can so works on all obd2 vehicles.

Does not read aldl for vs's though.



Edit: the software is $15. Well worth it.

[carcollector]

Thnaks for all of the responses. Answers from top to bottom.

Krisp - glad I could spend so little to make you laugh hard Yes, it's cheap, but OBDII is an open architecture which makes it easy to design and build interfaces to. It's considerably cheaper than the $500 odd I paid for the Nissan proprietary Consult for my TT Zed - lots of money, but worth it after all the work I've done, and time and money I've saved by having it. I also noted that others on the Just Commodores forum had bought the identical unit, and were able to use it before I purchased one.

VRCALAISS - what does the VE OBD protocol do that's not OBDII standard?

Jarp, have tried EasyOBDII V2.2 and ScanTool V1.13, both of which came with the interface. Yes, the car is switched on, and yes, the software can speak to the interface. It's the interface that isn't speaking to the car. It looks like it handshakes (some flashing of LEDS) when I first plug it in to the car, then stops, with only the red power LED on. The EasyOBD software reports " PC Communication Port OK", and "Interface Communication Failure - Check Connections and Power".

ivabiggen, OBDII is meant to be a worldwide standard open source protocol. Its specific intention is to make every vehicle talk the same language, use the same fault codes, and use the same plug type. If a car is OBDII, then the interface should work.

StoneX - wouold be interested in how yours works

Zerone-V, from memory, the only options the software has is 9600 and 38400. I didn't try the faster one, as usually any handshake, if it's going to work, will work on the lowest baud rate. Thanks in advance for any extra info you may be able to provide.

BowTie, that sounds like a good package. I've got the serial (USB) version of the ELM327 - sounds like you've got a bluetooth version?

Thanks again everyone for your responses.

[BowTie]

Ok, i get it now. Yeh mine is bluetooth so i can watch the voltage while camping/fishn with the stereo on.

Your issue is definately an issue with your pc config. Essentially the software establishes a link via a COM port in your device manager. When you first connect the serial cable, windows pnp will auto configure a COM port for the device. You have to make sure the serial cable COM port is set to 9600 baud and copy the port number, 1-8 usually, to the software config page and set the right path. Eg, com3 9600baud.

Now, if you cant find your serial/com config in device manager, then you will need to go into your bios and make sure your serial port is enabled.

This was a daily procedure before usb was released to the public.

Your device works. It's just configuring serial connections can be tricky.

[BowTie]

Even if your serial cable has a usb plug on it, you still need to do the config manually.

[carcollector]

The software supplied with it says that the laptop is talking to the interface connector OK. The problem appears to be between the interface box and the car computer. The EasyOBD software reports " PC Communication Port OK" (ie laptop is talking to interface), and "Interface Communication Failure - Check Connections and Power" (ie interface is not talking to car).

[BowTie]

Are you selecting a protocol or is that automatic?

There are quite a few different ones. My sisters sv6 connects with 'CAN 29/500'. Not sure if ISO, KWP or any of the others work.

Try and switch protocol to can if possible.

[vn4250]

I have the exact same device. Set a lower baud rate like 9600 and should be fine. OBDII is standard in all modern cars due to emission controls so your device would have no problems picking up data from your VE. You can pickup extra data by modifying the device to handle GM specific CANBUS data which I've also done.

[The 10th Doctor]

I have the exact same device. Set a lower baud rate like 9600 and should be fine. OBDII is standard in all modern cars due to emission controls so your device would have no problems picking up data from your VE. You can pickup extra data by modifying the device to handle GM specific CANBUS data which I've also done.

What extra data do you get? How exactly do you do such a thing?

[BowTie]

Ive got a feeling 9600 is the maximum a serial cable is designed to carry in reality.

The higher speeds available in port settings are for virtual ports.

[BigBoss]

I have had both this unit and the bluetooth unit in my car PC setup, they are incredible for the price point. But I'm using a mac with the MOVI program so i can't be any real help. But by the sounds of things you have set up the driver correctly i would try a different computer and see how you get on. If you can't get it to work you may as well try the bluetooth unit for $25. But be aware if you leave it (the bluetooth unit) plugged in to the OBD2 port it will slowly drain your battery when the car of off. The solution i worked out for this was to rewire pin 16 to accessory power. Anyway good luck mate

[svill123]

hi guys. Ive got a VT S1 Berlina with an airbag fault - "31 - Drivers Airbag Open Circuit (Capacitance Too low). This was read from my mates scanner tool. I plan on changing the clock spring to fix the problem, but understand that even once i do i need to have the code reset. My friend no longer has the scan tool so i want to buy a cheap one off ebay to do the jobs. If anyone has any suggestions please help. Also im a computer programmer and love this kinda stuff and would probably buy one even if i didnt have the code to clear lol

[stevenroar]

Hey hey, anyone know where I can find the obd port in my 06 ve omega?
*noob*
Also, anyone have the Bluetooth version and using it with an iPhone?

Cheers

[BigBoss]

Under the steering column near the door, it will not work with an iPhone unless you jailbreak it.

[BowTieGQ]

So what cable and software is best to use? Please don't say Tech2. Rather other, mainly due to price. Want pc based.

[BigBoss]

Any cheap Ebay job should work. when you pay more all you get is slightly faster response. I can't speak for software because i'm running a mac but just do a google search there is a free solution i think.