How can I make my cars computer talk to me :) - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

dcliff1 · 04-21-2003, 22:54

Hi,

I've been reading some posts and I was wondering what do I need to read the diagnostic codes from the cars computer? Do I have to buy something expensive? How do I hook it up?

Thanks!

davey88 · 04-22-2003, 01:47

I think you have to take it to a mechanic or sumthing, cause the machine they use to red it costs thousands! I think anyway

Aaron_EF8 · 04-22-2003, 02:12

Look at www.fordmods.com - they have all of that stuff, and all you need to do to enable diagnostic mode, is earth one of the pins that are located in the fuse box, in that big white plug. FordMods have all the details.

cs123 · 04-22-2003, 03:07

The Knightrider's car could talk to him.

Aussiblue · 04-22-2003, 05:10

You can do it with a multimeter or build a little LED thing ($10 of parts: an LED, resistor, and a bit of wire and a few micro spade sockets).

See: http://www.autoemf.com.au/eec4test.htm and
http://www.autoemf.com.au/ford_eec5.htm and
just follow the instructions here (for EA/EB) http://dalidesign.com/hbook/eectest.html but just note how the pins are in different places for the EL.

Also see http://www.acc-electronics.com/cloud/tc_eec.htm, http://www.iwantperformance.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi
and http://acc-electronics.com/cloud/efi/amarch/eec.htm if you want to start playing. Also subscribe to the EECTuner/TwEECer email listserver Digest via "EECTuner-subscribe@yahoogroups.com"

Aussiblue · 04-22-2003, 05:37

PS the Gregory's manuals best describe how to make an LED test light and extract the codes. If you want to spend dollars code extractors for Fords can be got at reasonable prices from the US see for example : http://www.jcwhitney.com/catsubpic.j...=73704&BQ=jcw2 and http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=46030 and http://www.eastwoodcompany.com/aspfi...Cat=Diagnostic

The cheap ones just flash lights and sound buzzers, the next up give you the code numbers and the next up also tell you what the code means. I have a cheap one that I bought from the US that fits the NB but use my build it yourself one for the NC.

You can also buy kits to plug into your PC or build your own simple interface to read the codes with a PC (and a very old PC will do - Z80 based even).

dcliff1 · 04-22-2003, 05:56

Wow Aussiblue... thats fantastic!! Thanks for all the info.. my dad is actually an electritian so we're gonna rig up a display and display some codes!

Thanks again!

dcliff1 · 04-22-2003, 06:31

Hey Aus,

Was your NC the EEC-V type? I like the look of that OBD2 software.... How did you make the connector to the car? Did you buy it from somewhere or just connect wire to pins?

Cheers

Aussiblue · 04-22-2003, 07:05

Yes, OBD1 EEC V (oops addenda: should be EEC IV) per http://www.autoemf.com.au/ford_eec5.htm.

Made my own; just used micro spade connectors (they are called mini telephone spade crimp connectors in the Altronics Catalogue) a LED, a resistor and a piezo buzzer. Plus some heatshrink tubing as the pins arec lose together so it pays to cover the mini female spade connectors with heatshrink so you don't short two together. The good thing about the EEC V OBD socket is that there is a 12 V pin as well so you don't need to run a lead to the battery as suggested in the Gregory's manual. The same little LED circuit will allow you too test the ABS, Trans etc. It's a bit more fiddly to use that the engine bay set up of the earlier models and if someone knows of a source for a plug that will fit the socket things would be easier.

9psi EB · 04-22-2003, 21:50

Isnt the diagnostic plug the same or similar to the plug that fits into the back of the factory radio - if it is, try pick up one from wreckers..

9psi EB