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Date:         Fri, 21 Jan 2000 09:14:00 -0800
Reply-To:     Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Subject:      Re: Love that Digitool!
Comments: To: Darrell Boehler <midwesty@MIDWEST.NET>

Darrell,

I have almost nothing but praise for your tool. my only complaint is that the flatwire coming out of the ECU is a bit short. It would be nice if it reached just a bit more through the deck lid.

My wife told me to write you and tell you just how much we appreciated having it with us last weekend in San Diego, where we developed a bit of an alternator problem. With the tool set to battery, we were able to monitor the condition of the battery and get to a Walmart parking lot, where we spent the night (thanks, Walmart). I was then able to do a temporary fix to the alternator (was a loose contact) by using the additional probe. Also been able to tune the two vans pretty well using the tool. So, yes, we're happy.

Incidentally, I have two more ECU's. I'd like to have them converted so we can use the tool on them if we ever need them. How much would you charge for this service?

Thanks,

Karl Wolz ----- Original Message ----- From: "Darrell Boehler" <midwesty@MIDWEST.NET> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Friday, January 21, 2000 5:35 AM Subject: Re: Love that Digitool!

> Hi Richard, > I make a 83.5-85 (digijet) version of the digitool. It is the same as > the digifant digitool except it has different wiring to the ecu. I also make > an adapter for people with digijets and digifant systems so you can plug a > digijet digitool to an adapter then to a digifant ecu. Thanks for your > interest. > > NOTE.. The digitool requires the ecu be modified with a short flat wire > ribbon cable added. This cable terminates into a 25 pin female modem > connector. The digitool has a 15 ft (20 ft for digijet) 25 pin male > connector that can be plugged to the ecu when needed for testing. > Darrell > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Richard Bias <rbias@HOTMAIL.COM> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> > Sent: Friday, January 21, 2000 6:28 AM > Subject: Re: Love that Digitool! > > > > All, > > We have heard so much about this tool and I think it is really super. I > > inquired about this last summer when I was having trouble with my Van and > I > > would like to verify what I think I found out and share the information > with > > the whole list. If I miss speak (which I hope is the case), some one > please > > correct me... > > > > This tool is only for 1986 and later 2.1L Wasserboxxer Vans Right?... > > I have a 1985 GL 1.9L Wasserboxxer Vanagon and can't use this tool > > (unfortunately for me...). > > > > OK, I am ready to be told I am wrong and I will start saving for it > right > > now. Thank you one and all. > > > > Rich and Annemarie > > 85 GL"Buba" > > 98 Bug > > > > > > >From: KENWILFY@AOL.COM > > >Reply-To: KENWILFY@AOL.COM > > >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > > >Subject: Love that Digitool! > > >Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2000 20:18:31 EST > > > > > >After having an intermittant fuel injection problem with my van that was > > >stumping me, and having heard alot of good things about Darrell Boehler's > > >digitool, I contacted him about getting one. He was really nice and > asked > > >me > > >to check exactly which ECU I had so that he could be sure to send me the > > >right one. Then he overnighted me a rebuilt ECU with the digitool > already > > >installed. WOW! This thing is cooler than I expected. Remember when I > > >started that really long thread about computerized gauges, well, the > > >digitool > > >is my dream come true. > > > > > >For those who have never seen one before here is what it looks like: > > >A small black box with a digital display, a row of leds at the top and a > > >rotary switch in the middle. The row of LEDs are for: power to the ECU, > > >power to the starter, throttle position switch, coil, and fuel injectors. > > >The box has a 15' ribbon cable connected to it with a plug on the end. I > > >happen to have a nice set of one-piece floor mats on the floor of my van > so > > >I > > >could mount the digitool on the right of my instrument cluster, run the > > >cable > > >under the cluster cover, and down to the floor and then straight back and > > >under the rear seat. The floor mat covers the cable any place that it > > >would > > >get stepped on and it is very thick so the cable should be fine. > > >You just plug in the cable to a plug hard wired into the ECU and > reinstall > > >the ECU. > > > > > >Crank up the van and the coil and fuel injection lights flicker merrily. > > >You > > >can select to monitor your Temp I, Temp II, AFM, Oxygen Sensor, or > Battery > > >Voltage by turning the selector switch. This puts each reading on the > > >digital display. Warning: Don't drive around with the Oxygen Sensor > output > > >on the display. It can be very distracting (numbers change constantly). > > > > > >Right away I spotted something that I had noted previously, that the Temp > I > > >sender reading was out of spec. Also the AFM reading before start up was > > >out > > >of spec as well. So it sounds like time for a new AFM (I have these in > > >stock > > >for $120 by the way). I figured this before I got the digitool, but I > > >wanted > > >to be able to monitor what happens after I replaced it to be sure that I > > >wasn't also having an intermittant problem with the throttle postition > > >switch. Only time and the digitool will tell. > > > > > >My one wish at the end of the day was that the digital display on the > tool > > >was back lit. And as the night came on and I started the van to go home, > > >Lo > > >and Behold, it was back lit!!! > > > > > >So, I would just like to say that I am very happy with the tool and with > > >the > > >quick service that Darrell provided. If I knew this was going to be this > > >cool I would have bought one a long time ago. I would strongly encourage > > >any > > >list members who have been thinking about getting one of these and > putting > > >it > > >off, to delay no longer. Well worth the $100 (worth it's weight in gold > > >really). > > > > > > > > >Thanks, > > >Ken Wilford > > >http://www.vanagain.com > > >John 3:16 > > >Office (856)-765-1583 > > >Shop (856)-327-0027 > > >Fax (856)-327-2242 > > > > ______________________________________________________ > > Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com > > >


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