Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 23:22:32 -0700
Reply-To: Ray Hunnam <hunnam@PNC.COM.AU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Ray Hunnam <hunnam@PNC.COM.AU>
Organization: RAYJEN Security
Subject: Re: digifant
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Darrell
Some time back one of the list members, sorry I forget his name proposed a
similar idea. His idea was to monitor all temperatures and pressures via a on
board computer of sorts. He planned to hook up all the info and display it onto
a small screen that allowed the driver to browse through the range at the touch
of a button. That idea, same as your one sounded great. From memory this guy
had the qualifications to do it, must have been a computer whiz or something.
He even claimed that his device had a memory facility which would prove a bonus
when it went in for repairs.
Maybe if you searched the archives you may come across the thread from memory it
was about 6 to 8 months ago.
If not keep at it I am sure there is a market for your idea.
Ray.
Darrell Boehler wrote:
> --------------------
> Having bought my 86 van and belonging to the list for over a year
> now it seems to me there is often a problem getting good information about
> engine problems we experience. The archives are so full of information
> about most of the problems and varied fixes we experience it is difficult
> to use. No flame intended , but most non vws provided error codes and
> vital information about the engine electronics. It is also difficult to
> attach test leads to measure many devices on our digifants.
> I have looked at several options on ways to gather information from the
> digifant interface using an analog to digital converter / digital input
> to the pc. This would be a great way and I would like to do it but I don't
> have the programming skills and the many hours that such a project would
> require.
> Thinking about all of us on the list with varied skills and it many if
> not most cases simpler is better decided to make it using some leds and
> provide an easy accessible way to meter all digifant interface pins. After
> looking at the interface between the engine and the digifant I plan to tap
> into it and either display with leds or provide an easy accessible way to
> use a meter to gather vital information to and from the digifant ecu. I
> have a spare ecu that I plan to attach a 25 pin flat cable to the 25 pin
> digifant connector at the circuit board, run the cable out side digifant
> case and install a 25 pin serial connector. If digifant information is
> needed I will attach a perfboard with flat cable to the 25 pin serial
> connector. I plan to have leds for signals such as coil, fuel injector
> pulses , the starter signal, fuel pump, wide open throttle, etc. Analog
> signals such as temp2, temp1 oxygen sensor, etc will need to be metered. I
> plan a long enough flat cable that I can keep an eye on it while driving if
> desired.
> I ask the list for any suggestions and will make my plans, test data
> and results available to all after testing and all works as planned. The
> cost should be less than $50 and I feel it will go a long way helping us
> analyze our engine electronics and digifants.
>
> Darrell Boehler
> Makanda Illinois
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