Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 11:37:22 -0500
Reply-To: Darrell Boehler <midwesty@TAOS.MIDWEST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Darrell Boehler <midwesty@TAOS.MIDWEST.NET>
Subject: digifant
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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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