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        General >> OBD Advice >> OBD II Using USB Adaptors
        
(Message started by: Boblavens on Jun 24^th, 2005, 2:44pm)

Title: OBD II Using USB Adaptors
Post by Boblavens on Jun 24^th, 2005, 2:44pm

There is a bit of an issue arising from the use of USB adaptors to connect the OBD lead to the laptop.
I have seen one email suggesting that the speed be set to 19.2.
While this is a sensible solution, there are also issues as to the reliability of some Converters.
I for one discovered early that I think mine was problematic. Iy worked the first time and then refussed to work again and that was with Win 2K.
Also some people have mentioned that XP seems to have a bit of a problem if you plug in the converter whilst it is still booting up, (It thinks it has found a Mouse)
Any one got any good advice about this issue, as there are still a few people having problems and they must be getting a bit despondent about it. (That's the polite way of putting it!!!!)

Bob ??? ???

Title: Re: OBD II Using USB Adaptors
Post by Pegasus on Jun 28^th, 2005, 1:19pm

Hi Bob,
here's how I managed it (I would have installed the Word Document if I knew how):

Using the vehicle explorer serial interface with a USB connector on Microsoft XP

In order to get this to work you need to ensure that both the laptop system and the VE software are interfacing with the same port. (I bought the USB/serial interface from Alex P at obd2.com for $20 but this should work with an appropriate connector, Belkin connectors are recommended by other users)

Ensure the driver is installed:
1. downloadable at check for new driver by emailing alex follow on screen prompts until install finished, then reboot.
2. After rebooting, plug in the adapter and PC will find new hardware and install correct driver (you may get some prompts)

Configuring the laptop (or PC):

3. With the adapter in place, go to Start menu (bottom left of screen), click Control Panel, then System (you need to be in Classic view to see contents of Control Panel)
4. Click the Hardware tab, then the Device Manager
5. you should see a category called Ports (COM & LPT), click on this and see a device called Prolific USB-to-Serial (COM x) or something similar (if you dont see Prolific ... then driver wasnt installed properly see step 7), where x represents the COM number assigned to the port where youve plugged in the adapter (on my laptop Ive 3 USB ports numbered 3, 5 and 6. For reasons explained below, I always plug it into port 3). Make a note of the number.
6. some serial devices and applications cant work on a COM port higher than 4 (I havent tried it yet). If you find yours doesnt work you can reduce it to a number found in step 3 in Device properties:
· go to Device Manager, right click on Prolific ... and select Properties
· click on the Port settings tab
· click the Advanced button
· in the lower left corner is the box where you can select the COM number (ignore the comment in use ... if its the number you choose)
· If this still doesnt work, also under the Advanced settings you can try backing down the sliders or disabling the FIFO buffer by un ticking the box (I didnt have to!)
7. If it still doesnt work you can try uninstalling the driver (go to Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel and select PL-2303 USB to serial) then reinstalling (I had to do this). And starting from beginning.

Configuring the VE software

8. This can be done before connecting to the car
9. On first use you will need to enter your user authorisation code, then
10. On the top toolbar go to Options, select Gateway,
11. In the protocol tab, check (tick) the following:
· Ford PWM (and ISO if a combi)
· Time out should be 2 or 4
· Autoreconnect
· Clear cache on connection
· Maint. Enhanced login

12. In the interface tab, the following should be ticked:
· Baud rate should be 57.6
· Speed should be 120
· Interface should be blue route
· Direct ISO & Fast TriCAN should be ticked
· Importantly, the numbers in the scan tool rs232 serial output and the GPS rs232 serial port com must be the same and the same number as COM port in step 5.

Thats it. Ill update this if I discover anything else that may be useful.

The connection sequence is:
1. boot up PC
2. connect cable to PC (correct port) and car
3. Is ignition on? It should be!
4. Run VE
5. click on Connect in the top toolbar. It should connect straight away (mine does). If not check the connections. See the site advice sheets for further info.

Good luck,

Pegasus

Title: Re: OBD II Using USB Adaptors
Post by Boblavens on Jun 30^th, 2005, 3:53am

Pegasus

Now that is what I call a nice neat and comprehensive start up list!
When I was asking for one from the members of the email list, I kept getting directed to the different pages on the Scorp site.
I'll give my USB laptop a try sometime.
someone also mentioned slowing the speed down to 19.2 for the USB adaptor! I'll be trying that as well later.

Bob

Title: Re: OBD II Using USB Adaptors
Post by kskjon on Nov 4^th, 2005, 11:17am

Just wanted to say that the correct url to the driver is http://www.obd-2.com/usbdr124.exe 8)

Title: Re: OBD II Using USB Adaptors
Post by Pegasus-2 on Nov 4^th, 2005, 10:40pm

Well spotted kskjon ;)

sorry for any confusion :(

You've probably found that you may still have to "fiddle" to get a proper connection consistently.

Paul

Title: Re: OBD II Using USB Adaptors
Post by kskjon on Nov 15^th, 2005, 10:17pm

on 11/04/05 at 22:40:58, Pegasus-2 wrote:

You've probably found that you may still have to "fiddle" to get a proper connection consistently.

Mhm! Still struggling actually..

I think about testing with an older laptop.. One with a proper onboard serial port.

Title: Re: OBD II Using USB Adaptors
Post by Pegasus on Nov 18^th, 2005, 12:46pm

What exactly is the problem?

Give us a clue and I might be able to suggest a way over it as I have no problems connecting using USB

Paul

Title: Re: OBD II Using USB Adaptors
Post by kskjon on Nov 25^th, 2005, 4:06pm

I connect my usb to serial adapter, and I see the following device comes up in computer management:

Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port (COM3)

(I have installed the above mentioned driver)

FIFO buffers are disabled

In VE, Ford PWM and ISO is checked.
Everything else under protocol is as it should be (see above post)
I set both comm-ports in VE to COM 3.

I shut down VE and connect the cable to the OBD-II plug.

The power-light now lights up on my lead.

I start up VE again, and select "connect".

I now get the "Scanning all interfaces. Initialisation is taking place. blablabla"

And nothing else happens. I don't even get any activity indication on my lead. (Rx and Tx doesn't flash).

The usb to serial adapter is a no-name type, but is prolific based.

My obd-lead is an Elmscan ISO by ScanTool.net (ELM 323 chip). Is this compatible?

Title: Re: OBD II Using USB Adaptors
Post by scorpio_man on Nov 25^th, 2005, 5:56pm

hi there

that's where the problem is. VE only works with alex p leads.

hth

Title: Re: OBD II Using USB Adaptors
Post by kskjon on Nov 26^th, 2005, 9:41am

Okay, seems like there will be an Elmscan lead on Ebay soon then ;)

Title: Re: OBD II Using USB Adaptors
Post by fillippe on Dec 27^th, 2006, 9:18pm

I was given the link www.obd-2.com/usbdr805.exe by Alex Peper and when I try to connect I get a blue screen of death and a win XP "stop error" followed by laptop shutdown.
I think you can stop the "stop error" causing a shutdown but can't remember how.
Have emailed Alex and he said to first uninstall and reinstall usb/serial driver. This hasn't helped.
Anyone had similar experiences?
Phil

Title: Re: OBD II Using USB Adaptors
Post by scorpio_man on Dec 27^th, 2006, 9:23pm

hi there

did you see/read/try pegasus's reply (#2) using the new driver?

hth

Title: Re: OBD II Using USB Adaptors
Post by fillippe on Dec 27^th, 2006, 9:32pm

No. but I will.
Phil

Title: Re: OBD II Using USB Adaptors
Post by fillippe on Dec 27^th, 2006, 9:43pm

I am wondering if it's because my car battery is flat or the cabling in the car to the EEC V is shot. So I'm going to charge the battery out of the car overnight.
Phil

Title: Re: OBD II Using USB Adaptors
Post by gozz on Dec 11^th, 2009, 11:12pm

Do you need to take the battery off ? if you are perturbed by possible problems just take a lead off,or is it in the street ?
GOZZ.

Title: Re: OBD II Using USB Adaptors
Post by scorpio_man on Dec 12^th, 2009, 5:16am

on 12/11/09 at 23:12:12, gozz wrote:

Do you need to take the battery off ? if you are perturbed by possible problems just take a lead off,or is it in the street ?
GOZZ.

hi there

i'm hoping he's fixed his problem as it was nearly 3 years ago!! :o ;) ;D

Title: Re: OBD II Using USB Adaptors
Post by Ron Morris on Sep 18^th, 2010, 12:15am

Hi everybody
Dos OBD2 work without problems with USB now ? (i use win 7) and if so, i would like to have the link, i really need this for my BOB 96,, Regard from Ron

Title: Re: OBD II Using USB Adaptors
Post by Pegasus on Sep 19^th, 2010, 8:37am

Hi Ron,
can't see there will be much change between XP and Windows 7 in the setup. The instructions are basically those supplied with the cable from Alex P. If you have any queries you can always email Alex for advice.

Never had any problems connecting.

Paul

Title: Re: OBD II Using USB Adaptors
Post by TilleyBoy on Apr 4^th, 2014, 10:28am

Hi
Need some help with fault reading as I need to get my gramps scorpio sorted for mot and over to my house so I can start some serious work on it. We have a problem with cooling fans and overdrive light so wanted to check all the fault codes to speed up the rectification process it's a 2.9 cosworth 24v

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=121269899979

My mate has this lead which we have tried using a few different software but we cannot read codes , basically once we find the com port it connects sees ecu then says cannot communicate. I am guessing it's the lead?
Has anyone else used this lead successfully ?

Thanks
Stew

Title: Re: OBD II Using USB Adaptors
Post by Tompion on Apr 4^th, 2014, 11:00am

I’ve not used the lead from that seller but I’ve used 2 similar looking cheap leads, both worked fine using free software from http://forscan.org/ Apart from being very good software for Fords it seems to be able to find the port without you having to mess about with settings.