It's Time To Datalog - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

FireDemonSiC · 10-16-2009, 06:36 PM

Well guys, this code 44 problem with my car has gotten completely out of hand. SO far, all previous attempts at fixing the problem have failed, so It's time to datalog and see exactly what is going on.

I want to take the ALDL connected to laptop for datalog approach. My car is a 1985 Z28 with 305 TPI and I know the 85 ECM isn't the best in the market for datalogging but It's all I got to go on right now. I have been looking at two different cables. I want to make sure of their compatibility as well as what else I would need to make them be able to work with a software datalogger on a laptop.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Sunpro/885/CP9127/10002/-1?CT=999#

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NQGLIA

What's the difference here?

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RBob · 10-17-2009, 09:35 AM

The SunPro/Actron cable appears to be a dedicated adapter cable for their scanner.

The other cable (aldlcable.com) is more of what you want. It will convert the ALDL output to a USB signal. Couple that with WinALDL and you should be able to data log. Also see www.moates.net for ALDL cables for data logging.

RBob.

FireDemonSiC · 10-17-2009, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RBob

The SunPro/Actron cable appears to be a dedicated adapter cable for their scanner.

The other cable (aldlcable.com) is more of what you want. It will convert the ALDL output to a USB signal. Couple that with WinALDL and you should be able to data log. Also see www.moates.net for ALDL cables for data logging.

RBob.

Do you know of a website or any diagrams on how to make your own cable? Personally, I think these cables are worth no more than $15 - $20. The companies exploit the importance of these cables to jack the price up.

RBob · 10-17-2009, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FireDemonSiC

Do you know of a website or any diagrams on how to make your own cable? Personally, I think these cables are worth no more than $15 - $20. The companies exploit the importance of these cables to jack the price up.

It depends if you need USB interface. That is where the cost comes in.

If your laptop has a serial port then a simple MAX232 type chip can be used. You can sometimes get away with a single transistor interface in the case of the '85 ECM.

Try a google on TGO for ALDL schematics. There have been a bunch of different ones posted. If you can't find any post back, I may have some or can find some of the threads.

RBob.

Dizturbed One · 10-21-2009, 03:29 PM

I'm in the same boat here Demon.

I'm tired of multimeters and pulling sensors and dumping money into my car that doesn't do anything... I'm going to get an ALDL cable to interface with my laptop so I can just check it out and keep the little six banger running good. Then at least I'll have it when I dump a TPI setup onto my 400SBC in my 4x4. I'll play with tuning on the sixer for better economy until I get my 400/TPI setup going in my K5.

I could've sworn I saw a make it yourself thread for a cable on here years ago, but I can't seem to find it now. I came across THIS thread while looking for it. Can anybody point the way to get me started?

Dizturbed One · 10-21-2009, 06:08 PM

Hey FireDemon, I've found that the cable on Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NQGLIA seems the cheapest route to go to datalog our cars, but this Moates setup is definitely the best bang for your buck as far as I can see - http://www.moates.net/product_info.p...roducts_id=127

I still think you can make one for pretty cheap. I remember seeing a thread about it on here back in 07' or so. I would rather do that seeing as how I've spent 180 bucks on tools and parts trying to fix my car so far to no avail.

DENN_SHAH · 10-21-2009, 11:16 PM

i believe one of these links should have what you need to build your own ALDL cable.

http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/di...aldl-15-a.html (DIY cable/ ALDL to 15 pin serial?)

http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/di...y-winaldl.html (What schematic for DIY WinALDL cable?)

http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/di...connector.html (ALDL to Laptop connector)

http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/di...able-need.html (making ALDL cable...need help)

if you can't or don't want to build your own, i feel getting one from Moates
is the way to go.

Dizturbed One · 10-22-2009, 06:45 PM

I definitely was feeling the Moates cable if I was going to buy, but I'm going to build with these diagrams. How do you guys search for stuff so well? I try all kinds of stuff but it seems I'm always getting minimal or off-topic results.

DENN_SHAH · 10-22-2009, 09:51 PM

i found those by searching for "ALDL cable"
there were a good number of off-topic results, but i've read most of them in the past so i had an ideal what i was looking for without opening every link.
if you put DYI in, there are only about 3 things turn up and i think only one was of any use for this thread.