Ok, I'm getting into this stuff now and I just found out about the ELM323 interface which allows you to connect via USB/COM to your ODBII port and read values of your ECU.

Is it as easy as that (giving that I'd use sample software or program my own) or is this stuff not working on our 8?

160 bucks is a fair pricetag to display real-time data in my Media Center.


I'm really confused about this stuff.

Obviously I'm only scanning with this. To modify parameters, I'd need a piggy back or a stand alone ECU that accepts my commands, right? Since I really want to learn this stuff (and tune myself in the future), I'd rather get an ECU replacement which provides duplex support, scanning as well as modification of paramters.
The info I've gathered on that is that I have to stay away from the E-Manage, with the lack of knowledge I probably end up destroying my car. Canzoomers is too limit (even for me? :p). Ric Shaws seems to be the way to go (unless there are other ones). Very interesting is AccessPORT as well, but not quite available yet (at least not the advanced editions)


Any suggestions on what I'm suppose to do? My needs are clear: a) Continous real-time diagnosis for my own program. b) Ability to do changes on the fly.

The way I see it, b) does both for me, Reading and Writing but I'm unsure if it's as easy for me to read values from those, using my own program. Where else a) is very easy to support from my own program, but doesn't support writing.

If what I'm saying is correct, than my ultimate solution would be the combination of both. I hook-up b) to perform modifications and I use a) all the other time to display real-time diagnosis in my Media Center

confused yet?

 

you cannot do changes on the fly...you can get real-time info from the ECU but changes on the fly...dream on...for the change to take effect...you have to turn off-turn on...unless you plan on doing that while driving...i'd like to watch...hehehe

 

Actually, with AccessPORT you can change pre-definied a/f maps by the click of a button, WITHOUT having to turn the car off. But obviously this isn't a recommendation!!

I thought CAN is a big player on this topic and the way I heard it out, the RX-8's OBD-II is newer and more advanced, and people would be having trouble using standard equipment. That's the reason why I asked if it's just as simple as using one of those units to read values of the ECU.

I'm not going into modification (setting values), my first step will be to read them, and to display them in my own program (if SDK is provided)

 

you are correct about the CAN protocol..I don't think much has been developed in reading this short of an OBD-II reader such as Snap-On's new one (that's $738)...i mean eventually things will come out for this because this is the new standard that is mandatory by 2008?..i think....i may be wrong but I think thats right...AccessPORT so far does not have anything for the 8...but I still would be very weary of manufacturers claiming on the fly changes being successful...i'm not saying impossible but with what i understand not a very good thing to do...

 

Do a search here and on mp3car.com for CAN. You'll find LOTS of good information on the situation with the 8 and what kind of hardware is available.

 

I am not endorsing this but I fould this link looks like what you need:
http://www.ghg.net/dharrison/canscan.htm#

Has anybody used this it looks like fun
I was thinking about getting one