Aftermarket computer

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Ride_on
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Joined: 26 May 2009 05:34 pm
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Aftermarket computer

Post by Ride_on » 03 Nov 2009 11:44 pm

I'd really like to have some flexible but unobtrusive monitoring on my 360 Turbo, a small controllable display would be nice, preferably with logging. I'd like fuels pressure, boost pressure, ext temp, oil pressure, oil temp, exh temp, AFR, MPG, not asking that much is it?

I've had a search on the web and found this;

http://www.zeitronix.com/

Not bad but a bit expensive and doesn' even do MPG or have control buttons to change what you monitor. For the money I would be inclined to design and build one myself. I am surprised on the lack of even a simple MPG meter that works off injector pulses and road speed.

This is the business for the display;
http://www.plxdevices.com/multigauges.html

Might even fit in the dash, but no injector sensing, and they cost the earth, $100 each sensor module.

And this is good value for EUR28, no stock at the moment though
http://store.fundamentallogic.com/ecom/ ... cts_id=463
1980 345 DL_______1987 360 GLE (project car restored to GLT spec and B230FT'd)
1984 360 GLT______1987 360 GLT
1983 360 GLS______1989 360 GLE
1985 340 GL_______1986 340 1.4
1985 360 GLS______1995 940 SE 2.3 Turbo Estate (daily)
1987 340 GL 1.7

kaos
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Re: Aftermarket computer

Post by kaos » 04 Nov 2009 09:43 pm

have you looked at a stack system?
Image

Ride_on
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Location: Belfast, N. Ireland

Re: Aftermarket computer

Post by Ride_on » 05 Nov 2009 08:17 pm

I looked at the Stack a while back, and I see they have a smaller auxilliary display system now with most of the sensors I was looking for, some good stuff there for racing. Still no MPG though. I contacted PLX and they are bring out an RPM unit that might do injector dwell, still probably too pricey but it doesn't hurt to dream.

I wonder is it possible to make your own OBD2 output, and then use a standard display?
1980 345 DL_______1987 360 GLE (project car restored to GLT spec and B230FT'd)
1984 360 GLT______1987 360 GLT
1983 360 GLS______1989 360 GLE
1985 340 GL_______1986 340 1.4
1985 360 GLS______1995 940 SE 2.3 Turbo Estate (daily)
1987 340 GL 1.7

MCHUDD
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Re: Aftermarket computer

Post by MCHUDD » 07 Nov 2009 11:30 am

Hi mate.
I once had a mk II 2.8 Ford Granada that had an on board computer thingy that did MPG.
know idea how it worked but could be an idea.
Cheers Mark.

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SteveP
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Re: Aftermarket computer

Post by SteveP » 07 Nov 2009 12:04 pm

That's alot of monitoring :D You could do most of the things you want with some gauges in the accessory gauge panel. I think it was Adam who also managed to fit 3 gauges in the panel too... so that'd give you AFR, oil temp, oil pressure? With the extra dials fitted into the dash cluster for external temp and I'm sure you could fit a calibrated boost gauge where the econometer usually goes.

Ofcourse if you can make it OBD2 compliant it makes things a heck of a lot easier but I can see that being difficult as I don't think any 940 is OBD2. I personally wouldn't worry about an MPG display on a project car :D
1989 - Volvo 360 GLT
1985 - Volvo 360 GLS
2008 - Volvo S60 SE Lux

Ride_on
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Re: Aftermarket computer

Post by Ride_on » 08 Nov 2009 04:24 am

I posted on volvoforums.org about the OBD2 on the 940 and they also confirm no 4 cyl 940s in US after 95.

I don't need to monitor all the things all the time, just say during diagnostics or Engineering, so I didn't want to pollute 360 dash loads of non-volvo gauges.
1980 345 DL_______1987 360 GLE (project car restored to GLT spec and B230FT'd)
1984 360 GLT______1987 360 GLT
1983 360 GLS______1989 360 GLE
1985 340 GL_______1986 340 1.4
1985 360 GLS______1995 940 SE 2.3 Turbo Estate (daily)
1987 340 GL 1.7

Ride_on
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Location: Belfast, N. Ireland

Re: Aftermarket computer

Post by Ride_on » 28 Nov 2010 07:18 pm

I have some further thoughts on this. Looking at my requirements I don't actually see a need for gauges permanently taking up my dash board, a flexible programmable one would be really nice that flashed up readings out of spec. but most of the time I can't do anything about it until returning home. I don't intend to do racing but you never know, and I have thought about drag strip.

The closest thing I can get to is an analogue data logger, which is a standard bit of electronics kit that you would mostly hook up to a laptop for later analysis, you can get alarm outputs, but we already have alarm switches for oil, temp and so on. Still a few hundred quid but you are into that money with gauges anyway, mind you most of the cost is in the sensors it seems.

Any thoughts on what one actually uses gauges for, that warning lights don't help with. Mostly I think its to do with engine tuning, for which data logging would be better anyway.

Anyway in my surfing I have found this nice MPG meter, which says its available in the US although intended for 2 wheels for some reason. Can't seem to get a price or ordering info;

http://www.mcnallyelectronics.com/mpg_digital_gauge.htm

This is also functional, but needs a bit of construction and programming equipment;

http://www.markdepot.com/multi/
1980 345 DL_______1987 360 GLE (project car restored to GLT spec and B230FT'd)
1984 360 GLT______1987 360 GLT
1983 360 GLS______1989 360 GLE
1985 340 GL_______1986 340 1.4
1985 360 GLS______1995 940 SE 2.3 Turbo Estate (daily)
1987 340 GL 1.7

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foggyjames
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Re: Aftermarket computer

Post by foggyjames » 29 Nov 2010 01:36 am

Interesting question! Quite a few of the motorsport-orientated units will do what you want, but at a price.

Most programmable engines management systems will do the logging of engine parameters you're looking for, but not the "trip computer" type stuff like MPG.

Tricky one...I don't really have an answer right now which does everything you want in one box...especially at a decent price.

cheers

James
VOC 300-series Register Keeper
'89 740 Turbo Intercooler
'88 360 Turbo Intercooler
'85 360 GLT
'81 343 GLS R-Sport
'79 343 DL
'70 164
...and some modern FWD nonsense to get me to work...

Nimminz
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Re: Aftermarket computer

Post by Nimminz » 01 Dec 2010 04:51 pm

I'm also interested in monitoring stuff on the car, don't have a turbo but still like to have things flashing away on the dash.

I like the look of the DIY one you posted:
http://store.fundamentallogic.com/ecom/ ... cts_id=463

But would want more than just MPG, I'd want to have the option of monitoring everything. If the car's got a sensor, why not be able to see its reading. On the peugot i had voltage, amps, water temp, air/fuel ratio. They were all individual guages and took up most of the dash:

Image
I had to make some extra holders lol.

Having them all on 1 LCD display would be good. I had aprogram on my old laptop which you could (if you had a lead) connect to the OBD port and measure anything on a customisable display. As 300s don't have OBD this wouldn't work :(

I was thinking of buying a couple of kits from here that use 10 LEDs for voltage and air-fuel mix and incorporating them into a small panel somewhere.
http://www.jaycarelectronics.co.uk/prod ... 7&form=CAT

Trying to keep an OEM look is quite difficult when adding guages :(
'88 360 +T LSD - sold
'87 760 TDI (D24TIC) - sold
'04 V40 D sport (F9Q, decat, Remapped, launch control)
'89 740 SE (b230ft, 12psi, V-cam, headwork, 'remapped', banded steels)
'86 340 DL 1.4

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Chris_C
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Re: Aftermarket computer

Post by Chris_C » 01 Dec 2010 06:46 pm

Jaycar are an awesome place :D Granted nearly all the projects they sell are from electronics magazines, but they are super cheap and normally really well designed.

I'm working on something for the Fenix 3 obd port to an LCD, does the 900 stuff have any obd? Wouldn't have thought it'd be more than a firmware change if I finally make some hardware.
'89(G) 340 GLE B172k
'03 S60 D5 SE, '91 (J) MX5, 1954 Cyclemaster
Ex:
'89(F) 340 GL F7R (ex B172k) - Fake -> SBKV 300 Runner Up 08, 12; '91(H) 340 GL B14.4E - Kar; '88(F) 360 GLT B200E - Jet -> BKV 300 Runner Up 09; '89(G) 360 GLT B200E - Beast

Nimminz
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Re: Aftermarket computer

Post by Nimminz » 01 Dec 2010 09:28 pm

I'm sure my dads old 960 had an obd port on it, that was on a 3L inline six engine
'88 360 +T LSD - sold
'87 760 TDI (D24TIC) - sold
'04 V40 D sport (F9Q, decat, Remapped, launch control)
'89 740 SE (b230ft, 12psi, V-cam, headwork, 'remapped', banded steels)
'86 340 DL 1.4

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L14MNP
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Re: Aftermarket computer

Post by L14MNP » 01 Dec 2010 09:48 pm

He will have an OBD 2 shaped diag port when he converts the car to turbo. Assuming he uses the main body loom.
STREETO WITHDRAWL
INTO BURNOUTSsince1982

Ride_on
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Re: Aftermarket computer

Post by Ride_on » 02 Dec 2010 12:55 pm

L14MNP wrote:He will have an OBD 2 shaped diag port when he converts the car to turbo. Assuming he uses the main body loom.
Yes, but its not ODB2 protocol and fairly limited. Waste of time IMO, the older flashy LED engine bay diag was handier on the pre-96 B230 cars. Seems to have been a failed attempt to satisfy the US market, they stopped using that Engine in 96, the same time the OBD2 regs came in. I don't think firmware is available and most sensors are just warning lights, if you want measurement of oil pressure/temp etc you need to add new sensors in new positions mostly.

Its seems the MPGguino is no longer available, and most of the data loggers are very expensive and don't do pulse width (nevermind accumulation) for MPG, but I guess I could make an adaptor.

The LED voltage displays are quite good, they have a very fast response and can indicate varying voltage. Helped me with a problem of a bad ground to the Alt field coil in my 345.
1980 345 DL_______1987 360 GLE (project car restored to GLT spec and B230FT'd)
1984 360 GLT______1987 360 GLT
1983 360 GLS______1989 360 GLE
1985 340 GL_______1986 340 1.4
1985 360 GLS______1995 940 SE 2.3 Turbo Estate (daily)
1987 340 GL 1.7

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Chris_C
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Re: Aftermarket computer

Post by Chris_C » 02 Dec 2010 02:13 pm

Shame about the MPGuino, that was a nice project but I havn't followed it for a long while.

I'm a bit lucky really, the Fenix 3 on the F7R must be one of the first proper ecus, I have proper sensors everywhere and they are all available, just in a supposed OBD1 plug which doesn't conform to anything, but I've finally got my head round it.
'89(G) 340 GLE B172k
'03 S60 D5 SE, '91 (J) MX5, 1954 Cyclemaster
Ex:
'89(F) 340 GL F7R (ex B172k) - Fake -> SBKV 300 Runner Up 08, 12; '91(H) 340 GL B14.4E - Kar; '88(F) 360 GLT B200E - Jet -> BKV 300 Runner Up 09; '89(G) 360 GLT B200E - Beast

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