Permanent ecu to laptop connection?

[Buster4.2]

I was wondering how feasible this would be?

Thought it might be interesting to have a screen where the middle speaker currently resides displaying engine readout details etc. I have seen systems advertised for year 2000 Audis etc which must work off the OBD port.

Has anyone done this?

What would be required to do a sensibly priced install? (non-IT guy asking!)

[trooper1212]

ahem
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=103868&f=6&h=0&hw=tft

I've still not actually plugged it in to the ECU yet, but I have all the bits, it's just a matter of finding the time as the Golf is taking up my weekends at the moment.

Any specific question let me know and I'll do my best to answer.

[Buster4.2]

Many thanks

[expat]

Trooper

What are all the bit that are needed to plug in to the ECU and how much are they and where can I get them form ?

Also I will required some instructions on how to use the bits. Normaly I would leave all this stuff up to the dealer, whoever my Cerbera and I (and the wife and the dog) have moved up to the most Northly place in the UK and I fear I will have to fend for myself for most problems. Saying that the car has only been back to the dealer for an unscheduled visit once in the last 6 years for a minor problem and has never realy let me down. So fingers crossed.

[trooper1212]

Right then! A quick rundown on what i've done and what you'll need.

Equipment needed:
7" TFT touchscreen display (about £200 from ebay for a Lilliput screen)
Laptop (I bought an old Pentium 2 400MHz machine from work for £120)
Power inverter (again from ebay, about £30)
Laptop ECU Software. (Somebody on here will be able to help you out if you ask nicely )
RS232 Cable (ebay again, about a fiver)

Fitting is pretty simple if you just want to play around, but more complex if you want it all hidden and looking perfect.

Fitting steps/advice:
Fitting the TFT screen into the centre console is easy, just make a template, cut out the shape needed (I used plywood) and cover the ply in a suitable material. If you make the fit tight enough, then the TFT screen holds itself in place.
I have my laptop installed in the rear passenger side footwell.
Run all the TFT cables behind the centre console, the whole centre section will lift enough for you to push the cable under with a little effort.
Plug in the power inverter to the cigarette lighter and hide the cable as best as possible. I have mine running behind the TFT and the inverter sitting in the passenger footwell. You'll need to earth the inverter to get rid of interference, but I've still got to do that.
Plug that laptop into the power inverter and run the serial cable to the ECU and away you go!

My system currently runs Satnav using Infomap Navigator (£40) and a GPS signal from my Road Angel, but you can use any GPS receiver.
I've also got iTunes running via a simple phono jack to tape deck adaptor, with the cable run under the centre console. You'll need to do this too if you want voice navigation.


As I said, I haven't yet connected the ECU to the laptop, but I don't see any problems when I do get round to it.

Things still to do:
Connect the laptop to the ECU.
Hide the laptop in a better place, probably by rigging a shelf under the passenger side dash.
Hide the power inverter in the same place.
Move the TFT down a bit as it is difficult to see the top of the screen in it's current position.
Wire the power supply more closely to the car ignition, so I don't have to press as many switches and buttons when I want to use the system.

When you do buy a laptop, make sure it has enough Serial and USB connections, the TFT uses a USB for the touchscreen, the GPS will use either USB or serial and the ECU uses a serial.

Have fun

[rjben]

That looks like an interesting project! When I get my garage i think thats going to be no 1 on the list.

Trooper, do you know where I can get the ECU software from?

[rjben]

Help me before I spend too much! Lots of nice links to mini PC's, inverters, touch screens etc.....

www.cartft.com/

www.pcmediastore.co.uk/

www.via.com.tw/en/VInternet/carpc.jsp

www.xenarcdirect.com/search_results.asp?txtsearchParamCat=10&txtsearchParamType=ALL&txtsearchParamMan=ALL&txtsearchParamVen=ALL&iLevel=1

www.xenarc.com/product/mp-fl8.html


There are just too many possibilities! GPS conection from Road Angel for navigation. Link this stream with output from a digital camera ,accelerometer and ECU data and you can have synced telemetry! Plus you have the bonus of a massive MP3 / DVD player.

[trooper1212]

rjben said:

There are just too many possibilities! GPS conection from Road Angel for navigation. Link this stream with output from a digital camera ,accelerometer and ECU data and you can have synced telemetry! Plus you have the bonus of a massive MP3 / DVD player.

I was going to install a camera pointing out the rear bumper for reversing, but then I thought I could just turn round and look

[rjben]

Yep, I was thinking more about track days etc. Having video with G's, track position and ECU data would be pretty interesting.

For the moment I'd just like to get a PC in there with touch screen though. What I'd really like is a touch screen that pops out of the slot for the radio. After all there is no real need for a radio when you have an MP3 and DVD player (PC). Can't seem to find any that are just VGA touchscreens though, they all seem to be integrated with other devices such as satnav etc.

Any ideas?

Cheers,

Rob