New Diagnostic Software for MBE ECU

[EvoOlli]

In the last free days I wrote a new Diagnostic Software for our SpeedSix engines with the MBE ECU. The Application shows all values and sensor states at a glance:





It is possible to clear the fault log, reset the throttle and the adaptive maps. Further there's the possibility to record a logfile with all values which can be opened from Excel or any other spredsheet application:



I hope, the application is self-explaining. The Log-Files will be recorded in the program directory.

Here's the Download-Link for MBETool:

Version 0.97 from 13.January 2019:
www.wiechens.de/mbetool/mbetool.zip

0.90 : First official release
0.91 : Possibility to select Comport by manual Entry
0.92 : Changed Comport Selection, works now without admin-rights
0.93 : Detection of loss of connection (for example after switching off ignition)
Re-Dection of connection (for example after switching on the ignition while program is running)
Adjustable Window Size with Font-Resizing of the Data-Display
0.94 : Detection of AJP V8, changes for different settings, hope it works :-)
Change in communication with ECU to avoid erratic readings while ECU is busy
0.95 : Automatic discovery of local country settings regarding the creation of CSV Files
Found a way to reset the Log History in the ECU (The values you can read with the Original
Software unter 'Interrogate Logs')
Possibility to select the output folder for the Logfiles
Simple Graphic Scope with the possibility to disable certain values and set the speed of the Logging
Program remembers the Window Position, Size and Maximized-State
Shortcut-Keys are now available:
F1 -> Help/Info
F2 -> Enable/Disable Logfile
F3 -> Enable/Disable Scope-Window
F5 -> Reset Fault Codes
F6 -> Reset Throttle
0.96 : Better Exception-Handling when COM-Port gets lost (for example while dropping a Bluetooth Connection, unplugging USB-Adapter)
Different Layout of CSV File for compatibility with my TVRTool and the MBEAnalyze Program
Change the timing for access to the ECU, Logging is now 4 rows/second
Double Click on 'Throttle'-Text switches between Throttle % and Throttle Map Site Index
Scope with more intervals, zoom function. Click on the Scope stops it
Different arrangement of lines in scope function, most graphs are now in their own grid
0.97 : Detection of very old 928 ECUs




Please give me a response, positive or negative ;-)

Edited by EvoOlli on Sunday 12th January 11:58

Edited by EvoOlli on Friday 1st August 06:44

Edited by EvoOlli on Sunday 12th July 10:19

[EvoOlli]

... obsolete ...

Edited by EvoOlli on Tuesday 31st December 13:03

[EvoOlli]

...checked it on my 64bit-Server, worked...

Maybe it's a problem with your users-rights. Could you please start the program with 'as administrator' (Right-Click on Program, then as admin) ?

But Anyway, will program the possibility to edit the Serialport manually.

[EvoOlli]

New version 0.91 online for selecting the COM-Port manual. Can confirm that the empty Serialport-List is User-Rights-Dependent. Will try to use a different logic.....

Edited by EvoOlli on Tuesday 31st December 13:08

Edited by EvoOlli on Tuesday 31st December 13:09

[EvoOlli]

Problem with Comport-Selection solved with V0.92

[EvoOlli]

@Englishman:
Outout Buffer Overflow: At the moment it's as it is...I dont' check for no response over a longer time.
Regarding the Reset Fault Code:Please check with the 'original' software if the fault code disappeares...problem for me was to find out the codes to reset the various things....was a little bit of a trial and error, the faults I simulated where all cleared by the command. Which fault didn't clear ?

@black11s:
Mmmhh Windows 8... I like it as much as stomach problems..Do you get an error message starting the program ?

Regarding the Bluetooth OBD2 Device: It won't work, because the MBE doesn't speak the protocol. You can use a Bluetooth to serial converter, but it won't make any sense.


BTW, i wish you all a happy new year !!!

Edited by EvoOlli on Tuesday 31st December 19:04

Edited by EvoOlli on Tuesday 31st December 19:06

[EvoOlli]

Hi Peter,

I understand what you mean...I'm getting old too ;-)

I did the program for me, especially in that size because I have two really small mobile computers: A Sony UX1XN and a Viliv N5. Both have a resolution of around 1024x600, so that was my design goal.

But I think it would be a good idea to make the windows resizeable and so the Text will be getting bigger with the size of the window. Will put it on the Todo-List.

[EvoOlli]

@Pete
Program is written in Delphi, I use some bibs that aren't public, so it won't be possible. Regarding the protocol: I don't have written down anything, so it's all in the source code.

@XTR
Yes, all SpeedSix TVR uses an MBE ECU, it's basis is a 941, but it's different. Don't know if my program works with a standard 941.

[EvoOlli]

Yes, the standard cable for a TVR has only 3 wires: TX,RX and GND. There's even a special 3 pin plug in the car or you can get the data from the OBD-Plug of the newer cars.
But I think for a 'standard' ECU you need some resistors to tell the ECU to go into communication mode. Here's an example from MBE:

[EvoOlli]

Thanks for all the feedback. I made some small changes to the Tool, look in the first post with a list of them...

[EvoOlli]

@Englishman

Regarding the broken font: Fix is uploaded, didn't calculate with such a high screen resolution :-)
Will think about the Directory idea. But first I want to realize a scope for some of the parameters, like the original software, but with less values and enabling/disabling of single ones.

@Scotty_D
Should work with an AJP V8, but I would like to change the screen according to the engine. Could someone try the program on an AJP and give me a feedback, maybe a Hardcopy of the screen or at least the ECU ID ?

[EvoOlli]

Hi Scott,

after connectig MBETool will give an ECU ID in the Status Bar in the lower part of the window.

A screen grab would be perfect...you can mail it direct to me: oliver at wiechens.de

[EvoOlli]

paul1962 said:

Just tried on my Tamora and works great

Would it be possible to download the adaptive maps like the original software allowed ?

First thanks a lot for trying and the positive response....Regarding downloading the adaptive maps: If I will find the time in the next month I will do it. At the moment I program a scope like the original one.
I will get a new ECU in April, so I have to finish all the work before that date :-)

[EvoOlli]

Thanks :-) but you should clear your water temperature fault ;-) Hope it works with my tool...

[EvoOlli]

Hi Paul,

thanks for the response....regarding the Semikolon:

Maybe it's a language/country related problem. If I open a CSV File in Excel here in Germany I need the Semikolon as a separator. I think it's because of the comma we use as a decimal separator.
I thought that Excel detects this automatically and import this CSV file with a Semikolon everywhere. But as it seems it ain't.

So I will program the export different for countrys with a Point as a decimal separator. Will do that for the next version.

Yesterday I could use the program the first time while driving the car and I noticed that sometimes, I think while the Engine ECU is very busy, it drops some bytes from the communication and the display shows erratic values. There's the same behaviour with an AJP V8 ECU. I will investigate this and hopefully bring out a corrected version in the next days.

[EvoOlli]

Hi Paul,

biggest problem is the missing flow control and that the ECU inserts zeros instead of dropping the whole sentence. I will have a look at it on the weekend and hopefully find a solution...have some ideas at the moment to get around it.

[EvoOlli]

New version 0.95 out, did a lot of changes internally to stop the erratic reading while the ECU is busy, hope it helps. Some more new features:

- Detection of AJP V8, changes for different settings, hope it works :-)

- Automatic discovery of local country settings regarding the creation of CSV Files

- Found a way to reset the Log History in the ECU (The values you can read with the Original Software unter 'Interrogate Logs'). Until now the only way I knew was to change the Dallas Clock Chip to a new one to reset these
values.

- Possibility to select the output folder for the Logfiles

- Simple Graphic Scope with the possibility to disable certain values and set the speed of the Logging

- Program remembers the Window Position, Size and Maximized-State

- Shortcut-Keys are now available:
F1 -> Help/Info
F2 -> Enable/Disable Logfile
F3 -> Enable/Disable Scope-Window
F5 -> Reset Fault Codes
F6 -> Reset Throttle

Have Fun !

[EvoOlli]

Sorry, no Android or iOS version...it's not the environment I'm working in...
Aide started an Android App last year, but I don't know how far he has come.

I'm planning a small version for the Arduino board. This board could be fitted for example with a 16x2 LCD Display. So it would be a small, portable, low cost diagnose system for the MBE.

[EvoOlli]

Hi Trev,

sorry, not possible. The Oil Temperature is only fed to the Dash Display / Dash ECU, not the Engine ECU. So the Engine ECU doesn't know anything about it and MBETool can't show it. MBETool shows all values that are available.

[EvoOlli]

Got your mail, but you have it answer for yourself :-)

Regarding the throttle value: Looks more then a not properly adjusted or broken Throttle pot. Does the value change when you push the throttle ? Maybe you need to rotate it...but it could be broken already by overturning.

BTW: Reset throttles should be done with a engine idling.