Soon to have my N.A back on the road, i am after a device that can tell me the most i can get about my car's performance and read error codes. I have been researching and come down to either a Apexi Neo AFC, or buying a cheap laptop, hard wiring screen and motherboard and compents into the glovebox along with an inverter, and running a 3rd party application like ConceptZ or the likes to do error code reading/reporting, cylinder pressure testing, fuel maps, air flow ect. I work at a IT firm and the hard wiring and installation of such a custom install wont be a problem, also the hard install will allow me to use the laptop to play dvds and store/play mp3's and avi's from hard disk. Any ideas, recommendations?
i have a GREDDY Informeter; it starts beeping and flashing yellow/red for the settings you preset. Eg. Water Temp over 95 Degrees. RPM over 4000. etc. It says it does error codes but i have not tested this functionality (check the manufacturers website). cost me about 390 AU to my door. I think its quite good, compact, stylish and best of all you dont need to wire anything in. It plugs straight into your diagnostic port. I use double sided adhesive tape to stick it above my steering wheel in front of the OEM boost gauge which i no longer use. [http://www.conceptzperformance.com/...Car_Type=300&UID=20080122015944203.213.7.133] if you want something more advanced, be prepared to pay more. I think you can get nissal datascan which will digitally displayed up to about 9 analogue dials from memory. Either get a Carputer or make your own custom car computer. I looked into a carputer. However, they cost about 2k for a double DIN mounted setup. The problem with these is that the screen is hard to read in sunlight. Which for me would be about 50% of the time i was driving[http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/lcd-display/78301-faq-transflective-technology.html]. Custom Setups can be made quite cheaply similar to this : http://www.swtech.com.au/carpc/ Another shortcoming of using office computer type hardware is that it will tend to fail more readily if your car is left in the sun due to thermal stresses: both sustained high cabin temperatures and continual rapid changes in termperature as you get in your hot car and turn the air conditioner on or vice versa. Most of this computer hardware was orignally desined to operate at ambient temps around 25oC in an office type environment. My advise is be reasonable in your expectations and do your homework before you buy. mp3car.com has alot of info on this topic i suggest you have a look at their store and read through their forums to see what kind of results people have experienced.
Interesting read very interesting read, i had read about the informetre, but not look at it as an option. I am really hooked on this InCar PC called Infill 4: Infill G4 I think it would be perfect! 120gb hdd, 1gb Ram, XP Mobile Pro, GPS, Touch Screen, Bluetooth, Wifi, Dual VGA Monitor's For around $2500. Not bad considering it has everything!
i think you can get a cheap one done with a VIA http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/mainboards/motherboards.jsp?motherboard_id=472 this is just 10cm x 7.2cm and works with little or no cooling at all, you can boot it off a CF card or USB memory stick (4gb) run a cut down version of winxp the only thing one would need is a touch screen in the DIN ....that is what i need to google pffft those Infill people use the same $180 VIA mainboard i think just need to find the touch screen! edit: found it here http://store.mp3car.com/Xenarc_700IDT_In_Dash_7_inch_Touch_Screen_VGA_p/mon-017.htm I think it can be done for under 1k
mines costed me about $400 so far and all i actually need to do is install it with a DC-DC regulator and thats about it really. Just wiring so you can do it cheap, just research. Took me about a year to figure out what i want and needed
If you don't mind waiting a month or two, just hold out until forum member Newkleer releases the new version of his ECUtalk display. I've currently got the old version running in my car, and it's great. It can read/clear error codes, access data from most engine sensors (TPS, AAC, Ignition timing, water temp, injector duty, etc.) and also has some basic datalogging capabilities too (0-100kph times, max speed, virtual qtr. mile). Not bad for something that cost less than half what Greddy or APEXi charge.
Programs While were on the topic, what programs would we all recommend for our CarPCs? Nissan Datascan, ECU Talk, Conzult? Anything else to add to the list, i got atleast 10 others but im not too sure on them...
what instamatic said new version will have trip meter screens showing distance, fuel usage, economy, etc, user updatable firmware (so when i add features down the track, like logging to microsd card hopefully), and probably audible alerts for things like temperature, rpm, speed, etc. and of course existing features like check/clear error codes and so on. for carpc software, ecutalk is good for logging and the gauges (especially you can show only say 6 gauges much larger, and log the rest), and it rearranges to any size screen, and does fullscreen. but it doesnt yet have active tests (use tecu for that), or rom dumping (use calumsult for that). nissan datascan is good if you need everything in the one package and use all the extra features regularly. best non-free software, though the rom dumping never works that ive seen (stops after about a minute)
