The check-engine light on my car went off a few days ago. I had a problem before with some rough idling, and it looks like it’s a common problem, probably requiring either new plug wires, or coil pack (this can be epoxied for cheap – will look into it next month when the GTI VR6 Library is back online). My intention was to check it out with an OBD II tool. Turns out a friend has an OBD II to serial cable, which is great, although it’s a male connector, which, err, sucks. Looks like I’m not going to get around buying some hardware. The question is whether to go home-made (~$15), cheap (enclosure) (~$90), or whole hog (~$280)
- jeff noxon: Opendiag Schematics & PCB Layout – build your own OBD II interface
- ScanTool.net – selling OBD-II interfaces, cables; also some free diag software
- OpenDiag – eventually creating GPL’d OBD II tools?
- Multiplex Engineering Diagnostic Interfaces
- OBDII Automotive Scan Tool and Virtual Dashboard
- Ross-Tech – makers of VAG-COM software (speaks native VW/Audi, can do all kinds of cool shiz)