Dianostics Software
 

Has anyone had any luck with notebook diagnostics software to tap in to the OBD-1 connector? I have a 92LSL, and was hoping to be able to use a notebook to diagnose/verify the effect of mods or failures.

Ian

I haven't, but this brings up an interesting question I have.

The 'pre-delivery inspection' video shows the tech using a 'Select Monitor.' Is this something I can get my hands on? Would I have to get it through Subaru? Would they even sell it to me?

i got one
 

Subaru sold me one it works great really need one for my car when i first got it and handy little tool if u have other subaru's just like a gameboy put in a new cartage and your good to go with the right wire harness too of couse...cant remember how much it was though but i got it cause i know the people that own the place...i would say a must have though or a fun toy either way you should be able to get one

I want one!
 

Price? Is there a part number on it that you can pass along? This would certainly beat "counting flashing lights" on the dash:D
-Bill

Re: I want one!
 

I agree - plus, it seemed like the Select Monitor could tell you all kinds of things that a blinking MIL couldn't.

i think it was...
 

when i got my select moniter form subaru it was about $500...but that came with all the bells and wistles every cable for subarus and software and crap even got the svx tech manual too...but i did know the guy that owned the place...actually bought my Legacy, my Svx, my dads legacy, and my sisters RS from him so i dont know if i got a deal or not but with all my subaru family its very handy:cool:

Is there a part number on it?

Yeah, ditto that!
 

I've found ODBII readers in the $150 range. Having a '92, I'm looking for ODBI, so I'm definitely interested in a "plain vanilla" version.
-Bill

There really is no such thing as a 'plain vanilla' OBDI (a misnomer, by the way) for Japanese or european cars. There were some scanners labeled as "Generic', but that term was associated with the fact that they did Ford, GM and Chrysler and little else, if anything (maybe some re-badged imports.) If you should happen to find some off-the-wall scanner that will do pre-OBDII Japanese cars it is doubtful that it will hook up to a Subie. Toyota, Nissan and Honda are the most likely to be found, as they made a few more of them.

I do driveability repairs on all makes, every day I'm at work. I don't have an Asian cartridge for any of my scanners, it really doesn't pay to buy them, let alone update them each year. If someone were to bring their '92 SVX in to me tomorrow I'd pull the codes the same way anyone else here does. A scanner might do it quicker, but not $500 - $1500 quicker. If it provided a datastream of the sensor information it could help an experienced tech, time-wise, but as I said, you soon learn to not trust that info. If you see something peculiar in the datastream you'll use a graphing multi-meter at the sensor to verify. If the same info is present at the sensor, fine, if not you have a circuit or ECU problem. Do you see where I'm going here?

You have a couple options: watch Ebay for a used pro' scanner that has a Japanese cartridge and cables included. Even the OTC and Snap-On scanners (what mechanics generally use if not hooked up with the OE setup) aren't all that great. The other alternative is to realize that a scanner only tells you what the ECU 'sees' coming in from the sensors, processes and sends back down to the data link. A lot can happen to a signal by the time it reaches the data link. Poor connections, a failing or intermittent ECU problem, etc. can send you on so many wild goose chases that you learn not to trust anything a scanner reports as gospel. You'll always verify what you see with a meter, unless you're willing to risk your reputation and your customer's money. So why not save some money and invest in a graphing multi-meter and forget the scanner? With cars all going OBDII and beyond, anything you spend on a 'OBDI' scanner will soon be money wasted anyway. There are even GMM and labscope packages available for laptops and PDAs at reasonable prices. Check out EASE software, EngineMate (labscope due in June), etc.

Just don't fall into the lump of people that think that diagnosing auto electronics is just a matter of hooking up a scanner and having it tell you what is wrong, it just doesn't work that way. I work with three different scanners (total around $8000), a Fluke Scopemeter (another $2500), a Snap-On Vantage GMM ($2200) and a Bear Pace 400 (around $40,000 when new.) I have in excess of $80,000 in personal tools and when I attend a training seminar it usually costs $150 - $300 for eight hours, and no, I don't mean college hours, I'm talking eight, sixty-minute hours. My reason for spouting all of this out is that if you buy a scanner, etc. and don't use it enough or understand what in heck you're trying to accomplish with it , you'll end up with a little plastic box, sitting in the corner collecting dust, that cost you several hundred dollars and won't even tune in an AM station.

Beav

Thanks for that good advice. Sometimes when we think that a piece of equipment will save us some time or do a better job of it, it just isn't so. A lot can be invested and the true value is never utilized. :(

Beav,
Yep, I definitely get your point. I passed several of the mechanics certification tests when I was in high school (went off to college before I could meet the "practical" aspect of certification), so I really appreciate what skills people like you bring to the table! Guess my questions on the existence of a scanner were really an attempt to save my aging eyes from having to stare at "blinks" on the dashboard for an extended period of time:D
-Bill