Hack your car

Hey guys, it's been a while since I've posted but I still have my svx =). Unfortunately I don't get to drive my SVX that much because I blew the stereo(sony not stock) one day and haven't had the funds to replace it yet.
I read an article in June's PC Magazine called "Hack your Car". It was about purchasing a diagnostic system that connects to a laptop and you can see all sorts of infomation about how the car is running. They suggest going to a few sites to check them out like www.autotap.com and softwareforcars.com. I found a few that seem to work with subarus and I was curious if the SVX crowd had tried one of these. The price ranges from 300 to 900 dollars which is pretty expensive.
Has anyone used a serial diagnostics program on their car before? I have a ruff idle when i start the car and would like to trouble shoot it myself and i think software like this would help.

[LarryIII]

Hi Kevin,

Glad to hear from you. I hope everything is OK with you.
Do you ever hear anything fron the Blondeman (Eric)?

[svx_commuter]

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for the info. I am interested in something like that. Now I have to get a lap top.

[kuoh]

I helped a friend use an AutoTap on his Corvette. It gives you a lot of information, but doesn't really let you do much (if anything) in the way of adjustments. The newer SVXs with OBDII might work with those, but us folks with older models are out of luck.

KuoH

[svxpert]

http://www.ghg.net/dharrison/palm.htm

Originally posted by LarryIII
Hi Kevin,

Glad to hear from you. I hope everything is OK with you.
Do you ever hear anything fron the Blondeman (Eric)?

Sorry Larry, haven't talked to Eric since i met up with him at Atco Raceway in South Jersey. I see him online once in a while so if I see him I'll say hi and see whats up. Things here are ok just having problems finding a job :/ computer market sucks right now.

[Ovidiu STAN]

I have on of those systems.

Subaru is ISO9141 compatible but the system was introduced (enforced) only on 1996.

Conclusion: You can take advantage of the OBDII only for cars made after 1996.

However, some manufacturers introduced the system before.
The connector should be within 3ft of the steering column, it has 16 pin and is trapezoidal.

I am willing to sell mine for $200. I use it to debug my 98 Isuzu and a Chevy but the one that I have it suposedly work with almost any car.

[svxpert]

<<Sorry Larry, haven't talked to Eric since i met up with him at Atco Raceway in South Jersey. >>

does he, by chance have a aftermarket wing on his SVX?

[Ovidiu STAN]

I have on of those systems.

Subaru is ISO9141 compatible but the system was introduced (enforced) only on 1996.

Conclusion: You can take advantage of the OBDII only for cars made after 1996.

However, some manufacturers introduced the system before.
The connector should be within 3ft of the steering column, it has 16 pin and is trapezoidal.

I am willing to sell mine for $200. I use it to debug my 98 Isuzu and a Chevy but the one that I have it suposedly work with almost any car.

Originally posted by svxpert
<<Sorry Larry, haven't talked to Eric since i met up with him at Atco Raceway in South Jersey. >>

does he, by chance have a aftermarket wing on his SVX?

Nope, it was a black svx. He's from way up in north jersey, but some Imprezas were having a meet and we met them there.