technicians computer

[Realety81]

After flipping through an uploaded owners manual for my 74 I saw one page that showed a VW tech using a computer into the port on the firewall. Just wondering if anyone has every seen this done and knows what the computers were able to read. Also curious if there is anyone out there that may even have one that they use.

[Greezy Joe]

I saw my brother using one when he worked for a VW Dealer, I worked at a Porche Shop. The plug is hard wired to coil, timing sensor at the bell housing, Alt/reg and batery voltage. Probably a few other things. The hand held thingy plugged in and read it all, no voodoo computer stuff was involved. I have thought about wiring one back in to the 74. Is there a wiring diagram for just that
_________________
Current:74 Ghia Coupe w/ 2276
71 Ghia Vert/top in progress
07 GMC Truck
04 Chrysler Crossfire
73 Harley FLH 93 cid
89 Harley 883 Sportster (1200)


Owned before: 58, 69 Ghia Coupes, 64 Canvas Sunroof, 68, 72, 73, & 74 Bugs, 63 Single Cab, 65 Bus, 66 & 70 Camper
"You have to be smarter than what you're working on"

[candymustang66]

click tab technical and wiring then type1
see schematic
its just test points, nothing more,

single point (panel) test points, very military,
_________________
back to jeeps, my true love... I-6's
finding vw parts that are not junk (even new) , is way too hard!
mines done, and selling 68T1 with no paint. (primer)

[JerryMCarter1]

No computers back then on the VW
_________________
Experience always triumphs over hearsay and You get to select which theory to believe

[19super73]

No, no computers on VW's except just starting earlier on other models with FI and then '75 for the Beetles.
_________________
'73 Super Beetle w/ all the Sport Bug extras
'75 La Grande Beetle, 1st in Class, Das Volks 2011
'75 110 Standard Beetle
'71 Doublecab
'73 412 wagon "Nasenbär"

[Antonio Trejo]

http://youtu.be/aT3UOsQJFNQ
Edwin Buzz Aldrin shows how the ECU works in a Beetle 1972.
_________________
Parts VW
"From Volkswagen of Mexico factory..."
Genuine VW Sedan parts
Genuine VW Ultima Edition parts
Genuine VW Type 2 watercooled parts

[JerryMCarter1]

A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information, or "data." It has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data.
_________________
Experience always triumphs over hearsay and You get to select which theory to believe

[Max Welton]

I think the original "computer" was a person doing mathematical calculations.

The early FI controllers might be considered analog computers.

Max
_________________
The only thing more expensive than cheap parts is mixing cheap parts with stupidity.

[candymustang66]

max nails it
it is a an electronic analog fuel injection controller (we have the schematic)
it has no microprocessor, inside.
it has no brain,
the brain started about 1988 with the Bendix renix ecu. (jeeps)
by brain , it can tell you things are wrong..... (not just passive )
the OBD1 here in usa then OBD2 in 1996 by mandate or earlier by co. whim (mustangs)
depends on year, company and country.

yes , as any devices that can do analog math can be called a computer
and yes, this happens inside many early EFI systems.

but today we discount that. as silly. yes, we were forced to make one in school, so it's real.
an adder junction is not a computer, anymore than a $2 Dollar store calculator might seem to be....
but back then they had such dreams....
the funniest of which is the Russian 3 bit (3 level logic ) computer.
zeros
ones
and maybe.... very funny and in electronic magazines at the time.


i think the GM i8051 based ECUs were some of the very first high volume computers for cars. 80s. ( know and a friend of the guy that made the first one , at GM under contract) it was a POS.
GM at that time, was clueless.what to do. "processors? huh?"
_________________
back to jeeps, my true love... I-6's
finding vw parts that are not junk (even new) , is way too hard!
mines done, and selling 68T1 with no paint. (primer)

[Gerrelt]

I think the OP is talking about this thing:



It's plugged into the white socket in the engine compartment. It could check certain points in the electrical system of the beetle. I think the "computer" could run some tests. Like turning on the lights, and it even could start the engine (yes, it is possible to start the engine through the white socket, you will have to connect the right points).

I always thought it would be nice to create a computer program that could run on a laptop which is connected to that socket. Then you could do the same tests as the original VW diagnostic "computer".

But I am now not interested anymore, I can allready connect my laptop to my beetle, I cheated.. : see: Youtube link

edit: just saw the video Antonio posted..
_________________
homepage
_________________

[JerryMCarter1]

It was sold and described as a diagnostic center
Will someone read it in English for us?

Jerry
_________________
Experience always triumphs over hearsay and You get to select which theory to believe

[mondshine]

The Buzz Aldrin Video linked previously by Antonio pretty much tells the story.

[JerryMCarter1]

hmmm plug wire sensor
_________________
Experience always triumphs over hearsay and You get to select which theory to believe

[Antonio Trejo]

[candymustang66]

look again (body conn, is just a collector of tests points , OPs car)

your lap top will not operate the defogger , HL , or the starter (etc)
you need driver transistors, or a relay to buffer the current to handle such heavy loads. (not to mention the odd hard to find germ.connector)

the lap top also needs A/D converter to take the measurements. (AND SCALER)
all this can be done by hand the old fashioned way,
Jumper clips, and a DMM.
I'd invest in , good tools, good schematics and clean up all the bad grounds and connections in the car.
_________________
back to jeeps, my true love... I-6's
finding vw parts that are not junk (even new) , is way too hard!
mines done, and selling 68T1 with no paint. (primer)

[nikita]

While it did not contain any microprocessors, this "Diagnose-Computer" would have fit the business definition of a computer in its day. Look at the upper-right photo. There is a program card reader, digital readouts and a dot-matrix printer. It probably cost the dealer a bundle of $.

The whole point of this thing, other than just to impress the customer, was to save valuable technician time, while making sure all checks were actually done.

[baccaruda]

If I find anything resembling a computer on my '73 I'm going to rip it off with my bare hands and destroy it.

[JerryMCarter1]

make sure and un -hook the hot wire from the fuse panel before you do it !
_________________
Experience always triumphs over hearsay and You get to select which theory to believe

[Joel]

[JerryMCarter1]

I think you missed his humor Joel,

not big deal --

Jerry
_________________
Experience always triumphs over hearsay and You get to select which theory to believe