Arduino programmer: InfoGauge Vanagon project

[boroko]

As far as the connections to the ECU, when I did my Digitool (Darryl Bohler) I opened mine up and just soldered to the connector legs. Not really a big deal, the PCB is pretty tough. Ran the ribbon cable in a slot beside the connector and RtV'd it, but I doubt it needed it. The ribbon cable was a few inches long and had a db25 crimped on it to run forward.

I'm glad to see that this project is starting to get some traction. I'm working on making the hardware available and everyone can do with what they want. Still trying to finalize it before I let into the wild in case there are issues so that everyone doesn't have to buy and build stuff more than once.

lots of hours at work and building a pole barn right now (for my lift) so I haven't spent much time on it lately.

The code (admittedly crude) is here: https://github.com/boroko/InfoGauge

Have a go at improving it. I know I sure could use the help and everyone would enjoy a few different approaches.

Bo
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'87 SyncroWesty: Smokey the Turtle, '85 SubiWesty: Chappie, '84 GTI, '86 GTI in full Rally trim,
previous: 2 Syncro tin tops, 2 Vanagons, 3 busses, 3 Ghias, 2 Jettas, a 411, a gas and a diesel Bunny and about 25 Beetles, one that only drove left.

[jmranger]

[boroko]

When I build a Digitool, and wanted to see an installed ECU without modifying it, I found another ECU and make a "interconnect box" I found one from another model that used the same connector and had little value. Unfortunately, I don't remember which vehicle it was from, but there are others that use the same connectors. I got the ECU and a short length of the harness that went with it. Obviously, a junkyard donor is the best way since you are hacking off the end of a harness. I basically took the donor ECU apart, cut down the box, and reattached the connections with the addition of an accessible connector to go to your tester. I'll upload a picture when I can to show what I did. It should make sense when you see it. BTW, a db25 was a connector that use to be common for serial data on older computers. Pretty commonly available and it has enough pins.

Bo
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'87 SyncroWesty: Smokey the Turtle, '85 SubiWesty: Chappie, '84 GTI, '86 GTI in full Rally trim,
previous: 2 Syncro tin tops, 2 Vanagons, 3 busses, 3 Ghias, 2 Jettas, a 411, a gas and a diesel Bunny and about 25 Beetles, one that only drove left.

[jmranger]

Thanks Bo. I see the concept very well.
I have a crimp-on DB25F connector and a length of 25-pin ribbon cable on my desk, awaiting the $3 DB25 breakout box I ordered on ebay last week. I should have it, oh, somewhere in September I guess...
I'm not afraid of soldering the flat cable inside the ECU, Shoebox's style. I want my future logging module to be pin-compatible with a Shoebox display, just in case. But if I can find a way to do it from outside the ECU, it's even better. But my junkyard hunts are usually not lucky.

[Zeitgeist 13]

Are there any updates to this project?
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[boroko]

Hi Zeitgeist,
The project is still on the bench, mostly working. I have instead been building a pole barn and equipping it to rebuild my '87. Along the way, I got busy designing another board that will interest a number of people. You'll likely hear about those from a trusted source very soon. There are a number already quietly installed and we have just been refining the options and testing before releasing it publicly.

The InfoGauge isn't dead, I just needed a running van to install it in and further develop it. Along those lines, I will be picking up an '85 Westy in the coming days and that will become the test bed while I rebuild the Smokey, the SyncroWesty. I was going to leave today to go get it, but it was -7 here last night, and I'm driving like 7 hours to get it. Knowing the possibility of breakdowns, and the general misery of working in sub-zero temps, the owner and I decided to put it off a few days.

Thanks for bringing it back up. I hadn't seen a lot of interest and it became a personal project, but who knows, I may dust it off and put it out there after I have some time with it in a running van.

bo
_________________
'87 SyncroWesty: Smokey the Turtle, '85 SubiWesty: Chappie, '84 GTI, '86 GTI in full Rally trim,
previous: 2 Syncro tin tops, 2 Vanagons, 3 busses, 3 Ghias, 2 Jettas, a 411, a gas and a diesel Bunny and about 25 Beetles, one that only drove left.

[boroko]

Rereading the entire thread, I realized it wasn't fair to say there was no interest. There was in fact, quite a bit. What I should have said is that no one took the ball and ran with it and developed a super slick software package.

I have learned a few things since I took this on, and they will help me develop and produce it further. Alas, it is down on the list for the time being. I will resurrect it as time allows, and other projects near completion.

Like I have said in the past, its out there, and the hardware only matters on the final implementation, so it shouldn't stop anyone from polishing up the interface in the mean time.

Thanks to all who have shown interest, and I'm sorry I may have slighted those that did.

bo
_________________
'87 SyncroWesty: Smokey the Turtle, '85 SubiWesty: Chappie, '84 GTI, '86 GTI in full Rally trim,
previous: 2 Syncro tin tops, 2 Vanagons, 3 busses, 3 Ghias, 2 Jettas, a 411, a gas and a diesel Bunny and about 25 Beetles, one that only drove left.

[Zeitgeist 13]

Thanks for the updates. I'm just interested to see how folks are integrating Arduino/Raspberry Pi projects into vehicles. I'm particularly focused on building an Arduino interface that allows me to use a Mk4 cluster in my van, even though I have no ECU from which to gather the inputs. I'd be interested in your InfoGauge for my EV as an option to buying a Scangauge.
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[boroko]

As I said earlier, I have a scan gauge and it's useful for what it is. My beef is that there a lot of things people want to watch that aren't part of OBD. Especially on our Vans, and even more so on a camper. To that end, I wasn't happy with gauge pods everywhere in a vehicle I'm in to relax. Want to be able to know what's going on when I care, and ignore it when I don't, and let it alarm when something out of the ordinary happens. Fairly unobtrusive but informative.
By making the code available, people can use it as a template of sorts and do what they want to with it. If there is interest, you could just get code from someone else that has customized something that suits you and with a small bit of familiarization, upload it to your hardware. Maybe a dream, but within reach.

bo
_________________
'87 SyncroWesty: Smokey the Turtle, '85 SubiWesty: Chappie, '84 GTI, '86 GTI in full Rally trim,
previous: 2 Syncro tin tops, 2 Vanagons, 3 busses, 3 Ghias, 2 Jettas, a 411, a gas and a diesel Bunny and about 25 Beetles, one that only drove left.

[drj434343]

Not intending to hijack, but instead to augment, here's my camping oriented Arduino based screen system.

Intended for camping related info instead of driving, it runs from the house battery and is in the rear cabin next to the counter.[/img]

[boroko]

Very nice!
_________________
'87 SyncroWesty: Smokey the Turtle, '85 SubiWesty: Chappie, '84 GTI, '86 GTI in full Rally trim,
previous: 2 Syncro tin tops, 2 Vanagons, 3 busses, 3 Ghias, 2 Jettas, a 411, a gas and a diesel Bunny and about 25 Beetles, one that only drove left.

[Paulbeard]

[boroko]

Hi PaulBeard,
I haven't seen that before. It looks interesting, but I doubt it will run on
Arduino. You would have to add another system, and at that point, a $40 dedicated system looks nice and easy.
Maybe I'm missing something here. Could you expound on what you've found that makes it appealing? I'd like to know more.
bo
_________________
'87 SyncroWesty: Smokey the Turtle, '85 SubiWesty: Chappie, '84 GTI, '86 GTI in full Rally trim,
previous: 2 Syncro tin tops, 2 Vanagons, 3 busses, 3 Ghias, 2 Jettas, a 411, a gas and a diesel Bunny and about 25 Beetles, one that only drove left.

[Paulbeard]

I agree, a $40 dollar gadget is not that big a deal but I wonder how much of the functionality of that could be replicated in an Arduino or Raspberry Pi. From probing the one I have, it seems to have a small linux-like kernel (it does IPv4, has an http listener and sql database) as well the hardware/telecom functions (GPS, cell service). But it's closed.

This open source tracking system looks like it does much the same as the one that comes with these little boxes (the TK 10x). I'm going to see what else it does, once I get my device added to it.
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Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs

[gchristensen]

would love to see this come to light. I have a diesel I would love to attach something like this to.
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Joining now is our new 1982 diesel. This is an ongoing project under construction.

[Sodo]

Me too.

and, as said earlier:

\

[flomulgator]

Are these displays dimmable? I've found that to be a big hurdle when trying to use non-automotive display systems for use while driving.

I love the idea though, and wish I knew how to program these things.
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She's built like a steakhouse, but she handles like a bistro!

[boroko]

[Sodo]

Bo this would rule. I hope yuou can find the time (and support) to get this together. Also would like a datalogger capability to timestamp some "temperature events".
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'90 Westy EJ25, NEW oil rings (!) 2Peloquins, 3knobs, SyncroShop pressure-oiled pinion-bearing & GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox.
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered original gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[boroko]

Sodo,
The things I'm learning on other projects might allow me to add datalogging.
The current project is specifically a datalogger to an SD card with a radio for downloading the info. Very specific function for race cars.
So far, I just need to get the InfoGauge out there. We can add enhancements as we go. Also, remember that each one of these changes adds an surprising amount of work.
Anyway, its not forgotten.

bo
_________________
'87 SyncroWesty: Smokey the Turtle, '85 SubiWesty: Chappie, '84 GTI, '86 GTI in full Rally trim,
previous: 2 Syncro tin tops, 2 Vanagons, 3 busses, 3 Ghias, 2 Jettas, a 411, a gas and a diesel Bunny and about 25 Beetles, one that only drove left.