is there a program and like cable link that you can connect to the ecu and have it give you engine read outs to your laptop? where can i get a set up like that? i just recently got a laptop thanks

 

For your car you can go in through the "consult" port. You can buy a serial to consult adapter from the following websites. You can also elect to build your own.

http://www.plmsdevelopments.com/consult_if.htm
http://zcontrol.net/

There are a few different programs that you can use. All of them work with the above boards.

 

2 fast, 2 furious.

My roommate has one of those programs on his laptop. Works really well in GM cars with OBD2, but on his Honda the OBD port is too slow for any useful updates. Might wanna check the baud rate and update speed up your port and ECM before you bother.

 

The consult port on Nissans are actually pretty fast. Polling all 16 sensors simultaneously, the numbers for a single sensor refreshed faster than I could read them. Its fun stuff on the dyno. Trying to drive around watching that is impossible. I had a hard enough time trying to read it riding in the passenger seat. Its also a pretty powerful tool for debugging as well.

 

Then it's good to go. The software my roommate has, I wish I could remember the name, can emulate guages on the screen, which makes it somewhat useful. It's kinda cool.

 

if you have a vw you could use vag-com, ecu explorer, and v-tune, and lemmewinks.

 

hey epstein... do you know of anyone using that product from PLMS? i really intrigued by their product... also it doesnt really say anything as far as prices for these products... how exactly do you connect from your ecu to your laptop? does it connec by means of USB connection? or is there a certain kind of card i need to have built in?

and whats a general estimated cost for the hardware required... i see they offer software for free thats why i am not really to worried about that... thanks :0