View Full Version : CarPC Tuning?


rotarykillz
05-19-2009, 08:59 AM
Okay, so I've done this big thing with installing a CarPC into my 8. I've got it hooked up to the OBDII Harness and can get readings from the car no problem. What I would like to know if there's any way the car can be fine tuned via CarPC. I spent $1000 on the CarPC and would rather not have to buy an Access Port b/c it seems like I already have one in a sense.

I tried doing a search on this forum for past dicussions of tuning from a CarPC, but couldn't find anything.

Is it possible?

Or is the OBDII interface to PC read only?

If it is possible, what's a good software and is there anyone offering tune support/maps (at a cost). Not afraid to spend money. I just want to be cost effective! :)

-Derek

rotarykillz
05-20-2009, 01:23 PM
Bump! No Info on this? Can you not apply tuning via PC. Does have to happen via a Cobb type instrument?

fastlaneracing
05-20-2009, 07:52 PM
Why not Hymees Protuner? look down in this section.

MazdaManiac
05-20-2009, 07:57 PM
You could run the Hymee ProTuner on the CarPC with Hymee's hardware.

It would be pretty much impossible to do any useful tuning with it on your typical 7" CarPC touch screen, but you could run it.

On my car, I run the Cobb AccessTUNER software on my CarPC, but I still prefer to do the actual adjustments on something with more screen real estate, a real keyboard and mouse.

Kane
05-20-2009, 08:01 PM
Yeah - one thing me and Nester are trying to do is mount a full size tablet PC in his car (with a 14 inch monitor) - and that is just to view / tune Int-X which has no where near the number of variables - logs - tables - etc of a PCM flasher.

Plus the AP Race is not real time is it? I know the Hymee and Like HP Tuners stuff is all log, tune then flash type.

MazdaManiac
05-20-2009, 08:20 PM
Yeah - one thing me and Nester are trying to do is mount a full size tablet PC in his car (with a 14 inch monitor)

Are you kidding?
A 14" monitor in view of the driver? Is this an SUV?
That's retarded.

Kane
05-20-2009, 09:57 PM
Not my car man.... but ironically it will physically fit in there; replace the entire center console - use it for gauges and stereo.

Point is that with the stylus I can barely tune the Int-X on the screen never mind a PCM flash tool.

chickenwafer
05-20-2009, 10:03 PM
To reprogram the PCM you will need some sort of flash tool (like the COBB AP or Hymee). The CarPC can't do it on it's own- it requires proprietary software and hardware to interface.

I have a 7" touch screen monitor for my CarPC and tuning off it is difficult. It's handy for viewing the dashboard but like Jeff said it's MUCH easier to tune and make adjustments with a full size monitor, full keyboard and mouse. I have a mini XBOX USB keyboard but it isn't fully functional nor full size.

Not to mention viewing off the tiny 7" screen from the drivers seat is hard; the COBB RACETuner software is in pretty small resolution. It's honestly easier to use a laptop, also since the COBB doesn't really take any live-tuning adjustments.

rotarykillz
05-20-2009, 10:07 PM
Well I'm not talking about doing a lot of adjustments but basically using it as the hardware instead of the Cobb Port and having a software that connects.

I can do all the prep work on a laptop (even be RDP'd into the carpc)

So MM, could I have a setup like this and still buy mapping services from you?

The primary reason I want to do this is b/c I have the CarPC hooked up to the OBDII already. I don't want to have to disconnect that for any reason at all if I can avoid. The secondary reason is to put this CarPC to some further usage :)

So the Cobb software connects directly to OBDII?

Thanks again. I'm very very bad about planning things way in advanced.

rotarykillz
05-20-2009, 10:13 PM
To reprogram the PCM you will need some sort of flash tool (like the COBB AP or Hymee). The CarPC can't do it on it's own- it requires proprietary software and hardware to interface.

I have a 7" touch screen monitor for my CarPC and tuning off it is difficult. It's handy for viewing the dashboard but like Jeff said it's MUCH easier to tune and make adjustments with a full size monitor, full keyboard and mouse. I have a mini XBOX USB keyboard but it isn't fully functional nor full size.

Not to mention viewing off the tiny 7" screen from the drivers seat is hard; the COBB RACETuner software is in pretty small resolution. It's honestly easier to use a laptop, also since the COBB doesn't really take any live-tuning adjustments.

Okay so from this information, I do need additional hardware. But how do I keep everything integrated and interconnected? It sounds like its NOT possible.

I don't care to do Real Time tuning. I just want to record readings and upload PCM from the CarPC instead of the PCM hardware (like Cobb AP).

myriadshalaks
05-20-2009, 10:44 PM
would the cobb work if it ran through the car pc into the obdii? so the cobb is connected to the car pc and the car pc is connected to the obdii. there's probably a way. maybe.

that way you wouldn't have to disconnect the car pc. :shrug:

Kane
05-20-2009, 10:52 PM
You guys are all talking about machine level language.... if you can reverse engineer the Cobb like that - then fuck it and write your own flash tool.

MazdaManiac
05-21-2009, 01:01 AM
Not machine, but probably assembly.
In any event, I wouldn't bother.
You aren't gonna tune your car while you are driving it.

Anyone that would seriously attempt to tune while driving is going to do a splendid job for sure.

chickenwafer
05-21-2009, 01:12 AM
Okay so from this information, I do need additional hardware. But how do I keep everything integrated and interconnected? It sounds like its NOT possible.

I don't care to do Real Time tuning. I just want to record readings and upload PCM from the CarPC instead of the PCM hardware (like Cobb AP).

Yes the COBB has a dongle that plugs directly into the OBD-II port and has a USB Mini port on it. You can use a UBS Mini to USB cable to connect it to the car PC. But you MUST have the dongle in order to do anything COBB related. You also need the handheld to do any flashing.

But with your car connected thru the COBB with the AccessTUNER Race software you can view a live dashboard with engine parameters, map in realtime, and datalog directly to your hdd.

would the cobb work if it ran through the car pc into the obdii? so the cobb is connected to the car pc and the car pc is connected to the obdii. there's probably a way. maybe.

that way you wouldn't have to disconnect the car pc. :shrug:

Nope, the COBB has to be connected directly to the dongle into the OBD-II port.