Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Group Buy OBD-II software group buy

Bob Baylock
I haven't had light yet since(only 35k on 98 Mystique LS lucky?) 07/97 however the potential to get many with the OBD-II is much greater. I like the idea an "ORF" like me might learn something and hopefully be able to avoid over paying at the dealer.
I'm still trying to figure out the difference between the 3-combo and Tricom.
Paul
Jason F.- Thanks for the heads up!

F111D F wrote:

I'm still trying to figure out the difference between the 3-combo and Tricom.

  As far as I can tell, the difference is this:  The bottom product works with only one of three possible types of cars.  There is a component, referred to as a ?gateway router? which determines which type of car it will work with.  In ordering the bottom product, you have to specify which of the three router types you want, and then this product will only work with the cars that are compatible with that router.  The Triple Combo includes all three routers, so for any OBD?II-compliant vehicle, you simply need to select and use the correct one of the three routers.

  From <http://www.obd-2.com>:

TRICOM is a industrial strength, all cars triple router with compact molded connector case additional memory that can provide improved acquisition for multiple computer, heavy traffic cars, that have no dedicated lines $182.

  I think this means, basically, that the TRICOM has all three routers built into it, with no need to manually switch between them, and also that it contains more memory, which allows more reliable operation under certain conditions.

wife helping me type,Paul fell off ladder while working on my screened in porch today.
Fracture left wrist right arm in-sling torn ligiments, bell rung etc etc not to mention scared me to death.
He's all of sudden bugging about this group buy on OBD-2 thing.
could someone e-mail us if the final ok for approval has been sent to call Alex Peper.
he got something but doesn't think it's final?
He's he's missed two offers and doesn't want to miss again. Goof-ball should be worried about his injuries!
He's similing!!
Nancy for Paul
ntaceng@sprintmail.com
If anyone can help I'll take it from there, Paul says he thinks we are suppose to call Alex with the order?
Thanks

  My 3-Combo just arrived today.  It was waiting for me when I got home from work.  As luck would have it, my CEL was on, so I wasted no time in making use of my new toy to find out why.

  It turns out that I was apparently mistaken in my guess about how the 3-Combo differs from the Tricom.  I had expected that the 3-Combo would include the three gateway routers as separate parts, and that, in using it, you would have to select and install the appropriate router for the vehicle you are using it with.  It turns out to be a simple unit, with a small black box having a grey cable coming out one end and terminating in a DB-9 RS-232 connector, and a blue cable coming out the other end terminating in an OBD-II connector.  I guess all three routers are installed inside the black box, and it automagically selects the correct one; I had thought that only the Tricom and Indo-3 versions would be this simple.

  This unit arrived by itself, with no software or documentation.  I had already downloaded the software from <http://www.obd-2.com> and installed it on an old '486-based laptop computer.  When I connected this device to my computer and to my car, and ran the software, everything worked right away, and I had no trouble at all getting it to talk to my car, and to retrieve whatever data were available from my PCM, including the DTC to tell me why my CEL was on.

I did notice this when it first was up...as there any way we can try this GB again???

I just used one with a fellow Ceger here in Waterloo tonight (Thanks Gerald). This thing is awesome. I wanted to see what code was causing my CEL (turned out to be P0133 - O2 sensor bank 1 sensor 1) and that alone makes it worth the price. but that's not all. You can log engine stats with it and replay them back later. We went for a ride and logged engine rpm, Vehicle speed, O2 sensor readings and a whole mess of other this. I must say, I was very impressed.

The software itself is very small and actually fits on floppy. I'm guessing it would run on any laptop that has windows 95 or above (It might even run on windows 3.1?)

What I'd like to see? An interface to a PDA. Now that would be killer.

I am very interested in an OBD-2 group buy. How do we set it up?

Old 486 20meg win 3.1 works just fine and 486 w/8meg Win 95 aok also.
Paul

If someone gets a group buy going I would like to get in as well.

GalaxyEng wrote:

I am very interested in an OBD-2 group buy. How do we set it up?

  You'd have to ask Alex Peper, of course, but I think the trick is to get 20 or more people together who all want to buy this product at the same time.  This may be tricky here, because the CEG did one not too long ago, and many of us who missed out on that one, including myself, got in on the more recent one run by the Taurus Car Club.  I suspect that between the CEG and the Taurus club, it will be a while before you can easily get together enough buyers for another group buy on this product.  Perhaps if you seek out other automotive-related forums?

  The group buy deal is great.  I got the $162.00 3-Combo for $97.00.  But even at $162.00, it would, I think, be well worth the price.