AlfaOBD Help

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1. Installing the application
There is no installer provided. Extract the downloaded archive to any folder on your computer or PDA and start
AlfaOBD.exe.
Note:
You have to be a local administrator on the PC, under Windows Vista / 7 you have to start the program in
"Run As Administrator" mode.
Note:
PDA version is supported on Windows Mobile platform only.
At the first launch the application displays license agreement which you have to accept by checking "Accept"
check box and clicking "Continue". If you do not accept the agreement the application will terminate.
The message that the application is in demo mode will be displayed next. Read it for the information on
application activation:
The limitations of the demo mode are:
-
Application run time limit of 15 minutes. Application quits after 15 minutes and you have to restart it to
continue
-
Only the first active diagnostic procedure in the list is available
-
Manual connection feature is not available
All other features are fully operational. No time limit is imposed on the application in demo mode.
"Error opening port" message might be displayed next. Dismiss it with "OK", it means the COM port set by
default does not exist or it is already used by another application. Before starting to use AlfaOBD you will have
to configure a valid COM port (see below).
2. START screen
Select your car and the Control Unit you want to diagnose and click “Connect”. AlfaOBD will automatically
detect the type and modification of the connected CU. Success of the connection is reported in the “Status” line.
If connection fails, a message is displayed with the information about possible reasons of failure.
At first use you have to configure the general settings (port, interface etc.). To access the settings click
“Advanced mode”. To exit the settings screen click “Regular mode”.
You can select control unit (CU) to connect in the "Device" list. Each CU in the list represents a group of
modifications which can be additionally selected in the “Modification” box. The CUs are grouped in the list
according to their function. If you do not know the type of CU installed in your car, you can select generic one
(for example, --ENGINE-- or –GEARBOX--). At connect time AlfaOBD automatically detects the CU type and
adjusts the CU selection in the “Device” box and it’s modification in the “Modification” box. If the connected
CU is not yet fully supported, generic support might be available, i.e. reading of device id and stored faults
without detailed data.
Note: The selection of the CU and its modification done in advanced mode is not reflected on the “Regular
mode” screen.
The automatic detection might take some time, so after learning of your car configuration you can select
correct CU and modification to save connect time. In the current version the automatic detection is implemented
for selected groups of CUs (if the “Connect” button is disabled after selecting a generic function, that means the
automatic detection is not implemented for the selected function yet), in the next versions this feature will be
enhanced.
The OBD interface used is selected in the "Interface" list.
At present there are three interfaces supported:
1. KLLine serial or USB. For example, the interfaces supplied by
ECUFix.com
are supported. Only the K-Line
based CUs are supported. No CAN support can be provided with this simple interface type.
2. OBDKey Bluetooth or OBDKey USB
. This interface is a
universal one supporting all listed CUs, both K-Line and CAN-based. Additional advantage of the interface is
that remote software upgrade is supported by the producer.
3. ELM327-based Bluetooth or USB interface. There are many suppliers of such interfaces, make sure the
version is 1.3 and above. The interface support all CAN and most of the K-Line units. A rule of thumb is that
the K-Line units with connection baudrate less than 10400 bps will not be supported.
For the details of interface capability to support different units, see the table below.
If you are using PDA version of AlfaOBD, the following limitations apply:
1. USB interfaces are not supported because most PDAs do not have USB-host built in.
2. KLLine serial interface is supported for PDAs based on PXA processor (Intel/Marvel). Experimental support
of Samsung and OMAP processors is implemented without guaranty. Modern PDAs (and especially
communicators) might not have serial port plug at all, in that case the choice is an OBDKey/ELM327 Bluetooth
interface.
Note: Some PDAs do have a serial port plug even if the manufacturer does not mention it in the manuals. There
might be third-party suppliers of serial cables for your PDA. You need a "modem" cable, the ActiveSync one
will not work. Also, you can make a cable yourself if you are familiar with welding iron and RS232 standards.
Note: The interfaces have only pin 7 of the OBD plug internally connected to K-line converter. Fiat uses pin 7
for connections to engine and automatic gearbox control only. The K lines from other units are connected to
other pins of the car OBD plug. To be able to diagnose those units you need to modify your interface yourself,
sorry! At present we are not able to suggest any commercially available inexpensive switch for this purpose. A
simple solution is to weld all the K line pins inside the interface together to pin 7. DO NOT USE THIS
SOLUTION ON Alfa Mito/ Giulietta, Fiat 500/ Grande Punto/Punto Evo!
In future versions of OBDKey interface this limitation will be removed.
The OBD plug as you see it in the car (usually to the left of the driving wheel under the cover) looks like:
Fiat typical pinout. The K-line pins are marked red:
Connection
Pin #
ABS K Line
1
BUS +
2
Airbag K Line
3
Engine ground
4
Signal ground
5
CAN +
6
Engine/Automatic gearbox K Lines
7
Code (Electronic key) K Line
8
Dashboard/Climate Control K Lines
9
BUS -
10
Alarm + Central Locking K Lines
11
K Lines engine compartment (Cruise CU, Xenon headlamp CU)
12
K Lines rear (Parking CU, Tyres pressure control CU)
13
CAN -
14
L line
15
Battery + 12V
16
Apart from the K-line diagnostic, CAN diagnostic is used on newer cars, in some cars CAN is only available.
B-CAN is used in many Fiat cars, the CAN lines are connected to the pins 6 and 14 of car OBD plug. Although,
please take into account the following exceptions:
-
B-CAN on pins 1 and 9 and C-CAN on pins 6 and 14 (Punto EVO 199, Grande Punto, Doblo (263), Fiorino
(225), Fiat 500, Alfa Mito, Alfa Giulietta)
-
B-CAN on pins 1 and 9 (Ducato X2/50 Heavy Duty)
At present AlfaOBD supports B-CAN units only, C-CAN support is under development.
By default OBDKey and ELM327 interfaces have pins 6 and 14 connected to CAN lines so they should work
with most of CAN units “out of the box”. But if you have a car with the B-CAN lines connected to pins 1 and
9 you will have to modify your interface correspondingly.
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