Build my own data cable?
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 928
From: King of Prussia, PA
Build my own data cable?
I was looking at the cable from ALDLCable to hook up a 95 car to a USB drive and it looks really simple..
heres the page
http://www.aldlcable.com/sc/details.asp?item=aldlobd2u
I was wondering.. if I just got a USB cord and connector and bought a OBD connector from this site..
http://www.carplugs.com/products.html
could I just make my own? Or is there more to it?
heres the page
http://www.aldlcable.com/sc/details.asp?item=aldlobd2u
I was wondering.. if I just got a USB cord and connector and bought a OBD connector from this site..
http://www.carplugs.com/products.html
could I just make my own? Or is there more to it?
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 244
From: Way out west
www.akmcables.com/aldlif.jpg
www.home.aone.net.au/~techedge/vehicle/2tran.gif
www.aldlcable.com/sc/pages.asp?pageid=24
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 573
I built mine for 1995 OBD1 however it was serial, not USB.
I could be wrong but Im not sure they have USB for 1995 I thought that was newer like OBDII.
The first pic/link referenced below is the diagram I used, it's RS232 that's serial. www.akmcables.com/aldlif.jpg
Anyway, my home made serial cable works great with LT1 Edit and Datamaster.
You also do not need the connector to the car side if you hard wire it... just have a serial cable hanging out under the dash or tucked under the center console. Also if you hard wire it there's less chance of disconnects since that plug could get dirty.. sometimes I wiggle mine to ensure a good connection, would hate to waste a PCM simply because of a loose connector.
I could be wrong but Im not sure they have USB for 1995 I thought that was newer like OBDII.
The first pic/link referenced below is the diagram I used, it's RS232 that's serial. www.akmcables.com/aldlif.jpg
Anyway, my home made serial cable works great with LT1 Edit and Datamaster.
You also do not need the connector to the car side if you hard wire it... just have a serial cable hanging out under the dash or tucked under the center console. Also if you hard wire it there's less chance of disconnects since that plug could get dirty.. sometimes I wiggle mine to ensure a good connection, would hate to waste a PCM simply because of a loose connector.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 224
From: SLC, UT
Will this one work for a 95Z28? Everything I've looked into shows that its the much more complicated one, so what would be wrong with using this one? I am really not planning on doing any tuning, I just want data log and ESPECIALLY code reading *Cause 95 is retarded for retrieving codes
lol *
Registered User
Joined: Dec 1998
Posts: 615
From: Pekin, IL, United States
As long as you have good soldering skills, you shouldn't have much problem building your own cable. I've built many of them, it's only about $35 for the parts. If you know what your doing, it only takes about 30-45 minutes to complete. Just remember to ground yourself out so you don't build up static electricity and fry any of the electronics.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 224
From: SLC, UT
what I'm wondering is if that "simple" schematic works for a 1995 LT1. I know that one works for say a 3rd gen, but from what I've read the 95 requires the more complex one But I'm not 100% sure on that one
But I'm not 100% sure on that one
Registered User
Joined: Dec 1998
Posts: 615
From: Pekin, IL, United States
As to your question, I don't believe that diagram you posted will work on a 94-95 car. The newer FLASH-based PCMs use a different data stream than the older EPROM-based ECUs. That's what the MAX232 chip is for in this diagram,
www.akmcables.com/aldlif.jpg
The two transistor design is simple, but would probably only work with the older ECUs. Having never built one, I can't say for certain. I always build MAX232 designs for guaranteed compatibility.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 1998
Posts: 615
From: Pekin, IL, United States
It's not that bad. You just have a few more parts to solder in is all. The diagram just makes it look worse than it is. The circuit board is only about 2" x 4". You just put the piece in, solder all the connections, then put it in a shell and test.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 224
From: SLC, UT
I've built electronic stuff, but it's been a while. So I'm sure it's less intimidating than I'm making it. The annoying part is I had a nice bought cable that someone in the local car club gave me but I lost it when moving I've also got a laptop I bought basically just for this but it only has 8mb ram and everything requires at least 16 
I've also got a laptop I bought basically just for this but it only has 8mb ram and everything requires at least 16
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 224
From: SLC, UT
Now this, would be sweet
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search
Hide that in Center console or something and use Bluetooth to link to Car
My main hold up is I can't find a MAX232 locally anywhere
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search
Hide that in Center console or something and use Bluetooth to link to Car
My main hold up is I can't find a MAX232 locally anywhere
Registered User
Joined: Dec 1998
Posts: 615
From: Pekin, IL, United States
What was the problem? About the only thing I can remember that has to go in a certain way is the MAX232 chip. If you put that in backwards, you wouldn't end up with a working cable.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 224
From: SLC, UT
The MAX is deffinatly in the right way. I have no idea whats wrong. No connections are off, the Transistors are wired the right way, ect. Maybe Capacitor polarity? I researched the hell outta that so I think they're in right but noo idea