Cam94Z28

Hi,
I would like to use freescan to troubleshoot my car, but the $95 AKM wants for the cable is just too much right now. Is there a cheaper alternative anywhere? Any PC cables I may have lying around that would work?

Thanks,
-David-

m0nk

The pc cables you have lying around wount work unless you have an ALDL female plug to plug into the ALDL on your car

TriPinTaZ

I think Wal-Mart has them in the electronics section for $29.99

JOE96Z28SS

Has What in the electronics section???? A programming cable

DOOM Master

Know how to solder? If so, build the converter yourself, it's only about $20 for the board and the transistors. Then go to autox-ray and get the ALDL to 25 pin connector cable. Then get a 25 pin to 9 pin RS232 connector cable (make sure you get the right cable here, it should be female on the 9 pin end, male on the 25 pin end). That all should run you about $60, about $35 cheaper than the AKM cable.

turbo_Z

you are looking at the really fancy molded connector for $95. he makes another one thats works just as well for $65. its still a molded end on it but the wires are explosed kinda.. its tough to explain so the best i can say is its just not quite as fancy.

Heres what the end of that $65 cable looks like. if you dont mind the exposed wires then id go with it.

Cam94Z28

Thanks for the replies, I will try to address them all.

TriPinTaZ:
Wal-Mart has an RS232 to ALDL cable for $29.99?


Turbo_Z:
Thanks for letting me know. I do not see a cheaper cable for OBDI. I have a 94 Z28, which, unfortunately uses OBDI.
The exposed wires would be fine. It looks like they're crimped into that connector extremely tight anyway, I shouldnt have to worry about them coming out.

DOOM_MASTER:
If the cheaper cable at AKM will work, I think I'll pass on doing all the work myself Especially since i'm not good with electronics, and will probably end up with a $60 paperweight.

SWINGRRR

The molded connector is what drives the cost up. Try www.wotelectronics.com also. Has a cable for $65, no assembly. It installs in the car is the only bad thing. Real easy instructions on his site. This is the one I have and seems great so far. I was going to go with the AKM, but cost was the major factor.

Cam94Z28

SWINGRRR,
Thanks for the reply...
If I didnt have to take the entire drivers underside of my dash apart to wire it up i'd say it was worth the cost savings. I guess since AKM doesen't sell a non-moulded OBDI cable for $65 I'm stuck with the $95 one. Thanks for the suggestion though.

If anyone knows of any other sites offering these cables for less than $95 please let me know.

SWINGRRR

Dude, it wasn't hard at all. 4 screws for the panel and 2 for the ALDL connector. Maybe takes 15 minutes. That's with a beer break. Easy as pie. Where is Longwood? I'm in Ft Walton Beach.

Cam94Z28

It's probably easier than it looks, but I have a habit of being unable to put something back together after i take it apart.
Maybe i'll give it a shot anyway.


Longwood is in Central FL, in Seminole County.

scoobysnax83

Wow I feel bad for you then.....

Justin95zlt

I just purchased this one from wotelectronics...It is for 95's that have OBDI but an OBDII connector. No install, just plug in and unplug...

http://www.wotelectronics.com/faobd2.htm

schpenxel

The one where you have to take the dash apart is really nothing to install. All you actually are doing is takign one panel off to get better acces sto the back fo the aldl port, hell...you could stick nails in the port from the front and solder wires to that if you really wanted to, i know somebody who did that just to read some trouble codes lol. Anyways, its really not bad and the unassembled one if you don't mind soldering is like 35 or 45 bucks, and you can also find them on ebay from time to time

Carson

nfa

i just rec'd my mastach cable today and it works...

doesnt have the molded connector, so i had to insert the 4 colored pins into the aldl port (this took all of 10 seconds)

$26 from ebay.

Mike
94z28