Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Posted ImageWelcome to the all new Geo Metro Forum. We hope you enjoy your visit.

You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are features you can't use and images you can't see. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Join our community!




Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Where can I get an OBD1 plug in hickey for my 1994?; Who does these?
Topic Started: Oct 18 2013, 09:17 AM (1,207 Views)
truckjohn


Hey all,

1994 3/5...

I am at the point with diagnosis where I really need to be able to plug in a laptop or some sort of aftermarket scanner WITH the capability of reading sensor inputs while I am driving or doing things....

For example... Starts up with NO idle speed increase... Obviously, there's some sort of sensor telling it that the engine is hot or doesn't need the Idle speed increased... but it's aggravating to have to hold the pedal down to start.... But.. It's not throwing any codes - so the engine *Thinks* it's working right....

Or.. The idle will drop down to 600 rpm.... WTF? No codes, though... so it *Thinks* all is well....

Other aggravations like this.... and I *REALLY* need to see what's going with the inputs and outputs on so I can sort it out...

Who sells this sort of thing?

I saw some mention of a "Rhinopower" USB plug doo-hickey thing... Is this what I am looking for? As an aside - is this made by our friend on the board "Rhinoman"...

Thanks
Edited by truckjohn, Oct 18 2013, 09:38 AM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
geogonfa
Member Avatar


There is no OBD1 hook up that will connect to test the parameters of the computer system, they can only retrieve the codes...even the chevy Tech one will not display anything but the codes...
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
sixtharmy


I think you may be mistaken geogonfa. Rhinoman does offer an interface (rhinopower.org) that reads sensor output through the SDL in real time using suzuki protocols. It costs about $100. He also has free software to read the data on a PC, or you may use the free application TunerPro. I'm pretty sure that he had this working on 91-94 and 95-up metros. I've seen his posts about the interface etc. on this forum. There's also a forum on his RhinoPower site. That might be the easiest way to contact him. Have you checked your Idle Speed Control? A malfunctioning ISC can cause some of the symptoms you've seen. Search the forum for more info.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
geogonfa
Member Avatar


I stand corrected, but, has anyone tried or bought one of these to let us know if this has worked? because this would be interesting.
I personally have never had to of used anything like it to diagnosis the computer system of a Metro.
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
clarkdw


I have one and it works great. You hook up to a laptop and you can log many sensors and input/outputs. You can customize a dash on the laptop screen to view live data feed of what you want. There is a description on the Rhino website. It cost me about $75 shipped to Canada. At least one other member has this as well. rjsdotorg has used his I think more than I have mine.

You need the SDL interface and the ALDL adapter cable. It comes as a package at the bottom of this page. http://www.rhinopower.org/diag/sdl_if.html

Rhinoman is the same guy. He has been helpful in getting info on the ECM parameters and has contributed to learning the use of the equipment.

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Woodie
Member Avatar


Don't know if an OBD1 reader would help you in any way, you'd get all the information that your stupid ECM has, which is not much. Sounds to me as if you just have a bad IAC or maybe your coolant lines going to the intake manifold are clogged up.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
clarkdw


It will tell you what temps your ECM thinks every sensor is at. It will tell you whether the idle switch on the ICS is touching the linkage. It will tell you when you are in closed loop, what the on time of the injector is, voltage from the 02 sensor, TPS position, etc. I can't remember all of it but it would have helped me tremendously when I was going through the agony you are right now. I was getting rotten mileage and had poor idle. I now have a very good baseline for the future. My car runs flawless and if and when something fails it will show up as a change in the numbers I have on file from the logging.

I would not hesitate to buy this again with what I know now.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Woodie
Member Avatar


Okay, shows how much I know. B-)

I still think you just have a bad IAC or ICM. First thing you need to do is figure out if you have advanced emissions control or not. There are two different setups in 94, both ways of doing it have common failures on the idle control.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
truckjohn


"Upgraded" emissions...
I did find a bad ISC relay... No continuity across the coil.... 12-volts won't make it switch...

Once again, though - it would help a bunch if I could see what's going on without guessing at it so much....

I think I am going to pull the trigger and get one.. because mine *Doesn't* run flawlessly... but it's not throwing codes either...

Thanks
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
rjsdotorg
Member Avatar
R E Member

I also have the 94 Upgraded.
Rhinoman's plug, along with Rhinopower and TunerPro, helped me solve a lean running/pinging mystery. By watching the IPW and O2 results I could see the injector pulses were doing the right thing, and I saw the injector was clean and spraying nicely in the driveway - the fuel filter was just clogged enough to not supply WOT 100% of what it should. Even pumping into a jar was almost OK by the book.

If you see all the data (Rhinopower also shows states etc) and there are no codes, then you can infer the problem. That is all a pro with expensive tools can do.
The ISC and TPS setting is everything in our cars...
My original problem http://geometroforum.com/topic/4829866/1/
then http://geometroforum.com/topic/5059697
Here is what you can deduce from some OBD1 sleuthing http://geometroforum.com/single/?p=766739&t=1341780

Edited by rjsdotorg, Oct 20 2013, 10:12 AM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
00Metro
Member Avatar


Did you plug in the fuse to check for codes? or even see if the CEL works?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
truckjohn


Yep... CEL works fine... I have tracked through several codes - but it has NEVER thrown an ISC code.... Even when the relay was DOA and EVEN when the relay is completely disconnected.....

Thanks
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
« Previous Topic · Engine Tech & Diagnostics · Next Topic »
Add Reply