Laptop Stuff

im thinking about getting a laptop for my car, but i was wondering how you would hook it up to the audio system so you can play mp3s off it?

also are there ODBII connectors that will allow me to pulg into the computer to see what the codes are rather then taking it someplace to have it scanned?

i know there are connectors for prom tuning, so yea i want my lap top to be able to do all 3 :S

You're talking about alot of software work. Ask the geek you beat up in high school (seriously, most of the ones I went to school with are computer programmers and can do just about anything) to write you the software to read everything you need to read and make you an adaptor for your car. It can be done, I just don't know anyone who does it around here (central nh).

You're talking about alot of software work. Ask the geek you beat up in high school (seriously, most of the ones I went to school with are computer programmers and can do just about anything) to write you the software to read everything you need to read and make you an adaptor for your car. It can be done, I just don't know anyone who does it around here (central nh).

aww man, so im guessing its not something i can just buy some where, i hope i can find someone to do it for me, thats gonna suck if have to do it my self, atleast do the software part, im not trying to write brand new software for this

Its absolutely something you can just buy. You get your laptop.....load it up with any media ya want......get yourself a universal fm modulator with a 3/8 mini plug (headphone plug) and plug it into your laptops headphone jack. And bam!! You have it. Simple as that. The fm modulator should be like 25 dollars.

You could try a computer (http://www.daemonprojects.com/karmador/) instead of a laptop....

Its absolutely something you can just buy. You get your laptop.....load it up with any media ya want......get yourself a universal fm modulator with a 3/8 mini plug (headphone plug) and plug it into your laptops headphone jack. And bam!! You have it. Simple as that. The fm modulator should be like 25 dollars.

Dude I gotta get that for my car! :eek7:

You could try a computer (http://www.daemonprojects.com/karmador/) instead of a laptop....

id rather just have a laptop, but i donno, which ever is lighter, but in the end you still have to rip them both apart and hide all the shit.

well, you could also just buy a headunit that is MP3 compatable, and burn some CD's, but the headunit i bought also has RC cables for an auxilarry input, so i can get a headphone to RC cable attatchment and run laptop sound on my car stereo.

as far as the code reading from a laptop, im not sure, it might be out there, youd just have to do some lookin. i honestly doubt, actually, im positive you cannot play MP3's through the DLC connection.

well, you could also just buy a headunit that is MP3 compatable, and burn some CD's, but the headunit i bought also has RC cables for an auxilarry input, so i can get a headphone to RC cable attatchment and run laptop sound on my car stereo.

as far as the code reading from a laptop, im not sure, it might be out there, youd just have to do some lookin. i honestly doubt, actually, im positive you cannot play MP3's through the DLC connection.

DLC connection? what is that?

yes, the easy way to get audio from computer/mp3player to your car is an fm modulater(have one myself) and for reading codes etc... all that you need is a obd2data cable and some software.... its very easy

DLC connection? what is that?

Diagnostic Link Connector - The port you plug into (or ground) to pull/read codes.

bingo

bingo

lol, im not that stupid, i need diffrent connectors, i want to be able to play mp3s trough the head unit i guess, and then when my car throws a code i wanna just plug the lap top in and see whats happening.

OHHHHH ok, well you did say you wanted to do all three things, how was i supposed to know you wanted to do it three different ways *digs out copy of karma sutra*.....

With those diagnostic link connectors can you view real time readings with a laptop while just driving around?

fuck i can be listening to music on my laptop (through my car) while reading a code while it pops up.... and then clear the code while still driving down the road..... its not complicated...

should get a lap top with a good processor and have it running several things, turbo/nos timings, fuel managment, audio, video, etc.

Well how about with a third gen?

should get a lap top with a good processor and have it running several things, turbo/nos timings, fuel managment, audio, video, etc.

thats what im getting at right there, all in real time, but i donno if thats pushing it, thats alot of stuff to monitor, the laptop its self wont be a problem, if i get a job at best buy i do believe you get an emploee discount of like 40% im not sure on that tho so dont quote me.

Finding a cable to connect to a laptop isnt going to be easy, its not like you can go buy one from a parts truck as all the tool manufactures that are into electronics are extremely jealous of anyone else developing new technology. Snapon will sell you a diagnostic computer that you could leave plugged into your car, but its around $4k for it. The hard part you are going to run into is finding someone to make you an adaptor for your car to laptop. I think its a great idea, and if I knew how to do it I would be making a killing right now just selling them on ebay. Why pay $4k for a scanner that needs to be updated every year when you can spend half that on a laptop and get downloads for it and still play games when you are bored...

I have found cables that will allow you to interface a car with a laptop. But there are so many cables and software types that I just kinda get confused as to what I need for my car to make it work.

any diagnostic tool that operates on the same principle as the TECH1 or TECH2 scanners can read real time data through the DLC, thats one of our best mehtods of trouble shooting. Once you have an idea of how sensors are supposed to operate you can look at their information and tell if they are malfunctioning somehow. As far as running music while reading and clearing codes, im not a computer person so i cant begin to tell you how to pull that out of a hat, but id sure be interested if osmeone figures it out, post it on here and share the wealth.

Finding a cable to connect to a laptop isnt going to be easy, its not like you can go buy one from a parts truck as all the tool manufactures that are into electronics are extremely jealous of anyone else developing new technology. Snapon will sell you a diagnostic computer that you could leave plugged into your car, but its around $4k for it. The hard part you are going to run into is finding someone to make you an adaptor for your car to laptop. I think its a great idea, and if I knew how to do it I would be making a killing right now just selling them on ebay. Why pay $4k for a scanner that needs to be updated every year when you can spend half that on a laptop and get downloads for it and still play games when you are bored...
there are actualy quite a few places that sell aldl obd2 and obd1 cables some such obd1 sites that i know of (82-95) would be www.mastach.com and http://www.aldlcable.com/... now for obd2 cars i know you can get better software for you laptop that shows you a ton of stats while driving (fast and the furious kinda deal). You just have to start looking around Once in a while you can find a cable on ebay... just keep your eyes open

spank you, spank you veddy much :)