I am putting out the feelers to see if anybody would like a computer diagnostic port for their Fiero so they diagnosis problems. The one I have made is a USB port and mini switch in the cover for the cigarette lighter. You just plug in a usb cable and plug in your computer and read all kinds of engine data. When I finish and clean up mine I will post pictures. I just want to see if anybody else would like one. If I can get a few people interested I can make a bunch of them and make the price really cheap ($20.00 maybe less) plus shipping which shouldn'n be more than 4 or 5 dollars. I would need for you to send me your cover so I add the plug ins.

This works on 7730 computers too.

What's the census?

Update: I do like the idea of the LCD dashboard but haven't got that far but maybe next. I tested the connector on a 86 GT and SE V6 and it worked perfectly even while the car was running. Datalogging showed me a bad throttle position sensor that I wouldn't have known about because the light never came on. I have always had the hesitation on acceleration but couldn't find it.

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The beginning of a man's love for a car

[This message has been edited by fieropunk (edited 03-04-2012).]

Interesting idea, certainly better than leaving the cover off like I have been.
But my car seems to run different when the cable is connected. At least when cold.
But that was before I changed old plugs.
anyone else have that issue?

Yes it will

When you plug in your diagnostic cable, it puts a 10K resistance between pins A and B. That does alter the operation of the engine. GM figured out not to do this with later year ECMs.

quote Originally posted by phonedawgz: When you plug in your diagnostic cable, it puts a 10K resistance between pins A and B. That does alter the operation of the engine. GM figured out not to do this with later year ECMs.

Yes, Most OBD1 (C3 and P4 families) will have some problems trying to scan and drive the engine. Will mess w/ timing and idle speed.
See my cave, ECM section.

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Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top and bottom of every forum page...)

i wish someone would make a swap for a lcd screen to show ur tach, speedo, oil pressure, ect... that would be an awsome dash conversion

I am working on just such a swap.

quote Originally posted by chetw77cruiser: I am working on just such a swap.

get a thread started!!!! PICS!!!

quote Originally posted by chetw77cruiser: I am working on just such a swap.

Yes!! Show us what you have! This sounds awesome!

quote Originally posted by 85fierogtmaster: i wish someone would make a swap for a lcd screen to show ur tach, speedo, oil pressure, ect... that would be an awsome dash conversion

Not LCD but look at this:

http://www.tomsdigitalelectronics.com/

Great idea. I did a similar mod a few yeas ago. I tapped into the appropriate wires on the diagnostic connector and extended them to a 3.5mm 1/8 stereo female jack. This jack was mounted into the shifter surround which made a flush mount.

I then put a male connector on the end of my diagnostic cable (from the laptop) and it works great. In addition to that I used a second 1/8 male stereo plug and solder shorted its 2 connectors inside the shell. When inserted this will short out the ALDC and allow you to read codes via the "check Engine Light" without using the paper clip method.

I was thinking about installing a second diagnostic port in a dry area in the engine bay.

I think your USB method would be more up to date than my mystery 1/8" jack. I've only had a hand full of people at car shows ask me what it was for. Most though it was for headphones.

So yes, I'd like to see what you have and would be willing to change my method over to USB and buy from you of course.

Spoon

ps: Hope it doesn't raise the curiosity of a kid with a game pad controller :

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"Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement. Because of their limited intelligence, they never came close to guessing that they were making champagne." - Kurt Vonnegut

I like the idea of having the USB connector in a discrete area. This would be a great addition to use with my 7165 and NVRAM setup for easy tuning. As it is, you still have to connect to the aldl port, this way would be even easier and cleaner looking. Truly a plug-n-play setup.

Now that would be interesting !

I was going to include a small switch to turn the port on and off so this would not be a problem. I have heard of issues with this but its weird that Pontiac uses the same aldl port and system to diagnosis problems. There is another resistance for Factory test mode 3.9k but I have found very information on this mode.

I am working on the final installation and will post pics soon.

quote Originally posted by theogre: Yes, Most OBD1 (C3 and P4 families) will have some problems trying to scan and drive the engine. Will mess w/ timing and idle speed. See my cave, ECM section.

quote Originally posted by fieropunk: I was going to include a small switch to turn the port on and off so this would not be a problem. I have heard of issues with this but its weird that Pontiac uses the same aldl port and system to diagnosis problems. There is another resistance for Factory test mode 3.9k but I have found very information on this mode.

You must disable any ALDL pin A-B resistor to stop the ECM sending out data streaming etc. The resistor is what tell the ECM to give you data whether or not anything is listening to it...