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Diagnostic Link

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2019 10:34 pm
by ProbeProject
Hello all,

I'm struggling to connect to the old 1997 Probe to diagnose any problems, anyone have any advice on the setup you need?

What I've done so far is to download Forscan and followed their advice on connecting to the 17 pin Mazda port through some questionable soldering to a traditional obd II USB connector. I've tried updating the drivers but I keep getting an ELM error. I'm unsure if I have a problem using Forscan on a probe, a problem with the Obd II connector itself, soldering to the correct wires, my soldering in general or anything in-between!

Can anyone tell me the setup they use so that I can start getting my project on the road? Sorry if this has been covered, I couldn't see anything I particular.

Thanks,

Liam

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Re: Diagnostic Link

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 12:11 am
by Sunfly
I'm very unsure about this and others will know more, but I looked into this a few years ago and I'm sure I was told that all the Probes were OBD1 thus not compatible with an OBD2 system. You can find info on downloading the codes with a diode in the garage.

Re: Diagnostic Link

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 7:40 am
by ProbeProject
Thanks Sunfly. It is a tricky one, the Haynes Manual says they used OBD II from 1996 or something along those lines but of course that could be in the US or just wrong! Really keen on getting it to a semi-showroom standard from the mechanics up and can't do that without knowing what's wrong with a car that hasn't had an MOT in 6 years!

Re: Diagnostic Link

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 9:57 am
by mojo98
Haynes Manual is wrong,
the correct machine is the Super Star 2 see picture
star machine.jpg

but as Sunfly say check on the Garage forum to see how to read the codes

Re: Diagnostic Link

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 12:19 pm
by ProbeProject
Thanks mojo98,

That sounds like the ticket but I can only find it online from overseas at around $300. Is there a cheaper option, a software to download onto a laptop and a connector or something along those lines? Want to get it right but can't justify that kind of price sadly

Re: Diagnostic Link

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 2:58 pm
by Kit
ProbeProject wrote:
Sun Jan 27, 2019 12:19 pm
Thanks mojo98,

That sounds like the ticket but I can only find it online from overseas at around $300. Is there a cheaper option, a software to download onto a laptop and a connector or something along those lines? Want to get it right but can't justify that kind of price sadly
Yes, a 10p LED & a paper clip is all you need to read the codes on these cars :lol: :lol:

Kit

Re: Diagnostic Link

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 3:40 pm
by ProbeProject
Thanks kit, probably looking for something in between LED, paper clip trick and a $300 diagnostic tool! :D :lol: Any ideas?!

Re: Diagnostic Link

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 3:50 pm
by mojo98
ProbeProject wrote:
Sun Jan 27, 2019 12:19 pm
Thanks mojo98,

That sounds like the ticket but I can only find it online from overseas at around $300. Is there a cheaper option, a software to download onto a laptop and a connector or something along those lines? Want to get it right but can't justify that kind of price sadly
you will only find them from overseas, i was luck to buy this unit from a member who was selling up 8-)

Re: Diagnostic Link

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 4:16 pm
by ProbeProject
Ahhhh, I'll have to look out for the same then if there's no lesser unit! May have to learn some LED, paper clip trick!

Re: Diagnostic Link

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 6:15 pm
by beegee
ProbeProject wrote:
Sun Jan 27, 2019 4:16 pm
Ahhhh, I'll have to look out for the same then if there's no lesser unit! May have to learn some LED, paper clip trick!
Simple to do, even i've done it :D