Engine code reader pre OBD II

mike w · Post by **mike w** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 10:06 pm

Hello all,

I have a 2000 outback which intermitently throws check engine code. My research indicates that my car is not OBD-II, so Im curious as to what sort of engine code reader I need to check codes. I do alot of repairs myself, so it would be handy.

Cheers

Mike

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 10:25 pm

Take it to an auto electrician, they usually have a reader that will read specific manufacturer codes, Subaru Select Monitor, in this case

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 9:14 am

Suparoo wrote:Take it to an auto electrician, they usually have a reader that will read specific manufacturer codes, Subaru Select Monitor, in this case

Yes take it to someone who has an reader that can do it for you, you cannot do it yourself like what we used to do in older cars
Cheers
AP

bobbyjimmy · Post by **bobbyjimmy** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 10:04 am

Your car is OBD II, look here for a code reader (it does ALOT more than just read codes thou);
http://www.scangauge.com.au/

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 12:26 pm

I'm sure that all Subies built after 97 are OBDII fitted

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 5:32 pm

I bought an ebay code reader and it wouldnt connect to my car. I read somewhere that in Australia, non turbo Subarus didnt get OBDII till around 2004, turbo models got it around 1999, but ive read conflicting articles also.

In the GenIII FSM, it describes the use of SSM (subaru select monitor), but nothing about OBDII

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 5:34 pm

RSR 555 wrote:I'm sure that all Subies built after 97 are OBDII fitted

Im pretty sure its 1998 onwards.. not 97.
Cheers
AP

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 8:24 pm

AlpineRaven wrote:Im pretty sure its 1998 onwards.. not 97.
Cheers
AP

I'd definately say 97 as my (no longer have) 97 RX Impreza has it and it's bog stock off the factory floor. It was a late 97 and I had a guy once say it was a MY98 because of the front bumper and dash.

As for reading the codes on non OBDII Subies, does your (OP) car have the 2 green plugs near steering column? under the plastic dash trim.

mike w · Post by **mike w** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 2:29 pm

Thanks all. My research indicated that not all outbacks prior to 2002 are OBD II compliant, along with that there is no OBD II compliance sticker.

As for under the dash, all I have found is what looks like an OBD II conector, but it isnt. I have plungged an OBD II scanner into it, but the scanner does not recognise the codeing type emmitted.

Thanks all for the replies, auto leccy sounds like the go.

Mike

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 6:52 pm

If you have a plug that looks like a OBDII and your tester plugs in then I'd be pretty confiedent that it is an OBDII connector. When you've got your OBDII reader plugged in then make sure your ignition is turned to on (all ignition dash lights are on). You should end up (if you have any faults) with codes that start with a P10... number. What model reader do you have?

Elmy · Post by **Elmy** » Fri Aug 13, 2010 2:08 pm

I know I'm a bit late but just to clarify one thing. The OBD standard is a US standard. Meaning like my forester that is a european version it does not support obd of any sort but ssm system. However subaru changed this on the 2001 models and up to eobd. How it is in Australia I'm not sure. But I think it will be similar down there. That's why it does not work. I tested a scangauge on a 2001 model. Works great. My 99 however does not. And the 2001 was a NA car while mine is a turbo so that does not matter at all.

Edit: All US cars are supposed to be OBDII standard after 1995. If that's true for Subaru I do not know. (Meaning all cars from 96 and out must be OBDII in the US)

magg · Post by **magg** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 8:32 pm

Even a bit later, I have been researching the OBD2 connection to a 2002 Impreza RS & from the info I have it appears that Subaru may have used a standard connector but non standard config because of their "select monitor" option.

All the standard OBD2 signals appear to be present at the OBD2 connector just on different pins.

If anyone is interested, I could upload the info I have.

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 9:26 pm

Yes please, im still trying to get some sort of interface to work, either SSM or OBD2

magg · Post by **magg** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 10:18 pm

Have yet to confirmed on my car, is to be the next step. If this info is correct & you plug in a standard OBD2 scanner into the Subaru OBD2 connector you could suff the "select monitor" section of the ecu.

Terminal Subaru Function OBD2
1 power
4 select monitor GND
5 select monitor GND
6 line end check
7 K line
10 K line
12 GND
13 GND
15 L line
16 Power

As you can see a big difference. The Subaru info was from a factory service manual for a 2002 Impreza turbo & non, so it should be reliable.

magg · Post by **magg** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 10:24 pm

Sorry, the formatting was lost in the post, here is the info again.

Subaru
1 power
4 select monitor
5 select monitor
6 line end check signal
10 K line
12 GND
13 GND

OBD2
4 GND
5 GND
7 K line
15 L line
16 Power

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 10:45 pm

Its also important to note that Subaru labels their OBD plug different to everybody else.

The normal OBD terminal is as follows.

2- J1850+
4 - GND
5 - GND
6 - CAN High
7 - ISO K
10 - J1850-
14 - CAN Low
15 - ISO L
16 - 12v

Subaru OBD2 uses the ISO protocol (pins 7 and 15)

My OBD port only has a wire at pin 7 (pin 10 according to the Subaru FSM)

Subaru SSM uses pins 12 (transmit) and 13 (receive) or pins 4 and 5 in the FSM

This is a TTL data system, people have had success using a TTL to RS323 converter to get data from the SSM terminals, I as yet have not.

I had a look at my OBD port and this is what i found

To keep it simple, i'll use the normal pin numbers, not the Subaru ones

4 - Gnd - Bk/Bl
5 - Gnd - Bk/Bl
7 - ISO - Pur
8 - ? - Bl/Or
11- Line end- Pur/Lgr
12- SSM Tx - Lgr/Rd
13- SSM Rx - Gr/Wh
16- 12v - Bk/Rd

magg · Post by **magg** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 12:15 am

My ignorance is shown by your explanation of the Subaru/OBD2 connector difference, I am only a beginner at Subaru ecu tuning. Prior playing has been with GMH Delco ecu tuning.

I have a logging program & an interface cable with H/W that uses pin 15 (ISO L) of the standard OBD2 connector. At this stage I do not profess to understand the process, but you do not include pin 15 in your list. Is there a wire on pin 15 of your OBD2 connector. Hope there is on mine or the interface H/W might be unusable.

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 9:13 am

No there is no wire at pin 15.

From a little reading, most OBD systems dont use the L line (pin 15), they just communicate half duplex using the K Line (pin 7)

Ive got one of these and i cant communicate with my 2001 Outback (but it will with our 2004 Forester)

Ive been trying to communicate using the Select Monitor interface using the TTL inteface similar to this website
VWRX.com Select Monitor Scan Tool

magg · Post by **magg** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 12:03 pm

Accept that I am a novice and therefore my interpretation of the info I have may not be valid, but from what I have read about the L line it is required for the interface. http://forums.openecu.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1225. It also appears to be used in the ELM327 chip that I assume is in your interface H/W module. http://www.elmelectronics.com/DSheets/ELM327DS.pdf

If this is true then the L line on your Subaru that appears on pin 11 will not connect to the expected pin 15 (OBD pin numbers not Subaru).

Again I could have it all about face.

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 12:32 pm

I cant copy text from the pdf, but it says that many vehicles dont require the K line,and will function fine without it.

The wire at pin 11 is not the L line, pin 11 is the "line end" wire that connects to the Line End connector (a 9 pin white plug) used for re flashing the memory ( i think as it is not mentioned in the FSM)

If your interface has 12v at pin 16, Gnd at pins 4 and 5, and K line at pin 7, (normal pin numbers) providing your car is OBD2 compliant, it will work.

I think the easiest way to check if your car is OBD2 is it will have a 2nd oxygen sensor after the catalytic converter.