yup, it's very useful. Live data far beyond OBD-2.

 

What extra live data is it providing?

 

Have a look at the thead on subaruoutback.org
The thread makes a good read for a techo.
FreeSSM - Complete access to your ECM and TCU - Subaru Outback - Subaru Outback Forums
It has a link to the freewear site
BerliOS Developer: Project Summary - FreeSSM

I have already downloaed the windows version and am awaiting the recommended cable.
AU$9.99 free delivery on ebay - Item number: 221087763466

If you have access to Subaru Manuals with eth diagnostic section of SSM you should get a flavour of what information can be accessed.

 

Nice one. Thanks!

 

I have it also, it works good for looking at some data and checking CEL's

 

Interesting, could be what the bunch in Sydney who are trying to track down, with certainty, my missfire problem use.
They drive around with the car connected to a PC and get continual snapshots of engine data.

 

The VAG Com cable arrived in the mail today.
Conneted it to the computer and now have it recognised.
I cannot wait until I get a spare moment to load the program into the laptop and connect it to the two Subies.
Will post some info when I get it working!

 

Got the cVAG com cable and decided to test it first.
Plugged the VAG Com cable into the Desktop to get it recognised. Windows 7 on the PC. This took some issues with the device not being installed. Used the disc that came with the Cable. Not installed. Searched the net for software. Went to the Ross-Tech site for downloads. Not installeded. Tried the troubleshooting option. Installed? To this time I still have no idea how that worked?
That done, instaled the FreeSSM program on the son's good laptop. Again Windows 7. Pluged in Cable, within 30 seconds the cable was recognied and installed? What did we do right. Conected the Laptop to the car diagnostic port via the cable and connection. Everything communicated. Could only look at the Engine ECU as it is a manual transmission. Could to test the TCU side.
Next, got hold of the son's older laptop running Windows Vista. This laptop is allowed in the garage and out in the car. This is the one to be used during servicing. Brickwall? Cable would not install. Nothing worked. Ross-Tech software for Vista not working. Nothing worked. Vista did not have the troubleshooting option I found on Windows 7. 5 hours of farnarkelling around and frustration and finally tried to look at other device drivers. Clicked on a Coms to USB driver resident in the computer for Autel (341 device) and instant Install. Connected to the car and it worked? Still do not understand but have decided that I really do not need to?
Checked all the screens, went through the monitoring and felt "smart". All warm and fuzzy.
For the $10.00 for the cable and the FreeSSM software, this is a bargin.
I will load some screen dumps and a few explanations over the next few days.....

Conclusion so far?
For anyone who has been using an OBD2 scan tool and wants a more powerful diagnostic tool and can afford the $10.00 for the cable, it is a must have!
Oh, and you have a spare laptop too!

 

FreeSSM + OBDKey devices?

Anyone tried FreeSSM with OBDKey (USB or Bluetooth (B/T))? If anyone has used the OBDKey B/T, do you know if the OBD Android software does logging?

I'm looking at the OBDKey B/T, that way it'll link to either my PC, Android device or even my old Symbian 6 phones.

Geckoz, you may wish to look at the Tactrix Openport 2.0 which can be used as a standalone logger by plugging a microSD/microSDHC Card in.

 

I've started playing with "Torque" free version on my Samsung S3. Seems OK. My son got the bluetooth ODB key from Hong Kong on ebay; about $12 each I think.

 

I am not an expert in this area, but......
The OBD2 cables and Blue Tooth dongles are based on the ELM327 Chipset. The ELM chipset is an OBD2 to RS232 interpreter with input programming to interpret nine ODB2 protocols. Further information is avaailable on the ELM website.
http://elmelectronics.com/DSheets/ELM327DS.pdf

The VAG Com may use a UART like FT232RL which is a USB to serial UART interface.
Universal Asynchronous Receive Transmit (UART)
http://www.ftdichip.com/Support/Documents/DataSheets/ICs/DS_FT232R.pdf
This chipset does not contain any OBD2 smarts. It just passes through the data from Computer to the ECM and vica versa. The cable is also dedicated to the ISO comunications protocol used in Euro vehicles like VW and the like also used on Subarus.

By comparison, the ELM327 will handle all the protocols used by different manufacturers.

That said, as it is an RS232 interface, would FreeSSM work on ELM327 based devices?
Don't know.

However, if you are looking at using the Andriod software, these will run on ELM327 units.

Just buy both, VAG Com cable for FreeSSM and ELM327 for OBD2.
(1) Both are cheap as.....
(2) FreeSSM "is no OBD2 Scantool" (quote)
(3) while FreeSSM lets one view the Fault codes I am not sure whether it will reset them?

While I have not tried to reset any code with FreeSSM (would have to create one first) it may be good reason to have both capabilitoes for the few dolars it costs?

 

AFAIK, FreeSSM requires a pass-through cable. I've an elm327 box, it does NOT work; but my old Andy Whittaker opto-isolated cable works perfectly.

Oh, and the software *will* clear codes.

 

Correct, the original site says
Interfaces with ELM-chip (ELM320, ELM322, ELM323, ELM327) will not work, because they use a fixed AT-command-set which is not compatible with the SUBARU®-specific protocol.
Thanks for your clarrification.
My thoughts is to have bothe systems. Cheap, cheap, cheap!

 

Downloaded the FreeSSM software onto my Windows 7 laptop, bought a VAG (USB) cable which I plugged in and it seemed to find and install drivers.

When I run FreeSSM, it simply says no serial port found. Doesn't appear to be any way of pointing it to a USB port in preferences.

Any ideas?

 

device manager, then see what port number has been assigned to your USB device. Enter this number into preferences.

 

Thanks! Actually the device manager said the drivers weren't installed, but it managed to find and install them.

Didn't have to feed any port number in, seems to be fixated on COM3.

But the interface test with the ignition on now fails.

 

still sounds like a com port issue. You might try assigning a different number in device manager and then changing it in SSM, in case Windows has accidentally doubled on an existing driver...

 

There are two places to select the COMS port.
In Device Manager the COMS port can be set in Advanced Properties menu.
There, you will find out which COMS ports ar available.
Once established then when FreeSSM is started click on the Preferences option in the main screen. The third option down is to set FreeSSM to the COMS port the computer has the Cable set to.

 

Thanks, but still nothing. The two USB ports on my laptop are COM3 and COM4. Using either gets the freeSSM message "no or invalid response from ECU" (ignition on). Changing the label of COM4 to COM10 via the pc control panel doesn't help. freeSSM seems to pick up the correct port itself but doesn't allow me to change it anyway.

I can use a bluetooth device plugged in to the OBD port in conjunction with the torque app on Android.

 

Odd- I've to manually select port number in SSM...

 

Windows 7?

 

I enjoy using using RomRaider for logging and Learning view to check knock tables and dianostics.I use a Vagcom 401KKL cable for this

 

nope, XP Pro.

 

Very interesting thread. Getting this working for me will be my next project :biggrin:

 

This is a cracking tool. Thanks for the heads up!

Any one know what the test mode connecter is and where you plug it in, i found on the outback forum that its a green cable under the dash but that's it...

once connected can it be left connected or do you have to disconnect it after each use?


Just a suggestion but perhaps an Admin could move and sticky this thread in the diagnostics section

 

Tricky question.
Normally they are a pair of green connectors usually found under the glovebox high up in the passenger side front footwell area.
From your picture and description your vehicle yours is a 2004 turbo. Cannot tell if it is a 2.0 or 2.5 litre?
In all the models the Test Model Connector is under the drivers Dash area.
For the 2.5Litre Turbo there is an additional connector called a Diagnosis Connector. I will let others with greater experience explain what that is for?
The diagnostic section of the Service Workshop manual tells you how to use the Test Model Connector.

The connectors are connected together with the engine OFF before a particular test cycle or sequence and disconnected at the completion of the test.

Also, NO, I would not drive the vehicle with these left connected. Do not ask me what would happen, I do not know!

 

Thanks billy. its a 2.0. ill have a gander in daylight tomorrow

 

How/where in FreeSSM can I save a Config & Log ?.

Mike.