Hi, as a home user i have chance to get a diagnostic tool for 1.6 16v Brava 1999. The problem is that i don't know what to get. What do i need so i can conect my notebook to three pin conector on Brava?

1. What cable?
2. What software?
3. What else?

Thank you

Not likely unless its a jtd, or 1.2 cf3, iirc. There are ways of making up the conectors etc, have though about it but havent done it yet. ie it wont be OBD/OBD2 or EOBD compatable with my current code reader which reads my volvo and my sis's 2001 Punto JTD no bother, along with various other cars i've tested it on including Audi's, transit Vans, and a BMW.

to go from your laptop to your car there are several stages we need to cover.

-laptop to converter
-converter to obd connector
-obd connector to 3pin fiat connector.

you can easily make a OBDII to RS232 converter if you're handy with microelectronics, there are many websites with pcd diagrams and aprts lsits. the parts cost about £10. alternatively you can buy one prebuilt from someone like http://www.elmelectronics.com/
you need the ELM327 converter.

this will give your laptop everything it needs to communicate with obdII vehicles.

now you need to connect that obdII connector to your car. each diagnostic connector has 3 pins (there are 2 or 3 connectors on your car, one for main ecu, one for airbag, one for abs if you have abs).

to connect an obdII reader to a fiat 3pin plug you need 4 lengths of wire. use 3 lengths of wire to connect the 3 pin connector to the obd connector. also use 1 length of wire for power to the obd connector.

on the 16 pin obd2 connector use the following pins
4- chassis ground (connect to ground on 3 pin connector, or any good chassis earth)
5- signal ground (connect to black wire pin on 3 pin connector)
7- k line (connect to white wire pin on 3 pin connector)
16- 12vDC (connect to battery positive terminal)

for software you have many choices. for example fiatdiag from http://www.auto-diagnostics.info/fiat_diagnostics

if you look hard enough you'll find some free software that you can download, such as uniscan

I have made a lot of search for diagnostics and i have to tell you that ELM dosnt work to your car!ELM works only on vehicles up to 2000 and a few models for bravo brava marea. I have ended to Uniscan Visa 1.83. It works very good with all Fiats and other brands and made under 2000.I have a fiat Brava 1999 80 16V and it worked perfectly! The only slag is that you will need an old PC or laptop which must have 2 com ports and win95 or win98 because it runs under DOS, byt as i said it works fine!!!! See on a search machine about this interface!

BRAVARulez said:

I have made a lot of search for diagnostics and i have to tell you that ELM dosnt work to your car!

Click to expand...

which software did you try using a OBDII to RS232 converter with? i've seen an OBDII to RS232 converter working with the fiat 3 pin connector before on a 1.6 16v bravo. it is the same thing as in your attached pic, the only difference is it doesnt come in a black plastic cover when you make it yourself. take the lid off and have a look, its the same as the ELM converter.

The foto you have is not the ELM interface but the Uniscan or Euroscan Visa.Is completely different interface! I have made my own the interface ELM327 which says that is compatible with K-Line cars, software was ScanMaster byt no result!Jug if you tried ELM323 or ELM327 I would like more infos about the cars year and with what software was the interface talked to ECU.cheers!

you're correct it was made to the ELM323 spec.
i suggested the ELM327 because i have been told that is compatible with more cars so if you're going to make one you might as well make the 327 converter.

it worked on 2 cars

a 1998 1.6 16v bravo (my first bravo) - we used uniscan (not 100% sure as it was downloaded 2 years ago) and the 4 wire trick

a 2001 1.2 16v bravo - we used alfadiag and the obd connector

in both situaitons it communicated successfully. in neither situation could we access all modules, but real time data and fault codes were read successfully.

Ok, you mean that i need something like this?
http://cgi.ebay.de/ELM327-USB-OBD2-...ryZ30921QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

but can they work with airbag?

no, ABS and airbag are the modules it wont communicate with. i assume these modules use a different protocol.

So, after all, what can you recommend me to by or to build, so i can use it for motor, ABS, Airbag and so on, for my Fiat?

Thank you

if you want to be able to do everything you need an examiner smart