Modding the driver info display?
 

I couldn't think of a better section, since ECU stuff is here, but this really isn't tuning.

Has anyone, professional or amateur, started looking at what it would take to mod the software on the driver info display (the left "smart guage" thing). They did a craptastic job with the software on that thing, and it would be nice if it could be reflashed (or worst case, swap out a ROM or whatever) to make some improvements.

I'm running on the assumption that the data it shows is acquired raw off of the CAN bus (outside temp, data for various mileage estimates/predictions, water temp). At the very least, a mod could make the water temp LEDs a little more useful (linear, so that it doesn't stay on the same LED forever), and maybe provide multi-display capability on the display (like, show outside air temp, exact water temp, mileage estimate, and predicted range-to-empty all on one screen in smaller font, so you don't have to push buttons all the time to see them all). It might even be possible to get it to display other data from the CAN connection, essentially turning it into a built-in ScanGauge-like device.

I haven't even really started looking at this, just thought I'd see if anyone else has started yet before I do.

Just looking at the Service Manual stuff, and it looks like the CPU for the info display actually runs all of the dash instrumentation (all of the idiot/warning lights, all the gauges, the clock, the trip meters, etc), and yes it does have a CAN connection that it's pulling all the gauge data from. So it's more complicated than I originally thought, but the mod possibilities are even bigger this way.

What type of screen is this, basic LED lights right, I never really look at the left screen anymore other than to see how many miles I have left on a tank (which is usually only Fridays)?
Might be able to do oil pressure also, no extra gauge required then, my top choices would be in one simple dispaly:
~Oil pressure
~Outside temp
~Range of gas left

If you could, you might be able to get the system to rotate the full screen between certain items. Say every 5 seconds it switches to a new screen, then you are not having to reach around a push a button to switch.

I don't think there's an actual oil pressure gauge anywhere in the car, AFAICS. The oil pressure light is run from an oil pressure "switch" that just switches at a certain pressure. A real aftermarket oil pressure gauge is on my list of things I need to add (as well as a real water temp gauge if the info center doesn't prove easy to hack, which is quite likely).

I bookmarked this a while back, I believe the idea came from reading travisjb's journal. Replacing the clock with this for accurate oil pressure and water temp would be nice: SPA Oil Pressure Water Temperature Gauge DG 200

It is connect to running a lot of stuff including the gauges so ........
http://images.starcraftmazter.net/4c...ink_so_tim.jpg

This isn't a Tim sort of job :rofl2:

This is a software fixup I'm talking about. We'd have to reverse engineer whatever code is running on the little info display module and modify it.

Someday, probably after I'm dead, perhaps car mfgs will think about releasing code and developer kits and such, at least for the non-critical items like this. Until then it's all reverse engineering :p

No need to re-invent the wheel!...since the Scangauge does all that....

http://images44.fotki.com/v1471/phot...MG_1438-vi.jpg

Plugs into the OBD2 port; X-Gauge function has the ability to query all CAN outputs if you can come up with the Hex codes. The Z runs CANSF mode on the scangauge which has a fair number if data points documented and accessible..While I have seen these kinds of modifications to existing screens done on other cars (the EFU for Audis being one example), it generally takes a brand enthusiast who is highly skilled (and motivated) and if it ever hits the market( 4 years in the case of the Audi), very expensive...I wouldn't hold my breath on this!

OBD is open source though, so knock yourself out!....:-) On-board diagnostics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Info available that I can pull up on mine (any 4 at once):

TPS: Throttle position sensor 0-100%
fIA: Intake Air Temps (Temperatures at the intake manifold)
fWT: Coolant water temperature
HPR: Horsepower (Looks to be pretty accurate from initial runs on several cars)
VLT: System Voltage
IGT: Ignition timing (advance)
LOD: % Power request
Closed/Open loop: Fuel management and transition point from O2 control to WOT
STF: Short term Fuel trims
LTF: Long term Fuel trims
OX1: #1 O2 sensor output, 0-100
OX2: #2 O2 sensor output, 0-100
MPH: Digital speed reading from Speed sensor
RPM: Digital RPM’s
MPG: Miles per gallon
GPH: Gallons per hour

Trip Data: Fuel economy, Fuel used, Distance, drive time, Avg. speed,
Distance/time/fuel to empty, ETC.

As a Scan Tool It can act as a Code reader and eraser,Determine Readiness tests, Turn off and clear CEL’s etc.

ScanGaugeII - Trip Computers + Digital Gauges + Scan Tool

I generally keep Water temp, Intake temp and short and long term fuel trims up on mine all the time.. Handy tool!

I like Wstars Idea. The scangauge on the dash is uglier than a 6" tach with a shift light sitting up there.

LOL...says a guy with a 12" subwoofer in his hatch!!
I'm about function and tuning informtion, just like you're about the woof...

Obviously our priorities are different, but if I was modded to the level you are I'd for sure want to know what was going on...Even if I had the Scangauge stuck in the glove compartment..

I'd put the chances of a hack for the info gauge somewhere close to Zippo at this point in time..

Yeah I'm still using my old 1st-gen scangauge now, it's just not mounted (and it seems to lose its CANSF setting and go back to Auto on every powerdown, which is annoying). You're right that the effort might not make modding the info display viable. I have the skills, but I doubt I have the free time to get it done in less than several months at least. Sure would be nice once it was done though :)

We're already looking at how to do it. We already use the Cruise Control "SET" light to monitor the map switching we do. The 370Z doesn't have a "SET" light, which is one of the hold ups on our software, so we're looking at how to offer map switching on these cars.

Good news, nice. As long as you're in there (but please don't let this hold up the first release of the tuning stuff), it would be really cool if you could get actual water temps on the info display, or even more as above in the thread.

All stuff we'd like to do. First priority is getting the software to market. Hopefully asap. Obviously the more people that buy our product, the more that we'll be able to invest in cool stuff like this. Fat paychecks would be nice but we're real bad at taking care of ourselves so any extra money gets turned back into cool products.

Well the money's ready as soon as you are :)

Turning that driver info. display to a real time monitor of various functions would be awesome.

It would be cool to just know what map you are running (UpRev).

I will like to see when this is ready, the Z is missing a lot of information and I think the Clock in one of the gauges was a waste of space

2-in-one gauge pod
 

Spa makes good gauges. I would like to ditch the clock and install a real oil pressure/water temp 2-in-1 gauge as well. If you install it,; I will gladly copy your DIY:tup:

Sweet - the Z was the starting ground for this technology (OBD) with the Datsun 280Z! Too cool ;)

I clicked this link and found it really interesting. However, not being very clever at this sort of thing, a lot of it went straight over my head - so what exactly does this AllPro adapter do, and how exactly do you use it?

I know these are numpty questions, but guess what - I'm a numpty :tiphat:

Do you just use it as a link between the car's OBD and your laptop? If so, where does it actually go?

Yes, it's basically an OBDII (including CAN, so hopefully our cars as well, which use CAN SF) to USB adapter basically. Once you have that hooked between the car and the laptop, you can use any number of free tools to monitor car data, or write your own software for it (or build a scangauge-like custom device to do whatever you want on an embedded platform).

scangauge - oil pressure function?
 

No....Oil pressure, as reported by the stock sensor is On or OFF. You would need a pressure reading sensor, as a dedicated gauge would use, to come up with an electronic reading. OBD doesn't care much about oil pressure..

Personally. That left tach is my only major gripe on this car...
Its fugly. Its extremely tacky, and so is that 1970's digital watch readout/dashboard microwave scan gauge.
Why couldn't they just leave that gauge group analog???
To me that would be the best fix. 3 analog gauges like the 350z.
Sports cars don't need all the extra blinking lights... leave that for civics. (The king of fugly dashes)

I just picked this up from Travis.
http://www.the370z.com/parts-sale-pr...our-clock.html

So is it possible to modify the driver info display screen?

I love this idea. Wish I were a programming guru and could figure this kind of thing out. Another option might be to somehow build in one of those scanpro gages into custom cluster that would replace the ugly guage pocket on the left. Might be easier than hacking the stock display.

In theory everything the stock gauges and info displays can show us is available on the CAN bus. It's just a matter of someone figuring out all the custom protocol extensions and PIDs to get at some of it. Unfortunately the custom extensions seem to be closely guarded secrets. Some aftermarket guys apparently paid off someone or other to get the PIDs and can show data that I'd really like to have generically available (e.g. brake pedal position, oil temps) for datalogging. I'd kill to know what hex numbers I need to tap into a Android OBD-II tool to get those.

Sorry to hijack the thread Wstar, but i just found something nice but i'm not sure if it can work with our cars. Google up Greddy Info Touch, and i'm sorry i'm on my android right now lol

Now that's what I'm talking about. Make it happen rofl.