Hey I searched around a good bit. What all will I need to hook my laptop up to my OBD II in my 2000 camaro v6 3.8?
Could I use a simple OBD II 16 pin plug that converts to a serial port and plug it directly into my computer? Or do I need the inline hardware with it to?

Also what software is needed. And are there special interfaces for cables for the GM/Chevy vehicles?

 

You need a cable with a OBDIIplug on one end and a serial port connector on the other. You will also need softaware. Depending on what you want to accomplish. There is scanning software and tuning software available. You can do a Google search and come up wilt a lot of stuff, including the cables. I am not too familiar with the V6 software, but there are very good progarms such as LT1 Edit & LS1 Edit for the V8s. Be aware that with the editing programs you can totally screw up your computer to the point that it has to be replaced.

 

k, i heard that on chevys you have to have certain inline hardware that goes b/t the obdII connector and the serial port on the computer to change the interface or something like that.

 

Some setups require an interface and others don't. Among other things the interface prevents the laptop and PCM from blowing themselves up. If u don't have any serial ports on your laptop, then you need a USB to serial port adaptor.

This site has some good info. http://www.carplugs.com/obd2scantool.html

 

how do You set the computer up then what do you set it as..... what does a computer even do?

 

The software you get sets up the computer as either a scan tool or a programming device. As a scant tool the laptap shows what the PCM is seeing from the various sensors and what it is doing to control the engine. As a programmer, it can overwrite the factory parameters and adjust A/F ratios, spark timing, cooling fan settings, change transmission set points. The problem is that if you don't understand the purpose of all the tables programmed in the PCM, you can screw it up to where the engine will not run, or even damage it. You can always get a hand held programmer, and due to its built in limitations, it will keep you from totally messing up your engine.

 

Thansk for all the info, I have a serial port on the laptop, would you reccommend a interface? I am just wanting to use it to read ONLY data, not write or re program anything.

 

Ok, so I was looking on that site and here is what I found.
http://www.carplugs.com/Product_view_Cables_4.html
http://www.carplugs.com/Product_view_Cables_9.html

One is a J1962M to a serial male adaptor, and the other is a J1962MRA to a serial male adaptor. What is the RA on the second one for? I noticed that that one has more connectors that will go into the OBDII, which on will I need? Will it work for read only on my laptop without a scan tool?