DME/KLR data logging

[andyb]

What's the best way of getting data logging from the DME and KLR, just using custom ROMs and keeping almost everything else standard? I see Rogue Tuning did this for the DME but it looks like it is no longer available (https://roguetuning.com/dme_logger). Is there an open source home-brew version of it anywhere?

I've been reading @johnb's excellent 951 KLR pages and @Tom's "944 Turbo DIY TunerPro Chips" thread. There's probably enough info there to get me started doing everything from scratch, but that's a lot of work. I imagine lots of people have been down this road before me.

[Tom]

What's the best way of getting data logging from the DME and KLR, just using custom ROMs and keeping almost everything else standard? I see Rogue Tuning did this for the DME but it looks like it is no longer available (https://roguetuning.com/dme_logger). Is there an open source home-brew version of it anywhere?

I've been reading @johnb's excellent 951 KLR pages and @Tom's "944 Turbo DIY TunerPro Chips" thread. There's probably enough info there to get me started doing everything from scratch, but that's a lot of work. I imagine lots of people have been down this road before me.

You are asking about two separate things -- chip tuning and data logging. You can't tune a chip to give it logging capabilities, and our DIY tuning guide is no exception really. Our chip tuning guide uses all open source tools, but if you don't want to go to the trouble of tuning your own chips, there are oodles of off-the-shelf DME performance chips you can just buy and plug into the DME/KLR.

As for data logging, Rogue is indeed out of business, but Ftech9 has continued developing its DME, which includes data logging (if a bit work in proecess still). See that here:
https://www.ftech9.com/new-products/por ... -dme-w-obd

Vitesse Racing has a chip board with data logging, but I believe you need to run their MAF to use it. There is no standard home-brew data logging set up. Aftermarket products like the Zeitronix wideband offer some datalogging, but you need to tap into the various signals/wires to log.

[944m3]

Shameless plug…I have a Vitesse V-MAF+ minus injectors I can part with. Used for maybe 50 miles, basically brand new. You can purchase the Siemens Deka 80lbs injectors from Vitesse. You can then also purchase his data logging software that goes with the system. Will give you exactly what you’re looking for plugnplay.

Lots of reviews of this system out there.

PM if you’re interested.

[andyb]

You can't tune a chip to give it logging capabilities, and our DIY tuning guide is no exception really.

Is it possible to write some assembly to make the existing microcontrollers in the DME/KLR output serial data on an unused/repurposed pin? I could add that code to an otherwise standard ROM image. Then people could swap their ROMs, and solder a couple of wires on their DME/KLR boards to get the data out.

Is there anything blocking that approach other than requiring the attention of a software nerd (I am one) with lots of spare time? I'm just getting started with DME/KLR stuff. It sounds like a fun project, if I'm not attempting the impossible or redoing what is already available.

[andyb]

Shameless plug…I have a Vitesse V-MAF+ minus injectors I can part with. Used for maybe 50 miles, basically brand new. You can purchase the Siemens Deka 80lbs injectors from Vitesse. You can then also purchase his data logging software that goes with the system. Will give you exactly what you’re looking for plugnplay.

I'm tempted to get a MAF conversion at some point, but at the moment I want to keep everything stock.

It was interesting looking at vitesseracing.com. Their MoMonitor looks like what I want, but it only connects to the DME, so with stock AFM and no extra sensors, it can't see manifold pressure or read the knock sensor. I'd like to log the manifold pressure from the KLR. Even just that would be a lot of work for me and I'll probably never get around to it, but I'll keep thinking.

[johnb]

You can't tune a chip to give it logging capabilities, and our DIY tuning guide is no exception really.

Is it possible to write some assembly to make the existing microcontrollers in the DME/KLR output serial data on an unused/repurposed pin? I could add that code to an otherwise standard ROM image. Then people could swap their ROMs, and solder a couple of wires on their DME/KLR boards to get the data out.

Is there anything blocking that approach other than requiring the attention of a software nerd (I am one) with lots of spare time? I'm just getting started with DME/KLR stuff. It sounds like a fun project, if I'm not attempting the impossible or redoing what is already available.

They actually already do that. I haven't paid much attention to it so far - I plan to but it's just not top of my list. But if you look at the opendme disassembly there are comments pointing out the main diagnostic code in the DME.

[Tom]

You can't tune a chip to give it logging capabilities, and our DIY tuning guide is no exception really.

Is it possible to write some assembly to make the existing microcontrollers in the DME/KLR output serial data on an unused/repurposed pin? I could add that code to an otherwise standard ROM image. Then people could swap their ROMs, and solder a couple of wires on their DME/KLR boards to get the data out.

Is there anything blocking that approach other than requiring the attention of a software nerd (I am one) with lots of spare time? I'm just getting started with DME/KLR stuff. It sounds like a fun project, if I'm not attempting the impossible or redoing what is already available.

Ah, I got the wrong impression when you said programming your own chip was a lot of work -- thought you were looking for turn-key solutions.

Re the MoMonitor and ftech. I've used both. The MoMonitor is rock solid in terms of data reliability, just not sure if it requires the MAF or if John could (probably) make you a version to run with the AFM. The ftech OBD+ is a more recent development --no MAF needed -- though I'm not sure if it's totally quirk free yet.

If you are a hardcore hack, I'm sure you could inject code to collect data (or maybe it's already there per johnb). You'd need to find a way to get it out of the DME, as most of the pins are inputs to the DME. One idea would be to embed data in the ISV pulse width with external hardware that decodes the embedded data (all without affecting the overall % supplied to the ISV). But there are tried and true data logging solutions for the car like the Zeitronix I mentioned and/or via a generic logger like those sold by DATAQ. You just need to tap into the signals in the harness to sample them.

[markl951]

+1 on DATAQ data loggers. I started messing with USB data acquisition more than 20 years ago when I needed to log RPM, AFR, and Boost pressure. The last few years, I've used the DI-2108 logger in stand-alone mode. It logs data every time I start the engine. It has a real-time clock so it knows time and date by itself. Logs data to a USB memory stick. When I need to look at the data, I just pull the memory stick and take it my computer for analysis. If I think something isn't quite right while driving, I just note the date & time. It's easy to go back and look at the right log file. You can also run the whole thing in real-time as well if you want to look at live data while driving.

To measure manifold pressure, I'd recommend a stand-alone MAP sensor. You can put them anywhere. I had a 2nd MAP sensor on a spare oil filler cap at one point so I could also log crankcase pressure under boost for example.

I've had John's V-MAF+ system installed for a few years now so not much ever goes wrong. I also have MoMonitor which provides DME data I can't tap into on the wire harness, but it does require me to bring the laptop along for the ride.

[944m3]

You mentioned you wanted to keep things stock. But in my opinion, with that amount of work to get logging, I would suggest going to a standalone. A learning curve for sure but you will have more data than you will know what to do with. And your car will run like a top just with a basic tune. You can buy an adapter harness or repin your existing harness. All you need is a basic crimper, heat gun, Raychem heat shrinks, and patience. Several good threads out there on how to do this. Just a thought.

[andyb]

Thanks for the replies. I'm pretty sure you're all correct about a standalone being the best approach. But I'm looking for a challenge. And preferably one that doesn't involve going outside in the cold and rain in the UK at the moment.

To that end, I've been writing a KLR simulator. It can run the ROM image. It's still incomplete and looks like something from the 1980s itself but it's here if anyone is interested: https://github.com/abainbridge/951_klr_playground. You can change the simulation speed. The default is 1000x slower than real time. You can set the throttle position and watch my very inaccurate engine simulation increase RPM and boost pressure etc.