Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Pyobd - a free and open source program for car diagnostics

github.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 42 posts

Re: Pyobd - a free and open source program for car diagnostics

#21

Post by bigallen »

H8crilA wrote: post #5

Newb question, can I use this to change something in the configuration of the car? I have parking sensors that are absolute garbage (overtriggering all the time), and I would like to permanently turn them off. The turn off button works only for a moment.

I also have backup sensors that are garbage. I ended up wiring a rocker switch in the power line for the beeper/beeper control unit. When I’m backing up to connect a trailer now, I can focus on the backup cam/helper person outside without being subject to the constant beep

Re: Pyobd - a free and open source program for car diagnostics

#22

Post by ranit »

RockRobotRock wrote: post #8
alexfromapex wrote: post #3

Would be awesome if ancillary data like ABS and airbags was standardized for all vehicles under right to repair laws then it would be easy to add

Why should safety critical systems be able to be modified by a non-professional? Earnest question

Wheel attached to the hub is also a safety critical system, isn't it? If not tighten properly it may lead to a fatal accident. Where should the industry put the line of serviceable vs non-serviceable (by non-professional) parts?

Re: Pyobd - a free and open source program for car diagnostics

#23

Post by ilovetux »

pydry wrote: post #18
JKCalhoun wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Because it's your car. Until you sell it. Buyer beware, I guess? I agree with you in fact, but pointing out the likely reason why things like airbags might not be "user serviceable".

I'd be all on board with a law that mandates a vehicle inspection certificate if you want to sell a car. I think buyers would probably like that too. It would cut down on lemons. It would make the second hand car market more efficient. Obviously that would require accreditation but the accreditation bar for inspecting a car will be much lower than it would be for fixing it. Or, you could take a different approach and…

While it is not a law (in my area at least), I would not buy a car without a recent inspection.

I would support a law that requires a special, more in-depth inspection in order to sell a car. My area has a (kind of) similar law...if you are buying an R title vehicle from out of state, then you have to get an "enhanced" inspection, with pictures before you can register it. I like that law and I would support making the enhanced inspection manditory for all car sales...I would put the onus on the seller though, but that's just me.

Re: Pyobd - a free and open source program for car diagnostics

#24

Post by shakow »

JKCalhoun wrote: post #17
pydry wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because it's your car. Because liability laws already work just fine. Because if you create an "accreditation" barrier to modifying hardware you own it'll end up being used for the cartelization of repair services rather than to improve safety.

> Because it's your car. Until you sell it. Buyer beware, I guess? I agree with you in fact, but pointing out the likely reason why things like airbags might not be "user serviceable".

> Buyer beware, I guess?

I don't know how common it is (quite a lot I believe), but in my country (France), you need to provide a certificate of inspection guaranteeing that the car vital systems behave correctly when selling it.

Re: Pyobd - a free and open source program for car diagnostics

#25

Post by yetihehe »

ranit wrote: post #22
RockRobotRock wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why should safety critical systems be able to be modified by a non-professional? Earnest question

Wheel attached to the hub is also a safety critical system , isn't it? If not tighten properly it may lead to a fatal accident. Where should the industry put the line of serviceable vs non-serviceable (by non-professional) parts?

Those parts containing explosives (like airbags) are pretty good candidates for "non-serviceable by non-professionals".

Re: Pyobd - a free and open source program for car diagnostics

#26

Post by HyprMusic »

H8crilA wrote: post #13
diamondo25 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, that would involve coding, and that is vendor specific. You can look for your car manufacturers diagnostic tools, eg mercedes star diag, or vagcom.

Thanks. Does "coding" also go through the same OBD cable?

Same port but the cable you want depends on the brand, for example BMWs use DCAN so you need a cable with a chipset that supports that protocol. They can be had for fairly cheap, I'm sure other brands are similar.

Re: Pyobd - a free and open source program for car diagnostics

#28

Post by manvillej »

yetihehe wrote: post #25
ranit wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wheel attached to the hub is also a safety critical system , isn't it? If not tighten properly it may lead to a fatal accident. Where should the industry put the line of serviceable vs non-serviceable (by non-professional) parts?

Those parts containing explosives (like airbags) are pretty good candidates for "non-serviceable by non-professionals".

because even if I can't or shouldn't fix it, I want to be able to detect what is wrong with it

Re: Pyobd - a free and open source program for car diagnostics

#29

Post by lnsru »

manvillej wrote: post #28
yetihehe wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those parts containing explosives (like airbags) are pretty good candidates for "non-serviceable by non-professionals".

because even if I can't or shouldn't fix it, I want to be able to detect what is wrong with it

You can do it with €20k Bosch rig
Post reply on HN