Hi Shane, the DRB tool does have limited "write" capability for
VIN, Odometer, etc... Beyond the simply stuff, you need the
unit that they roll around the dealer garage. The methods
by which OBD-II PCMs are written to, vary by manufacturer
& sometimes model of vehicle.
Much of the "diagnostic" protocols are standard. As for writing
to them (flashing) the communication key words & protocols are
proprietary, and the folks (snap-on, otc,...) who make the popular
scanners have been to court more than once, trying to gain the
rights to sell the capability for "flashing" the PCMs to non-dealer
garages at a fair price.
With early 90's cars, a non-dealer garage could provide every tuning
service that the dealer could. With the onset of OBD-II, the dealers
were given a monopoly in the automotive software/firmware arena.
The feds ended giving the big 3 automakers a great deal in exchange
for their agreement to adopt a common diagnostic standard.
Mike V
> > Yep, but it is my understanding that the DRB can
> > flash, but not "dump" the EEPROM. Besides, they
> > are pretty pricey... I believe the info can be had with the
> > right adapters and a decent eprom reader..
> > Anyone wanna volunteer r\their PCM as a possible sacrifice? 8-)
>
> I don't have the specs on the DRB but from my understanding it is just an
> advanced
> scan tool with the added ability to both read and write to the Chrysler
PCM'
> s
> EEPROM via the SCI input interface. The actual physical interface is
> basically a
> standard SAE-JExxxx (xxxx = 1962 i think). Its a connector thats hanging
> under
> your dash around the steering column area. Same place my PC-based scan
tool
> plugs
> in. Required by OBDII specs for all cars produced since '96. The software
> (human) interface I haven't a clue about. Guessing - it has the ability to
> read/write a "file" into the EEPROM - the file comes from where? Maybe
> another
> (RS232 probably) interface going to a PC running what program? I saw one
in
> action that was hooked up to a big black legacy pc (386/486 class) that a
> service
> mgr said costs around $60,000 - cant remember the name of it. It was a
> total
> custom full roller cabinet setup with MANY different cable/interfaces
coming
> out
> of it (like an octopus). He said the PC program (on that big black costly
> beast)
> did all the work just using the DRBIII as a vehicle or tool. It looks as
if
> the
> technician just drove a pretty "idiot-proof" menu and it is all controlled
> via
> on-demand dial-up modem sessions with Chrysler HQ. In other words - so
> damned
> controlled that to do this yourself would require lots of hands-on work in
> some
> extremely friendly dealerships garage (using his borrowed equipment) to
play
> with
> while reverse-engineering the actual "protocol" used to drive the DRBIII.
> Whew!
> Then once you have mastered it - now you have the ability to do it without
> that
> expensive black beast that speaks to the eye in the sky! Basically I'd
say
> that
> you are still pretty far away from "burning proms"...
>
> Clear as mud yet? 8-)) Thats how I see it. Anyone agree? Experiences?
>
> Latr,
>
> Shane
>
> ps - I'm speculating on alot of this - its not like I want a lawsuit or
> anything.
> Anyone want to start a new lucrative business?? 8-))
>
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