OK. The Hybrid/Nav system is overpriced and outdated, but it does give us some valuable information, albeit not put forth in the best format. The scangauge offers some more information but in a straight numerical format and not in a "factory package". I'm sure I am not the only one dreaming of an alternative choice. Ideally, I'd like to be running a PC in my car for entertainment purposes complete with a display screen in dash. Running some sort of program to give me my fuel economy and other diagnostic info would be perfect especially if I could choose a numeric or graphical display. Judging by the fact that there are so many of these OBD programs available and all of the people writing their own programs for car pc's....this has to be feasible.

I know there are OBD software packages out there like http://www.obd-2.com/ that claim to provide the "Ford Hybrid enhanced engine, battery and transmission computer real time data", but I'd like something cheaper/homemade and more user friendly and customizeable. I know there is one member (everythingsgonegreen) who was working on his own code-reader of sorts...and I'm hoping that as a group maybe we can find a solution. I want to put all of the relevant info together in this post and see what comes of it.

1. Per GaryG's post here (https://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/...3637#post93637) the Nav system gets its data from the ACP

2. The ACP data is provided to the NAV through this group of wires as identified on this chart:


3. I found this breakdown of Ford's ACP protocol which might help someone sort this out:
http://www.mictronics.de/?page=cdc_proto#FordACP
4. Finally, and I don't know if this helps in any way as I haven't read it nor would it make any sense to me if I did...but this is the OBD system operation manual:
http://www.motorcraftservice.com/vdi...DSM500_HEV.pdf



Feel free to chime in with thoughts, suggestions, or the perfect solution!

 

Tim, this is a great thread to start!

I would like to someday do exactly as you have suggested. My brother already integrated two full functional pc running WinXP in his two SUV (Toyota Hilander Hybrid, and Honda Pilot) in compact packages under the passenger seats. He installed the flip-up touch screen head unit on the dash.

Great little setup. Can do everything a pc can, including running multiple apps, like Navigation, playing mp3, DVD, web cam (as back up cam and back seat kid cam), surf the internet (whenever he can get to a non-protected wireless network by just driving around the neighborhood), and often...all at once!. Oh, and did I mentioned he has voice control software running in the background?

He's looking into the Highlander hybrid info display to try to integrate (too bad he has a Highlander and not an FEH or MMH). But at least 1/2 of the work has been done. If there's lots of interest, I'll find out from him the component/costs.

Looks like you have gathered enough info here...just needs someone (with lots of time on their hands) to connect it up and write the software. This would actually be a fun project...just wish I have time...

 

i just ordered the FEH 2007. I am in agreement that that nav system is outdated, and i would love to see an option that integrated a better nav, but also included the hybrid gauge info...

 

Ok...had a little time to look closer at the current posted info on this...

Looks like we need to find someone who has decoded the ACP's communication data when it is transmitting to the Visteon NAV unit data that's relavant to the hybrid energy flow. The ACP protocol info that Tim found relates to the audio functionality only.

From GaryG's post, seems like all the CAN's info is already decoded into the ACP's language - "messages" to update hybrid screen (at least for whatever the avaliable hybrid info that is currently used).

[here's another question though: does an FEH/MMH that doesnt come with the NAV option have the ACP module anyways?]

I wonder if we write to Ford or Visteon, if they are willing to divulge that info. If they do, then we have all the info we need for a computer to recreate the hybrid/fe display.

If not, I think someone can prob rig up an rs485 transceiver circuit to capture these info into a laptop while driving and get at all the messages.

...of course, all this is easier said than done...

 

I think we need to bring everythingsgonegreen into the discussion as he has been working on an OBDII interface for his FEH....I wonder if he has the technical know-how to at least access the code strings being transmitted by the ACP. I'll try to send him a PM....

 

Does anyone know if the pin 4 on the "Accessory/NAV jack", the one called Phone Mute, is an input or an output? In thinking about adding a phone, it might be nice if I when I pressed the Phone/Mute button on the radio, that this action could cause the phone to do something like answer. That would require this pin to be an output.

BTW, is there a cell phone "box" that connects up to an ACP Gateway?

 

Of course I don't remember where I heard this, but I believe it is an input. My understanding is that a phone kit would use this input to mute the radio when the phone was off hook. I'll look for my source, but no guarantees there.

 

The phone mute is an "input". I believe it mutes the radio when a signal is detected on this wire. You can buy a kit like the Parrot CK-3100 which Visteon sells rebranded. You basically connect output wires from the kit to the inputs on the back of the radio, connect the mute line, and power. Then phone calls, in or out, will mute the radio. The 3100 kit has a little LCD display for caller ID and contacts.

 

So my current understanding is that the ACP information that you speak of is not available to all FEH owners, at least NOT through the connector on the back of the head unit. Not having the NAV unit, and only having had the basic in dash 6 disc changer the connector is quite different from the one shown in your diagram.

Now that's not to say that the information isn't piped elsewhere. I recall seeing a post quite some time ago regarding the differences between the information displayed in the "message center" in the cluster on the FEH with NAV and without.

The interface/software you reference from www.obd-2.com does do everything strictly through the CAN network. I've been trying to contact them regarding this, as although I have the obd2 mode and code for the SoC, I believe the other information in the CAN headers is incorrect for the request so the PCM is not responding to my code reader (for SoC only, other information is able to be retrieved).

Now from the document you posted, I had previously read a section that states that the BECM (Battery Engery Control Module) reports information to the PCM, but that the BECM does support some mode 09 information.



I haven't started digging full strength into getting the code working as I've been working on the prototype for the display portion of my interface. I only have a few more wires to connect before I can go back to trying to get the code reader to pick up the SoC.

Does anyone know if any of the service manuals etc. that are available in the Workshop Manual Subscriptions at www.motorcraftservice.com have this information? The 72-hour (short term) subscription is only $9.95, and claims that it can be printed. I wanted to subscribe and check this out, but the service is not available to people in Canada, and they referred me to Helm to get printed manuals, which are considerably more expensive.

I'm going to try to contact the people at obd-2.com again and possibly even attempt to contact Ford, as I've been told that they provide some of this information to companies who manufacture obd2 scanners and other test equipment.

If anyone has a contact within Ford that might have some of this information, it'd be wonderful to be able to talk to them, or pass on some questions.

jeff.

 

Hi Jeff

Many of us, including myself, have a complete set of the Helms manuals. This is where I got the limited information Tim reposted here about the Nav sys energy screen. I thought that little piece of information might be helpful, so I posted it. Not much detail is provided. Other than that, there are 2 pages of wiring diagrams on the nav unit (pages 32-1 and 32-2). These are repair manuals to identify problems and repair or replace parts with little design information.

Some of the folks here have the DVD, and perhapes could copy and PM you with what is available. I bought the complete set of new '05 FEH manuals on Ebay for $110 over a year ago. If no one can send you a copy by email, I would be glad to photo copy and send it to you by mail if you provide me with an address.

GaryG