iPhone to CAN bus anyone?

KD7IWP · Jun 25, 2009, 11:56 PM

I was thinking that it would be incredibly awesome to see someone create a hardware/software solution for the iPhone that could connect to the CAN bus in newer vehicles. Seriously, what if you could switch engine maps, control vehicle functions, look at live data, etc from your iPhone screen!! I wish I was good enough to develop for hardware, so far all I have is limited c#/asp experience.

Applejuiced · Jun 26, 2009, 12:05 AM

Whats a CAN bus?

ifonz · Jun 26, 2009, 12:47 AM

Yes please.

w3cum · Jun 26, 2009, 12:59 AM

I believe a CAN BUS is the connection point on the newer cars and trucks that you can hook a diagnostic computer to. its usually under the dash on the drivers side.

Applejuiced · Jun 26, 2009, 01:09 AM

So this guy wants to view his cars "Check Engine" light error codes on his iphone?
What else are we going to hear?

R.Youden · Jun 26, 2009, 01:11 AM

What you mean is the OBD port. It would be very neat is someone could do this yes.

More information here:

OBD

w3cum · Jun 26, 2009, 01:13 AM

ok then I stand corrected... so what is a CAN bus?

jc1350 · Jun 26, 2009, 07:32 AM

CAN bus is the bus used at least in newer Chrysler cars for what I call the infotainment systems (connects GPS, radio, DVD player, etc to each other). It does a lot more, though. I believe it's also used with the engine's systems communications as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAN-bus

McGiord · 07:45 AM

That would be nice to have.

For the auto technicians to leverage the advatanges of the iPhone as a diagnostic tool, and online access to the service manuals, serevice bulletins, as well as support from the call centers, OEM, etc...
A hardware interface would be required. Technically it is feasible.

Some years ago, there was a product to do some of that (read, clear DTCs, and read sensor data) for OBDII in Palm OS, using the Springboard port of the Handspring Palm OS PDAs.

To make it commercial viable probably it has to be focused on specific markets. Even standards are used, every car manufacturer has their own versions for specific control units.

Anyway, how much would you expect to pay for a CAN BUS kit?

tivoboy · Jun 26, 2009, 10:08 AM

I have seen a device that does this already or was coming out soon. It was a cable, and then software or access to the internet for diganostics and tracking.

I think it was over on the mbworld.org forums.

ifonz · Jun 29, 2009, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tivoboy

I have seen a device that does this already or was coming out soon. It was a cable, and then software or access to the internet for diganostics and tracking.

I think it was over on the mbworld.org forums.

link please

. this sounds perfect!

FastangV6 · Jun 29, 2009, 06:38 PM

you mean an app like this?

http://www.devtoaster.com/products/rev/

outcastrc · Jun 30, 2009, 12:58 PM

I checked out that link and my only concern is that it would be a lot of money to spend before you would know what that app could or can't do for your vehicle. I would want to know EXACTLY what I would get before I shelled out 40us for the app and who knows how much for the wifi port adapter.

I do want to be able to access my trouble codes. But I want ALL of them, not just a few of the basic ones. I really don't care if its thru my Iphone or a laptop. I just want a product that will tell me what it does up front and follow thru...

My vehicle uses the CAN bus (2004 Ford Superduty) as well I believe.

tivoboy · Jun 30, 2009, 01:07 PM

That link above is not the diagnostic tool I was talking about, it seems more like a performance tool.

I'll do some research on the diagnostic tool, it was a CES 2009 announcement that showed it off.

Slarti Bartfast · 03:35 PM

.

Slarti Bartfast · 03:33 PM

.

jav6454 · Nov 21, 2009, 08:04 AM

Well, the iPhone can do it... all you need is the proper accessory and the accompanying application.

With with OS 3, you can pretty much use any accessory.

hchung · Nov 5, 2012, 02:40 PM

The problem with getting a real CAN module for an iPhone is actually that there's no standard for this stuff.

The CAN messages are different for each manufacturer, and likely different for each car model.

How many of you here would actually be interested in hooking something up to your car, downloading the raw messages, and then trying to find patterns in the messages and taking a guess as to what they mean?

If so, get this first.

Been tempted to do it, but I got so many other projects in line. Anybody else here have a VQ35DE (Nissan engine)?

old-wiz · Nov 5, 2012, 05:53 PM

The car manufacturers have been trying to keep people from finding out what the info means; they want people to go to the dealers with problems. IIRC, they are even trying DMCA to prevent people from sharing info about what the codes mean.

OCS12 · Nov 5, 2012, 06:31 PM

I've seen lots of blue tooth OBDII adapters to let you connect your car connect to an iPhone. I've never looked into what apps are out there though. I could see how that'd be a nice toy to have.

Jun 25, 2009, 11:56 PM	#1
KD7IWP macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: American living in Canada	iPhone to CAN bus anyone? I was thinking that it would be incredibly awesome to see someone create a hardware/software solution for the iPhone that could connect to the CAN bus in newer vehicles. Seriously, what if you could switch engine maps, control vehicle functions, look at live data, etc from your iPhone screen!! I wish I was good enough to develop for hardware, so far all I have is limited c#/asp experience. __________________ 2.66Ghz Quad Nehalem Mac Pro; 16gb iPhone 4; 30GB 5G iPod; 512mb iPod Shuffle.
	0

Jun 26, 2009, 07:43 AM	#9
McGiord macrumors 68040 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Dark Castle	That would be nice to have. For the auto technicians to leverage the advatanges of the iPhone as a diagnostic tool, and online access to the service manuals, serevice bulletins, as well as support from the call centers, OEM, etc... A hardware interface would be required. Technically it is feasible. Some years ago, there was a product to do some of that (read, clear DTCs, and read sensor data) for OBDII in Palm OS, using the Springboard port of the Handspring Palm OS PDAs. To make it commercial viable probably it has to be focused on specific markets. Even standards are used, every car manufacturer has their own versions for specific control units. Anyway, how much would you expect to pay for a CAN BUS kit? __________________ And now what is NeXT? Last edited by McGiord; Jun 26, 2009 at 07:45 AM. Reason: clarification
	0

Jun 26, 2009, 10:08 AM	#10
tivoboy macrumors 68000 Join Date: May 2005	out I have seen a device that does this already or was coming out soon. It was a cable, and then software or access to the internet for diganostics and tracking. I think it was over on the mbworld.org forums.
	0

Jun 30, 2009, 01:07 PM	#14
tivoboy macrumors 68000 Join Date: May 2005	not the one That link above is not the diagnostic tool I was talking about, it seems more like a performance tool. I'll do some research on the diagnostic tool, it was a CES 2009 announcement that showed it off.
	0

Nov 21, 2009, 04:17 AM	#15
Slarti Bartfast macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2009	. Last edited by Slarti Bartfast; Dec 30, 2010 at 03:35 PM.
	0

Jun 26, 2009, 12:05 AM	#2
Applejuiced macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: At the iPhone hacks section.	Whats a CAN bus?
	0

Jun 26, 2009, 12:47 AM	#3
ifonz macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2009	Yes please.
	0

Jun 26, 2009, 12:59 AM	#4
w3cum Banned Join Date: Oct 2008	I believe a CAN BUS is the connection point on the newer cars and trucks that you can hook a diagnostic computer to. its usually under the dash on the drivers side.
	0

Jun 26, 2009, 01:09 AM	#5
Applejuiced macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: At the iPhone hacks section.	So this guy wants to view his cars "Check Engine" light error codes on his iphone? What else are we going to hear?
	0

Jun 26, 2009, 01:11 AM	#6
R.Youden macrumors 68020 Join Date: Apr 2005	What you mean is the OBD port. It would be very neat is someone could do this yes. More information here: OBD
	0

Jun 26, 2009, 01:13 AM	#7
w3cum Banned Join Date: Oct 2008	ok then I stand corrected... so what is a CAN bus?
	0

Jun 26, 2009, 07:32 AM	#8
jc1350 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2008	CAN bus is the bus used at least in newer Chrysler cars for what I call the infotainment systems (connects GPS, radio, DVD player, etc to each other). It does a lot more, though. I believe it's also used with the engine's systems communications as well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAN-bus
	0

Jun 29, 2009, 06:38 PM	#12
FastangV6 macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2007	you mean an app like this? http://www.devtoaster.com/products/rev/
	0

Jun 30, 2009, 12:58 PM	#13
outcastrc macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: BC, Canada	I checked out that link and my only concern is that it would be a lot of money to spend before you would know what that app could or can't do for your vehicle. I would want to know EXACTLY what I would get before I shelled out 40us for the app and who knows how much for the wifi port adapter. I do want to be able to access my trouble codes. But I want ALL of them, not just a few of the basic ones. I really don't care if its thru my Iphone or a laptop. I just want a product that will tell me what it does up front and follow thru... My vehicle uses the CAN bus (2004 Ford Superduty) as well I believe.
	0

Nov 21, 2009, 06:10 AM	#16
Slarti Bartfast macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2009	. Last edited by Slarti Bartfast; Dec 30, 2010 at 03:33 PM.
	0

Nov 21, 2009, 08:04 AM	#17
jav6454 macrumors G5 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: 1 Geostationary Tower Plaza	Well, the iPhone can do it... all you need is the proper accessory and the accompanying application. With with OS 3, you can pretty much use any accessory. __________________ Al MacBook 2.4GHz Late '08 \| Macross Click Me
	1

Nov 5, 2012, 02:40 PM	#18
hchung macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2008	The problem with getting a real CAN module for an iPhone is actually that there's no standard for this stuff. The CAN messages are different for each manufacturer, and likely different for each car model. How many of you here would actually be interested in hooking something up to your car, downloading the raw messages, and then trying to find patterns in the messages and taking a guess as to what they mean? If so, get this first. Been tempted to do it, but I got so many other projects in line. Anybody else here have a VQ35DE (Nissan engine)?
	0

Nov 5, 2012, 05:53 PM	#19
old-wiz macrumors 603 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: West Suburban Boston Ma	The car manufacturers have been trying to keep people from finding out what the info means; they want people to go to the dealers with problems. IIRC, they are even trying DMCA to prevent people from sharing info about what the codes mean.
	0

Nov 5, 2012, 06:31 PM	#20
OCS12 macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2012	I've seen lots of blue tooth OBDII adapters to let you connect your car connect to an iPhone. I've never looked into what apps are out there though. I could see how that'd be a nice toy to have.
	0

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Animation Desk for iPhone - Anyone can be an animator. Any idea matters. (New Video)	swopes	iPhone and iPod touch Apps	4	Jul 24, 2011 09:59 AM
iphone to iphone airplay?	paulold	iPhone	5	Dec 16, 2010 05:57 PM
Have You Retured An Ipod or Iphone to apple?	supermac96	iPhone	1	Nov 17, 2010 04:36 PM
new mba. how do you transfer music from iphone to mba	nbebawe	MacBook Air	5	Nov 9, 2010 04:04 PM