datalogger worth it at this point?

[guitarhero14]

My car is completely stock at the moment and i am a freak about knowing what is going on with my car and maybe even overly obsessive. Putting that aside, is getting a pda and a datalogger worth the money at this poing in my cars life? Thanks for the input.

 

[blazebolt]

That really depends on how big of a freak you are about what's going on with your car. If you plan on upgrading turbo, going bigger injectors, turning up boost, etc. then you will need a logger at some point. If you don't mind shelling out the money for the logger instead of performance upgrades first, well that's your choice. Personally, I'd wait until I get at least a MBC, BOV, & boost gauge and those aren't very expensive. Of course you want to do your PM first.

 

[Turbo Talon 111]

it is always a good thing to have. you can do without it (i have) but again it would be very nice. especially if you are worried/obsessive about your car.

being completely stock it probably is less necessary unless you are having problems with the car because then it can come in pretty handy. once you start modding it becomes even more useful. you probably just have to decide if you have the money to blow on it. i would have one but I also have other things to spend my money on.

basically you really don't need it now but would be nice to have. if you have extra money laying around and you would be more comfortable knowing what is going on with almost all the parameter of your car then go for it.

 

[toofasteclipse]

Usually you only buy a data logger if you are tuning. Really there is no use in looking at your fuel trims and such if you cant change them. just my .02

 

[Turbo Talon 111]

it can be useful in diagnosing problems though, so its used for more than just tuning.

 

[femmeDSM]

Usually you only buy a data logger if you are tuning. Really there is no use in looking at your fuel trims and such if you cant change them. just my .02

Pish posh (er...did I just say that, )
A datalogger is *always* a good thing to have. Un-modified engines knock and retard timing too, yaknow!

My datalogger is my best friend. Seriously, I don't know what I would do without it. I am like you, though....I am a total freak about knowing exactly what's going on at all times....Nothing wrong with that, though.

 

[Turbo Talon 111]

unfortunately it won't tell knock on a 2G. if it did i would def have one by now because i'm a freak about worrying of running too lean.

 

[femmeDSM]

unfortunately it won't tell knock on a 2G. if it did i would def have one by now because i'm a freak about worrying of running too lean.

Ah damn. Just realized he was 2g. .
But still....Plenty of things to obsessively check and re-check on an OBD-II logger.

 

[dyablo]

I have a logger for over a year and dont even use it . The most use i have gotten out of it is the coolent temp. since i live in az it gets hot in the summer. But now that I have upgraded to the evo 3 well that might change . Now Im bearly learning how to actualy make out things from the loggs. Good luck.

 

[Gleason]

I love my logger. I always liked making sure my timing was good [ if your timing is decreasing/'getting pulled' while WOT then you know you've got knock ]. Also great in detecting my CEL codes, clearing stupid ones[ ABS, SRS], and then reading my 02 sensor readings and seeing how rich my car was at normal driving and WOT. You mine-as-well get it now . can't hurt anything, can only help along the line.

 

[99gst_racer]

Giving your car a datalogger, is like giving a blind man eyes.

It's always good to have a datalogger.

 

[Flavor-DSM]

Mechanicle Boost Gauge and a Datalogger was the first 2 things I got for my car. Although you can't see knock on yours.. It's always nice to know what is going on with your car.. and if you get a CEL then you can pull it up and see what it is. My O2 sensor went out and my Coolant temp. sensor went out and I could tell exactly what was wrong with my car when they both went out because I had my datalogger and it was an easy fix... (I knew it was O2 because of the CEL.. and i knew the coolant temperature sensor went out because it was hard to start my car [it would always flood itself] and turns out the temp was reading -44* C..) I would go ahead and get it if I was you. Just my opinion.

 

[guitarhero14]

thank you all for the replies. I am going to get a datalogger hopefully very soon. I am thinking about pocketloggers. Do you think it is worth the $?

 

[Flavor-DSM]

thank you all for the replies. I am going to get a datalogger hopefully very soon. I am thinking about pocketloggers. Do you think it is worth the $?

I'm not very familiar with the pocketloggers... I will tell you what I did though. I went on ebay and bought a cheap Palm m505 and downloaded MMCD for free and did it that way. Not sure if MMCD will work with OBDII though.

 

[VelocitàPaola]

I'm not very familiar with the pocketloggers... I will tell you what I did though. I went on ebay and bought a cheap Palm m505 and downloaded MMCD for free and did it that way. Not sure if MMCD will work with OBDII though.

Software is a non-issue since so many different logging programs are freeware.

What you need to think about it the physical OBD-PDA/laptop interface, and what your specific needs are. The Pocketlogger architecture is nice in that it allows for quick sampling rates, ideal if you're doing very sensitive tuning. If this isn't quite your thing, I'd say don't waste your money then.

There are plenty of other interfaces available for much less that can handle most applications. They may only sample 2-5 times per second, but that's usually quite enough. The ELM or mOByDic are just two of the cheaper alternatives.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=214071