DSMLINK cables?

[need4speed187]

Hello.. I am trying to find a cable that is compatible with DSMLINK v2, I bought the car with dsmlink already installed but the person i bought it from had lost the cable, im just trying to find a replacement. ECMTUNING only sells cables that work with the v3. So basically my question is does any one know where I can get one? or one that works?

 

[robbo185]

Hello.. I am trying to find a cable that is compatible with DSMLINK v2, I bought the car with dsmlink already installed but the person i bought it from had lost the cable, im just trying to find a replacement. ECMTUNING only sells cables that work with the v3. So basically my question is does any one know where I can get one? or one that works?

cant buy them anywhere. Talk to the guys at ECM

 

[gbradley]

On a 2g the cable is the heart of dsmlink. I have dsmlink and I don't think 2g cables are sold without buying the whole caboodle.

 

[steve]

On a 2G the cable was the security key to keep people from selling counterfeit copies of DSMLink.
Without the cable then you don't really have/own a copy of DSMLink. You will not be able to buy the cable by itself.

counterfeitcopies [ECMTuning - wiki]

 

[need4speed187]

Well thank you all for the quick responses but now I dont know what im going to do because I need the v2 cables to even upgrade to the v3 package and I dont feel like having to buy the entire v3 package...

 

[steve]

I guess im going to have to upgrade to the v3..

Sorry, without that OBD2 adaptor you're not eligible for the upgrade you'll have to buy the full package.

 

[illeffekt vr-4]

To upgrade to a V3 you have to turn in your V2 chip and cable. Since you don't have the cable I think you'll have to buy V3 outright.

 

[1_2befast]

As you already know you are pretty much SOL. Your best bet is to look for a cheap used V2 setup. It seems as though DSMLink can be had pretty inexpensively if you look around and take your time shopping.

 

[steve]

The going rate is the trade-in value so if you find it below that, be careful about what your getting.

 

[GSXtacy724]

can someone put up a pic of what this cable looks like (picture), I might have one

 

[snowborder714]

Look at the link steve posted in post #4. The link has pictures of legit chips, adapters, cables, and the 1g memory module, as well as knock-off pictures.

 

[GSXtacy724]

im pretty sure the cord I have WILL work. thats what I bought it for.

 

[kristmen]

The above link Steve posted,

counterfeitcopies [ECMTuning - wiki]

Scroll down to the 2GV1 and 2GV2 section.

Do you have the black dongle looking thing? Have you actually SEEN the chip inside of the ECU?

If you just need the "cable" it's a standard DB9 cable, your local Best Buy or even Wal-Mart should have them.

Now the dongle, that black box looking thing that plugs into the cars comm port, if you do not have that your SOL, you will need to buy DSMLink as a new customer because you do not have DSMLink. ECM Tuning will not sell you that part either. Has nothing to do with V3 being out now, even back when V2 was all that was out, ECM Tuning would NOT sell just that part. If you needed to buy that, they would instruct you to buy a whole DSMLink kit for $580~600.00 or whatever it is they cost. I've forgotten now.

Anyway DSMLink V2, for 2G's consists of BOTH that black dongle AND the chip. Any moron with a chip burner can copy the chip so that dongle contains the protection needed to actually do anything with it.

So again, if you do NOT have both of those two pieces, you were lied to and you do not have DSMLink.

 

[illeffekt vr-4]

That's why they tell everyone with a 2g to treat the connector/cable like gold. You loose it, you don't have dsmlink. Yet people still leave them in their cars in plain view

Others don't know how important the cable is (like in this case) and buy a car "with" dsmlink just to find out its pretty much useless.

 

[aberfitch127]

I had the same issue as the guy who origanlly posted this topic. My tuner shop had to bring in 3 different cables and finally got one to hook up to my dsmlink and loaded my tune. Now, Im in a bit of a pickle. My alternator is going bad and I need to change it. However in doing so I have to disconnect my battery which in turn will make me lose my tune, and my tuner shop I go to doesnt have the cables accessable anymore. A friend told me that I could use Vag-com. If you are unfamiliar with it, its an OBDII to USB cable that plugs into your laptop to check out things like your check engine light, however, it accesses your ecu and with that I opened my DSMlink software and set it to COM3 port and the Vag-com software is through COM3 port, and when I go to try to load the tune from my Ecu the little light in the bottom right of the DSMlink software flashes yellow to red about 5 times then I get a message "IO: Connection Timed Out"....what does that mean and is this an alternate route of loading my tune with this cable? I was also told that maybe getting Keyspan and plugging the cable to that and then getting an USB to Serial adapter and try that, so it would go Vag-com cable to Keyspan to USB/Serial adapter to my laptop....Any help?

 

[jrohner]

I agree from what I've read about this in the past that you're screwed. They should just have everything important kept inside the ECU, instead of a cable that's worth 5-600 bucks. They should just have a USB extension cable coming out of the ECU.

 

[steve]

A friend told me that I could use Vag-com. If you are unfamiliar with it, its an OBDII to USB cable that plugs into your laptop to check out things like your check engine light, however, it accesses your ecu and with that I opened my DSMlink software and set it to COM3 port and the Vag-com software is through COM3 port, and when I go to try to load the tune from my Ecu the little light in the bottom right of the DSMlink software flashes yellow to red about 5 times then I get a message "IO: Connection Timed Out"....

what does that mean and is this an alternate route of loading my tune with this cable?

I was also told that maybe getting Keyspan and plugging the cable to that and then getting an USB to Serial adapter and try that, so it would go Vag-com cable to Keyspan to USB/Serial adapter to my laptop....Any help?

What is means is you got bad information, the VAG-COM OBDII cable won't work. Only the cable sold with DSMLink V2 will work to talk to a 2G DSMLink. The Keyspan cable is a USB to serial adaptor and is most often used with the DSMLink cable to connect to computers that don't have a native serial port.

Because you didn't get the cable with the car you didn't really get DSMLink with the car, regardless of what you found in the ECU or what the seller told you.

If you really need DSMLink to run the car then it's time to buy it. Sorry.