need help buying and choosing a logger

[myeclipseisnice]

k i want to order a pocketlogger... i have read post and im still lost... i need a tuning device, so i want the pocketlogger (palm thingy).. ok anyway i want a pocket logger that will tell me my check engine light codes... that will reset my check engine light.... that i can get my live readings so i can tune my car... that will work with my 2g gst and also any other obd2 car NOT JUST MITSUBISHI... reason why is because of the check engine light codes on my families car and friends cars. i want to be able to plug my pocket logger on and see what the code is on, on any car not just mine... please someone help me out with where to get the palm thing and the cables and whatever else i need, do i go to best buy or online or where?... thanks

 

[spyderturbo007]

www.pocketlogger.com

You can pick up a $20 m100 or m105 palm off ebay. You will also need a serial hotsync cable.

Pocketlogger has a listing of compatiable vehicles on it's website. I believe that it doesn't work with any GM vehicles, but you should check the list.

 

[myeclipseisnice]

ok i did alot of research and i figured that i might wanna go with this... http://www.matcotools.com/Catalog/toolcatalog.jsp?cattype=T&cat=2342&page=4&#51272

its from matcotools... only 550... and it gives me what i want.. only works with obd2 though which is fine for my car and also any other car i want to tune that has obd2 because of its live data streaming that it has... i have a scanner at work but that bad boy is 3 grand... and we have matco come to our shop every monday... i think this monday imma get that... Great price and its fast too... i can check any obd2 car check engine light (import or domestic) and i can read live streaming for any obd2 car as well...

 

[v8s_are_slow]

Dude, for that much money you need to get a dsmlink or something. That scan tool is gonna do just that....scan. Not tune....monitor. That's about it. You can't make any adjustments as far as timing and fuel, etc. etc. If ya wanna help your buddies out that's fine and all but are they gonna be chipping in to help ya out with the cost of this thing or something?

Seriously, the dsmlink would do ya justice compared to that thing. Especially for the money.

 

[exile]

Yeah dude PocketLoggers should cost about $125 + $(whatever deal you get on a palm) If you just want logging, and you wanna spend money where it needs to be spent, you can get the whole LOGGING setup for $140-$150. They sell M505's on Ebay for $20.. $7 shipping, it's a color palm.

And If you're spending +500 plus on a logger/tuner, save your money for DSMLink. It's a god amoung tuning software.

 

[myeclipseisnice]

mmmm... good point... that dsmlink looks alittle confuesing and i dont have a laptop plus i dont think im that good of a tuner to go that advanced... but if i dont go with the matco scanner for obd2 then i will go with just a regular m505 or something like that

 

[v8s_are_slow]

As I've been told by other members on this forum, you can get a cheap laptop for around $100 or so off ebay. I've personally seen them at around $200 though that'd work just fine. I'm personally going with a more high dollar one though.

But if you'd even CONSIDEER paying over $500 for that scanner, you'd be throwing your money away compared to a dsmlink being that you're really not gonna be doing anything with that scanner and I seriously doubt you'll be driving around a lot with it hooked up to your car and doubt it'll even give ya all the information you need to know anyway. Is it gonna give you your fuel trims, O2's, timing, etc. etc. etc.? If you're running too lean could you lean it out with that scanner? No. Will pocketlogger do it for ya? That's a no as well.

BUT, at least with pocketlogger, you'd be paying less, see more, and still get to see the check engine lights that are coming on. Would you be able to turn them off with a pocketlogger? Maybe but it'll still pop back up if the problem persist and isn't fixed. And that's probably the same with the scan tool. Could you turn them off with dsmlink and keep em off? Yeah, but I'm not sure if that'd count for every code or not though.

Maybe you're not that good of a tuner right now but where do ya think everyone here on this forum starts out at? Not to mention there's a forum that'd help ya out, good customer service (I'm getting the good customer service already and haven't even bought it yet), and of course the manual. Anyway, just my 2 cents.

 

[rowlex]

mmmm... good point... that dsmlink looks alittle confuesing and i dont have a laptop plus i dont think im that good of a tuner to go that advanced... but if i dont go with the matco scanner for obd2 then i will go with just a regular m505 or something like that

I just wanted to point out that DSMLink is MADE to be an incredibly simple tuning device. It is VERY easy to tune with it. The company caters to beginners to the tuning aspect and made the user-interface extremly simple.

Seriously tho, when I first got dsmlink I had my 12 year old bro help me tune my car, I gave him a quick run-down on what we are watching for and what to do when it knocks. He tuned my car quite well. I've also had him tune a few of my buddy's cars.

 

[myeclipseisnice]

i know that if i get that matco scanner that i wont be able to tune it with that.. but i have a safcII to tune it with... i just got some good news and i have a friend that knows someone that has this scanner... he is selling it for 150 since he is working on transmissions now and is in no longer need of this scanner... so for 150 i think thats a great deal... i will see the scanner tomorrow and check it out, he says its basically brand new.

 

[v8s_are_slow]

What you need to find out is what all information it'll give ya. Cause even at $150, if all it's telling you is check engine codes, etc. it'd still be a waste of money if it won't do much more than that. Also, will it log at all??? What are it's limitations? But maybe you dunno.

 

[King Salami]

I completely love my Pocketlogger! It's the best $125 I've spent on my car.
You can't start tuning until you know what's going on inside your engine.

http://www.pocketlogger.com/

 

[v8s_are_slow]

Well also too, he has a 2g. I don't think the OBDII version will give out as much info for the 1g pocketlogger version but without knowing the specifics on that scanner, I'll still assume that the pocketlogger would give more feedback.

 

[myeclipseisnice]

What you need to find out is what all information it'll give ya. Cause even at $150, if all it's telling you is check engine codes, etc. it'd still be a waste of money if it won't do much more than that. Also, will it log at all??? What are it's limitations? But maybe you dunno.

it comes with a printer cable to attach to your pc to print and also a software cd... it will read and/or record live data stream... what it has listed is... rpm, calc load (%), coolant (Fahrenheit), ign adv (timing in degrees), IAT (Fahrenheit), MPH, o2 sensor (whatever bank whatever sensor), fuel sys1 and fuel sys2, fuel trims.. and others that are on but i dont know the names of em...

 

[this_tsi_8urV8]

Ok, So a pocket logger is BETTER than DSMLINK? What would be a better tuning device? I doubt afc is better? And what is a piggyback?
Thanks

 

[DGajre777]

Ok, So a pocket logger is BETTER than DSMLINK? What would be a better tuning device? I doubt afc is better? And what is a piggyback?
Thanks

A pocket logger or any logger for that matter is just for logging or read-only. DSMLink is a tuning device and a logger built in one. An AFC or MAFT or DSMLink is a piggyback fuel computer meaning it talks to the factory ECU (computer) and does not replace it. People who don't want piggybacks (for race use) go with Haltech or other standalone fuel computers which do not use the factory ECU for fuel control.

 

[streetrays]

if you're trying to read obd2 signals, then maybe Apexi i-moni will do?
it's a new unit from Apexi that pretty much displays a lot of things from stock obd2 ECUs.

as for datalogger, anyone cares about PLX R-500? it's quite some spending but it offers everything from wideband, egt, knock, g-sensor (onboard dyno), etc..etc..