ECU Geeks?

[wstar]

Hi all, first post here. I'm a hardware/software tinkerer that has become interested in the ECU on my Nissan (2009 370Z). I've only recently started digging into how the CAN bus works, what PIDs are available, etc. I have UpRev's Cipher, which presents some interesting mfg-specific data that generic OBD-II tools can't see. Mostly I'm working from my Android phone though, using an ELM327-based adapter (PLX Kiwi) and Torque (for logging/display) and alOBD (for raw ELM327 CAN interface terminal in hex). Torque, for example, can't access Engine Oil Temp, while Cipher can. There are number of other "mfg-specific" PIDs it would be nice to be able to customize into Torque as well, and they seem like they should be accessible from normal CAN communications, somehow.

Anyone who's followed what I've written above so far probably knows what I've stumbled on next: that for the most part the mfg-specific PIDs/Modes used by Consult-III and commercial scantools are "secret", and I'm guessing sold to scantool mfgs for big $$. There doesn't appear to be much public information available about the Nissan-specific modes/PIDs so that hacker geeks like myself can monitor these.

I've actually managed to dig up some specific PID info for my 370Z's "Mode 45" (e.g. what I believe is Engine Oil Temp: "111F"), but I haven't managed to successfully read from any of these Mode 45 PID addresses yet via ELM327 (Using CAN in 11-bit 500kbaud). I suspect I'm 95% of the way there, but just failing to understand the intricacies of setting the right CAN communications mode (specific receiver address for ECU, e.g. 7E8, special modes of the ELM327 for CAN Extended Addressing, etc).

Anyone out there that can help me with this (either because you've already gone further down this road, or you have some inside information on Mode 45 in general?).

[mcrews]

I use a product called Scanguage to give me 'gauge' readings while I drive. I follow a little of what you are saying because some of the codes are not accessible on an infiniti.
I had found this software which allows you to have access to specific manufactures for $49.

not sure if that helps you in your efforts.

[nismo2point0]

I've started poking around my Frontier and trying to gather some IDs myself, interested in collaborating our finds via a shared Google Doc spreadsheet or something?

In about a day of tinkering I've found messages for exterior lights and some instrument cluster controls from a common ID I'm concluding as the BCM for now, but could definitely use some help logging the IDs and values for different messages/controls, etc.

[Kaplah]

As a Nissan Versa owner I'd love to get my hands on any PID info available. I've been playing with a ELM bluetooth module with the eventual intention of using a CAN arduino shield to add additional features.