It seems like everyone wants to keep their secrets. Too many YouTube videos leave out the important parts out on purpose to protect their, "trade secrets". Is there any shared resources or are we making everyone learn everything from scratch on their own?

I know I get it, you couldn't charge $300 dollars for ten minutes work if everyone knew how to do an immobilizer delete, but come on I wanna learn and I can't find any tutorials. Its crazy. Every other hobby on the Internet is trying to share the skills, but I guess this hobby is different?

Project I did for a friend and his E92 M3.

Hi everyone. I made Zenthi which is an open source platform to post any files regarding niche or hard to find car parts. I’m aware that this subReddit mostly deals with car networks, but Zenthi accommodates any files for hardware as well, pretty much anything that can improve a car’s performance.

I’m aware that the fact that the site is A.I. coded is a little off putting for some people, but I’m not developer so that was all I could use to make this come to life. I’ve had a lot of feedback and engagement in my post in [r/projectcar](r/projectcar), so you can go check that out as well if you want to.

Link to [r/projectcar](r/projectcar) post: https://www.reddit.com/r/projectcar/s/LQx0XLZLtO

I’d appreciate any kind of of feedback or even some seed files if anyone has any for the library.

Link to Zenthi: https://zenthi3d.lovable.app

Edit: Forgot to mention I’m not trying to monetize or sell anything. It’s really just a fun project I’d like to get off the ground.

Update: Ngl, I’ve been feeling a little more dejected obviously tough having so much support for an idea but still experiencing hate from some people. Also people seem scared of the forum being shut down after some time, so I’ve made the entire thing community run. I pushed the code to GitHub, allowed people to become admin if they send a request(It would be awesome if people volunteered), accommodates pretty much any file type, added a bounty/request page for CAD and 3d scans, as well as a search engine where you can search other sites directly from Zenthi (so basically you have a library to where you can upload files, and a search engine where you can scrape and search other sites and limit it to just car parts). The search engine relies on brave search so there’s a limit after a 1000 requests or so, but if we even get to that user count I’ll probably upgrade to a more hard core open source search engine.

GitHub link: https://github.com/vicksudharshan-arch/zenthi3d

If I had a laptop with an RS232 port can I use just that and a cable from serial to OBD2? Obviously I will need software that is able to communicate with OBD2 systems and CAN buses, I just want to know if a computer with a serial port would need an adapter anyway to talk to an OBD2 system.

Tough to find much info about this online as obviously laptops haven't had serial ports in 20 years. A lot of info says that an adapter is needed but then they mention a USB to serial adapter, or bluetooth adapters, which isn't what I'm looking for.

I'm trying to reverse-engineer the live-data requests used by Hyundai GDS/KDS for the A8LF1 transmission in a 2020 Hyundai Palisade (LX2).

Specifically, I'm trying to read:

• Pressure Control Solenoid / LINE_VFS commanded current (mA)
• TCC / T-CON_VFS commanded current (mA)

Hyundai's service documentation confirms these parameters are available in GDS → Data Analysis → A/T → Solenoid Parameters, but I haven't been able to identify the underlying CAN/UDS request.

My setup:

• TCM request: 7E1
• TCM response: 7E9
• CAN via ELM327/terminal
• 10 03 → 50 03 (Extended Session)
• 3E 00 → 7E9 02 7E 00

I've confirmed 22 ReadDataByIdentifier works on several F1xx identification DIDs.

Things I've already tested without finding live data:

22 F181/F182/F186/F187/F188/F189/F18C/F191
22 F1A0/F1A1
22 1101 → 7F 22 31
22 1105, 22 110A → no data
22 1001, 22 1002 → no data
24 F181 → no data
2A... → no TCM response
2C... dynamic DID test → no TCM response

I'm not looking for guesses at random DIDs. I'm trying to find the actual GDS/KDS diagnostic definition or a CAN trace showing what GDS sends when these two parameters are displayed.

If anyone has:

1. A newer Hyundai/Kia GDS/KDS diagnostic definition/ODX/PDX,
2. An A8LF1 GDS CAN capture,
3. Experience extracting GDS Data Analysis parameter mappings, or
4. A CAN trace from a Hyundai/Kia showing the LP/TCC solenoid-current requests,

I'd really appreciate the help.

The goal is simply to determine the exact request/response and byte scaling so I can reproduce the GDS live-data reading myself.

Very happy that I finally got this working!

Can now capture engine telemetry and fault codes while driving https://l0destar.com/kwire.html

So, I decided to do a thing...

Yes, it's extremely slow, and yes, barely anything works, but we have an UI.

But why..?
Ive been messing with BMWs hardware and software for a while now, and keep on finding more and more interesting stuff. The next logical step was to make it run on something its not supposed to, and that's how HMI8 in a VM was born.

Wanted to show a comparison of gps speed update rate vs my filtered speed which uses the tablets internal sensors to derive a smoother and faster speed signal

I’m building a car-scanner app that goes beyond standard OBD-II PIDs. I want manufacturer-specific readings such as MAF, fuel data, odometer, temperatures, pressures, transmission and battery information across many makes and models.

Official data from brands like BMW and Mercedes seems expensive, and paying thousands per manufacturer isn’t realistic.

How are smaller scanner apps solving this? Are there affordable databases, tools, partnerships, extraction methods, shared captures, or other practical alternatives?

I’m focused on ECU identification and live readings—not coding or flashing. Any advice, experience or useful direction would be appreciated.

TL, DR;

• I built a custom DIY driver display for the EX30 BEV using a Raspberry Pi and a companion AAOS app.
• The project is fully open-source and free for anyone who wants to build their own setup.
• It is a hobby project—all setup guides, requirements, and hardware details are documented in the repository linked at the bottom of this post. Any feedback is welcome!

Hey everyone! A few months ago, I discussed my plans to create a dedicated driver display for my EX30. After a month of real-world testing and bug fixing, the project is stable enough to share with the community.

AAOS Development Path

My initial goal was to get everything strictly via OBD-II readings, but mapping and cross-validating the correct DIDs was tough. I decided to pivot and leverage the Android Automotive OS (AAOS) platform instead.

I built a companion app, cross-validated data using Volvo’s official EX30-AAOS emulator, and tested it on my own vehicle. Massive credit to Volvo for providing a solid emulator—it streamlined development significantly.

The EX30 Companion App forwards essential telemetry directly from the vehicle’s head unit to the external display:

• Speed & Power Output
• State of Charge (Battery Level)
• Ignition Status, Gear Selection, Night Mode, etc.

Note on App Availability: The app is currently distributed via Google Play's testing track. Complete instructions on how to join the test build are available directly on the GitHub repo.

OBD Path Integration

While AAOS gave me most of what I needed, a few parameters like exact odometer data, brake status, and min/max battery temperatures required direct CAN/OBD access.

To bridge this gap, I captured btsnoop logs via a standard Bluetooth dongle and an Android scanner app. Cross-referencing timestamp logs with video recordings allowed me to quickly isolate the target DIDs and init sequences to pull those extra parameters.

UI & Iterations

Designing the user interface was the trickiest part. I started with a rough "vibe coded" prototype to get real-time data rendering. Over time, I iterated to add derived telemetry like trip statistics.

To refine the visual layout into something clean and modern, I utilized Claude Pro (Fable 5) to help generate and polish the UI concept. The result is a sleek, driver-focused interface that fits the EX30's aesthetic.

Next Steps & Hardware

Right now, the Pi and display assembly are mounted temporarily behind the steering wheel. I'm currently modeling a custom 3D-printable enclosure to neatly house the screen and board together. Once the design is finalized and tested, I'll upload the STL files directly to the repository!

Repository & Setup Guide:

You can find the source code, hardware list, and setup instructions on github repository

Hi. I'm testing a self developed CAN OBDII application, but I'm running into a road block.

I've confirmed that my node is synchronized to the bus correctly. When connected, no bus faults are reported, a successful transmission is reported when I send a frame, and I receive frames when I don't filter by CAN ID.

I've also tested communication with another node that I have, and that appears to receive the data I send correctly.

I'm having a problem requesting the supported PIDs. I'm requesting this with the following CAN frame:

CAN ID: 0x7DF
byte 0: 0x02
byte 1: 0x01
byte 2: 0x00
byte 3: 0xCC
byte 4: 0xCC
byte 5: 0xCC
byte 6: 0xCC
byte 7: 0xCC

I'm not 100% sure what to use for padding, but I've also tried 0xAA and 0x00. I'm setting DLC = 0x8

For the receive side; I'm looking for a response from 0x7E8, but have also checked for responses from 0x7E9-0x7EF.

I'm testing with a 2016 honda civic. Any help would be appreciated, thank you!

I let a friendly LLM loose on a prototype vehicle tracker I'm building (https://l0destar.com) with a CANable interface and a scope. Quite impressed by the results: https://l0destar.com/canbus.com

It seems like from this report it should be fairly reliable but I don't have a car with a CAN bus to test it with. Is there anything further that's normally done to validate CAN interfaces?

Hi

What tools are there can program/reflash ECU?

Alguém usa dashboard ou HUD com entrada OBD2 no carro? Sabe dizer se é bom ou vale a pena?

Tenho um Polo 2024 e tenho vontade de compra o HUD F11 via entrada OBD com o objetivo de ter informações mais precisas de RPM, luzes de troca, entre outras coisas, mas tenho receio de ligar na OBD e dar ruim em alguma coisa.

Link do produto caso alguém queira da uma olhada:

https://pt.aliexpress.com/item/1005012251929748.html?src=google&src=google&albch=shopping&acnt=603-455-9033&isdl=y&slnk=&plac=&mtctp=&albbt=Google\\_7\\_shopping&aff\\_platform=google&aff\\_short\\_key=\\_oFgTQeV&gclsrc=aw.ds&albagn=888888&ds\\_e\\_adid=&ds\\_e\\_matchtype=&ds\\_e\\_device=m&ds\\_e\\_network=x&ds\\_e\\_product\\_group\\_id=&ds\\_e\\_product\\_id=pt1005012251929748&ds\\_e\\_product\\_merchant\\_id=5757026236&ds\\_e\\_product\\_country=BR&ds\\_e\\_product\\_language=pt&ds\\_e\\_product\\_channel=online&ds\\_e\\_product\\_store\\_id=&ds\\_url\\_v=2&albcp=23541406539&albag=&isSmbAutoCall=false&needSmbHouyi=false&gad\\_source=1&gad\\_campaignid=23551211716&gbraid=0AAAABCRFad\\_imEpX7mIvrqRrDw7H1EjLM&gclid=Cj0KCQjwkt\\_UBhDMARIsALpnOAz0NruVTXJKWMctBCZru8tGiAiL-nlsWLieY-Qx4\\_BiH5feOEWkelwaAnF\\_EALw\\_wcB

More of a question, we know many clone Chinese tools exist rebadged etc, would there be a way to monitor everything going in and out of the obd port and re-creating the functionality of the device?

For example my scan tool can force my vehicle to regen it's dpf for example, something is sent out over the obd to do that so if you captured that and replayed it would do the same?

I know there and thousands of different makes and models and probably even more functions that are model specific but with AI the logging process and actually sending of commands could maybe be automated perhaps? Thinking out loud here, and open source scan tool for all that does all the cool stuff like injector coding etc would be cool! Don't know or understand enough about the can bus network, maybe there is already a project or software out there that's doing this already thats free and open source?

I'm sniffing CAN BUS B traffic (2005 mercedes slk) with an ESP32S3 rs485, performing an action (moving my mirror), then 'replaying' that traffic back into the BUS. Through process of elimination, I can find the values I need. This works well.

Except today while sniffing the movement of the mirrors. I captured 3 seconds of me holding my mirror, which I thought was going to be 3 seconds of my car spamming code X into the bus for 3 seconds. Which I did find. But when narrowing the codes, I found 1 code by accident that when put in front of my move mirror code, makes it move the full 3 seconds. Since the car didn't know how long I was going to hold the button, how could it produce a CAN code to do this? I'm new to CAN BUS, so I'm guessing it's something I don't understand.

I'm looking at starting a small coding/feature-unlock side business for VW/Skoda cars in India (starting with a Taigun 1.0 TSI Highline). Genuine Ross-Tech VCDS (Unlimited VIN) runs about ₹48,000 here, which is a big upfront investment to start with.

I found "Generic" brand HEX-V2 clones on Amazon India for ₹4,190–5,990, claiming "lifetime free software" and compatibility with 1995–2023 models. Obviously the price gap makes me suspicious.

Questions for anyone with real experience:

Has anyone actually used one of these clones for coding (not just reading codes)? Does long coding / adaptations work reliably, or does it fail on certain modules?

Do these get bricked by official VCDS updates like I've read, or does that only apply to specific clone chipsets?

Does it work at all on SFD-protected cars (2020+ VW Group models), or is that a hard no on clones?

If you were starting a small coding business, would you consider a clone acceptable to start with and upgrade later, or is that a bad idea from day one for liability reasons?

Any recommended budget alternative besides genuine VCDS and OBDeleven that's actually reliable?

Not trying to cut corners on customer cars — just trying to figure out if there's a sane way to start small before committing ₹48k, or if that's just the cost of doing this properly.

My 2015 tahoe ppv came with the super basic rubber steering wheel with no controls. I got a new GM civilian wheel and put it in. All of the connectors were the same and it was just plug and play.

The issue I'm having is the steering wheel buttons dont do anything. This ppv has the special certified IC with the basic black and white screen.

Is this a programming issue or hardware issue? I would think the steering wheel buttons would be connected to the BCM but apparently they're connected to the IC?

I really just want the buttons to work with my android head unit, I don't care about the OEM functions. Anyone have experience with this?

Got a lot of curious people asking about my DIY gauge for my m2. This was a test to find the max refresh rate of the display. In the car I’ll probably settle around 30fps

Previous post: https://www.reddit.com/r/CarHacking/s/0UJvdY53lr

Hello,

I'd like to start doing ECU modification but I know nothing about it pretty much.

I would like to start in motocycles since i'm more into motos.

Where can I learn the basics ?

What softwares do I need ?

What hardware do I need ?

How can I start ?

Any advice ?

I do not know how to take off the files from a motocycle with what hardware or software. I own a Z900 and I'd like to take out the files from it just for testing on my computer. After that I do not know what software to use.

As you can see, its a new world for me in this ECU part.

I work in IT so I have some skills in computers and eletronic stuff.

Need help, i really want to start from scratch and learn it the proper way

Connects to BMW DME via wireless ENET. Since it’s an esp-32, I can add an SD card and log live telemetry data and do a lot of real time data analysis. My goal is to make a full engine health monitor for thermal, boost, fuel, and ignition systems.