NB8B Scan and Diagnostics Tools

Garry · Postby **Garry** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 7:28 pm

I have an NB8B without an OBDII port, just the diagnostic box in the engine bay.

Does anyone know if it's possible to read and log real time engine sensor outputs while the car is moving along. If it is possible does anyone know what to use to read and log them? I'm guessing the OEM Mazda diagnostics tool can do it because I had a problem with my NA8 years ago and the guys at Mazda mentioned something about connecting their diagnostics tool to the car and driving it to find the fault but I'm not sure if any aftermarket stuff can do it. It doesn't necessarily have to have a laptop interface. Even a hand held device would do the job.

Any help or experiences would be appreciated.

Cheers
Garry

slyfox2151 · Postby **slyfox2151** » Fri Oct 03, 2014 1:11 am

I'm also interested in the answer to this question.

sailaholic · Postby **sailaholic** » Fri Oct 03, 2014 8:00 am

Probably need to find out what format it's in ie obd1 or something Mazda specific. The commodores ran old 1 right up till vy as it was heavily used by GT and they didn't update G be code until they brought out the new engine.

Caffeine · Postby **Caffeine** » Fri Oct 03, 2014 8:27 am

The only useful real time stuff I have managed to extract from the diagnostic port is a tachometer signal

Garry · Postby **Garry** » Fri Oct 03, 2014 7:22 pm

It's not sounding very positive

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Sat Oct 04, 2014 11:44 am

timk & Lachlan R attached temporary OBDII connector to the NB8A diagnositc box, but no luck:
viewtopic.php?f=55&t=54806&p=691826&hilit=lachlan#p691826

However, with all the potential diagnostic box outputs it would be interesting to hook it up to an Arduino, like droo did with other sensors in his NA8, if the programing code could be written for it:

diagnostic box.jpg

viewtopic.php?f=55&t=55483
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=56481&p=712286#p712286

Garry · Postby **Garry** » Sat Oct 04, 2014 7:41 pm

I'm going to see a mechanic Tuesday week. I went to see him last year to diagnose ABS problems after my ABS fuse blew. I'll ask him if it can read engine sensor readouts as well as doing diagnostics. It plugged into the diagnostic box but he had to load some Mazda specific software into it before it would work.