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Does the Model S have an OBD-II connector?

Discussion in 'Model S: User Interface' started by Reed, Sep 26, 2013.

  1. DITB

    DITB Charged.hk co-founder

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    So my OBD is useless for use on the Tesla Model S?

    It was quite nice on a BWM I rented, I could see all kind of information on it.
     
  2. ww73

    ww73 Member

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    We've used the Progressive Snapshot device in our 96 Toyota 4Runner and 01 Honda Odyssey. I believe it tracks time of use, milage, and hard stops (approx. deceleration > 7mph per second).

    We lowered our insurance by about 15%. Snapshot doesn't work w/ the Nissan Leaf. My guess is it does not work w/ Tesla neither.

    Once you stop worrying about the "creepy" factor, there are a lot of possible real world uses for these devices, such as more precise/competitive insurance pricing, driving behavior monitoring (car can detect if ur drunk), measuring fuel consumption, real time car diagnostics, travel/data logging (think corporate use), etc. etc.

    Check out this video. "Tesla-ify" ur old ICE cars.

    Car Automation with your Android Phone: OBDLink LX - YouTube
     
  3. mknox

    mknox Well-Known Member

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    Do you recall where? The reason I ask is that I allowed a vendor to tinker with that port under the cubby so that they could develop a monitoring solution for the Model S (since the OBD II port has nothing on it). They were successful in being able to "read" data from it and have offered me one of their monitoring devices in return for my help. So far I have declined because I was worried about exactly this.
     
  4. markwj

    markwj Moderator, Asia Pacific

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    See here for an example: Tesla Model S owners hack their cars, find Ubuntu

    With the important phrase being "save only to the extent permitted by applicable law". Good luck enforcing it, Tesla. You purchased the car, you own it. Let's not derail this thread with a discussion of this, but you can read more here:

    Reverse engineering - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    Even the harsh DMCA, and European copyright laws, contain inter-operability exemptions (which are precisely what you are doing).
     
    • Informative x 1
    • Love x 1
  5. error49

    error49 New Member

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    The pins are missing on the OBD2 connector for connecting to the standard OBD2 features. This means most off-the-shelf devices won't be able to read things like speed and diagnostic information. They do however seem to have the pins available for communicating directly with CANBUS. So devices that can talk to CANBUS on the "vendor option" pins in the OBD2 spec, will be able to interface with CANBUS. Of course, that's a MUCH harder and more daunting task.

    I am building a device right now that plugs into the OBD2 port, runs Linux, and has cellular and bluetooth. This will enable applications to run on your phone or in the cloud to interface directly with the car whether it's powered on or off or you are nearby or far away. We're working on building a database of specific CANBUS features supported by various cars and hope to include Tesla in that. It may be of interest to some of you when we launch it in a few months. If so, let me know. We're looking for people with various types of cars for our beta program.
     
  6. Dr. Pete

    Dr. Pete Member

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    The State of Oregon is about to replace the gas tax with a "mileage driven" tax. In view of the debate/uncertainty concerning the OBDII interface in Teslas, does anyone know how the State intends to monitor miles driven?
     
  7. BertL

    BertL Active Member

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    Not super specific -- at least what I find on OR's DOT site: Dispelling the myths of mileage-based user fees

     
  8. baks

    baks Member

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    error49, you can provide software testing? There are a couple of Model S. Which adapter can be used? Open Port 2.0 possible?
     
  9. garygid

    garygid Member

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    There are people offering Tesla-specific tools. However, these are not OBD2 complient,
    and no normal OBD2 tool will work with the Tesla.

    We are working on a short adapter cable that will allow the Tesla CAN3 bus to be read
    by an inexpensive ELM-type bluetooth dongle, which would then connect to an Android
    tablet or smartphone. If this works, a WiFi or Bluetooth 4.0 dongle will probably support iOS).
     
    • Love x 1
  10. baks

    baks Member

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    Where can I download or buy the program for the diagnosis? What's it called?
     
  11. artsci

    artsci Sponsor

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    True. There's no other output.
     
  12. garygid

    garygid Member

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    What diagnosis are you asking about?

    1. Get Tesla Certified, buy their hardware and software.

    2. Build or buy appropriate hardware, program or buy compatible software,
    and evaluate if it will do the "diagnosis" that you desire.
     
  13. baks

    baks Member

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    I ask - what kind of equipment (software + adapter) can read and erase errors in Tesla Model S? View real-time data.
    I looked at the characteristics of OBDLink - this is the usual OBDII adapter to your software! Commercial progress!
    Can this car, diagnose ELM327 (or ELS327)?
     
  14. garygid

    garygid Member

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    Incorrect, I believe. It appears that the OBD pins 1 and 9 are a CAN bus,
    and that pins 6 and 14 are ... something.

    Only Tesla software knows how to use these signals, and the 4 ethernet ports,
    and the 4 CAN buses on the "hidden" Tesla Diagnostics Connector.

    I believe that Tesla designed the car so that no existing diagnostics tools
    would work with their car. On all the ports, the data and functions are
    custom, proprietary implementations, it seems.

    However, some are watching CAN data, and logging the messages, in
    an attempt to better understand the condition of their car.
    For example, the 96 cell-block voltages were found on CAN3.
     
    • Informative x 1
  15. baks

    baks Member

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    Thank you for the information!
    Too bad Tesla closed this information. Although they have the OBDII connector, so they have to read this protocol. For example, Nissan Leaf, the same electric car I'm working with them. I think, a little later - Tesla will open all the same.
    If you have any program that can read Tesla, throw off please. I learned maintenance and repair of the electric vehicle itself.
     
  16. garygid

    garygid Member

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    Tesla has an OBD connector, but is not required to have or use the OBD2 protocol,
    at least in the USA, since that is only required of emissions-producing vehicles.

    So, Tesla's hardware and software are different, not OBD2, but the visible connector
    looks like a "standard" OBD2 connector, but it is wired differently.

    If you can log the LEAF's CAN buses, with some hardware and software changes,
    you should be able to log the Tesla's CAN buses. However, the Leaf "speaks" the
    Leaf language, not standard OBD2, but close in some places perhaps. The Tesla
    "speaks" a totally different language, not Leaf, and not OBD2. Comprende?
     
  17. baks

    baks Member

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    Yes, I know that the Leaf is not the OBDII standard. I think at Tesla as well. What is Tesla protocol?
    Can you explain how the Tesla diagnostic process, if there is some kind of error? What do they read?
     
  18. baks

    baks Member

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    Well, I will ask in another way. What software can read and delete errors on this car? And what need an adapter?
     
  19. markwj

    markwj Moderator, Asia Pacific

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    Only Tesla would have that software. Even then, I suspect the only way of clearing the error condition would be to fix the cause of the fault.
     
  20. baks

    baks Member

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    Thank you. I'm sure someone will write software for the diagnosis of Tesla.

    How is the diagnosis of Tesla remotely? Explain.
     

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