FreeSSM - Complete access to your ECM and TCU

[stig]

Originally Posted by cardoc

Or, you could get a cable from Tactrix. I know it works on 01s with RomRaider and ECU Flash. They make a Subaru specific cable.

Hi Cardoc, indeed i should just go online and buy that one evoscan 1.3U openport with software $157-,same as tactrix i belive?
i kinda got my mind set on freessm since i stumbled in to subaruoutback and saw the awesome description on the freessm on page 1, However im just not sure if my car is compatible yet with above mentioned openport "still trying to figure out if my car is in the transition period obd2",
untop of that not sure if my vag cable chipset is the right one ARGHHH LOL

hehe i do know i got pin 7 on my obd2 plug on car and 12V+ on pin 16

i guess we live and learn

Stig

[plain OM]

I'm sort of thinking that if an OBDII code reader or scantool doesn't work, neither will FreeSSM regardless of the cable. If a standard code reader or scanner worked, but not FreeSSM, then it would be a different story.

The experience cited in post #528 above might be a lead. Perhaps the Launch reader that was used has broader interface capabilities.

Any chance of trying your FreeSSM and cable on a later Subaru (perhaps 2003)? If it works, then you know, before investing more, that the program and cable are okay and it's your car that has the earlier system that FreeSSM can't access.

[stig]

Originally Posted by plain OM

I'm sort of thinking that if an OBDII code reader or scantool doesn't work, neither will FreeSSM regardless of the cable. If a standard code reader or scanner worked, but not FreeSSM, then it would be a different story.

The experience cited in post #528 above might be a lead. Perhaps the Launch reader that was used has broader interface capabilities.

Any chance of trying your FreeSSM and cable on a later Subaru (perhaps 2003)? If it works, then you know, before investing more, that the program and cable are okay and it's your car that has the earlier system that FreeSSM can't access.

Hi plain OM, yes that is very good logical thinking mate, process of elimination.

i would just like to be 100% sure its not the cable chip before i move in a different direction if that makes sense?

i live in a smallish town pop 3500 and only know 1 person 200 clicks away with an outback, i guess i could get wife to coax em up here for a visit lol

[InsaneAsylum]

Hi Stig,


signed up to respond after reading your posts. I own an 05 forester X EJ251 auto and purchased an $8 VAG COM cable off ebay. it too has the CH340 chipset inside.


I have worked with computers for 15 years and fully understand how com ports work, they are configured correctly. I could connect to the control unit in my automatic transmission without any problems, however I had the same problem connecting to my ECU. it just doesn't respond.


The developer of FreeSSM believes that my ECU may be locked due to chiptuning, but the fact that another forum member on the freessm site has the identical problem and now I read that you have the same problem suggests something different. it could be an incompatible ECU, incompatible chipset in the VAG COM cable, or bug/error in the FreeSSM code. Maybe our ECU's require a different form of communication which FreeSSM is not programmed to do.


FTDI drivers will not work on a cable with the CH340 chipset. the chipsets simply emulate a com port via USB and FTDI and CH340 are made by different manufacturers. they essentially do the same thing.


none of the other applications like romraider and ecuexplorer could connect to my ECU either.


It's a mystery.

[Novablue]

Originally Posted by InsaneAsylum

Hi Stig,


signed up to respond after reading your posts. I own an 05 forester X EJ251 auto and purchased an $8 VAG COM cable off ebay. it too has the CH340 chipset inside.


I have worked with computers for 15 years and fully understand how com ports work, they are configured correctly. I could connect to the control unit in my automatic transmission without any problems, however I had the same problem connecting to my ECU. it just doesn't respond.


The developer of FreeSSM believes that my ECU may be locked due to chiptuning, but the fact that another forum member on the freessm site has the identical problem and now I read that you have the same problem suggests something different. it could be an incompatible ECU, incompatible chipset in the VAG COM cable, or bug/error in the FreeSSM code. Maybe our ECU's require a different form of communication which FreeSSM is not programmed to do.


FTDI drivers will not work on a cable with the CH340 chipset. the chipsets simply emulate a com port via USB and FTDI and CH340 are made by different manufacturers. they essentially do the same thing.


none of the other applications like romraider and ecuexplorer could connect to my ECU either.


It's a mystery.

Oooooorrrrr.

All Aussie Subies are "chip locked."

[Hudsoner]

Originally Posted by InsaneAsylum

Hi Stig,


signed up to respond after reading your posts. I own an 05 forester X EJ251 auto and purchased an $8 VAG COM cable off ebay. it too has the CH340 chipset inside.


I have worked with computers for 15 years and fully understand how com ports work, they are configured correctly. I could connect to the control unit in my automatic transmission without any problems, however I had the same problem connecting to my ECU. it just doesn't respond.


The developer of FreeSSM believes that my ECU may be locked due to chiptuning, but the fact that another forum member on the freessm site has the identical problem and now I read that you have the same problem suggests something different. it could be an incompatible ECU, incompatible chipset in the VAG COM cable, or bug/error in the FreeSSM code. Maybe our ECU's require a different form of communication which FreeSSM is not programmed to do.


FTDI drivers will not work on a cable with the CH340 chipset. the chipsets simply emulate a com port via USB and FTDI and CH340 are made by different manufacturers. they essentially do the same thing.


none of the other applications like romraider and ecuexplorer could connect to my ECU either.


It's a mystery.

Over in the VW/Audit VWVortex.com forum is an entire section on VAG.com. They came to the conclusion that some of the Chinese made copies of the original VAG.com interface cable will not work reliably with the VAG.com software. Could you guys have a similar problem?

[Greenmamba]

For what it's worth, I have a UK spec OBW with the same issue as the Aussie ones mentioned here. It's not, I believe either a fault with the VAG.com cable or the Freessm software (bearing in mind I am no expert in either mechanics or computers/software) simply based on my own experiences. I have tried an Autel Maxiscan reader - 'no communication with ECU' - similar result to me trying Freessm using an eBay bought, blue, VAG com cable. The car's port connected perfectly with a professional garage using a Launch code reader. This series of results makes me think the car doesn't want to talk to third party readers. It's not that the third party cable or reader (in my case, Freessm/VAG or Autel Maxiscan reader (with it's own cable) is faulty, just that UK Subies of a certain age, and likely Aussie ones too, need/lack the means to communicate with such readers. Please don't shoot me if I'm wrong!!

[ntippet]

I am in agreement with you on this Greenmamba, something is different with these models.
If a typical OBDII generic scanner can't communicate with the vehicle they have implemented some sort of security measure.
Which is slightly odd since the FreeSSM software and Vagcom cable communicate on the Subaru communications protocol SSM2.

[InsaneAsylum]

thanks for your input. from what I understand FreeSSM is simply an interface for injecting a series of hex codes into the ecu and converting and displaying the data returned from the ecu into something we can make use of.


It does sound like there is some sort of security measure in place as it would also explain why FreeSSM can communicate with the TCU of my 4EAT.


Working out what it is and how to get around it is another story.

There is an aussie guy on subaruforester.org who is using the freessm setup with ebay vag com cable to connect to his 09 SH forester. i've confirmed it's also a CH340 chipset cable.

seems like an issue with our MY03 - MY05 models, cannot confirm if it's a problem with the MY06 - MY08

Originally Posted by Novablue

Oooooorrrrr.

All Aussie Subies are "chip locked."

truth is, aussie subies all came with ebay chips installed on the IAT sensor, we have an extra 30HP over you guys. the ms excel dyno graph proves this

[cardoc]

InsaneAsylum,

In RR, have you tried connecting with different model definitions? The software reacts different with each one. As an example, I use the 02 Impreza defs to connect to my 01 VDC.