How to fix the onboard computer?

In most cars produced today, an on-board computer is included as standard. Vehicle data, after minor modifications, can also be obtained in older models that are not equipped with a computer.

In the case of new vehicles, depending on the segment and equipment version, the most common difference is the amount of information that the computer provides to the driver. Average fuel consumption, distance remaining until the fuel tank is completely empty, travel time, instantaneous fuel consumption, outside air temperature and travel time are the main data provided to the driver by almost every modern car. It is assumed that the starting point from which these devices were introduced on a mass scale was the year 2000. It was then that CAN data networks began to be widely used in the production of vehicles. The information displayed on the on-board computer had to be removed from circulation and displayed. However, this does not mean that owners of old cars are doomed to drive without a computer. According to Sebastian Popek, an electronics engineer at the Honda Sigma showroom in Rzeszow, there are several ways to transform a car.

Factory expansion

The simplest task is to assemble a factory, original computer designed for a specific model. They can be used when the car we drive is adapted for such a device, but due to a bad version of the equipment it was not installed at the factory. This includes part of the Volkswagen Group vehicles. As an example, the 150th generation Skoda Octavia, popular in Poland, is often cited here. Instructions for assembling a computer with a list of necessary components can be easily found on Internet forums that unite users of these cars. We will also find here information on whether a given version of the car allows such a modification. How much does it cost? The computer module can be purchased at online auctions for only PLN 200-150. Another PLN 400 is the cost of the handles with buttons that support this device. Most of all, even 500-800 zł, you need a new set of indicators and clocks with a computer display. The total cost of a visit to the service is added, where the specialist will program the watch. In this case, if you are lucky, the cost of parts, assembly and programming should not exceed PLN 900-XNUMX. The biggest advantage of this solution is the installation of factory elements that fit perfectly into the interior of the car and do not require any modifications or making additional holes in the cab.

– Before purchasing the necessary elements, it is worth checking whether they can be installed. Fortunately, many modules are universal, and the car's wiring is already installed and only an actuator, such as a display, is missing to expand the system. This applies not only to the on-board computer, but also to other components, such as a rear view camera. Most often, wires and connectors are ready for assembly, says Sebastian Popek.

For old cars

An additional display hole is required in a vehicle for which the factory computer was not produced, or its installation in this version is not possible. That's when mainframe computer manufacturers come to the rescue. Depending on how many features they offer, you have to pay between PLN 150 and PLN 500 for them. The most advanced ones allow not only to measure the average fuel consumption and distance, but also the oil pressure, or set a traffic warning without low beam, or a reminder to visit the service.

Installation of such a computer is possible in most cars, including older ones. However, most often the car must be equipped with an electronic injection system. Manufacturers claim that the device can be used in both gasoline and diesel vehicles.

Before buying such a device, you should ask the manufacturer if it is compatible with our car and what additional sensors it needs to measure and display information about the parameters of interest to us. You must ensure that the display included in the kit can be mounted on the cab. It may turn out that there is no place for it, or the shape of the board does not allow it to be aesthetically integrated into a single whole.

- The assembly itself for an amateur will not be easy and it is best to entrust it to an electronics engineer. You need to know which cables and sensors to connect to each other and how to do it, says Sebastian Popek. However, manufacturers of such computers guarantee that a person with basic knowledge and skills in the field of electromechanics will be able to handle the assembly on their own with the help of an instruction manual.

Information on a smartphone

The simplest and cheapest solution is to display information about the car on the smartphone screen. To do this, you need an interface that you connect to the vehicle's diagnostic socket. It connects to the phone using Bluetooth technology. To view information from the CAN network, you need to install a special application on your smartphone. Depending on the number of features, you can get one for free or for a small fee. The only limitation is the year of manufacture of the car.

– OBDII sockets were installed in large quantities only after 2000, and older cars also did not use the CAN network, says Sebastian Popek. The cost of buying an interface connected to a socket is about PLN 50-100.