VOL-FCR software and connector cables advice needed

[esl_97_850_T5]

My only experience is with Vol-FCR v1.7 Demo for FTDI USB cable.

Several months ago I bought a 2nd VAG/COM KKL USB cable for use with some ECU simulation experiments. It turns out that I accidentily bought one that was CH340-based instead of being FTDI-based. So I now have:

- a VAG/COM KKL FTDI-based USB cable, and
- a VAG/COM KKL CH340-based USB cable.

VAG/COM KKL CH340-based USB cable does not work with my FTDI targeted Vol-FCR v1.7 Demo.
VAG/COM KKL FTDI-based USB cable still does work with my FTDI targeted Vol-FCR v1.7 Demo.

Both my CH340-based and my FTDI-based VAG/COM KKL USB cables work well with Brick-Diag Free v0.0.6.6 and with the KWPD3B0-conversant ECU simulation software.

There IS a difference in VAG/COM KKL USB cables!!! -- some are based on the FTDI chip, some are based on the CH340 chip.

I'll leave it to you to do whatever research you need to do to match whatever Vol-FCR version you intend to get with whatever kind of cable you intend to get (eg, old-style serial, USB). It could be my FTDI USB vs. CH340 USB experiences have no bearing on your case, especially if you decide to go the Vol-FCR v1.3 route and use the old-style serial cable.

But if you plan on using a version of Vol-FCR that was made for FTDI-based devices, then when you choose to get a VAG/COM KKL USB cable, I'd very strongly suggest you ask the vendor if the cable is FTDI-based or CH340-based. If it is CH340-based, I'd suggest avoiding it. If it is FTDI-based, you should be fine.

My VAG/COM KKL CH340-based USB cable is (somewhat) translucent blue.
My VAG/COM KKL FTDI-based USB cable is opaque black.

esl_97_850_T5

[scot850]

Thanks for the heads-up on the cables differences. I have just bought one ($10 with shipping) so will need now to check what I actually bought.

Appreciate your info. All in the spirit of learning!

Neil.

[scot850]

Naturally the VAG-Com cable I bought had to have the CH340 chipset not the FTDI. As it had shipped they have offered 50% off not to ship back. As it only cost around $10 not to big a loss!

Is this the correct one I am looking for?

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/New-FTDI-FT232RL ... 4ae3aefc2e

Thanks,

Neil.

[esl_97_850_T5]

1. It's probably correct. That definitely looks like a VAG/COM KKL FTDI-based USB cable. I'd feel safe in buying it for a Vol-FCR targeted to FTDI-based VAG/COM KKL interfaces.

Even though that cable doesn't look like mine because mine is black, I found it interesting that the molding of the OBDII connector has the exact same "OBD II" and "3 archways" molding that my older black cable did.

2. I suggest you not use the vendor supplied disk for FTDI driver installation, but instead get the latest FTDI driver. The latest FTDI driver info on my site is at Volvo 850 Diagnostic Links. Search for the 2 items that begin with "Future Technology Devices International's Drivers" and especially "FTDI CDM Driver". Once you quickly read those two sections, click on the "FTDI CDM Driver" link if you'll be using Win7 or later. Else click on the "Drivers" link, locate the appropriate driver and download. Once you've downloaded your driver, display the How to Setup an ELM327 on WinXP page (even if you plan to install on Win7 or later). Click on the 1st link which directs you to some really good instructions at totalcardiagnostics.com. Use those instructions as a guide, but don't use their links which actually do the downloading. You should've already downloaded your FTDI driver, so you'll be installing it instead. You can also read through the rest of elm327_setup_on_winxp.html to see how I adapted the totalcardiagnostics.com instructions and to see how I recovered from some problems. Of course, you'll have to do a small amount of adapting of the WinXP oriented instructions to be Win7 (or later) specific, but that's usually fairly easy.

3. Your VAG/COM KKL CH340-based cable is not a loss. I suggest you keep it. First of all, it can be used with Brick-Diag Free v0.0.6.6 (if you spend the $1-2 to acquire that). But more importantly, others in this thread and/or elsewhere, experienced with using the Vol-FCR v1.3 software, seem to be implying the lowest cost blue Chinese VAG/COM KKL USB cables will work with Vol-FCR v1.3. I'd suggest giving that cable a try if you are going to use the free Vol-FCR v1.3 (which is apparently not targeted for FTDI-based devices). Maybe it'll work. Someone else would have to help you with that, since I have no experience with it. You might find you don't even need the VAG/COM KKL FTDI-based cable.

4. You've already shown in the DRAPER thread that you're willing to pay roughly 10 times the price of a VAG/COM KKL FTDI-based cable to have a convenient specialty tool that can plug into the OBDII port, blink a few lights, and get a couple of specific jobs done in just a few seconds -- eg, reset a SERVICE light, or clear SRS DTCs.

So if you really want to get a collection of all the old tools, go ahead and buy the VAG/COM KKL FTDI-based cable also and buy whatever kind of VAG/COM KKL serial cable it is that Vol-FCR v1.3 is supposed to work best on COM1 with one of the computers that has the old style serial connectors. That way you'll hopefully have at least one cable that works with any version of Vol-FCR you acquire.

And now that we're dropping $10 (or less) here and there, might as well go ahead and buy one of those ELM327 USB cables like the picture on that totalcardiagnostics.com link showed. Then you'll have the cheapest, easiest thing to use with volvo850diag. Just make sure that you contact the vendor to see that it is Silicon Labs CP210x based and that it's ATI response is "ELM327 v1.5". We could always use another cable in our OBDII arsenal.

Once you've done that, we will anoint you as "King Neil, Lord of the old and mystical Volvo tools, Keeper of the historical artifacts."

esl_97_850_T5

[scot850]

Appreciate the nagging, you must be my wife writing on the forum!

Unfortunately my computer(s) don't have serial ports only printer ports. However, I did find this little device...:

http://www.amazon.ca/Serial-RS232-Conve ... B00404P0L6

A USB to serial port converter!! Now where is the credit card and I'll get that serial post cable and this ordered!

Really though, here where I live in Calgary in Canada there is a dearth of Volvo expertise.
We have 2 Volvo dealers in the whole province of Alberta. The 2 main cities have a couple of independent Volvo repairs shops. We had 3 in Calgary, but the best one shut down after a fire, and the 2 remaining are average. I'd rather use the dealer on jobs I can't do myself. As such I help several young folks and older ones with advise with problems on their older Volvos.

I've owned and run many Volvos over the last 40 years, and been an enthusiast including a president of a Volvo club in the UK (no longer running unfortunately). I even worked in the local Volvo dealer for a few months in parts. Everyone in the dealer knows me, and it helps when I need info. But often even they can't answer my questions and then I have to figure the issue out myself.

So with the poor overall support older Volvos get here, I am trying to build up a knowledge to help others where I can.

I am not particularly computer literate, but do like to learn. The stuff I am buying is to help in this process, and perhaps pass on what I learn to others locally and on line.

Appreciate the help, but I'll pass on the serial port and just get the 'correct' USB to OBD2 cable!

Neil.

[esl_97_850_T5]

King Neil,

1. I believe something like that serial to USB converter is what some people have used to get the Vol-FCR v1.3 that (reportedly) insists on using COM1 talking on their machines which did not have a serial port but that did have a USB device. So you might need it.

But like I say, you'll need to hear from someone experienced with Vol-FCR v1.3 to see if they've made it to work with a VAG/COM KKL USB (instead of serial) cable, since you're planning on passing on the serial cable. They should give you explicit instructions about how to overcome the "insistence on using COM1 problem" with your USB cable or provide a link that explains how.

If you were going to buy the latest version of Vol-FCR Full for FTDI cable, then the VAG/COM KKL FTDI-based USB cable would definitely be the correct USB to OBD2 cable. Also, if you try out the seriously crippled Vol-FCR Demo for FTDI cable (either Vol-FCR v1.7 Demo or whatever the latest version of Vol-FCR Demo is), then the VAG/COM KKL FTDI-based USB cable would definitely be the correct USB to OBD2 cable. However, it's unclear to me if the FTDI-based USB cable (or the CH340-based USB cable) can be made to work with Vol-FCR Full v1.3. To repeat: someone else will have to help you with that.

2. I liked reading the background about the dearth of Volvo knowledge in Alberta and how you have been and plan on continuing to help others. You are truly a servant king -- the best kind of king.

3. I apologize for sounding like I was nagging. I really meant the humor to be encouraging.

4. Hints for avoiding nagging of someone you live with. Hide the cables and assorted Volvo tools in a box which can be placed in a closet or other out-of-sight location. Have a separate checking account. Have a mutual "don't even think about nagging about my stuff" rule. I've deployed all of them.

Your royal servant,
esl_97_850_T5

[scot850]

I know you are kidding and there are times we need a lot of humor in our lives!

Actually, my wife has been very tolerant of me and my cars (especially Volvos) and me need for tools. Having said that, I do have a crap load of tools, but that often helps (like the T8 Torx bit I needed the other day and actually found!).

I understand what you are saying about the FCR 1.3 and possibly needing the Com1 port and your lack of detail knowledge on that. Heck, we can't all know everything, and if half of the information I get is right, then I am always grateful! Not sure why you would need the serial cable for 1.3 as my computer doesn't have a serial port, so surely a OBD2 to USB would work, unless it is the internal chipset you are trying to get me to get through my head! Is that where you mean I might need to get a OBD2 to serial port cable, and then connect it to the serial port to USB cable to get the correct internal serial post chipset to work with 1.3? I could see that.

Ideally I will look to see if I can find a 'good' cracked version of 1.7 or newer. But 1.3 is an option as there are a few 'free' versions out there with cables. Need to re-check what cable come with them. My issue with them is that I don't know if 1.3 runs only with XP or older or can run with Win 7 Pro. I do still have an unused netbook with XP on it I could use, as I haven't upgraded it to Win 7 Pro as yet (disc is sitting here to be done!). All the websites with the cables and free discs, don't say.

I have found this post which a guy says he uses 1.3 with Win 7 and also some useful info on cable and required drivers.

http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/topic/11 ... lem/page-2


I am always up for a bit of leg pulling so feel free to do so! Keeps us all well grounded!

Thanks again,

Neil.

[Matty Moo]

Neil. Send me a PM with your email address and I'll email a special surprise to you.

[scot850]

Will do Matt. Always like surprises but just not the ones from the tax man/IRS!!.

Neil.

[esl_97_850_T5]

Neil,

Thanks for that volvospeed link. I had actually seen that before, because I remember the last comment by rkam. However, I had forgotten (or it never registered with me) some of the meat in the rest of the thread. I can very clearly see now that a) the VAG/COM KKL FTDI-based USB cables work with Vol-FCR v1.3, b) the serial cable is not necessary, and c) one does not have to buy a serial cable and a serial-to-USB converter cable. I got insight from both those pages. But I especially appreciated posts #23 and #27 by SlapShot and post #28 by Horses With Gas.

That volvospeed link clearly shows multiple cases of using Vol-FCR v1.3 and v1.7 with Win7.

My new updated view is:

- Vol-FCR v1.3 can work on both WinXP or Win7 with a VAG/COM KKL FTDI-based cable. That volvospeed thread seems to say so.

- Vol-FCR v1.7 (either Full or Demo) for FTDI USB can work on both WinXP or Win7 with a VAG/COM KKL FTDI-based USB cable. I think the volvospeed thread is saying this also.

- I wouldn't be surprised if Vol-FCR v1.3 can also be made to work on WinXP or Win7 with the VAG/COM KKL CH340-based USB cable.

Good luck.

esl_97_850_T5