There are a few companies on the net that sell kits so that you can interface
with your onboard computer and access much of the same information
that the mechanics at your dealer can.

Try:

http://www.elmelectronics.com
http://www.scantool.net/

http://www.ghg.net/dharrison/obdscan.html

Mark


At 01:34 PM 8/27/02 -0400, you wrote:
> > With all this talk about cars, I thought I'd throw a question
> > into the mix.
> >
> > I just discovered that my new 2002 Pontiac Aztec may actually be
> > collecting
> > data about my driving habits. (Of course, it is.) My queston is, how can I
> > access this data MyOwnSelf?
> >
> > http://www.activedayton.com/ddn/local/0822car.html
> >
> > According to this link, it appears to actually do this through the *airbag
> > computer?*, I guess because it knows when you crash.
>
>         AFAIK that computer only logs the last 5 seconds of data before
> airbag
>deployment, it is a "black box" for cars that helps the manufacturers figure
>out why an air bad deployed. There is some debate these days over who
>actually OWNS the data, since it would be a candidate for evidence in a
>court of law.
>
> > For that matter, is there any place on the web where I can learn
> > more about
> > the computerized aspects of this car? It is the most highly computerized
> > vehicle I have ever owned, and I'm not sure I completely like the
> > idea. For
> > example, I cannot "turn off" the headlights. It, and it alone,
> > decides when
> > they will go off.
>
>         Chances are no, GM certainly releases ZERO about this sort of
> thing (other
>manufacturers are no different), about the only way to get data is to either
>hack it yourself or wait for someone else to do it. For such a new car I
>thinik you'll have to wait.
>
> > It allows me to program the response to the keyfob, opening all
> > doors when I
> > press unlock, or opening only the driver's door.
> >
> > And, it tells me when to change the oil; then requires a
> > user-initated reset
> > of the oil-change system, initiated by three presses of the accelerator
> > pedal while holding something else in, blah, blah, blah.
>
>         All pretty standard in many of today's cars, like it or lump it I
> suppose!
>:( TTYL
>
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