Best way to connect to VN/VP 808

[someguy360]

Hi All,

I was wondering if anyone might be able to provide some advice on what the best options are these days for connecting TunerPro to a VN/VP 808 ECU.

I've always worked on VR/S 424' models so I've used the standard USB > ALDL OBD style cables however I've never had to connect to a VN/VP with the smaller diagnostic connector. I've just finished a build for a mate with a tickled 304 with some cam/valve train additions and want to get the wideband on it and do some road tuning however the one seller on ebay that did a 808 USB cable for tuner pro went MIA and I had to cancel the order.

Can I make a cable or even modify a VR/S one to suit the 808. I know the baud rates etc are different so I'm not sure whether hacking up a VR/S cable will be possible etc.

Can anyone offer any other options that I can do? I know there was a while ago USB boards that could be soldered onto the ECU but I'm not sure if they are still a thing.

Thanks in advance everyone!

Have a great Christmas

[antus]

Run OSE 12P software, which is our update to the VR software. Then technically you can modify the interface. The high speed comms is available on the CPU, you can connect TTL level serial straight to the 808 ECM, and get the high speed data. If that is beyond your skills, you can get the ECM Comms board in the for sale section and install that. It connects where the missing high speed chip would go on the later version of the ecm and gives you a USB serial connection to your PC. Have a look at the hardware guide in the FAQ section (green question mark up in the top right) for more. Also if you look at some of the earliest posts on the forums there is discussion about how to connect to the ECM CPU if you want to go that way yourself. Another option is the VR manual ECM which has the ALDL chip installed already and will just work with 12P software and ALDL port wired in. They are somewhat rare and possibly expensive, though.

[someguy360]

Thanks Antus, thats really helpful.

Will do some reading and work out which way he wants to go.

Cheers!

[vlad01]

I use the ALDL plug and just use an ECU from 305 or 082 variant, or an 808 with the SXR? board fitted, I have the latter for my RT 808.

I made a small plug and play patch cable type of deal that I plug into the VN-VP 6 pin ALDL for ground and I think 12v and diag CEL as well, but those aren't needed for data, just the ground is needed from the 6 pin.
Then on the main ECU connector, I pop the blue retainer out and push in the data wire pre terminated with the micropak terminal into the appropriate pin, then the patch cable has the later OBD2 style plug the ALDL cable plugs into, and that connects the VN-VP cars to the later type ALDL cable.

That way I have the same ALDL adapter for all cars I work on. When I do a tune or do up a VN-VP, I add the data line and a WB line in near the 6 pin as two separate 1 way narva click in connectors, both are in opposite genders so that you can never mix them up. On my patch I have those same connectors inline, so I can either use the raw terminal straight on the ECU, or use the click in narva connector in my modded looms. Makes it so much easier. I used to have a 808 with the USB port, but it was a pain to have to move it around from car to car, where the above method allows me to plug into more cars without taking everything out where they are equipped with high speed ECUs.


I am not sure if the SXR boards are made any more, I am pretty sure Antus would be able to answer that. But I highly recommend them if you can't get access to a 082 or 305 ECU.

[antus]

I think I do have 1 or 2 on the shelf somewhere, might be able to dig one up. I got a whole bunch of them made 10 years ago but got a letter wrong on the part number of the IC and they all dont work so I never sold them . So to get them going I need to manually replace the chip with the right one each time. After that they're a bit annoying to install as they're through pins to the main board and not on a standard header, hard pins are near impossible but something with a bit of give like offcuts from the end of component legs work. If you get the ecm comms you are better off though as its they all work and are the more normal solution.

[Charlescrown]

Theres a post on this site showing how to convert a OBD2 unit to ALDL. Their cheap from China (abt $10) and do work. It's a very easy mod and allows USB connection to your PC or laptop.