For those in the know, the AEM 30-0334 OBDII wideband air/fuel ratio sensor controller emerged from collaborative efforts within the tuning community. This innovative device essentially reprogrammed the CAN interface of the AEM 30-0300 wideband to align with OBDII standard communication protocols. This breakthrough allowed seamless integration with popular scan tools like the HPTuners MPVI/MPVI2 via a simple OBDII pass-thru cable, a significant leap forward for tuners.
However, this solution inadvertently overlooked a segment of the market: vehicles manufactured between 1996 and 2007. These OBDII-equipped vehicles, predominantly from manufacturers like GM, Ford, and Chrysler, utilized the J1850 (VPW and PWM) communication protocols, lacking the CAN bus systems that the 30-0334 was designed for. This left tuners of these pre-CAN vehicles with limited and often cumbersome methods to input wideband data into their scanners. Options were largely confined to the Pro version with ProLink CAN, serial data connections, or resorting to outdated analog wiring techniques. These methods presented challenges, especially when attempting to log dual-channel widebands effectively.
Bridging the Gap: A J1850 OBDII Adapter Solution
Recognizing this critical gap in the market, and building upon prior technical groundwork, we are excited to gauge the interest in a J1850-compatible solution akin to the 30-0334. This new offering is specifically tailored for pre-CAN vehicles, particularly targeting the earlier GM, Ford, and Chrysler models that rely on J1850 OBDII systems.
This solution takes the form of an external hardware adapter, designed to replace the OBDII pass-thru cable used with the 30-0334. Envisioned with the same housing design already in production, this adapter will feature terminals to directly connect the CAN wires from your wideband sensors.
The adapter will be equipped with user-friendly screw terminals on one side, accommodating the CANH and CANL wires from AEM 30-0300 or 30-0310 widebands. A significant advantage of this adapter is its capability to support multiple widebands simultaneously, streamlining the process of logging data from multiple sensors. Furthermore, we are considering incorporating an optional cold-start safety feature. This function would intelligently delay the sensor heating process until after the engine has started, mitigating potential thermal shock to the delicate ceramic elements within the sensors, thereby extending their lifespan.
Direct OBDII Wideband Integration for Classic Platforms
In essence, this initiative aims to deliver a dedicated J1850-enabled OBDII adapter specifically engineered for seamless integration with AEM 30-0300 and 30-0310 wideband controllers. This will provide a direct OBDII cable wideband solution for the 1996-2007 pre-CAN vehicle market, simplifying tuning and data acquisition for these platforms.
Considering the current component market landscape, preliminary estimates suggest a price point ranging from $70 to $80, contingent on the overall demand volume. It’s important to note that this cost may be offset by the price difference between the 30-0334 and the 30-0300/0310 models.
Therefore, we pose the question to the tuning community: How many enthusiasts and professionals are interested in a direct OBDII cable wideband adapter solution tailored for pre-CAN vehicles (1996-2007)? Your feedback will be instrumental in gauging the viability of moving forward with debugging and production of this much-needed tool. Because, as some of you may know, the pursuit of improvement and innovation is a driving force in what we do.
