Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Prolink or Canbus? OBD1? (Read 537 times) previous topic - next topic

Prolink or Canbus? OBD1?

I was searching under the dash (fixing radio stuff) and found a grey connector that I ASSUMED(silly me) was the OBDII CANBUS!
After seeing the photo from Pierce and Gaylie Stewart, i realized that it was a PROLINK connector.. Then I saw that the photo was captioned as OBD connector. Now I'm confused? Is Prolink an OBD1 system? is it proprietary? Can it be adapted to the OBDII Reader? I have found a cable that claims to adapt a OBD1 (looks like the mate to the photo) to OBDII, Does anyone know if that could work?
I may need to get a cable and give it a shot! the pic is from Pierce and Gaylie Stewart!
OBD1 to OBD2 cable
Amazon.com: OBD2 to OBD1 GM Adapter,OBD1 12 Pins to OBD2 16 Pins Diagnostic...

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
1995 U-240 GrandVilla 36'
FMC# 18675
Lookingglass, OR
"There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." - Ed Howdershelt Abintra Press "If you have to lie to gain Support, you are not worth Supporting" "I just want to go somewhere where there's chocolate and nobody talks." - Ynez Reinschmidt

Re: Prolink or Canbus? OBD1?

Reply #1 –
They call it the 12-pin molex connector.  I've also seen it referred to as the Allison connector.  It's J1708 / J1587, not OBDII (J1979).

Here are the connections the Silverleaf / VMSpc can connect to.  I have the 12-pin and the round 9-pin, and get more data from the 12-pin, although the 9-pin data was not as erratic.  Wish I could get the best of both.

Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197

Re: Prolink or Canbus? OBD1?

Reply #2 –
I may order the cable to try out the OBDII BT reader to see if it works.
So A 2003 FT does NOT have a OBD 1 or 2? And the Molex is not a an OBD connection?
Thx
1995 U-240 GrandVilla 36'
FMC# 18675
Lookingglass, OR
"There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." - Ed Howdershelt Abintra Press "If you have to lie to gain Support, you are not worth Supporting" "I just want to go somewhere where there's chocolate and nobody talks." - Ynez Reinschmidt

Re: Prolink or Canbus? OBD1?

Reply #3 –
You are going to have to have an electronic engine for the Pro-Link 9000 tool or a reader to be able to work. Plus, you will need the right cartridge for the Pro-Link. They do have cartridges for Allison, ABS, Cummins, CAT but they have to be electronic for it to work. They do make tools that will do all the electronic engines, transmission, etc but they are very expensive and only work on the later models.

The other devices like Bluefire and the Silverleaf are readers while the Pro-Link is a tool. Readers are excellent for collecting all the information and displaying it on a screen while the Pro-Link is a tool and can make changes and test injectors, as well as checking MPG, temps, etc, etc, but it has a very small display so only displays one or two items at a time out of perhaps 50 items. Nice to have both a reader and the PL9000 as a tool.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Prolink or Canbus? OBD1?

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Cpt_kludge –
So A 2003 FT does NOT have a OBD 1 or 2? And the Molex is not a an OBD connection?

Correct.

Diesel pushers don't use OBDII ports.  On some (not mechanical engine coaches), you will find a diagnostic port that's either the rectangular style or round that work with some ScanGaugeD tools or VMSpc.

ยป ScanGauge D

BTW, the ScanGaugeD display device looks identical to the "Driver Info Center" display on a 2003 Foretravel.

You may not have such a port on a older coach if it does not have an electronic engine.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Prolink or Canbus? OBD1?

Reply #5 –
Quite right as I just call it the OBD port but that is not correct. The difference between the ScanGauge Michelle links to is that it's just a small reader not a tool so cannot make any changes or test the injectors plus it's not cheap. $$ is far better used by contacting Roger. He has some good deals and excellent support.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Prolink or Canbus? OBD1?

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart –
$$ is far better used by contacting Roger. He has some good deals and excellent support.


and that's for the VMSpc I also mentioned.  I linked the SGD site because it explained there is no OBDII on a diesel pusher  :)
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Prolink or Canbus? OBD1?

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart –
Quite right as I just call it the OBD port but that is not correct. The difference between the ScanGauge Michelle links to is that it's just a small reader not a tool so cannot make any changes or test the injectors plus it's not cheap. $$ is far better used by contacting Roger. He has some good deals and excellent support.

Pierce
Who is roger? I may see about the scantool as I don't feel competent to make changes but with my others I will clear a fault to see if it comes back before I call it real:)
I do have that port, Just like yours. I thought it was perhaps an OBD1. I guess I need to do some more research :)
1995 U-240 GrandVilla 36'
FMC# 18675
Lookingglass, OR
"There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." - Ed Howdershelt Abintra Press "If you have to lie to gain Support, you are not worth Supporting" "I just want to go somewhere where there's chocolate and nobody talks." - Ynez Reinschmidt

Re: Prolink or Canbus? OBD1?

Reply #8 –
Here is Roger: https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?action=profile;u=2481 We don't see eye to eye as he is a PC guy and I'm mostly a Mac guy. But, he knows what he's doing and has a lot of satisfied customers. For what the display can look like, check this page. A million times better than a tiny reader.

Check this nice setup: VMSpc installation

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Prolink or Canbus? OBD1?

Reply #9 –
Here is a bottom view of the connector under my dash. Appears to have only 4 wires
1995 U-240 GrandVilla 36'
FMC# 18675
Lookingglass, OR
"There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." - Ed Howdershelt Abintra Press "If you have to lie to gain Support, you are not worth Supporting" "I just want to go somewhere where there's chocolate and nobody talks." - Ynez Reinschmidt

Re: Prolink or Canbus? OBD1?

Reply #10 –
That connector worked fine on my 95.  Love my VMSpc from Roger
Rudy Legett
2003 U320 4010 ISM 450 hp
2001 U320 4220 ISM 450 hp
1995 U320 M11 400 hp
1990 Granvilla 300 hp 3208T
Aqua Hot Service Houston and Southeast Texas

Re: Prolink or Canbus? OBD1?

Reply #11 –
The 1995 Cat 3116 is mechanical,  the M11 had early electronics. You will most likely get nothing.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Prolink or Canbus? OBD1?

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 –
The 1995 Cat 3116 is mechanical,  the M11 had early electronics. You will most likely get nothing.
I have a small O'scope. one of these days I will have to see what is on those lines when the when the eng is running :)
1995 U-240 GrandVilla 36'
FMC# 18675
Lookingglass, OR
"There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." - Ed Howdershelt Abintra Press "If you have to lie to gain Support, you are not worth Supporting" "I just want to go somewhere where there's chocolate and nobody talks." - Ynez Reinschmidt