scan tool thingy, questions

well, the elm232 and related are mostly about the interface hardware,
and it's not clear the associated software knows about all the
manufacturer-specific parameters and how to interpret them into
accurate data about the prius. Attila's work is more about
passive listening on the bus, which is completely different from
issuing OBDII queries and getting answers back from the ECUs.
You can use the elm232 hardware to do passive listening, but
without setting the acceptance registers really carefully you're
likely to get totally overwhelmed with data.
.
_H*

 

The ELM327 is able to receive the CAN messages.
http://www.elmelectronics.com/connect.html#ELM327

However, it's serial speed is limitted to 38400bps which is too slow for the PRIUS 500kbps CAN messages.

I would recommend you to use CAN232(same one Attila uses) or CANUSB device.
http://www.can232.com/
http://www.canusb.com/

Ken@Japan

 

Not with those products.

You will need a MSO (Mixed Signal Oscilloscope) with the appropriate CAN trigger module to capture the SOF. Remember that the scope will need sufficient memory to trigger on StandardID (11 bit) and ExtendedID (29 bit)

It's very helpful if the scope allows you to trigger a specified ID to a data frame, and a specified ID to a remote frame. A lot of the cheaper scopes will experience common mode deviations and render your "data" garbage (Garbage In, Garbage Out).

Memory depth and speed is very important to separate the CAN triggers/messaging from the "noise." Thus, I prefer a scope with at least 2 GSa/s, 300 MHz, and 2 Mpts memory

The aftermarket scantools do not have access to the proprietary CAN messaging that Toyota uses. Legally, they only need access to the OBDII requirements. Although companies like GM will make the extended messaging available, I see no indication the Asian makers will do so

We use Agilent 54600 and 6000 series scopes, with the optional CAN trigger module, as the industrial CAN is very similar to automotive CAN.

I hope you are independently wealthy, such a system will set you back $35,000 and up

 

You will have to know the specific ID's of the modules you wish to interogate.

 

The Gen1 Prius is not equipped with CAN.

Ken@Japan

 

Only Graham Davies knows how to communicate with Gen1.
ECROS Technology - Prius Mini-Scanner

Ken@Japan