How to connect to Link ECU

Connectivity Link
1

Please note that Link G4X does not send the serial data and therefore does not work with these instructions. G4X can be connected using a CAN connection.

Also, Apple does not allow normal USB devices to connect to their devices, so USB connection option is not available on iOS.

Link ECU software configuration:

  1. Using the PCLink G4+ tuning software, connect a PC to the ECU using the normal USB tuning cable.
  2. Navigate to ECU settings>Configuration>Configuration. Here we need to set the Datastream mode and the baud rate. The suggested Data stream mode is ā€œContinuous - 12Hzā€ and the suggested baud rate is 38400.
    realdash_link_configuration.png
  3. After making this change you need to perform a Store (Ctrl+S), then power cycle the ecu (power off then back on).

Hardware Connection:
The ECU needs to be connected to the tablet/smartphone using your normal USB tuning cable. At the ECU end this cable should be plugged in to the same port that you would normally use for tuning the ECU. The other end of the cable can plug in to any spare USB port on the tablet/phone, if yours only has a micro USB port then you will need a ā€œMicro USB OTG adapterā€. A flexible cable type adapter like shown below is suggested to prevent damage to the port from force/stress.
realdash_link_adapter.png
RealDash Configuration:

  1. Attach the USB cable to your vehicle and device. On Android, use appropriate USB-OTG adapter.
  2. Open RealDash, on first start select language, and then go to ā€˜Garageā€™
  3. Tap vehicle door and then the instrument cluster. Tap ā€˜Addā€™ on connection list
  4. Select ā€˜Link ECU->Serial Port->serial device name->ā€™
  5. Select baud rate of 38400, or the value configured to Link ECU.
  6. Go to next screen until you are in connection settings page.
  7. In connection settings, select ā€˜Use Long Datastreamā€™.
  8. Tap upper left corner ā€˜Doneā€™
  9. Exit garage back to dashboard.
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2

Connect to Link ECU over CAN.

RealDash offers two CAN connection types with Link ECU:

  1. Short Datastream
  2. Generic Dash Stream (DisplayLink)

Generic Dash Stream has more inputs, that is preferrable if available from Link ECU.

Setup on PCLink software:

  1. Open the CAN Setup window (PCLink > ECU Controls > CAN Setup).
  2. Select the CAN module to be used.
  3. Set the Mode to ā€˜User Definedā€™.
  4. Configure the Bit Rate to 1 Mbit/s
  5. Select a spare CAN channel.
  6. Select ā€˜Transmit Generic Dashā€™ from the Mode drop-down menu.
  7. Set the CAN ID to 1000.
  8. Make sure no other CAN channels are configured on the same CAN ID.
  9. Click Apply and then OK.
  10. Make sure a Store (F4) is performed.

Setup on RealDash.

  1. Go to Garage, open vehicle door and tap the instrument cluster.
  2. Click ā€˜Addā€™ button to add new connection.
  3. Select ā€˜Adapters (CAN/LIN)ā€™, select your CAN adapter type and its settings until you are in a last page of connection settings.
  4. For CAN Description File, select ā€˜Link: Generic Dash Streamā€™.
  5. Select CAN Speed: 1000 kbps.
  6. [Optional] Go to CAN monitor to verify that CAN frames are received by RealDash.
  7. Tap upper left corner ā€˜Doneā€™ and exit the Garage.
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3

I running Link G4x Plug in evo 3 on android head unit with realdashļ¼ˆWith ET.dash / Motec skinļ¼‰. I alrdy calibrated everythingļ¼Œbut just having 1 problem ļ¼ˆthe vehicle speed shown 0ļ¼‰.
I calibrated on Ecu Digital input to DI 8 Speed sensor ļ¼ˆOn Ecu everything run correctlyļ¼Œi have check on ecu that speed sensor is activeļ¼ŒMisc Vehicle speed is running normal on logļ¼‰

I had tried to calibrate the realdash input to ECU Speed Sensorļ¼Œselected the data input to Ecu Vehicle Speed / VSS 1 ļ¼Œand calibrated the Gauge math to V*103. But turn out still the same ļ¼ˆthe vehicle speed is not run on realdashļ¼‰

beside this problemļ¼Œall function runs fine ļ¼ˆonly for the Vehicle Speedļ¼‰ Any way can help me to calibrate the vehicle speedļ¼Ÿ

4

Start by verifying what RealDash actually receives from the ECU:

  • Go to ā€˜Settings->Application->Debugā€™ and open Debug Data View.
  • Inspect on which input the Speed is coming in. It may be something else than VSS1.
  • If you do not see the speed at all in Debug Data View, you need to modify your CAN output to include speed data.
  • If you see the speed, and its on some custom input, use ā€˜Settings->Units & Values->Input Mappingā€™ to map your custom speed value into VSS1.
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5

iā€™ve triedļ¼Œon debug data is run on VSS 1ļ¼Œbut shown out 0 on drive. i check on the Ecu driven wheel speed was running.

6

If you see the speed on VSS1, then check ā€˜Settings->Units & Valuesā€™ that Vehicle Speed Source is set to ā€˜ECU Speed Sensorā€™

7

No i meant i saw VSS1 on debug dataļ¼Œit show 0 when i drive the car.

but at the same timeļ¼Œon my g4x ecu the driving vehicle speed is runnin normally.

I had try the speed sources ļ¼ˆFrom Ecu speed sensorļ¼Œtcu speed sensor ļ¼‰ but still same

8

Was there any value on Debug Data View that corresponds to your vehicle speed? If not, you do need to modify the CAN connection XML to send the speed data over CAN bus.

9

where to modify the can connection xmlļ¼Ÿ from Pclink ļ¼Ÿ or modify the realdash ļ¼Ÿ

10

debug data view is not correspond to speed

11

On your Link PC software you con configure what data is sent over the CAN. You need to configure the ECU to output the custom speed value, and then add that new value into RealDash CAN XML file so RealDash understands where the speed value is coming from.

There could be some other way to configure the ECU to send the standard speed value over CAN, but unfortunately Iā€™m not an expert on configuring Link ECU.

12

Hello everyone,
Regarding the hardware, I have a Raspberry Pi 4 with 4GB RAM, running Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit.
I use a 12V to 5V power converter, passive cooling, and RealDash is installed.

My idea was to build a virtual instrument cluster for my car (Audi A4 B6, 2002, 1.9 TDI 74kW, engine code AVB) with basically all functions. In other words, I would remove the original cluster, keep only its electronics, and place a new 3D-printed frame in its place.

However, I was convinced the car had CAN bus communication. In the meantime, I found out that it actually uses the ISO 9141 protocol (K-Line). ChatGPT told me that itā€™s possible to communicate with all modules in real time using a KKL 409.1 cable.

What I would like to know is if anyone has already done something similar, and if there are PID files available for a similar car model. ChatGPT also mentioned that itā€™s possible to program all of this in Python.

If anyone has experience with a similar project, I would greatly appreciate any information.