Hydra 2.7 OBDII Port Communication

[rstange1]

DISCLAIMER:

• You can't pull DTCs from the Hydra over your OBDII port, nor will the procedure below allow you to pass an emissions check that utilizes OBDII. However, you can access all kinds of useful information from the OBDII port if you get your Hydra talking to it. If that sounds interesting to you, read on...
• The procedure below worked just fine with my Hydra 2.7 EMS. I don't know if it will work with earlier models.

One of the things I missed after installing my Hydra was the four extra digital gauges my ScanGauge provided. I talked to Jeremy at Flyin' Miata and he kindly gave me some quick tips on how to get my Hydra communicating over my OBDII port. Here's how:

First, you need to configure your Hydra to use the CAN protocol:

• Hook up your computer to your Hydra, open your Nemesis 2.70 software, get connected, and click "Settings" then "Set-up Options"
• Change the "CAN Protocol" field to "Basic ODBII ECU 1"
• Save your changes and put your computer away

Next, you'll need to procure some light gauge wire and some terminals (2 each to pin into the Hydra harness and the back of the OBDII port). I purchased the terminals from Mouser Electronics online. They offer super fast shipping for $20 and got my order to me from Texas to Victoria, BC, Canada in one day! The terminals I ordered from Mouser are:

• Molex OBDII terminals - part number 538-50420-8000-CT - minimum quantity is 100 @ 11.7 cents each
• Delphi Hydra terminals - part number 829-12146447-L - sold individually @ 18.6 cents each

Finally, you'll need to run two wires from the Hydra to the OBDII port using the bits procured above:

• Run one wire from Hydra pin GA03 (CAN low) to OBDII port pin 14
• Run a second wire from Hydra pin GA04 (CAN high) to OBDII port pin 6

...and you're done. Good work!

Time to test things out. I had reset my ScanGauge II to default settings and it seemed to have trouble connecting that way (could be I wasn’t patient enough). I set the ScanGauge ‘mode’ to ‘Auto’ and it connected just fine after that. Next time I checked the mode on the ScanGauge, it was set to CANSF.

BONUS: Here's a photo of the back of the MSM's OBDII port which will help you with pin placement for your two new wires:

[rstange1]

Although The Hydra 2.7 I purchased from Flyin' Miata in September of 2014 had CANbus hardware included and CANbus functionality enabled out of the box at no extra charge, it would appear that not all Hydra 2.7 units have CANbus functionality enabled. This was discussed in another thread and researched by one of the contributors to that thread. Salient bits of that research are included in the quote below:

Closing the loop on this, I heard back from Jeremy yesterday.  CAN hardware is on Hydra 2.7 boxes after approx. April 2012.  CAN feature is included free on current boxes, still $150 for some of the rest of us to enable the built-in hardware, cutoff date unspecified. 

[Chrisbee]

Although The Hydra 2.7 I purchased from Flyin' Miata in September of 2014 had CANbus hardware included and CANbus functionality enabled out of the box at no extra charge, it would appear that not all Hydra 2.7 units have CANbus functionality enabled. This was discussed in another thread and researched by one of the contributors to that thread. Salient bits of that research are included in the quote below:

Closing the loop on this, I heard back from Jeremy yesterday.  CAN hardware is on Hydra 2.7 boxes after approx. April 2012.  CAN feature is included free on current boxes, still $150 for some of the rest of us to enable the built-in hardware, cutoff date unspecified. 

Do you think we can assume any of the most recent 2.7 Hydras are unlocked? I just purchased mine April of this year, and would really like to do this mod.

[rotorglow]

Do you think we can assume any of the most recent 2.7 Hydras are unlocked? I just purchased mine April of this year, and would really like to do this mod.

I think rstange1 got his Hydra in 9/14, so any 2015 boxes should have CAN unlocked.

[rstange1]

Do you think we can assume any of the most recent 2.7 Hydras are unlocked? I just purchased mine April of this year, and would really like to do this mod.

I agree with rotorglow -- think you'll be fine. Definitive answer would come from Jeremy at FM.

[Chrisbee]

I need contact them and find out if they recommend any sway bars for the Fox suspension kit anyways. So I'll be calling them next week.

[rstange1]

Here's the reason I think this little bit of effort is worth it:



Four new gauges! Displayed in the photo are:

• Manifold Absolute Pressure (in kPa)
• Intake Air Temperature (in ºc)
• Volts
• Coolant Temperature (in ºc)

The nice thing about the ScanGauge is you can cycle through all available gauges at the push of a button. So, when I'm at a track event, I might display Maximum Coolant Temperature and/or Maximum RPM (both of these are X-Gauges I've programmed into the ScanGauge).

If I like the MAP gauge enough, I'm thinking of removing my boost gauge and getting my left air vent back.

BTW, I was playing around with some of the CANSF X-Gauge parameters, trying to get the ScanGauge to display Air Fuel Ratio, but was unsuccessful. If anyone happens to get that working with the Hydra, I'd be real interested. 

[shlbygt]

Can you get FPR (Fuel Pressure) to display?
The long term and short term fuel trims can also be useful in diagnosing a problem.
I got the O2 sensor read out on my SVT Focus but the AF never worked well.

I recently picked up a 2003 with a FMII kit/ Hydra and will wire my ScanGauge in to avoid adding stand alone gauges.
With the SG I'll only need Oil Pressure, Oil Temperature and most likely a Wide Band.
Thanks for figuring this out.

[rotorglow]

We haven't got a fuel pressure sensor, do we?

[rstange1]

We haven't got a fuel pressure sensor, do we?

Not that I'm aware of. My ScanGauge reports fuel pressure as a constant zero value.

[SilverMiataRacer]

We haven't got a fuel pressure sensor, do we?

Nope

[shlbygt]

Thanks for this write up.
I finally got around to installing the wires to the OBDII port and Hydra.
It took a few tries for the ScanGauge to connect but now it is good to go.
This was on a 2003 Club Sport with a FMII turbo.

[shlbygt]

Short Term Fuel and Long Term Fuel trims can be programmed in the X-Gauge.