16 replies to this topic

[Jimbo]

Quick question.

Does anyone know if the Gen3 Legacy GT-B (MY00 or MY01 unsure, listed as 2000 model) is compatible with OBD2? Just want to know if i can use my Bluetooth OBD2 adapter and run it with Torque to receive vehicle performance information.

Cheers.

[sbv]

Can't help sorry, but keen to know the answer!

I have a feeling the answer is no. I had trouble connecting mine to an obd2 diagnostic tool but it may have been a dodgy scanner.

[Shiv]

I don't believe its fully compatible. You might be able to get some readings, but it would be limited basic error codes etc. Maybe someone here can confirm?? I seem to recall a few of the gents trying a scanguage of some sort on a  B4 with JDM ECU at Hooters once and it didn't really show much.

 

My understanding is that the Gen3 Outback's were the first Suby's to be fully OBDII compatible...

[allpaw4]

They are considered OBD2 compliant as far as the standards of the day is concerned. However, the standards have changed several times since then, and most scanner tools these days do not carry the relevant codecs (for lack of a better word) to read the old standards. Make sure you have something that is compatible with the subaru in-house monitoring system (cant remember the name they gave it sorry) and you should be ok.

 

The amount of things you can monitor with it are limited, as the ECU doesnt output as much info as the newer models do.

 

Hope that helps.

Ben

[nickknack]

The protocol is called SSM. I had no luck getting it to read anything other than the model and year of manufacture of my B4 with torque. Note that the cheap bluetooth adaptors don't support SSM and you need one called OBDKey. I can sell you mine if you'd like to try

[Jimbo]

Okay cool. I currently use Torque on my XR5 but when that moves along for hopefully a Gen3 Legacy, was wondering if i could retain the use of it, or better to pass it on.

[nickknack]

Well Torque does support SSM so if you have the right adaptor theoretically you should be able to make it work if you put enough time in. Apparently the developer of torque is quite prepared to work with people to make things work, he has a forum dedicated to it. I say go for it!

 

The other thing I found out when researching this was that the protocol does not update as frequently as the newer ones, so if you're viewing live boost/temp/whatever it might not be quick enough for real time monitoring. But it might be haha

 

Let us know if you have any success

[tmh983]

you need something that supports SSM2 to read a B4...

[WillC]

I have the B4 model. I Experimented at my own cost through my own research

 

And this is not speculation I have Both these Tactrix cables. If you want to try and You're near me feel free to give me a holla and roll up with a k3g of Beer

 

Tactrix OpenPort 1.3U is supported by the B4 ECU

Tactrix OpenPort 2.0 is not supported

[Beckers]

The protocol is called SSM. I had no luck getting it to read anything other than the model and year of manufacture of my B4 with torque. Note that the cheap bluetooth adaptors don't support SSM and you need one called OBDKey. I can sell you mine if you'd like to try

 

Hey Nick,

 

If Jimbo doesn't want it, I might be interested.

If available how much do want for it ???

 

Regards

 

Simon.

[Jimbo]

Well, no-one is interested in my XR5 for now so im still waiting for it all to happen. There's a few Legacy's I've been eyeing off but it's pointless until i sell the 5.

Thing is, im looking at only Rev A-C models so late '98 to '00 max. I believe there were differences in OBD protocols between A-C and D-E, obviously the latter being tunable and the former not.  B4 is completely irrelevant here.

[Jimbo]

Okay, just did some research. From what i can find in the Torque Forums, Nick, you are correct in saying the OBDKey adapter is required. From what i can tell it appears Ian has now updated Torque to communicate with SSM and SSM2. You used to first have to configure your adapter into SSM mode with another app but Torque now does it itself.

I will add more information once i actually own another Subaru!

[nickknack]

A little update, I got this email yesterday. Will try it out on my car when I can get a firmware update:

 

Dear OBDKey Customer,

 

In the past you have expressed an interest in Subaru support via OBDKey using Subaru’s own SSM protocol.

 

Over the next month we will be looking into any issues as we review the OBDKey and use of the SSM protocol when performing diagnostics with OBDKey.

 

We’ve set up a web page at

http://www.obdkey.co...aru_support.asp

On this page we’ve posted a few links to videos and documents.

 

If you have specific requirements, tips to share, good or bad experiences or anything else, please let me know via this email support@obdkey.com and we can work to get some issues resolved.

 

It seems the main issues are

·         Using Torque for Android with OBDKey in SSM mode

·         Reading fault codes from the Subaru in SSM mode

·         Clearing fault codes from the Subaru in SSM mode

·         Using the Subaru SSM mode over CAN bus on newer cars

I hope to hear from you so that we can improve what we do with support for Subaru cars with OBDKey.

 

If you wish to be removed from this list, just reply with REMOVE in the subject or message.

Regards,

Sinclair

[allpaw4]

Nice, seems things are coming along. Let us know how it all goes!

[Jimbo]

Interesting.

Now, is it mandatory use a "obdkey" adapter from this company to be able to use SSM? Surely the cheaper ones should work as all they are is a gateway for the Torque app to receive data right? So in theory, it's all down to how Torque processes the information regardless of how it's received, so aslong as Torque can process SSM protocol, any adapter should be fine?

[allpaw4]

No no, how I read it is that obdkey is starting to sort out the issues with using SSM with their product.
Torque and obdkey is one of the main issues obdkey is trying to rectify.

[nickknack]

Interesting.

Now, is it mandatory use a "obdkey" adapter from this company to be able to use SSM? Surely the cheaper ones should work as all they are is a gateway for the Torque app to receive data right? So in theory, it's all down to how Torque processes the information regardless of how it's received, so aslong as Torque can process SSM protocol, any adapter should be fine?

 

 

To be honest I can't remember. When I did my research into it to buy one I remember finding that I would only stand a chance with the OBDkey and that the Elm 327 or whatever they are called wouldn't work, but I can't remember the reasoning. While the adaptor reads and transmits the information, OBD2 and SSM are two different protocols and if the adaptor is only designed to transmit one of them you may have a hard time with it.

 

But, by all means, look into it since I haven't for quite a while.