I play around with electronics a lot - computer mainly since I am a programmer and computer guy. So I was wondering if anyone knew a way to hook up an LCD character display to the computer interface so that I can get various information to display.
I have heard it might be possible to get some system info like RPS and even MPH from the computer. Maybe even the temp... and then display it on a simple LCD screen (the ones that are just 1 or two lines of text, not a computer LCD screen).

My jeep is a 98 Cherokee - anyone know of anything?

Or anyone know of any cool "tech" hacks/mods for your jeep?

 

Im still a college kid but im 3 years into a computer science degree...I have a buddy that modded a small lcd display in his xj..don't exactly know how he managed to get it wired to the computer...i've modded a 20 dollar lcd into the drive bays of my pc but that's simple...it comes with software..ill do some research and get back

 

Yeah, I have dont the same thing with my computer. Thats kinda where I got the idea. I have all these LCD things in my project box that are left over. Got them for like a dollar each on jameco about 8 years ago. Would like to put them to good use.

 

I hear ya..I actually was thinking about the same thing a couple weeks back...yo btw...know anyone looking for a gaming rig? I need to get rid of mine and get a laptop?

 

You can buy a hypertech programmer. It'll interface with the ECM and give you a bunch of info from it real time.

 

Arent those expensive? I wanted to do something on a budget and in the process be able to mod it into my dash or overhead console type display. If they are not expensive, then where would I get one. The ones I saw were 280+. Ouch.

 

Yes, expensive, but a starting point for reverse engineering a circuit to do the same thing.

 

Look up Ultragauge, they are $59.95 on sale.

http://www.ultra-gauge.com/ultragauge/index.htm

I'm gonna do this really soon, as I have no gauges and this should integrate into the dash fairly easily. It also shows 4 parameters per screen, as opposed to the other guy (don't remember it's name).