The CANBUS system

[scout]

As a recent convert to the world of Fiat the CANBUS system is new to me. Is there somewhere I can read up on it to learn more about it? (Not expecting anyone to write reams just a web address will do )

Thanks in advance

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

As a recent convert to the world of Fiat the CANBUS system is new to me. Is there somewhere I can read up on it to learn more about it? (Not expecting anyone to write reams just a web address will do )

Thanks in advance

[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAN_bus[/ame]

 

[scout]

:worship: Thanks, showing my age here, as it didn't even occur to me to search Wikipedia. I think I am begining the (not so long) road to dinosaur :bang:

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

:worship: Thanks, showing my age here, as it didn't even occur to me to search Wikipedia. I think I am begining the (not so long) road to dinosaur :bang:

No worries, I'm the first to admit when I first hear about can bus I thought it was a Fiat only thing, little did I know most manufactures use it on all cars now. Fiat I believe were one of the first 'regular' (as apposed to luxury high end) manufactures to adopt it though around 1999-2002 as they replaced their models.

 

[scout]

I read somewhere on here that the stereo and fog lights are included in the CAN bus system, now my old Coupe ('54 plate) had an OBD system but stereos and fog lights could be added without resorting to reprogramming the ECU's. Does Fiat used a more 'advanced' system where everything is on a common rail coms system?

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

I'm not sure the exact ins and outs but am led to believe the systems Fiat use is are of the more complex systems.

 

[bgunn]

I read somewhere on here that the stereo and fog lights are included in the CAN bus system, now my old Coupe ('54 plate) had an OBD system but stereos and fog lights could be added without resorting to reprogramming the ECU's. Does Fiat used a more 'advanced' system where everything is on a common rail coms system?

Yes, they do; they use CANbus (which was originally devised by Bosch).

To enable front fogs, for example, you wire them in (the feeds should be there, you just need the supplemental wiring loom for the lights), fit the fuse and relay, and then switch on the front fog feature within the Body Computer.

Other devices that are wired directly into the CAN system (such as parking sensors) need to be 'discovered' by doing a proxy-alignment, which effectively registers the extra CAN node within the network.

It's clever stuff, and vastly reduces the wiring loom requirements in the car as you only need to feed power, earth and CAN lines to each node in the car.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

To enable front fogs, for example, you wire them in (the feeds should be there, you just need the supplemental wiring loom for the lights), fit the fuse and relay, and then switch on the front fog feature within the Body Computer.

Not strictly true, if not enabled at factory most features cannot be used, or at least this is how Fiat setup their systems.

 

[bgunn]

Not strictly true, if not enabled at factory most features cannot be used, or at least this is how Fiat setup their systems.

Not what I've read...

 

[scout]

Works well I imagine till something goes wrong then all manner of faults could show up.

 

[scout]

One further question and this is totally hypothetical as I have no intention of 'playing' with a new car. If I were to change the stereo would it have to be to another that works on the CAN bus system or would that also raise its own problems?
When I ordered my new car the stereo was standard throughout the range although I was able to order the upgraded speaker system. Is this standard with Fiat, where you are 'stuck' with the stereo on offer?

As I said, purely hypothetical (Happy with the stereo as is) but would be interested in the reply.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Not what I've read...

But have you tried

Certain thinks can easily be enabled, like on the Stilo Cruise Control stalk can be added and you can enable the light on the dash to operate, but you cannot retrospecivly add the factory fitted alarm system for example

Front fog lamps on the Panda cannot be retrospectivly regonised by the canbus system either - not sure about the 500, but suspect it would be the same.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

I agree with MEP you can't just add stuff in, the stilo might be easy to add cruise control for instance but the punto doesn't have the wiring at all if not factory fitted.

The can network is a place where modules can dump information any other node/module that wants to pick that information up needs to know what the information means (hence proxi alignment) but it also needs to be programmed to know what to do with that information, so if the engine ecu does not have the programming for cruise control you will never get cruise control to work.
Many of the functions found pre programmed into the body computer of my hgt are not available in the body computer of my dynamic spec punto making it almost impossible to add those functions

VW owners have tools for hacking their body computers to add or switch on functions not normally available to any model but fiats system isn't so flexible.