An introduction to inpa

diagnostics for the home mechanic :)

im far from an expert on this stuff but il write what i know just to give newbies a general idea.

inpa is software that works alongside a program called ediabas its useful for diagnosing faults on your car through the obd as well as fault finding it can also be used to clear errors such as airbag warning lights reseting service lights after you service your car etc , you can also test nearly every little switch + module in the car to make sure they function correctly

you can also perform a vanos test's , check lambda probes the list is endless it does a lot of stuff and is very simple to use once up and running :)

what will you need to get up and running , i went with an old laptop as i didn't want to be bringing a laptop i paid a 1k for out into the rain with dirty oily hands also the obd cable uses the rs232 serial pin connection and from what im told most rs232-usb adapters wont work ,so i picked an old laptop up online for 40 euro make sure it has the right connection buy the cable first then the laptop.

then you will need to locate software im not linking it its very easy to find if you look online you will need inpa+ediabas and will get from most fileshare places , you will also need an obdII cable i got mine from ebay for 12 euro it included two attachments the obdII connection for newer bmws e46,e39 etc, and an adapter for older models e36 and so on

so just to recap to get up and running you will need

old laptop with rs232 serial connection
obd II cable
inpa 3.01 + ediabas (there usually all in the one file and come with instructions)

you could set all this up for around 50-100 max :)

il add more as i go along

this is your connection on your obdII cable so you must get a laptop it fits into (old dells, ibm thinkpads, packard bell etc the older the laptop the higher the chance of getting this connection)
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...18is/rs232.jpg
and the obd II cable you will need
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...D-II_Cable.jpg[/QUOTE]
[hr]
this a link to a detailed set of instructions in case your having trouble setting it up http://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&source...8Orq0YpS8GBrkw

here are some images of it once its up and running

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...18is/inpa1.jpg
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...18is/inpa2.jpg
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...18is/inpa3.jpg
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...18is/inpa5.jpg
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...18is/inpa7.jpg
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...18is/inpa4.jpg
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...18is/inpa6.jpg

Is there a Windows 8 version of INPA anywhere I wonder?

Only up to windows 7 works afaik colm

Thanks Gar. My vista laptop in on it's very last legs I think. That's the only reason I'm asking.

I run mine on an old dell id say if it was connected to internet it would explode i think it runs windows 98 but does its diagnostic job perfect

Found this UK seller who claims to have Windows 8 fix done: http://www.bmcables.com/index.html
Might be worth a shot, at less than €40 would be less than getting the old laptop fixed up. Will think about it.

Colm why dont you try the gt1 dis setup i think that runs on windows 8 and will.cost you nothing

Go with BMTechnic, or if you need the files for any version of INPA just let me know Colm.

What's the difference between the analogue and digital values?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 318 iS Cosmos

What's the difference between the analogue and digital values?

---

Ones digital the others analogue :P

Couldn't tell you shane presume the digital is just used for more accurate readings

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 318 iS Cosmos

What's the difference between the analogue and digital values?

---

Some items run on a digital basis, ones & zeros type of thing. ABs would be an example. So,e things rely on a more variable type of signal, that's the analogue bit, like the throttle.


http://www.ucview.com/images/analog-vs-digital.jpg

So the items you see in the digital menu are most likely switch on/off items where the analogue would be progress bars, things that change in value rather than just switch on or off.

My windows 8 compatible cable & software just arrived. Will install it later & report back (provided I don't fry the laptop that is :p )

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 318 iS Cosmos

What's the difference between the analogue and digital values?

---

Basically in INPA the digital value is a parameter that has a result of either true or false.
For example if the passenger door is opened you are going to see a black circle, which means active. If the door is closed you are going to see a white circle, which means closed/false.

Digital in INPA is like showing an opened or closed circuit.

While the analog value will show you a real time value within a scale.
For example, the consumption of air per hour by your air flow meter.
For instance, it can be 20Kg per h, so INPA is going to show you on a scale of 0 to 50 (example) the real time value of the air consumption, it could drop to 15 and go up to 25 from time to time in normal conditions.

That's my understand of those set of values.

- Digital: Shows you a function being either active or inactive. This is represented by an empty or plain circle

- Analog: Will show you an actual value (Like temperature, air flow measurement etc) on a scale.

Success! And how straight forward it was compared to going in messing about with the PC's settings myself, 2 DVDs came with the package and loaded the 1st one and this automatically appeared:
http://www.bmcables.com/images/Installer.gif

So installed the programmes and restarted the PC,
Desktop icon opens this: which is also very handy
http://i738.photobucket.com/albums/x...psda338939.jpg

hooked up to the car and only got a chance to try the INPA as the heavens opened but all, it seems is as it should be. Read errors, activated functions etc no problems. Pulled the seatbelt pretensioner lead off again just so to get the error and re-set it as before no problem.
All told €34 delivered for the software and cable.

Excellent good stuff colm :cool:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Colm_D

Success! And how straight forward it was compared to going in messing about with the PC's settings myself, 2 DVDs came with the package and loaded the 1st one and this automatically appeared:
http://www.bmcables.com/images/Installer.gif

So installed the programmes and restarted the PC,
Desktop icon opens this: which is also very handy
http://i738.photobucket.com/albums/x...psda338939.jpg

hooked up to the car and only got a chance to try the INPA as the heavens opened but all, it seems is as it should be. Read errors, activated functions etc no problems. Pulled the seatbelt pretensioner lead off again just so to get the error and re-set it as before no problem.
All told €34 delivered for the software and cable.

---

That looks the business, no messing about. Gotta get me one of these.

Edit. Doh! I don't have a laptop since I fried mine!!!

Whats the best version of INPA for a E36. I have a 3.xx version and although it works i think its missing some features (Red warning levels etc)