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CANBUS Translator

Overview - Installation and Operating

Instructions

Contents Overview ................................................................................................................................................. 1

Installation .......................................................................................................................................... 3

Basic Install ...................................................................................................................................... 3

GM to Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86 Install............................................................................................... 4

Subaru Legacy Gen4/Gen3 Impreza and non Canbus ECU wiring .................................................. 5

Settings.................................................................................................................................................... 6

Setting the Function ........................................................................................................................ 6

Display Screen (CAN ECU input) ...................................................................................................... 7

Display Screen (hard wired inputs) ................................................................................................. 7

Overview

Canbus is a communications protocol used in late model vehicles to enable the various

computers within the vehicle to talk to each other over a twisted pair wire. The Canbus

protocol is standard, however the messages that are sent are manufacturer (and sometimes

model specific). The Canbus translator allows engine conversions with different messaging

to the original engine management system to integrate into the vehicle by translating the

messaging from the new engine to the existing vehicle’s messaging system.

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If a Canbus translator is not used. Data from the new engine management system will not

be in the same language as the existing vehicle. Depending on the vehicle, and how much

data is on the Canbus network, items such as the Engine Tachometer display and coolant

gauge may not work.

Similarly, the engine management system may not function correctly if it is looking for the

vehicle speed signal from the ABS unit over Canbus.

The Canbus Translator can also be used with pre-Canbus engine management systems. It

has an RPM pulse sense input, and a temperature sender input to read engine RPM, and

also coolant temperature. It then sends this data over the Canbus network as it was from

the original vehicles engine management system.

Traction Control – Depending on the vehicle, the Canbus Translator translates the traction

control signals from the existing vehicles Traction Control/VSC unit, to the new engine

management system. An extra feature is a traction adjustment (or gain) which allows you to

adjust the sensitivity of the traction control unit for different engine torques. The Unit is

able to be programmed from 0% (effectively disabling traction control) to %250, which gives

2.5times more traction control than original. The traction control gain is set by a variable

potentiometer, adjusted by a flat-blade screwdriver on the main circuit board.

Function setting – The Canbus translator can be used for a few different engine/vehicle

combinations. The one device can do either function, and is set using 8 DIP switches on the

main board. These switches are also used to select a 4,6 or 8cylinder RPM input and the

temperature sender type.

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Installation

Basic Install

The Canbus translator is contained within a robust plastic enclosure with mounting tabs

allowing it to be screwed or tied to part of the vehicle to keep it secure.

A 14 pin multi-pole plug is used to allow easy disconnection and a wiring harness with tails

is provided to allow wiring into the vehicles existing wiring harness. Depending on what

application the Canbus translator is ordered with, will depend on the wiring configuration of

the wiring harness.

The primary function of the Canbus Translator is to provide Canbus to Canbus translation.

For this basic setup, only 4 Wires are needed as shown below.

PIN MAIN/STRIPE COLOUR NAME

1 WHITE INPUT +12V IGNITION

7 BROWN/BLACK (OR RED) HS CAN HS-CAN-H

8 BROWN (OR BLUE ) HS CAN HS-CAN-L

14 BLACK INPUT GROUND

The 12V ignition power wire needs to be tapped off a fused wire (10-20Amps) that is powered up

when the ignition key is in the ON (Engine on) state.

The CAN wires are to be wired up in parallel with the vehicles Canbus wires. (Brown and

Brown/Black for GM, and often Blue and Red for Subaru). Be careful to keep these wires away from

harsh electrical loads or cabling. A few twists within the pair will also help prevent any interference.

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GM to Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86 Install

The BRZ/86 has the MIL (Check Engine Light) controlled via CAN. The GM it is a hard wired

from the GM ECU (Usually Brown/white). The Canbus Translator accepts this MIL input from

the GM ECU, and transmits the MIL status over CAN.

The GM has the oil pressure signals to the oil pressure warning light over CAN. The BRZ has

the oil pressure as a hard wired signal to the instrument cluster warning light. The Canbus

Translator read the oil pressure values, and grounds a hard wired output wire to illuminate

the oil pressure warning if the oil pressure drops below a few psi.

PIN MAIN/STRIPE COLOUR NAME

5 BROWN/WHITE INPUT MIL (FROM GM ECU)

13 GREEN OUTPUT OIL WANRING (TO DASH)

1 +12V IGNITION

5 - MIL INPUT (TO ECU)

HIGH SPEED CAN-H - 7

GROUND - 14

HIGH SPEED CAN-L - 8

OIL PRESSURE LAMP OUTPUT - 13

GM

ECU

CAN-H

CAN-L

OIL WARNING LAMP MIL INDICATOR LAMP

+12V

IG

NIT

ION

GR

OU

ND

CANBUS TRANSLATOR CONNECTION DIAGRAM (LS TO BRZ/86)

BRZ/86 CLUSTER

(CANBUS OF VEHICLE, CANBUS TRANSLATOR AND GM ECU MUST BE CONNECTED TOGETHER TO BE THE SAME NETWORK)

VEHICLE'SHS CANBUS

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Subaru Legacy Gen4/Gen3 Impreza and non Canbus ECU wiring

To wire up the Canbus translator to accept a temperature sensor and Tacho inputs for use

on the BRZ/86/Legacy/Impreza wire up as per the above example. Note, the BRZ/86 will also

need the oil warring and MIL indicator lamps wired as per the previous example.

PIN

MAIN/STRIPE

COLOUR NAME CONNECTION

2 WHITE/RED Input TACHO

Connect to the ECU’s Tachometer output. Do not

connect direct to the ignition coil.

3 RED/GREEN Input

Coolant

Temp

Connect to the Coolant temperature sensor

(either Subaru, or Generic Ford/Mazda EFI sensor)

14 BLACK Input GROUND

This needs to be connected to a solid Ground

close to the engine block to avoid errors in the

temperature reading

1 +12V IGNITIONHIGH SPEED CAN-H - 7

GROUND - 14

HIGH SPEED CAN-L - 8

ECU

(NON CAN)

TACHO SIGNAL(GEN4 ONLY)

+1

2V

IG

NIT

ION

GR

OU

ND

(E

NG

INE

BL

OC

K)

CANBUS TRANSLATOR CONNECTION DIAGRAM (TO NON-CAN ENGINE)

CLUSTER

2 TACHO (0-12V)

3 ENGINE TEMP SENDER

TE

MP

SE

ND

ER

CA

N-H

CA

N-L

VEHICLE'SHS CANBUS

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Settings

The Canbus Translator is setup by adjusting two sections on the main circuit board inside

the enclosure. Once set, there should be no need to further change any settings. To open

the enclosure unscrew the four (4) Philips head screws on the top panel, to remove the

panel.

The circuit board will have a DIP switch block with eight (8) switches which can be turned

ON or OFF using a small screwdriver or fngernail. This set of switches allows you to set the

function of the Canbus Translator.

The Rotary dial allows you to adjust the traction control gain from 25% to 250%. It is

adjusted using a small flat blade screwdriver. Turning clockwise increases the gain, anti-

clockwise decreases the gain. The gain is showed on the LCD screen when it is on a function

that allows traction control.

Setting the Function

Function Switch1 Switch2 Switch3 Switch4 Switch5 Switch6 Switch7 Switch8

Canbus ECU (GM) OFF

4 cylinder (HW only) ON OFF OFF

6 cylinder (HW only) ON ON OFF

8 cylinder (HW only) ON ON ON

BRZ/86 Vehicle OFF

Subaru EJ Vehicle ON

Ford/Mazda Temp

(HW only)

OFF

Subaru Temp (HW

only)

ON

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Display Screen (CAN ECU input)

The display screen shows the current configuration and also the current translation data for

diagnostic purposes. The unit will also flah up when Canbus messages are being received on both

networks. It flash up GMLAN, if it senses GM Canbus messages. Similarly it will flash up SUBCAN if it

senses Subaru CAN messages. The bottom line also shows the traction gain as set by the traction

rotary dial.

Display Screen (hard wired inputs)

The Hardwired display screen shows the current configuration and also the RPM value from

the hard wired tacho signal. It also shows the temperature from the coolant temperature

sensor.