C A N Communication Demystification

Thank you Lyn, it may be easy for you, so please forgive my slow learning .All I'm asking for is access to the right tools and information to enable me withstand these CAN equipments. I don't intend to compete with. OEMs , interest is in maintenance.I did what you advices but was put down by fanciful jargons like VEHICLE BUS, MICROCONTROLLERS, EPROM ROM, DATA BITS BYTES, ...perhaps I may not be able to scale through these artificial languages but I may be able to buy a product or information that works on CAN.Please throw more light, my mind is dark here and this issue is threatening me. I want to work with CAN not against it. Thanks again

Here are some good places to start. you can get an greater understanding of CANbus.

http://www.canbus.us/

http://www.computer-solutions.co.uk/info/Embedded_tutorials/can_tutorial.htm

http://electrosofts.com/can/

You will also need a computer, a good software and CanAnalyzer test set this is a company whose products i have used and like.

http://ixxat.com/

Thanks on CAN Sir, Thanks for sharing your experience with my CAN question. I work on electrical control panels successfully until OEM started using control and signaling methods that cannot be detected or measured by a multimeter.I have seen your good recommendations, my current issues include the fact that I work on several OEM's equipment and if I understood your information well, CANbus configurations are not same.How do I obtain a universal CANbus diagnostic tool(s). Thanks again for your good information Recipients: To: 1tech

The Can Analyzer tool can be purchased from IXXAT they have an office in New Hampshire and California.

National Instruments has a lot of information and tools for the CAN bus. Their knowledge base (forum) may be helpful.

CANBUS is also used in many cars for some years, Mercedes for example, since at least the mid 1990's.

It makes working/fixing any sort of electrical problem, even with such things as car Audio/GPS Systems, far more difficult for the "old fashioned" Engineer (like me!), but luckily I have a friend who eats, breathes and sleeps with CANBUS!!!

Maybe one day I will make the effort to pick up more detail....but why bark yourself when you already have a dog?

I personally find it a bit "over-done", a big hammer to drive a small nail, but I guess it generates more income for Mercedes Workshops ....but that's just me and my thinking I guess....

What other cars use it?

I believe I read somewhere that is originally derived/inspired from/by the Phillips I2C system, but don't bet on that.....

I2C is a lot easier if you have the right book, I was luckily the German-English translator for such a book a few years ago - I kept a copy!!!

Thanks all, I think at this point I can be more specific towards the solution I require for my issue. The existing standard name is SAE J1939-75. From what I am made to understand OEMs still have the upper hand and there is no standard for 100% equipments CANbus interoperability. My trouble becomes an analyser or a transceiver or an emulator or any tool that is embedded or programmed to make J1939-75 bus worth communicating with, especially in issuing the traditional push button CRANK START, RUN,STOP,RPM and related commands to different bus.I am taking my time because of limited resources at my disposal. May any further help forgive my ignorance