Vehicle Diagnostic

Scan-Tool Software
(VDSTS)

USER’S GUIDE

Version 2.3
 Vehicle Diagnostic Scan-Tool Software Vehicle Diagnostic Scan-Tool Software

CHAPTER 1: ABOUT VDSTS CHAPTER 2: GETTING STARTED

A. Installing the VDSTS
Introduction
1. Insert VDSTS in your computer’s CD-ROM Driver. Note
The Vehicle Diagnostic Scan-Tool Software (VDSTS) is a that there also is a Quick-Start Guide provided on the CD,
user-friendly sofware tool able to diagnose engine and sys- which details the installation; as well as PDF files showing
tem problems.
images of the cables, so they can be differentiated.
This Windows-based program was designed to communi-
2. Selet the product software version to be installed:
cate with a wide variety of Engine Control Units (ECUs). The
VDSTS Pro or VDSTS Standard
interface between the ECU and the PC is via an RS232
interface box. The graphic user interface (GUI), along with
3. Execute the installation program ‘setup.exe’.
the help screens, hotkeys, and mouse support combine to
provide a user friendly system. 4. Follow the installation instructions
The main graphic user interface (GUI) consists of a pull- 5. After exiting the installation program, reboot your sys
down menu and a tool bar. The execution of the menu items tem (or restart Windows)
is accomplished through numeric controls, command but-
ton controls, pop-up panels and others. 6. IF you are using the VDSTS-Pro: connect the hard-
ware key to the parallel or USB port of your computer. (Not
About this Manual required for VDSTS-Standard).
The VDSTS User’s Guide is a comprehensive guide that
contains all of the procedures you will need in order to work
with this software. This manual is organized by chapters to
assist novice users with getting started. Many topics cov-
Parallel Hardware Key USB Hardware Key
ered in this manual are also covered in the help menus avail-
able in the program itself.
B. Starting the VDSTS
System Requirements
Once you have succesfully installed the VDSTS, you can
run it by double clicking the file ‘diagtool.exe’. A language
In order for this software to perform as expected, the follow- selection screen will come up (shown on next page).
ing system configuration is required:
- IBM 486 (or better) or compatible PC with a minimum of C. As You Go Forward
8MB of RAM, although 16MB is recomended.
- VGA Monitor, SVGA monitor or better. At any time, as you are using the software, you may get
- Windows 95/98/200/Me/NT/XP help by clicking either F1 or the left button of your mouse.
- Serial commuication port.

Technical Support

You can reach us at www.technoresearch.com

________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
Chapter 1 Chapter 2
2 3
 Vehicle Diagnostic Scan-Tool Software Vehicle Diagnostic Scan-Tool Software

CHAPTER 3 USING THE VDSTS

Data Monitoring

In order to display the data you wish to monitor, you must

first establish a connection with the ECU and then set the
program to either dashboard mode or strip chart mode.

To establish communication, select the ‘connection’ com-

mand, either by clicking on the communication icon or by
using the communication menu.

Once communication is established, the data can be moni-

tored through a strip chart as shown in Chapter 4.

While in strip chart mode, you can select the data you wish
to display using the channels/view command and setting
each to either ‘on’ or ‘off’ position.

You can also change the colors of the lines of the strip chart
using the colors command.

The same data can be shown in dashboard mode by click-

ing on the dashboard icon or using the dashboard option in
the communication menu. This option enables you to dis-
play the data through slide bars, thermometers, check lights
and nubs, as shown in chapter 4.

When communication with the ECU is lost or could not be

established, the data would not be available to be displayed
and the following error message dialog box will come up:

________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
4 Chapter 3 Chapter 3
5
 Vehicle Diagnostic Scan-Tool Software Vehicle Diagnostic Scan-Tool Software

B. VDSTS Toolbar
CHAPTER 4: GENERAL DESCRIP-
TION The toolbar buttons allow one-click access to the most frequently
used commands.
Click: To:
A. VDSTS Main Menu Open data analysis

The VDSTS main menu offers a variety of commands. To open

the menus and see the available commands, either point and Print
left click on the menu name, or press ALT + the underlined
letter in the name of the menu you wish to open. Below the Monitor data in dashboard mode
main menu are the Toolbar Buttons, which offer quick access
to the most often used commands. Monitor data in strip chart mode

Horizontal Slide Bars

Active Test

File Menu Active Settings

Commands to open a file, export one, close an active window
and quit the program View Diagnostic Trouble Codes

View Menu
Contains commands related to data monitoring System Status

Communications Menu AntiTheft Status

Commands for connecting to the ECU, disconnecting from
the ECU and selecting port settings
Antilock Brake System Status
Options Menu
Commands to select log settings, toggle log on or log off, Cable specification
select O2/Gas Analyzer,select the ECU or model, select chan-
nels, units and color settings
Establish connection with ECU
Utilities Menu
Contains the calculator and unit conversions
Disconnect from ECU
Help Menu
Displays a variety of help commands Log on and Log off data recording

________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
Chapter 4 Chapter 4
6 7
 Vehicle Diagnostic Scan-Tool Software Vehicle Diagnostic Scan-Tool Software
B. VDST Toolbar (continued)
C. Toolbar Buttons/Commands In-Depth
Click: To:
Open Data Log for Analysis
Select brand/ECU/model
Opens a dialog box, where you can open the file with the
data log that has been created. Please note: to make
this feature available, you must first set the ‘Record-
Select data to be monitored
ing’ feature to ‘On’ - if it is set to ‘Off’, a log will not be
created. The software will create a filename for your data
log, based on date (and sequence, if applicable).
Metric/English unit conversions
Print
Activate the calculator
Prints a copy of your data log
Measurement unit conversions
Gauges/Meters
Reference Information
The Gauges/Meters button (next page, top) enables viewing
Download software updates
of data through bar slides, graphs, thermometers and check
lights. It offers 6 configurable channels (shown on bottom of
screen). Please note that the round gauges at the top of
Exit the active window
this screen are not configurable; those four gauges are set
to always show those four data elements.

Strip Chart

The Strip Chart Monitor button (next page, center) is used to

view data in line plot and numerical form. It offers 16 configurable
channels.

Horizontal Slide Bars

The Horizontal Slide Bars button (next page, bottom) is used

to view data with horizontal slide bars. It offers 4 configurable
channels.

________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
Chapter 4 Chapter 4
8 9
 Vehicle Diagnostic Scan-Tool Software Vehicle Diagnostic Scan-Tool Software
Gauges/Meters Window
C. Most Commonly-Used Channels (Gauges/Meters, Strip Chart,
& Horizontal Bar Slides Viewing Modes)

RPM: Engine RPM numeric value

Battery: Battery voltage numeric value
Spark Advance: Spark adv. angle numeric value
Pulse Width: Pulse width numeric value
Throttle Position: Throttle angle numeric value
Air Temperature: Air temperature numeric value
Engine Temperature: Engine temp. numeric value
Barometric Pressure: Barometric press. numeric value
Stepper Motor: Stepper motor numeric value

(Please note that any data element that is grayed out is not avail-
Strip Chart Window able for that ECU.)

Active Test
This window has several functions: testing the actuators, adjust-
ing the TrimEEPROM, ...This window is used to perform several
operations: the Clear DTC button will clear readings from the
‘Historic’ box of the DTC window.

Horizontal Slide Bars Window

10 11
 Vehicle Diagnostic Scan-Tool Software Vehicle Diagnostic Scan-Tool Software

Active Settings System Status Command

This window shows the status flags.
This window is used to perform several operations. The
Clear DTC button will clear readings from the ‘Historic’ box
of the DTC window.

AntiTheft Status Window

Diagnostic Trouble Code

& Function Errors

This window displays both cur-

rent errors (even those that
may appear very briefly), as
well as historic errors. Please
note that current errors that
appear very briefly may not
show in the historic box.

O.C. = open circuit

S.C. = short circuit
High V. = high voltage
Low V. = low voltage

________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________
Chapter 4 Chapter 4
12 13
 Vehicle Diagnostic Scan-Tool Software Vehicle Diagnostic Scan-Tool Software

AntiLock Brake System Status Cable Specification

The cable specification button “reads” the information from the

cable, and reports the contents of the four data elements shown
below: ECU(s)/ECM(s) supported, software version (Standard or
Pro), Rev. #, and platform (PC, PDA, or PC/PDA). For a complete
list of motorcycles and their corresponding ECUs/ECMs, please
refer to the ‘List’ link on the VDST page of our website. For a
photograph of each cable assembly, please open the file VDSTS-
Pro (Cable Listing) on the CD-ROM. ***NOTE: Japanese bikes do
not require a cable

Connect

Establishes connection with ECU

Stop

Disconnects from ECU

________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
Chapter 4 Chapter 4
14 15
 Vehicle Diagnostic Scan-Tool Software Vehicle Diagnostic Scan-Tool Software

ECU/ECM Selection

Recording On/Off This window is for selecting the ECU/ECM to which you are
connecting. Please note that for users of VDSTS-Standard, a
click on this button will automatically cause the software to
recognize your ECU/ECM, and will select it for you. Once
this is done, all other buttons & features will be enabled. For
users of VDST-Pro & Pro-Plus, see below:

Please note that if selecting a Japanese bike, first choose the

manufacturer and then the model:

This window is for establishing data capturing instructions. The trig-

gering can be set up automatically to capture as many data points If selecting a European or American bike, choose the manufac-
as specified (in the Log Data Points field) when an error event is set. turer and then the ECU:
The data can be recorded in three different ways: start (from the
moment of the trigger), middle (half the data points before the mo-
ment of the trigger and half the points after the trigger), or end (all the
data points that preceded the trigger).

Log File Features

Browse: Allows the selection of a filename

Trigger Features
Mode: Sets the mode in which the data capturing will be triggered
Error Event: Displays a choice of error events as triggers
Trigger Position:Allows the set up of the three different ways

________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
16 Chapter 4 17 Chapter 4
 Vehicle Diagnostic Scan-Tool Software Vehicle Diagnostic Scan-Tool Software

Convert temperature English/Metric

Channels/Mode command
The Channels/Mode command activates the following screen:

Calculator

The Calculator button

activates a calculator for
general purpose calcula-
tions. You can use either
the mouse or the key-
board to perform calcu-
lations. To exit this win-
dow and deactivate the
calculator, press OFF.

Unit Conversion

This window that contains the most used unit conversions for
general purposes.

Channels
In this window you can activate or deactivate any of the parameters
for viewing (in the Gauges/Meters, Strip Chart, or Horizontal Slide
Bars windows) by setting them to on or off. In the Min. and Max.
fields you can set the minimum and maximum scale values to set
monitor data graph.

View Mode Features

Parallel: Activates an individual chart for each channel to
be displayed in the same screen using independent scales for
each parameter.
Overlay: Activates the overlay mode, showing all the param-
eter graphs using the same scale for each of them.

________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
Chapter 4 Chapter 4
18 19
 Vehicle Diagnostic Scan-Tool Software Vehicle Diagnostic Scan-Tool Software

Help
At any time, you may access help screens in either of two
ways:

Contents: Offers an index of help topics

Search For Help On...Allows searching by topic

Software Update

Download the latest version of VDSTS software

Exit

About
VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC SCANTOOL SOFTWARE
VERSION 3.00-A.3 (Win95/98/2000/Me/NT/XP)
Copyright 1997-2007 TechnoResearch, Inc.
www.technoresearch.com

________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
Chapter 4 Chapter 4
19