Uber-easy DIY USB ALDL Cable

[FSJ Guy]

This one

http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8165

looks like it's designed to be plugged into the other end of a USB cable. It has the TX and RX pins that you speak of. Other than that, I have no clue what I'm talking about. :D

I'd definitely be interested in being able to semi-permanently mount a USB connector under my dash to plug in an ALDL cable.

SUCCESS!!! I tied the Transmit and Receive (Tx and Rx) lines together and connected them to the data line and connected the grounds together. Plugged it all in and it works!!!! :D

Since I already had an A -> B USB cable lying around, it only cost $21 for a virtually turnkey ALDL cable.

EDIT: I have tried this adapter while actually having the engine RUNNING and it runs for anywhere from 4 seconds to 4 minutes and then fails. The laptop shows the request being sent with no reply from the ECM. For some reason it doesn't work with the engine running. <shrug>