Beginner to programming, but very experienced automotive technician.
Goal: Build an education tool. The tool can store/display DTCs (diagnostic trouble codes) based on whatever input parameters I see fit.
Context: I am going to build this "tool", connect it to a vehicle harness (uninstalled from the vehicle), bug the harness with opens/shorts, and then allow the students to physically chase the issues with their knowledge of how DTCs are stored and properly diagnosed. The vehicle harness will have no other control units installed and no need for CAN interface problems right now. Just simple open/shorted circuit situations. Maybe some "plausibility" DTC situations as well. I have the ability to fashion the hardware and wiring connections from the harness to the "tool".
Question: Is what I am describing above possible with the kit I have purchased in the link below? I have fooled around with it and I think messing around with the GPIO portion of the ESP32 board is the key to victory here. If you think this is possible, any advice, guidance or even direction to an already existing project that is similar would help.
Does googling for "arduino cable tester" help? A number of such projects exist.
To build such a tool you would have to create a profile for each harness and a datasheet stating which connections between the tool and the harness should be made. The tool would systematically check each combination of connections and issue a discrepancy report.
Any arduino would require a number of port expanders to give one pin for every possible connection to the harness.
Edit
The profile would be some representation, maybe an array, specifying the harness in terms of each connection and an error code if that connection is broken. A short circuit or unexpected connection would be reported with the two end connections involved.
A harness can probably have a number of connector blocks, internal connections, loops back to the same connector block, maybe internal components? Any internal components (maybe over-temperature detectors) would make the harness more difficult to test.
Your kit should be enough for a small start or proof of concept but you'll soon need to integrate some port expanders (mcp23017 or similar)