Reply With Quotehttps://www.eurocarparts.com/p/stree...ader-553997350
This works for me on Porsche and Smart, not all singing & dancing, but allows me to diagnose what to brief my mechanic on.
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Can anyone in the know advise please of a el cheapo model that will allow me to access mainly VW vehicles (be helpful for BMW bikes too) - has to work with ABS and Airbag as well as the usual engine stuff.
Amazon is awash with these but I'd rather tap into the knowledge base here.
Preferably subscription free.
https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/stree...ader-553997350
This works for me on Porsche and Smart, not all singing & dancing, but allows me to diagnose what to brief my mechanic on.
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- I have had no problems at all but I would take a look at the reviews to see if it it's OK
You do get a piece of software OBDlink which is quite good
I use it for Bimmercoding my SUPRA.
B
Last edited by Brian; 22nd October 2023 at 09:09.
Bumping this thread from a couple of years ago.
Has any member recently had experience of an OBD2 scanner.
Looking for a relative simple one, like me, that I can understand.
Any suggestions and or advice please.
Generally speaking cheap fault readers aren't worth itdepending on what car you have many cheap readers don't give you the full fault code anyway. Besides that the fault code isn't the be all and end all of fault finding and fixing and certainly components shouldnt be replaced off the back of it.Originally Posted by Topcat30093
I have one of these paired with an app called 'Car Scanner'. I've used it countless times to identify and reset what was a persistent fault on my Alfa (fortunately it seems to have gone now).
Lots of info, plugs into the ODB2 port, uses wifi to connect to the phone.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07883V8KC
I used an app called Torque on my mobile a few years ago connected by Bluetooth to a cheap OBD reader, it picked up a code not shown by my garage.
Ive used Car Scanner app too. Paid the one off subscription fee, about a fiver I think. Worth every penny. Connects to a cheap OBD Plug In dongle
Connects to my phone by Bluetooth. Loads of useful information and features. Handy if you need to view lots of parameters but you do need to find what the correct figures should actually be to identify problems.
For more in depth work and looking at chassis as well as engine I use a Creator C310+ Diagnostic tool. Its specific to BMW. Dont know if it works with VW or not. It definitely doesnt work on Suzuki cars
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Thanks chaps for your views.
Not heard of Car Scanner, so will have a look.
Primarily the two cars we have are a Volvo V60 and Fiat 500.
I have learnt that not all manufacturers are covered by some scanners.
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Not sure where you are located, but I have an iCarsoft VOL 3.0 which is Volvo specific if you want to use it.
Thanks Maysie for your very kind offer.
We are based in North Devon, if that is anywhere near you?
Just taken a look at some reviews, and appears very through, one I wouldn't consider, if I was buying one, as the systems are way more involved, than what I would understand!!
But I see they also do a smaller handheld one.
Question
If you were looking to get a scanner, would you choose one that is run from an app on your phone or a more standard one, that runs by itself, for example has the Foxwell type layout?
That is quite a slog from where I am usually based (Cambridge/Shropshire).
To attempt to answer your question, it really depends on what you want to do with it, as they all have different functionality and therefore costs associated with their initial purchase and some have ongoing subscription maintenance. I bought mine on the basis of an ongoing issue/fault with ABS sensors throwing the safety systems offline, which the garage could never seem to fix, so I went hunting for the fault myself rather than pay for repeated diagnostic checks and have the inconvenience of dropping off and picking up the car from the garage every 3 weeks when the fault reoccurred.
As it sounds like you are just after the basics, an OBD reader and a phone app might be the way to go - at least it will get you started for a relatively small outlay.
Was the fault, just a now and then one, which made it unpredictable for the garage to locate, whereas having your own, once the fault occurred you plugged it in straight away and located the fault?
New OP- what are you actually trying to achieve with the reader?
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Essentially, yes.
Garage fixed what we all thought was the suspect issue, cleared the fault codes, fault returns 2 weeks later.
Rinse and then repeat, while the actual fault cleared itself in the meantime before the garage could see the car, meaning they only had the retained fault codes to read - of which there were many, probably caused by the failed safety systems which caused codes for the radar cruise control, tyre pressure sensors, traction control, electronic handbrake (?!) etc etc.
It was a simple 58 repair in the end (ABS sensor). Then 3 weeks later the opposite side failed too, which was quickly identified by the code reader as it reads/records live data.
Don't forget, a code reader will not necessarily provide you the 'answer' to the problem, but they should give you a good idea of where to look for the problem, so interpretation of the data may also still be important.
Just being able to ID the code and what repairs maybe required.
So, I dont have to pay for continuous diagnostic checks.
So when the dreaded engine ECU light comes on I can plug the scanner in and it will tell me what tissue is.
Maybe a daft question!!!
But does clearing the fault sometimes actually resolve the issue or it will just keep happening?
Probably over thinking this!
And to be honest I wouldnt understand a fraction of what modern engines, transmission or ECUs do.
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I use Carista for my Audi, think they cover VW cars also.
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Continuous diagnosis checks?
A fault code reader is a tool that will set you in the right direction but unless you really know what you are doing and understand what you're looking at then thats about where it ends. A fault code from an engine which has low turbo boost may typically generate a fault code P1247. That however is just a generic low pressure fault code because the engine ECU and detected a low boost reading from a boost sensor. Sensors and ECU’s work together, the ECU knows the parameters of all sensors and when something goes “out of spec” or has an open circuit, something seems implausible this will be detected by the ECU and in most cases after 3/5 ignition cycles will force an engine light /message of some description on. It would be reasonable to assume because you have low turbo boost it must be the turbo right? In a lot of cases this would be incorrect as there are many other components that could cause low boost and give you the same fault code. You may get lucky and have another fault code which relates to the boost system which also might be faulting and be associated but sadly this is where an experienced tech comes in.
I have about 6 fault codes that when i see them i know almost instantly what the problem is but this obviously comes down to 36 years of experience.
As a tech what you are looking for is a smoking gun, it rarely happens and so when there are many fault codes its sometimes beneficial to clear the faults and road-test it and then immediately reconnected the reader when it faults again. This will then hopefully give you a clearer place to start.
Fault readers are a useful tool however they should never be used as a definitive reason to replace parts because you'll more than likely be wrong, next thing you know you've fired up the parts canon and spent a grand and are still no further forward.
Besides i would doubt there are many experienced techs hes out there that would be willing to replace XYZ based on your fault codes.
Just checked out their site.
They do cover Volvo's but not the V60.
So I looked at an S60 and they are only up to 2018.
Thanks FFF you have made my decision making much easier.
Just to prove a point!
Most of what you wrote, went straight over my head. LOL
Would there be any particular OBD2 Fault Code Reader/Scanner that you would recommend over the thousands on the market?
The Carly OBD Diagnostic, does appear to work, now that I have the activation access, sorted, but I don't want to be paying an annual subscription of 60 - 70 for the modules I currently have, so I have already written to them and confirmed that in writing.
I am of two minds to get a Vgate iCar Pro 2S OBD2 and use it alongside the Car Scanner App, or something like a Ancel AD410 which is a standalone unit.
Both will work in varying degrees with our two cars Volvo & Fiat.
In regards to my Diagnostic comment a Main Dealer quoted me 170 to run a check!!
Much rather spend the money on getting something less expensive that I can use whenever I need too.
Volvo diagnostics can be a nightmare. Been there, done that and had a nightmare setting up a VXdiag reader. I still have the reader, but I would not recoomend it unless you've got nothing to do for a week or 2 and really like buggering about with IT (I don't !!!)
Have you looked into Vdash ? https://d5t5.com/article/vdash-volvo-diagnostic
I haven't used them, so ensure that you do plenty of digging before taking the plunge.
These are often mentioned on the Volvo Forum and appears to be the one to get if you have a Volvo that is quite elderly.
Two things spring to mind when I first viewed them.
1) it wasnt designed for the amateur DIY, which, I dont qualify at.
2) Looks rather antiquated.
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Yes, 170 bunce for plugging in is a pizz take, most main dealers charge that which is ridiculous. It wouldn't be so bad if that also included an hours diagnosis.
No i cant really be of any help as I've never used any of the ones mentioned or app style devices.
Haha P0234 keeps appearing on the Smart every 6 months or so & gets reset. Had the garage leak test the system, he is as long in the trade as you, but nothing seems to be causing it. Overboost but nothing we can track it back to, cannot recall the last time it did it now, year or so, nothing changed out. Just a gremlin in the car I reckon.
Cheap reader did point to an issue on the Porsche which was the VVS solenoid. Told me enough, and which bank it was. Mechanic was less confident as not on whatever shared knowledge forum is used. I asked for it to be done as low cost, and was spot on. Luckily.
Other side went a year or so later, car ran great until up to temp & then became a bag of spanners & a 200 part felt like several k worth of issues; gear change was awful, kept stalling (PDK), jerky acceleration etc, made me look like I could not drive at all.
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Joys of modern fault finding especially with intermittent faults, I've had similar cases like yours many times over the years and they're a bloody nightmare. You almost want it to go spectacularly wrong to stand a chance. Incidentally have they checked the turbo waste-gate/modulator. Typical over-boosts can be caused by that, problems with the throttle body or gummed up boost sensor. I would suspect thats already been checked.one things for sure it'll pack up just when you need it the most!
Thanks for the reply, yeah they have checked pretty much everything. They came to the same comment you had; needs to go properly wrong to find the fault!
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You need one of these.
Started out with nothing. Still have most of it left.
LOL, I remember seeing something similar in my Dads garage, in comparison with today's offerings it was huge.
Lots of cables.
Ordered one of these from Amazon for 30 a Vgate iCar Pro 2S OBD2 and will use it alongside the Car Scanner App.
See how it works out.
Yes they were a big bit of kit. But in their day they were a handy thing to have.
Started out with nothing. Still have most of it left.
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