Freelander 1 Fault code reader / data logger?

[Stretch]

G'day folks,

I've got a mate who has recently bought a Freelander 1 TD4 as a runabout.

He was asking me about fault codes readers - fault code reader? - I know nothing about computery - the newest car I've ever owned was built in 1992 well before Obi Wan Kenobi started to leave his slot under the dashboard....

...anyway.

Question #1 => What's the most reliable / best code reader for a diesel Freelander 1?

Question #2 => Is it possible to get digitized read outs from sensors and then record these things on a data logger / smart phone?

(I ask question 2 because that would be cool to mess about with - much more interesting than just getting "P XXXXX" on a screen)

 

[Nodge68]

Question 1. Yes. A Hawkeye is probably the best stand alone diagnostic tool. It's around £300 though, which puts folks off.

Question 2. Yes it is possible to get a Bluetooth dongle to send data to a smartphone. However this will only work on OBD2 compliant TD4s. These appeared in around 2005.
So if it's before that year. It's a question 1 diagnostic only However most diagnostic equipment will display live data from the various sensors.

 

[Stretch]

Question 1. Yes. A Hawkeye is probably the best stand alone diagnostic tool. It's around £300 though, which puts folks off.

Question 2. Yes it is possible to get a Bluetooth dongle to send data to a smartphone. However this will only work on OBD2 compliant TD4s. These appeared in around 2005.
So if it's before that year. It's a question 1 diagnostic only However most diagnostic equipment will display live data from the various sensors.

Thanks.

I've discovered that it is OBD2 so I have a new question =>

Has anyone successfully used the ELM327 with an android app on a Freelander 1 before?

 

[Nodge68]

Thanks.

I've discovered that it is OBD2 so I have a new question =>

Has anyone successfully used the ELM327 with an android app on a Freelander 1 before?

Yes it works fine provided the FL1 is OBD2 compliant.
I use Torque full version App on my 05 TD4 SE and my mother in law's (ex mine) 2001 V6. I use a generic ELM327 bluetooth adapter without a problem.

 

[Stretch]

Yes it works fine provided the FL1 is OBD2 compliant.
I use Torque full version App on my 05 TD4 SE and my mother in law's (ex mine) 2001 V6. I use a generic ELM327 bluetooth adapter without a problem.

Great stuff - thank you very much.

At just over 5 quid on amazon it seems like a very little outlay for a bit of a gamble anyway - but it seems like it will be 5 quid well spent.

 

[GrumpyGel]

Will the cheapo ELM dongles only read engine codes? eg will they find ABS code (to fix those 3 Amigos) SRS codes etc?

 

[Nodge68]

Will the cheapo ELM dongles only read engine codes? eg will they find ABS code (to fix those 3 Amigos) SRS codes etc?

OBD2 compliance refers to engine ECU trouble codes only. So it won't read ABS, gearbox or any other ECU. The OBD2 / LM327 interface isn't designed to read other codes.
For those you need a more vehicle specific reader.