Diagnostic Device Costs - a Comparison...

Before I start - I need you to be aware this is not a rant or a snub at those who selflessly give there time and money to developing such devices.....I am just looking at others feedback is all...

We got the Girlfriends 2009 Fiat 500 Last January and that included a 12 month manufacturers warranty and few extra bits and bobs like AA Roadside recovery etc....for a bit of piece of mind.

Now the Warranty has expired, and considering most third party warranties are useless and the manufacturer warranty is expensive - I thought it was time to start looking into some form of Diagnostic system for her car, as my All Comms has helped me a few times previously....

So, internet research led me to the MultiECUScan software for Fiat and Alfa vehicles.....

The free version only connects to the Engine ECU and ABS system and each session will only last 20 minutes....but it gives you an idea if your interface etc works with the car and allows you to capture Live Data to a graph, read and clear codes and do some parameter changes etc...

So, after looking at interface cables I settled on an ELM327 to USB OBDII cable from that famous online 'Bookshop' for £13.99 and tried the free version....yep connects OK....so looking into the registered version of the software and this is 50euros for 1 years free updates, after a year you can still use the software forever but you won't get the updates...another 50euros will get you another years updates etc.

I purchased the Registered version, and also from the 'Bookshop' ordered the coloured adaptor leads required - the Fiat 500 only needs the Yellow adaptor lead...but for £14 you get all three so I ordered them too.

You receive the Software unlock code within minutes to turn the Free version into the Registered version....and the adaptors arrived in the post two days later....

Excited, I went to her car and plugged myself in.....I now have a full fat diagnostic device for all Fiats and Alfas.....

In a similar vein to the Nanocom, Faultmate, Hawkeye et al, I can control the body functions, live data capture, diagnose faults, run tests on the vehicle systems, simulate fault messages and lamps on the dash, monitor various switch logic's, etc.....a very good piece of kit....

Something I would like for the Range Rover....but heres the kick....

If I can get a full fat diagnostic suite for her car at a total cost of £28 for adaptors and £42 for the Software...so a total of £70, why is the cheapest thing that will do the same functionality for the Range Rover/Land Rover product at least 4.5 times the price?

Saint.V8 said:

<SNIP>

If I can get a full fat diagnostic suite for her car at a total cost of £28 for adaptors and £42 for the Software...so a total of £70, why is the cheapest thing that will do the same functionality for the Range Rover/Land Rover product at least 4.5 times the price?

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Because Datatek hasn't finished his watermill yet.

G~

they didn't supply the hardware (your lappy).

it isn't built to withstand a more abusive environment. You can't just chuck your lappy into a box, use with gloves, oil, etc.

Here's an apple and an orange for you.. go and compare

trax said:

they didn't supply the hardware (your lappy).

it isn't built to withstand a more abusive environment. You can't just chuck your lappy into a box, use with gloves, oil, etc.

Here's an apple and an orange for you.. go and compare

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True....but the All Comms I use a Laptop I carry in the car...I use it with gloves on...oil is a different matter admittedly...

Very true I have to supply a Laptop - but the one I use is getting on for 10 years old and does the job!

I also use a ten year old laptop kept in my boot for the Eas software via a obd2 to serial port lead , I would love a free or inexpensive software for the engine ecu (my2000 2.5 dhse) via a similar lead but haven't found one which will talk to the engine ecu as off yet :scratching_chin:
I just can't afford a blackbox solutions device they starting from £357 inc vat and hawkeye are about £295 without the different leads needed for Eas etc..

That's my little rant over

Know what you mean saint. Fault mate is about £550 to access all areas but locked to one vehicle. Result diagnostics for the wifes car about £200 to access all areas on all Renault models with no restrictions and free software upgrades!

Blackader said:

I also use a ten year old laptop kept in my boot for the Eas software via a obd2 to serial port lead , I would love a free or inexpensive software for the engine ecu (my2000 2.5 dhse) via a similar lead but haven't found one which will talk to the engine ecu as off yet :scratching_chin:
I just can't afford a blackbox solutions device they starting from £357 inc vat and hawkeye are about £295 without the different leads needed for Eas etc..

That's my little rant over

Click to expand...

Try EasyOBD - The Free version will show Live Data and Clear DTC's...I use the same ELM327 interface I use on the G/F's Fiat.

EDIT: Just noted you said dHSE.....the Diesel P38's are not OBDII compliant....

It's called the "Landrover extra premium"

Faultmate for a single license on the L322 was in excess of £1,000 !

Saint.V8 said:

Try EasyOBD - The Free version will show Live Data and Clear DTC's...I use the same ELM327 interface I use on the G/F's Fiat.

EDIT: Just noted you said dHSE.....the Diesel P38's are not OBDII compliant....

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The only thing that's ODBII compliant on a diesel, is the fact that you can actually push an OBDII plug into the socket. There endeth the story.

wammers said:

The only thing that's ODBII compliant on a diesel, is the fact that you can actually push an OBDII plug into the socket. There endeth the story.

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What would help us DHSE owners would be finding out what protocols the engine ecu uses is it eobd ,obd2, can bus etc etc ..
I've tried finding out but there's not a lot of info out there for diesel p38's
Just a live data software would be nice !

Blackader said:

What would help us DHSE owners would be finding out what protocols the engine ecu uses is it eobd ,obd2, can bus etc etc ..
I've tried finding out but there's not a lot of info out there for diesel p38's
Just a live data software would be nice !

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I believe it was BOSCH proprietry protocol only....

Saint.V8 said:

I believe it was BOSCH proprietry protocol only....

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I couldn't get it to work but I'm sure I've read that stomp tests are possible.

G~

EDIT: Here we are http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f10/blink-codes-auto-electrician-may-able-help-188832.html

Saint.V8 said:

I believe it was BOSCH proprietry protocol only....

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I've never seen any after market Bosch software or scanners made by our far eastern friends ?

gencybay said:

I couldn't get it to work but I'm sure I've read that stomp tests are possible.

G~

EDIT: Here we are http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f10/blink-codes-auto-electrician-may-able-help-188832.html

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Do these stomp tests work on p38's and the blink codes are the same as my old bimmer even on a 2000 edc system
But my old car bimmer used a cheap obd2 scanner from flea bay

The Range Rover electronics are way more complicated than a Fiat 500 (although there's not much in it for reliability) and we are looking at older cars before OBDII compliance became mandatory. Even after compliance became mandatory companies like LR founds ways of making things difficult.
VW are, I think, the only company that complied with the letter and the spirit of the OBD spec and made their stuff fully compliant, as a result readers are dirt cheap.