Diagnostics and my TD4

hey folks, I’m lookinh into getting some real diagnostics for my landy.

Recently after having issues I used a couple of my generic diagnostic machines (autel autolink and maxicheck pro) to plug into my TD4 but found I could only see limited live data etc.

Now my vehicle was registered 03/2004 so will have been built in 2003. Diesel obd2 legislation wasn’t till 2004 so I guess maybe thats why I cant see a lot as possibly it wasn’t planned in yet. The same diagnostic machines show “everything” on newer cars.

I have other more in depth laptop based diagnostic systems for specific manufacturers, I have op com, ids and ross tech vag com etc etc.

What I’m looking for is the landrover equivillant of ids for ford etc. I believe the laptop software is called testbook??
I want to look into what software/cables/interface is required for it. As long as it’s not over £1000 I want to buy it.

Can anyone advise where to get the interface etc from a good known vendor?? I had issues getting a good vcm2 for ids as the first one wouldn’t update right but the second one I got is smashing, can upgrade it/change firmware and everything no bother.

Any advice and info would be appreciated.

Cheers, Rossco

Ross Tait said:

I believe the laptop software is called testbook??

Click to expand...

It was called Testbook T4. They come up on Ebay every now and then.

Ross Tait said:

I want to look into what software/cables/interface is required for it. As long as it’s not over £1000 I want to buy it.

Click to expand...

You're prepared to spend £1K on Freelander diagnostics.

There's a chap on the Rover forum that has made one called Pscan, which has been used by a couple of members on here. Pscan is under £200 IIRC.

Nodge68 said:

It was called Testbook T4. They come up on Ebay every now and then.

You're prepared to spend £1K on Freelander diagnostics.

There's a chap on the Rover forum that has made one called Pscan, which has been used by a couple of members on here. Pscan is under £200 IIRC.

Click to expand...

Hey, thanks for the reply.
Cool so testbook t4 is what I’m after then. Ideal, I got a lot of what I have from eBay etc so I’ll keep an eye out for it there once I’ve learned a bit more about it.

Yeah it may sound a bit mental but I’m a self employed mechanic by trade so my business will pay for it really. These setups usually pay for themselves within a year so it’s not so bad for me. Plus I like to have it for my own use lol, plus can help others in communities like this.

Ah ok, but what would be better? Testbook or pscan? I’d be after whatever had the best and most capabilities. If testbook is the landrover original stuff it’ll probably be better?? I find IDS for ford is a bit better than forescan for e.g but I do have both.

One question would be, are there fake interfaces out there like there are for ford etc. If so how do I identify the real deal?? A lot of the fake ford rotunda units the vcm2’s all had the same serial number etc.

Some of them actually worked flawlessly like the real thing but others had limited use ability for e.g or they couldn’t do firmware updates on the interface to make it usable with updated diagnostic software. Some of them bricked when you tried.

I want to try to learn all I can about what’s around and what’s available before I jump into a purchase as I’ve a few cables and plug ins that never worked lol.

Cheers, Rossco

A good T4 will cover Freelander 1, landerover disco, range rover, Rover 25,45,75, MGZT, metro, they are not cheap the last one I knew of being sold went for £1,800 with all the discs, and leads.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/401750209633

Here you go!!!

This maybe of interest to someone nowt to do with me, but it looks to be a bargain if you like to help people out or do a bit of testing etc.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Landrover-Testbook-T4/174150412584?hash=item288c2c6928:g:MuQAAOSwYBpeFyIU

If only I could justify spending £1K on diagnostic equipment for the FL1.

Takes a long time to pay for itself at £40 a pop.
Also, it is a long way away.
Have LZ got funds to buy it on behalf of all???!

You'd be surprised with the capabilities of the ebay-special-chinese-clones of Delphi diagnostics can do on a freelandre. I've got one, plugged into an old panasonic toughbook it looks the part, and covers all sorts of goodies on my 2002 td4 freelander, engine, autobox, abs to name but a few.

You'd be surprised with the capabilities of the ebay-special-chinese-clones of Delphi diagnostics can do on a freelandre. I've got one, plugged into an old panasonic toughbook it looks the part, and

You'd be surprised with the capabilities of the ebay-special-chinese-clones of Delphi diagnostics can do on a freelandre. I've got one, plugged into an old panasonic toughbook it looks the part, and can access more systems than you'd expect. On my 2002 auto TD4 for example I can access ABS, Autobox, Engine ECU.