Early Freelander Diesel (XEDi) Fault code reader -Which ones work?

I've done a search through the forums and can't find any info on which Fault code readers/scanners work on the early XEDi (that's diesel for you noobs) (None OBD2) Freelanders. (Other than 'Test Book')

Has anyone else seen a thread or got any experience with other products?

I've heard about the 'Hawkeye' diagnostics kit which is ok but still a little bit too pricey for me but I've also heard that there's something called a T300 key programmer (Chinese kit) that reads the fault codes and can also reset them. Anyone know anything? And if so, p'raps it should be a sticky?

Thanks bukko for the quick reply.

Maybe if I get desperate I'll try the paperclip method but I'm hoping somebody out there will have some experience with an actual fault code scanner that deals with the engine side of things aswell. Must be some pre TD4 Freelander Diesel owners that have tried and tested diagnostic kit?

pilsachpete said:

Thanks bukko for the quick reply.

Maybe if I get desperate I'll try the paperclip method but I'm hoping somebody out there will have some experience with an actual fault code scanner that deals with the engine side of things aswell. Must be some pre TD4 Freelander Diesel owners that have tried and tested diagnostic kit?

Click to expand...

Sorry I deleted that post cos it was about ABS faults only!

However, cheapest readers/resetters I can find:

ECUmate 14CUX ECU diagnostic unit (£120)

Lite version (£50)

Bukko,
thanks once again for the quick reply but as far as I can see, this unit is purely and simply designed for some of the petrol engines that have been used in Discos, Rangerovers and TVRs. Or am I being a bit thick?(Entirely possible) I can't see any reference to diesels whether looking at the manufacturers website or, for that matter, anywhere else when I Google. Can I ask you where you've got your reference? (website or whatever)

pilsachpete said:

Bukko,
thanks once again for the quick reply but as far as I can see, this unit is purely and simply designed for some of the petrol engines that have been used in Discos, Rangerovers and TVRs. Or am I being a bit thick?(Entirely possible) I can't see any reference to diesels whether looking at the manufacturers website or, for that matter, anywhere else when I Google. Can I ask you where you've got your reference? (website or whatever)

Click to expand...

Erm - you could be right.
The fault codes seem to mostly refer to V engines.
I based my search on the 14CUX ECU which I'm pretty sure your FL has.
Next best I can find is Hawkeye on Ebay but still pretty pricey and I think would need to be configured to work with a FL.
I'll keep looking...

Do you have a laptop? And can you speak German?

If so you could use this - just need a lead.

There must be an English version around somewhere...

Thanks again Bukko!

I speak fairly fluent German so that's not an issue but the two problems here are:-

1. It's just testbook software which would require some kind of proprietary cable. (I've got the laptop bit)
2. It states that its for 01 (that's 2001) and my Freelander Diesel XEDi is from early 2000.

How do I know which ECU I've got? Or more precisely how do you know which one I've got? Is there a reference guide somewhere on this forum/on the internet, where you can see which freelanders are fitted with what?

So far, everytime I go searching for diagnostic readers/scanners, I put in 'Freelander Diesel XEDi Diagnostic' or whatever 'cos I don't know which type of ECU it comes with

Slight web search fail on my part.
Having searched further I don't think it is in fact the 14CUX
I think that is purely for Rover V8s.

The testbook lead is available online, including Ebay.
I guess the important things are making sure the car end is the right one for yours, and the other end is the right one for your laptop as the ones I've seen look like RS232 connectors (9 pin serial) and not many laptops have them these days, so you could also be looking at a USB to RS232 converter!

I will keep looking though. I'd like to know the answer to this as I might own another L series at some point!

"The testbook lead is available online, including Ebay.
I guess the important things are making sure the car end is the right one for yours, and the other end is the right one for your laptop as the ones I've seen look like RS232 connectors (9 pin serial) and not many laptops have them these days, so you could also be looking at a USB to RS232 converter!"

Thanks again Bukko,

I searched for hours tonight for this cable available on Ebay - could'nt send me a link maybe I can find nothing rs232 serial or otherwise preporting to be for use with laptops and landrover Freelander Diesels pre OBD2 . To the best of my knowledge, Test book T4 had a special interface that the cable plugged into (at the computer end) but, as my knowledge is, in this area, not that broad, I just don't know.The other thing is that just because a cable has the right plugs at each end, does'nt mean you can do anything with it unless the software is out there to support it. I've seen (tonight) a guy on ebay selling the Testbook T4 System CD 'MG/Rover T4 RDS 5.06 CD' along with the 'T4 Diagnostic CD - DST0004V' as a set 'with no cables or interface' for 40 quid - seems a bit risky if all it does is sit on yer laptop not talking to yer Landy. Nothing else on ebay other than the complete Testbook hardware package which, at 2500 - 3000 quid:faint2:, is about 20 times more than I'm able to afford

I found these:

http://macassemble.com/lrm/testbook/TestBook User Manual.pdf
http://macassemble.com/lrm/testbook/T4 Diagnostic System Users Manual.pdf

There's details of cables etc.

Thanks again Bukko.

Looking at the pdf links for testbook looks to me like I would need some kind of extra interface for the laptop that the diagnostic cable plugs into. I'll have another search session on the internet but it's not looking to be that simple at the moment.

No indeed, it looks all proprietary and complex.
Thank gawd the OBD standards arrived or we'd probably still be there!