elm 327

Hello i've just been looking on the bay of e ,....at the elm327, i've seen your posts with this item mentioned many times , although i'm handy with a set of tools and will take on any challenge, computers and fault codes are not something i can say i'm great with, however we do all need to change with the times, so i'd like to learn and understand more,,,
1) Have any of you got one (silly me of course you have. )
2) What are the pros and cons of this device?????
3) There are many versions,... which is best,?????
4) do you have to be a computer wizz????
5) what can you do once you find out the faults/how can you clear them..
6) would you recomend it????
7) are uk sellers best or overseas???
8) has any one had problems connecting theirs???
9) If you plug this into your car just to look before any faults occure, dose this cause any problems????
10) what information can you exactly get from this device???

If there is anything else i've missed feel free to drop it in
your advice would be welcomed, thanks for your help..... :blabla::blabla:
Rob

mine gets codes, and quite a lot of information on engine temp, lambda readings air flow volume, furl trims etc etc.

i use it mainly to reset the misfire errors due to the lpg kit turning off the injectors

mine is the 1.3a i think.

i got it from china i think, its the silver one with detachble leads (i'll conform the version number later)

tou can only get into the engine ecu, not the becm at present. although woogoo is hopefully writing code as we speak!!

they dont cause any issues, as far as i know.

One of the cons is that apart from the engine ECU on some P38's, it will not work on any of the other ECU's like the BECM etc.

zx7r33 said:

1) Have any of you got one (silly me of course you have. )

Click to expand...

Well I do, but read on...

zx7r33 said:

2) What are the pros and cons of this device?????

Click to expand...

Well this would be answered later based on your choice of software

zx7r33 said:

3)There are many versions,... which is best,?????

Click to expand...

IMHO the latest ones of v1.7 or greater (if available) that supports the major protocols.

zx7r33 said:

4) do you have to be a computer wizz????

Click to expand...

I'd say no, as the one I bought off of eBay a monkey could use, as the docs and information provided by the seller were great. But there is a caveat to this. See below.

zx7r33 said:

5) what can you do once you find out the faults/how can you clear them..

Click to expand...

You get the toolbox out and fix the issue(s), then you reset.

zx7r33 said:

6) would you recomend it????

Click to expand...

Yes, but...

zx7r33 said:

7) are uk sellers best or overseas???

Click to expand...

If buying off of eBay just check their feedback rating and do what's easiest.

zx7r33 said:

8) has any one had problems connecting theirs???

Click to expand...

Yes, and it's doing my head in, if I had hair I'd probably have pulled it out by now! I have a degree in Computer Software and I can't get mine to work, now does that mean mine is duff or I'm just an idiot!

zx7r33 said:

9) If you plug this into your car just to look before any faults occure, dose this cause any problems????

Click to expand...

No, not that I know of.

zx7r33 said:

10) what information can you exactly get from this device???

Click to expand...

That again depends on the quality of the software used.

With regard to these devices or indeed anything of a similar nature they are IMO only as good as the software used, and I'm fairly convinced that many on here would agree with me there.

Hope this helps.

aye, but they are manufacturer specific ecu's, as are the airbags on most cars and something else on most cars.

for getting the engine stuff its as good as most stuff.

nothing except the specific tools can get into other ecu's

which version do you have mate im looking to get one that i can connect to my p38 thanks

1.3a, works on mine '96 and a 2001 model. both petrol!