P38 Diagnostics, (competant..) DIY?

Hi all,

New to the forum, but have had a quick look around, more so on the b*$tard P38 DSE my dad owns which overheats when towing/under load / tops out at 90 down big hill, slow and a little, imo, underpowered.

Anyway

I am quite keen and interested in the diagnostics side of cars, looking after a few VAG group cars both mechanically and electrically as a bit of a hobby/earner.

Other than rovacom or whatever its called, is anyone aware of any products/tools that are available for me to either check the sensors, monitor the engine while its running and generally see whats going on or to even reset the service light whenever its due to come on?

I'm quite handy with a soldering iron, so should something need making/adapting then i'll have a look.

I was told that my vagcom cable (generic vagcom 409 cable from t'bay) may be able to check things, but before I start plugging things in willy nilly, I wanted to check.

well, thanks in advance chaps,
Jonathan

Well, that's what you get for reading more! Looks like a generic ELM scanner & easy ODB will assist

doh!

and thanks!

vag com wont work, i have it and can't connect with any software. what do you use for the vag vehicles, just vag com?

Hi Gav,

Yep - that's all I use.

Keep finding new things out using the software (only 3.11 or whatever the original one is)

How about you? Do you use the elm stuff if you look at vag motors?

I read somewhere in here you use the elm kit, the one i've seen on the bay is about £30 now so a pretty good deal imo.

is there anything in particular I should look at/for when working on the old truck? (i'll download easy odb in a while and look through it) but wondered if there were any pointers?

cheers and thanks,
jt

I bought the Faultmate stuff a couple of months ago. I'm very much an amateur but once you get past the less than straightforward registration process I have been impressed. The kit is fairly pricey ( I bought the multiple vehicle option) and can be added to by the addition of the various licensed downloads.
You sound as if you know what you're talking about. Have a look at the Black Box Solutions website. Spend a bit of time on it before taking the plunge in any particular direction.
I had acquired a '97 P38 2.5D HSE which was in need of a lot of TLC. Put it off road for 3 months and have just had her thru the MOT taxed insured and running like a dream ( I know I'll come to regret saying that.)
Good luck.

i just use the elm for engine stuff it can't get into the becm but it works well enough. you can get live data etc etc. helps when looking for trouble with lambdas etc.

they are straight forward.

just noticed its a dse, i'm not sure if the elm works with the dse. maybe because its a bmw engine?

oh flip biscuits...

was in the throws of making sure the bank account fairy said yes to an ebay purchase

Gav, are you aware of any products which can communication with the dse engine? (that won't bust the bank) as i'd like to just look at engine data, the EAS seems in great condition (that will break tomorrow now i've spoken too soon )

just blinkin engine that gets too hot and before i start doing anything i wanted to cure any faults that it reported such as temp sensors etc.

'cha think?
ta
jt

not sure cos i aint got one to test, i might be seeing someone over the weekend with a doozel so i'll look at his see if i can get in, i'll have a look for any bmw/elm compatible software.

do a search on digital kaos forums, theres loads of info on obd there!!!

i aint been interested in bimmer stuff so i have no idea what'll work etc. only bit ive been into is the ibus stuff but for the webasto not the actual ibus on a car!

HI Gav,

I'm based near sunny rotherham, so if you find anything out, it'd be greatly appreciated!

will have a look over on digital kaos, funny really, only found that site t'other week ...

jt

whereabouts are you? if its not too far i could meet up with you, give me enough time to charge lappy tho cos i stuffed the dc-dc inverter t'otherday

For the EAS download the free software from www.rswsolutions.com works great.

Thanks datatek, most appreciated the EAS seems to be fine thank gawd, if a little slow to get to normal ride height.

Gav, i'm based in North Anston if you know it? a bit of a weird place with worksop telephone, sheffield postcode and rotherham education! That's very kind of you though!

Bump And wondered whether anyone else had any thoughts on talking to the diesel engine? did think of one of the Launch obd equipment, moreso the little diagnostics item which has a built in LCD but i'm usure whether this will work and don't fancy handing over £50 to find out I need something else / this won't work / etc

cheers
jt

What year is your DSE, any other problems with it apart from power, what have you checked so far?

In my opinion problems on this engine are more solved by skinned knockles than tapping keys.

Hi there,

It's a 2000, the 'ol girl has hot start issues (which i'll be resolving this week) and the battery is tired, so it's getting one of those asap (will be posting on any suggestions for appropriate one, while cost is an issue, imo, buy cheap - buy twice!)

Having not driven any others DSE's I'm not sure whether it is low on power, but it's not exactly brisk and you have to floor it to really go anywhere (at which point she does her thing, for a car weighing 2+? tonnes and with small-ish diesel engine) the concern is it tops out at around 75/80 normally and then if on cruise control it'll get upto 90 and that's it - she'll overheat at 70 if held for any real length of time. (same when towing, overheats when under any sort of load (23' caravan))

I'll start a new post as I think it'll be easier/get more views than this one.

thank's to all for your help so far - will put a new post up.

cheers,
jt

i have a 2.5 dse
on a 95 plate

towed a tariler( opps meant to say trailer) with a P38 on it stuffed full of bits on saturday

my temp needle normally sits 11 o clock
it got as high a s 12 o clock no further

and at times was hauling it on at 60 +

when i wasnt paying attention

it soon crept up from 50

no idea if mine is chipped but reckon so as the fuel computer is about 5mpg out or more

so def something wrong with yours

check radiaator has a a baffle in it for a start

serach on here re posts for that

good luck

whats a tariler?

oops

typo

i blame the lemsip

maybe i shouldn't have made it with red wine:beer2:

will edit it

it was a brian james car trailer ( lets face it u need a good trailer to tow a P38 on hey

Lemsip and red wine rum or brandy maybe, but red wine.................