jpr1977
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 656
Club RR Member Number: 18
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Have to agree that if doing anything on BMW's INPA is the best bet. Sorted lots of annoying little issues for me.
What bluetooth units compatable with Iphone/IOS are people using, the daily dirty diesel Civic is having intermittent throttle issues so I'd like to have something that can live data log.
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Nov 19, 2017 23:44:23 GMT
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just found a quick promo video of the £30 BMW C110 scanner I got last week (not from this seller), I worked out the basics myself but the video might be useful info for anyone who hasn't used one before www.diagnostic-world.com/pages/bmw_e90_e91_e92_e93_abs_sensor_diagnose_guide_230612.cfmThe example in the video shows one of the problems I was trying to fix I thought one of the 4 wheel sensors was faulty or the ABS pump - the scanner tells you exactly where the fault is ( ... then £££ )
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,194
Club RR Member Number: 170
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All this hi-tech stuff is great, but old-school still has it's place I've been getting various warning lights on a modern'ish BMW, last week it stalled and refused to crank on the starter. A few days ago I got a neat £30 BMW-specific code reader which identified a faulty sensor. spec : blog.eobdtool.co.uk/how-to-read-bmw-fault-codes-with-c110-code-reader/ The sensor was replaced (BMW-dealer-only ££££ ), everything looked ok but the car still wouldn't start. I spent a few days checking the battery cables and tracing the starter circuit but couldn't find a problem. Eventually resorted to removing the starter (after having to remove a lot of the wiring / pipes / manifilds for access ), and found the starter is tiny, light, and totally dead. A new starter motor and it's working fine. The code reader is great and very good value, but the non-starting fault was eventually traced using a £5 multimeter It all comes down to how the equipment is used and how the faults are interpreted.
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Nov 20, 2017 11:20:21 GMT
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^ Exactly right. In my case the facts were it refused to crank over, and the problem started at the same time I got a new warning light that diagnostics said was a failed sensor I didn't know if the car had gone into fail-safe mode and was refusing to start because of the failed sensor Google couldn't tell me, and the BMW forums gave me about a dozen likely causes which just added to the uncertainty Every day's a school day
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Nov 27, 2017 13:24:34 GMT
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I've got two OBD readers, one is a bluetooth one that lives in my Volvo C30 and one is a plugin one for the Subaru Impreza. They have been super useful both of them. Originally got one because the engine warning light came on in the Subaru and I wanted to find out why before spending money on it. Turns out it was an exhaust sensor being a bit silly. Both of mine were under £20. Oh yeah and the Bluetooth one I use Torque(lite) on my phone. The plug in one I have software for on my laptop which I can't remember the name of :/ Is your Subaru a classic Impreza by any chance HoTWire? If so, I'd be interested to know the reader you use. I woke my 1998 Impreza from a 6 month sleep yesterday and have both the Check Engine and ABS warnings on - it'd be nice to know if I can get a reader to tell me why.
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Nov 27, 2017 14:02:19 GMT
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Is your Subaru a classic Impreza by any chance HoTWire? If so, I'd be interested to know the reader you use. I woke my 1998 Impreza from a 6 month sleep yesterday and have both the Check Engine and ABS warnings on - it'd be nice to know if I can get a reader to tell me why. It is a bugeye one, but I don't think they vary much, I use this : sourceforge.net/projects/freessm.berlios/ ... has to be installed on a laptop (my Subaru is the wired one not the bluetooth one )
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Nov 27, 2017 21:31:16 GMT
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Many thanks
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I can't offer comparisons as I've only got one : iCarsoft OB2 i902 for Opels. Available for your preferred marque I've got a few different 90s Opels and this thing is compatible with vehicles from '97 on. €120 and it covers all the systems. Well built, simple to use and long guarantee. Does the job. Interesting... Ever tried it on an Omega? I use a cheapy ELM and Torque app... But it only does engine as far as I can work out, useful but I want more!
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düdo
Part of things
wide as house
Posts: 770
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Last Edit: Dec 9, 2017 9:54:13 GMT by düdo
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düdo
Part of things
wide as house
Posts: 770
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I can't offer comparisons as I've only got one : iCarsoft OB2 i902 for Opels. Available for your preferred marque I've got a few different 90s Opels and this thing is compatible with vehicles from '97 on. €120 and it covers all the systems. Well built, simple to use and long guarantee. Does the job. Interesting... Ever tried it on an Omega? I use a cheapy ELM and Torque app... But it only does engine as far as I can work out, useful but I want more! I've used it mostly for my Sintra which throws codes for fun - it's got the same 3.0 V6 as the Omega but I've never tried it on an Omega but I'm sure it's the same. Also used on the wife's Tigra - but not recently - no problems for a year after initial engine swap. When it's lying in the drawer unused that's the best scenario - means everything's working ( or broken on stands like the Sintra).
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Last Edit: Dec 9, 2017 9:33:53 GMT by düdo
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alecf
Part of things
Posts: 424
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Dec 10, 2017 12:13:42 GMT
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I've got one of the cheap vcds copy leads and it works fine on anything pre can bus. Which is fine for my 1.8t engine.
I've also got a.copy delphi had it a few years now. Once I figured out how to use it,it's been brilliant. Live data faults coding etc. It's payed for itself over and over. Can test individual components by captivating them such as throttle body fuel pump ,injectors etc. We changed the brake discs and pads on my mates 15 plate 3 series. It had a warning light on for low pads. Swapped the pads discs and sensor. Couldn't turn the light of via the dash control centre,pathetic mate plugged in his snap on solus and that couldn't do it as he hadn't had it updated (stupid money) Plugged the £50 delphi in and boom sorted. So for the money I can't fault it
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Dec 10, 2017 12:27:40 GMT
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^ Exactly right. In my case the facts were it refused to crank over, and the problem started at the same time I got a new warning light that diagnostics said was a failed sensor I didn't know if the car had gone into fail-safe mode and was refusing to start because of the failed sensor Google couldn't tell me, and the BMW forums gave me about a dozen likely causes which just added to the uncertainty Every day's a school day So true. I had this with my arosa not starting - scanned it and it told me various sensors had failed which I replaced. Still no good - grudgingly dragged it the dealer who simply said the same things but also couldn't fix it. Gave up and sold it as spares. Found out from the guy I sold it to afterwards that it was to do with the new power I ran to the speedo sensor (previous one had given up). I'd had it like this for months without a problem - but when the original feed started intermittently started working everything got confused. Like you said - you live and learn!
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Dec 16, 2017 20:09:27 GMT
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I bought a cheapy Autel one, only for engine codes in the event of EML lights. Ultimately its already paid for itself, I might upgrade to a more comprehensive unit at a later date.
Depends on what you want it to do, and how much money you can spend?
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2014 - Audi A6 Avant 3.0Tdi Quattro 1958 - Chevrolet Apache Panel Truck 1959 - Plymouth Custom Suburban 1952 - Chevrolet 2dr Hardtop 1985 - Ford Econoline E350 Quadravan 2009 - Ovlov V70 2.5T 1970 - Cortina Mk2 Estate 2007 - Fiat Ducato LWB 120Multijet 2014 - Honda Civic 2.2 CTDi ES
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Dec 16, 2017 21:02:49 GMT
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The cheap KKL vagcom leads work but I'd recommend getting one with a genuine FTDI chip in it instead of a clone and pay a bit more for it. I have both clone and genuine chipped leads, both work fine with vcds lite but only the genuine one works for dumping eeprom off ecu using vag commander.
They only work with VCDS lite as that is the version for 3rd party leads and you need to set up com ports etc for them to work same as any usb lead tbh.
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