Diagnostics

[shervo]

I own a self service garage. basically people come to my garage and rent my ramps and tools by the hour to do there own repairs. We are finding recently that we are being asked if we have diagnostic tools. looking for any recommendations of an overall not to pricey obd diagnostic kit.

[r3k1355]

Maybe start with a cheap code scanner and work from there?

Problem is alot of the more advanced diagnostics you need the manufacturer specific computer software to do the work, you'll spend tons of money if you want to get a range of those.

Do you get one specific make in more than any other, or is it the usual mix of stuff you'd expect??

[shervo]

normally just a range of different cars with have here. and mostly all we get asked for is service light turn offs and general code reading. so we dont need something to advanced but would like some amount of good functions on it to prevent having to buy twice.
http://www.launchtech.co.uk/enthusiast-d...ofessional was looking at this, anyone had any experience?

[ConorTRG]

Most service lights can be turned of through the dash or on board computer. If you only after something cheap enough I'd take a look at the autel scanners.

[shervo]

I know most can be turned off like that and we have auto data to show us how. But its always dissapointing to tell a customer no because we dont have diagnostics. And ok ill take a look at them now, you had experience with them?

[Ruan]

To be fair, cheapest way to be able to clear codes on the biggest variety of cars would be the Torque Pro & ELM327 Bluetooth OBD reader - can clear most faults related to Engine Management... It can't really touch any other systems.

However, for "Body Control" systems i.e. ABS, Traction Control, Dashboards, SRS etc - I don't think there's a "best" option - they tend to be extortionate and you have to buy plugins for various different vehicles...

You might be worthwhile buying something like VCDS (VAGCom) with a lead, that will be able to communicate with anything VAG past about 1995 and clear any codes from any of the body systems... Maybe the Ford equivalent (can't remember what it's called..) which isn't overly expensive and IIRC you can use a butchered ELM327 cable to communicate with the "Body Control" systems. PP2K/Lexia will allow you to communicate with pretty much anything Citroen/Peugeot. That will cover a vast quantity of cars on the road today tbh - I'd say probably close to 30-40% of cars in the UK are VAG/PSA/Ford...

[nominous]

Second that VCDS would be a very good purchase and you could list yourself on the various VAG forums as having the kit to use which would bring in custom.

Where are you ?

[Toms306]

Fancy opening a self service garage near me lol? Would love a ramp to work on for bigger jobs!

The modified ELM cable allows access to both low and high speed CAN (with a non modded ELM you can only access high or low) and works with Ford, Mazda and some others. Also still works as a standard ELM for other vehicles. There are some excellent bits of free software for it, FORScan for Fords is great.

I have a generic reader (Laser 5091), so quick, easy and portable, reads generic codes, reads live data and turns off EML on most cars with OBD2 or CAN etc. Except some cars, such as the GTi6 aren't at all OBD compatible as I found this morning. I also have VAGCOM, Pug Planet and the modded ELM so agree with Ruan there!

[shervo]

Ok thanks ruan some great info there. Im purchasing pp2k for myself personally so we got that one covered. As for the elm327 and torque pro is this one correct if so ill order now http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vie...26&alt=web

---

Second that VCDS would be a very good purchase and you could list yourself on the various VAG forums as having the kit to use which would bring in custom.

Where are you ?

we are located in Brierly hill DY5 3LB
and yeah great idea for the vag forums

---

Fancy opening a self service garage near me lol?  Would love a ramp to work on for bigger jobs!

The modified ELM cable allows access to both low and high speed CAN (with a non modded ELM you can only access high or low) and works with Ford, Mazda and some others.  Also still works as a standard ELM for other vehicles.  There are some excellent bits of free software for it, FORScan for Fords is great.

I have a generic reader (Laser 5091), so quick, easy and portable, reads generic codes, reads live data and turns off EML on most cars with OBD2 or CAN etc.  Except some cars, such as the GTi6 aren't at all OBD compatible as I found this morning.  I also have VAGCOM, Pug Planet and the modded ELM so agree with Ruan there!

haha we would love to open many self service garages providing this one takes of as expected! and were can this modified elm cable be purchased or how is it modified?

[ConorTRG]

I've a couple of autel scanners I'd use for a quick check sometimes, I'd use delphi mainly but its expensive enough. Its hard to beat a dedicated system for an exact make of car for in depth stuff, but by the sounds of what your doing I'd go for a system that covers the majority of cars. Also most of those types of systems are pretty user friendly. For example in Delphi/autocom to do a dpf regen/sensor calibration etc you just pick that option in vcds you have to go and start typing in codes etc, same to wind back the epb you use codes to do that.

Launch do a small handheld system which seems good bit small for monitoring live data though IMO.

[nominous]

we are located in Brierly hill DY5 3LB
and yeah great idea for the vag forums

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Moto...62dc6ac553

Got a website ? You should link that and some pics to the google maps. All free advertising

Too far for me sadly.

[shervo]

we are located in Brierly hill DY5 3LB
and yeah great idea for the vag forums

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Moto...62dc6ac553

Got a website ? You should link that and some pics to the google maps. All free advertising

Too far for me sadly.

we do have a website yes its
www.motorhoist.co.uk price list and link to google maps should be on the website we are doing everything half price at the moment

[Toms306]

---

Fancy opening a self service garage near me lol?  Would love a ramp to work on for bigger jobs!

The modified ELM cable allows access to both low and high speed CAN (with a non modded ELM you can only access high or low) and works with Ford, Mazda and some others.  Also still works as a standard ELM for other vehicles.  There are some excellent bits of free software for it, FORScan for Fords is great.

I have a generic reader (Laser 5091), so quick, easy and portable, reads generic codes, reads live data and turns off EML on most cars with OBD2 or CAN etc.  Except some cars, such as the GTi6 aren't at all OBD compatible as I found this morning.  I also have VAGCOM, Pug Planet and the modded ELM so agree with Ruan there!

haha we would love to open many self service garages providing this one takes of as expected! and were can this modified elm cable be purchased or how is it modified?

Excellent.

Can purchase modded ELM cables on ebay for about £15, think mine came from tunnelrat or similar.  You can mod them yourself if you're good at soldering, guides are online, but its not something I'd even bother trying when it was so cheap to buy ready done.  I can't say how long any of the cheaper cables would last given heavy use though.

[Ruan]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-OBD2-ELM32...4d1d6ab924

I've personally used the same one as that - I can guarantee it works fine with the Torque Pro app on an Android phone, which from memory is £2.95.

Won't touch complex body-control stuff, but will work with most EOBD engine management.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-USB-Modifi...2a3fb09aaa

That's the modified ELM327 that you can use with FORscan and a few others.

[shervo]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-OBD2-ELM32...4d1d6ab924

I've personally used the same one as that - I can guarantee it works fine with the Torque Pro app on an Android phone, which from memory is £2.95.

Won't touch complex body-control stuff, but will work with most EOBD engine management.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-USB-Modifi...2a3fb09aaa

That's the modified ELM327 that you can use with FORscan and a few others.

Great ruan ill get them ordered. Were can I get the software to be used with the modded elm lead? Im assuming its a windows xp based program that gets used with it?

[Ruan]

http://forscan.org/download.html



For the bluetooth one, it's £2.95 on the Google play store on Android, dunno about iPhone.

[shervo]

http://forscan.org/download.html



For the bluetooth one, it's £2.95 on the Google play store on Android, dunno about iPhone.

Thanks ruan. have you got a link to were vagcom can be purchased from?

[Midnightclub]

You can also get hold of a program called INPA which works for BMW, Mini and Rolls-royce (it's the equivilant of PP2000 etc.. dealer level diags) it uses the same cable as VAG cars.