Diagnostic machine.

mrscb

I have been asked to find a car diagnostic machine:rolleyes:
A fairly easy to use one to find basic faults and knock dashboard lights off(not one of the dead expensive ones that garages use!!!)
Any ideas gratefully accepted:beer:

pitkin2020

for what car?? what age??
They will vary there are a few universal ones but they tend not to be very good and are still pricey £100+

mrscb

Sorry should have said a universal one..

pitkin2020

argos do a universal one, RAC one i think, again even though they are universal they arent guarenteed to work with every make, ebay always has a few too and maybe you could try halfrauds, they maybe able to point you in the driection of the best one to get then you go and get it somewhere cheaper

EdGasket

Try the Geniscan range. I got mine on eBay from the US for around £35; it's a Geniscan 300. It does my nephew's Rover 45 1.8 but not my Hyundai Lantra. It really depends what car you want to use it on; then check the device you plan to buy will work with it. Post 2001 cars should be ODB2 compatible but the manufacturers make it as difficult as legally possible to read with cheap readers so you are locked into using the dealer. It's a bit like unlocking phones !

jonathon

EdGasket wrote: »

Try the Geniscan range. I got mine on eBay from the US for around £35; it's a Geniscan 300. It does my nephew's Rover 45 1.8 but not my Hyundai Lantra. It really depends what car you want to use it on; then check the device you plan to buy will work with it. Post 2001 cars should be ODB2 compatible but the manufacturers make it as difficult as legally possible to read with cheap readers so you are locked into using the dealer. It's a bit like unlocking phones !

yep thats the one i have great bit of kit works ok on my focus.

mrscb

pitkin2020 wrote: »

argos do a universal one, RAC one i think, again even though they are universal they arent guarenteed to work with every make, ebay always has a few too and maybe you could try halfrauds, they maybe able to point you in the driection of the best one to get then you go and get it somewhere cheaper

Was that a slip of the fingers or are there bad experiences:p

Pete*G_4

right, before you listen to any of the above posters there's some things you need to know.

The "universal" scanners work on what is known as OBD2 & EOBD protocols. It's an international standard wheeled out to ensure everyone uses the same codes etc. HOWEVER - this is only compulsory on newer cars. What age is your car, and what fuel? EOBD & OBD2 were only wheeled out around 2003 in Petrol cars, and 2004 in diesels, despite many scanner claiming to be for all cars 2001 onwards. Vauxhalls for example, have to be 'Y' prefix engine codes, i.e. Petrol from 52 plate onwards, or diesel from 53.

With a bit more info, I'll find you the cheapest & best option if you like

mrscb

OH deals in cars and has moved a bit further from his mechanic so could be any car really(its basically to save time if things are an easy fix that he may be able to do himself) may be especially useful for the part exes though:rolleyes:

Pete*G_4

ok. well steer clear of the Argos/RAC jobbies, they're just a "branded" universal scanner as found on ebay at a fraction of the price.

If it's for part of a business, you shouldn't be looking for the cheapest fix - by all means look for an option that's cheap, but only for what it is not what it claims to be.

I have one of these in the front of my Astra, acts as a trip computer and various gauges as well so would be a handy tool to check out possible part-ex's with. oh and is easily transferable from vehicle to vehicle - http://www.scangauge.net/

If you want something more than just a code reader, your best bet is to pick up a cheap generic USB-OBD cable like this one - click - and then look for the appropriate software for the type of car in question at the time. Software like OP-COM (Vauxhalls & Opels) & VAG-COM (Audi/VW/Seat/Skoda) will control nearly ALL the engine management, including resetting airbag lights, adding coded keys etc that a code reader will not do. You can buy copies of this software for £20-£30 each, and you'll only need 3-4 pieces of software to cover most maor car brands, but for a business that should be covered by the profit on the first car you fix & sell after using it. if you're interested in finding out more then PM me as although it's widely available on eBay, it's not strictly... um... ethical