saddler Posted April 17, 2017 Report Share Posted April 17, 2017 Engine amber light of doom has appeared, a.k.a., "report to the nearest stealership!" Having edumacated myself on YouTube for the past year or so, courtesy of a Canadian chap (BOLTR a.k.a AVE)....I'm aware of the existence of OBD II units. Question is: Are any OBD II units more worthy of £££ investment than others? I've seen a few online for £10 or so. Any recommendations, or ones to avoid? Looking forward to plugging her in & flexing the digits...but only the tip & just for a minute! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaconBoy Posted April 17, 2017 Report Share Posted April 17, 2017 Used a cheap one off the bay just to find out a couple of probs on a car,it done the job and deleted the light on the dash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cromwell7 Posted April 17, 2017 Report Share Posted April 17, 2017 I have an autel one and it's been good for the money I paid for it. It has found faults but not pinpointed them, for example on my e91 it told me what cylinder was misfiring but not why. Not sure if more expensive units will give you the exact cause but I have saved myself and mates some money using one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted April 17, 2017 Report Share Posted April 17, 2017 Bought one for about £30 a year ago, its been most useful considering some garages charge 25 to 40 quid just to plug thiers in and tell you a new oxygen sensor or something like that is needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted April 20, 2017 Report Share Posted April 20, 2017 The simpler ones will give you a code number, The better ones will give you a code and suggest a list of possible faults, The better, more complex, more expensive ones, will help you narrow down the fault. With certain faults they can be triggered by a minor blip in the electrics that trips a light and stores a reported fault code, Sometimes a simple reset is all that's needed, until it's tripped again or it trips regularly/repeatedly then it's time for action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rewulf Posted April 20, 2017 Report Share Posted April 20, 2017 Been using a smartphone app called torque for a good few years now, its about a fiver off the android playstore. Couple it up with a bluetooth OBD interface at a tenner, and you have a very powerful diagnostic tool. Obviously it wont go too deep, but its done some very surprising things, read key faults, clears all kinds of codes, and gets regular support /updates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddler Posted April 20, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2017 Been using a smartphone app called torque for a good few years now, its about a fiver off the android playstore. Couple it up with a bluetooth OBD interface at a tenner, and you have a very powerful diagnostic tool. Obviously it wont go too deep, but its done some very surprising things, read key faults, clears all kinds of codes, and gets regular support /updates. Yea, been seeing a few of the Bluetooth type plug in units on the web. May try one of these as they seem to be more user friendly & have a better interface design than an lcd type reader which provides fault codes. Actually cleared the light earlier today (disconnected the battery for 10 mins) but still want to grsb an OBD device for possible future issues. Not a big outlay considering the peace of mind & stealership savings they provide. A wierd gizmo that pays for itself the first time you need it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendrix's rifle Posted April 21, 2017 Report Share Posted April 21, 2017 Been using a smartphone app called torque for a good few years now, its about a fiver off the android playstore. Couple it up with a bluetooth OBD interface at a tenner, and you have a very powerful diagnostic tool. Obviously it wont go too deep, but its done some very surprising things, read key faults, clears all kinds of codes, and gets regular support /updates. That's what I've used, think there's a new torque app out now though. I'd rate it for a tenner in total Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted April 21, 2017 Report Share Posted April 21, 2017 The phone app and Bluetooth obd plug is Super Skookum for when she lets the shmoo out. Keep your stick on the ice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddler Posted April 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2017 The phone app and Bluetooth obd plug is Super Skookum for when she lets the shmoo out. Keep your stick on the ice. Ah...another viewer of the vij-ey-oes! Ordered a Bluetooth unit for under £4 delivered & will use the free copy of torque for initial R&D. Repeat after me "A grinder & paint makes me the welder I ain't" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted April 22, 2017 Report Share Posted April 22, 2017 (edited) Did you get on the confuser to order it? Ha ha one of the funniest most intelligent blokes on the net full post hole diggered up. Just the tip mind you and only for a minute. Now I'm off to finish my favourite libation. Most of his saying would have the swear filter going nuts. Did you watch the vi je yo of him making a mains powered personal massager battery powered? My wife thought something was wrong with me laughing all the time. Got to watch them pixies. Edited April 22, 2017 by figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddler Posted April 22, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2017 Ordered on the confuser, put the magic dickbeaters to work. May have to link in some of his vid jey oes onto here. Did you get your lady wife a bikini line trimmer for her powder room/paint booth? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted April 23, 2017 Report Share Posted April 23, 2017 Yep but went for big boy petrol powered version that will chooch a mature hedgerow. Even the mrs is saying son of a diddly engage the safety squints. Put a link to a few. I think most on here will like him. Do you watch the Samurai Carpenter and Alec Steele. I think ditchy on here could be Colin Furze. Don't let the smoke out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted April 23, 2017 Report Share Posted April 23, 2017 Ah...another viewer of the vij-ey-oes! Ordered a Bluetooth unit for under £4 delivered & will use the free copy of torque for initial R&D £4! Does it only work with android? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrowningB525 Posted April 23, 2017 Report Share Posted April 23, 2017 £4! Does it only work with android? You need a wifi one for an iPhone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddler Posted April 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2017 The £4 (or mid £3 really) unit is Bluetooth based. Plugs into the socket on the car dash & interfaces with your chosen OBD software download. Seems to favour Android based programs. Some are free download for the basic version of the package. The Ipod options are different, as stated above...but still cheap enough to make getting one a no brainer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schmitty Posted April 24, 2017 Report Share Posted April 24, 2017 I have a £4 bluetooth OBDII unit that works with my windows phone but I tend to wander outside with the laptop and connect with that via bluetooth instead. There are several free apps for the laptop which allow engine and sensor monitoring, code reading and resetting and is altogether easier to read than a phone app. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddler Posted April 24, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2017 (edited) She's choochin.... Partial success to start with. ...due to phone Bluetooth not being open to non-paired devices. Soon as that was sorted it started flashing up the data. Got a code error PO171 System too lean . Bank 1. Made a note then told it to kill the warning light. Light now but a distant memory... Treated her to a fivers worth of go juice to celebrate. Hang the expense! Will see what size hammer I'll need to make 'er keep the smoke IN... Total outlay to diagnose the orange report to the stealership for urgent wallet lightening: about 3.89 Scottish pesos. Every home should have one! Aside from the error code diagnostic it also has speedo readings, vacuum settings, all sorts of data that only a oilly rag sniffer would know to ask about. Edited April 24, 2017 by saddler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gustaff Posted April 25, 2017 Report Share Posted April 25, 2017 She's choochin.... Partial success to start with. ...due to phone Bluetooth not being open to non-paired devices. Soon as that was sorted it started flashing up the data. Got a code error PO171 System too lean . Bank 1. Made a note then told it to kill the warning light. Light now but a distant memory... Treated her to a fivers worth of go juice to celebrate. Hang the expense! Will see what size hammer I'll need to make 'er keep the smoke IN... Total outlay to diagnose the orange report to the stealership for urgent wallet lightening: about 3.89 Scottish pesos. Every home should have one! Aside from the error code diagnostic it also has speedo readings, vacuum settings, all sorts of data that only a oilly rag sniffer would know to ask about. p0171 fault code erased but fault stil there till lambda sensor goes out of range and logs fault puts eml light on. no fault with sensor air leak on induction side split breather bad injector a whole host of faults can create this fault code 30 quid code reader wont give live data just switches light off then valves burn out or other faults cumulate in time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddler Posted April 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2017 p0171 fault code erased but fault stil there till lambda sensor goes out of range and logs fault puts eml light on. no fault with sensor air leak on induction side split breather bad injector a whole host of faults can create this fault code 30 quid code reader wont give live data just switches light off then valves burn out or other faults cumulate in time Not JUST got it to turn off the light. Will be replacing/cleaning MAF etc. & checking for air leaks, fuel line issues & the like. Unit was a touch over £3, nowhere near £30. AND it DOES give live data. Other than that, you're spot on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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