Technical Diagnostics check North West or cheap box?

[foggymx5]

I am having some issues with both my airbag (airbag failure message) and my climate control which I believe is a dead actuator.

Seeing as the car is new to me it would be very handy to run a diagnostics check and perhaps do some fault finding/clear some codes and the service light.

Do any Manchester/Blackpool based members fancy a meet up?
If not can anybody recommend a cheap diagnostics tool that will read faults from the edu/airbag etc and clear codes without the use of a laptop.

Cheers.

 

[Goudrons]

Unfortunately, the SRS and ABS are different ECU's and your basic scan tools just won't read them.

The basic cheap scan tools you can pick up will usually read generic P codes (P0***, P2*** and P3***'s, the P is Powertrain or Engine) that all manufacturers use these days.

Most of these now will also pick up Manufacturer specific codes (P1***'s)

Body control (B****) and Chassis (C****) like your air con and ABS require a more sophisticated (and expensive) tool.

About the cheapest "multi tool" is an Autel MD704. (704 works on Fiats)

The MD range is split 701, 702, 703, 704 each will do different manufacturer groups.

The MD802 is their combined tool and will do the job of all the others in the range.
Neither are cheap.

There are also specific tools that just read body and/or chassis, though again, there's a painful outlay.

Best bet is a independent auto diagnostic specialist rather than paying for a basic scan.

Most are mobile and for around £40 to £50 will come out and scan for you.
They'll also be able to scope sensors etc, with the likes of Oscilloscopes.
This should confirm what's needed rather than a long list of possibles that are related to most DTC's.

It should save you in the long run, faults aren't always as clear as they seem.
A sensor can report a DTC for all sorts of reasons, it's not a safe bet to suggest just because X sensor is flagging a code, it's X sensor that's duff!

 

[A3jeroen]

I'd check the Multi ECU Scan website.

gr J

 

[foggymx5]

Thanks folks,

Is it not a wise investment to spend say £100 on one to use whenever needed as opposed to pay £50 for a one off use and then perhaps need it again?

Perhaps not.

Thankyou for all the info.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Thanks folks,

Is it not a wise investment to spend say £100 on one to use whenever needed as opposed to pay £50 for a one off use and then perhaps need it again?

Perhaps not.

Thankyou for all the info.

MES is a very wise investment IMO, and you can do practically everything a main dealer can do with it then

 

[foggymx5]

Thanks folks, I have had a quick read about dongles you plug into a tablet or phone that connect to OBD2 sockets and you run an app to check error codes.

Does anybody have any experiences with these?

 

[Goudrons]

Yes I use one.
A cheap mini adaptor from Ebay for around £8.
It comes with Torque Pro for Android and some PC based software (usually cut down demo stuff)

It reads my Panda, Jag and Combo Powertrain ECU's.
But it will not do Body or Chassis, so won't connect to ABS or Air Con and the likes, just the engine.

I've not yet had a manufacturer specific code (P1***) to read so I've no idea if it will read these, but it will lift the generic P0's, P2's and P'3 that all manufacturers use on there Powertrain ECU's.