Technical how long does examiner take!?

[cw13666]

does anyone know how long it takes to just get a list of error codes from examiner?

I've phoned around fiat dealerships and they are saying it takes between and hour and 90 minutes!?

does it need to be examiner or is there anything that independent garages may be able to use?

Thanks!

 

[Argonought]

Most garages apply a min charge for using Examiner (normally either half an hour or one hour) which means it makes more sense to use it to check/diagnose many things at once rather than read simple fault codes.

If you have a laptop then you might want to read the thread in the stickies (at the top)

 

[Andymacselespeed]

Examinier fault read only takes a few minutes, as already said, its all about the money to dealers.

Are you just after fault codes? If so, any garage with a diagnostic system can read them off for you for a few quid. You only need examiner to do resetting, modification or more obscure work like selespeed transmission stuff.

 

[flyright]

please see the thread "free fiat diagnostic software" in the stilo section.
I used this s/w for diagnosing my dads stilo, it costs you a tenner for a lead from ebay and is dead easy to use. just check that your car is listed as supported..

 

[cw13666]

ah cheer guys!
it's just the codes i'm after so will just try a local and see what i can get.

Didn't even notice the sticky though! definately going to get a cable at the end of the month and have a go my self too!

 

[NumanR]

Dealers get all the cars that everyone else cant fix, just this week we had a car delivered to us by the local fiat specialist (who slags off dealers on their website) because they couldnt fix a car they had in. They delivered it to us, without the customer knowing it was coming to us, they also added a charge to our bill and told their customer they fixed it.
Not very good is it, fancy being ripped off by a specialist when the repair would be cheaper to go direct to the dealer. Examiner isnt just about fault codes its also about reading parameters and knowing if they are right or wrong, and how to fix it.

 

[T14086]

Are you just after fault codes? If so, any garage with a diagnostic system can read them off for you for a few quid.

few quid! sorry but try £20-40. My local charges £35 and thats only because i'm a ex-employee. They use snap on equipment which is just as expensive as examiner but obviously does other makes so more versatile.

Like NumanR said above they briong work to us when they are stuck and I can assure you they wont be out of pocket!

If you think examiner is only useful for resetting, modification or more obscure work(?) then you knowledge of examiner is somewhat limited.

 

[cw13666]

few quid was optimistic! Tried every local garage and were all looking for around £40!
so i've ordered my cable and will be downloading the free software

 

[dave]

even if you get something to read the codes its still only half of it understanding the codes and what can make them apear is the other more harder side of it. its not as simple as 1 code says 1 bit is broke so replacing that bit will fix it, some times other bits can make bits think they are broke so code comes up

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

few quid! sorry but try £20-40. My local charges £35 and thats only because i'm a ex-employee. They use snap on equipment which is just as expensive as examiner but obviously does other makes so more versatile.

Makes me feel like the lucky one. Open access to an Ethos Snap-on that does alot of stuff

 

[Andymacselespeed]

few quid! sorry but try £20-40. My local charges £35 and thats only because i'm a ex-employee. They use snap on equipment which is just as expensive as examiner but obviously does other makes so more versatile.

Like NumanR said above they briong work to us when they are stuck and I can assure you they wont be out of pocket!

If you think examiner is only useful for resetting, modification or more obscure work(?) then you knowledge of examiner is somewhat limited.

What I meant was the Examiner is only useful over and above other systems for resetting, modification or more obscure work that is very specific, for example calibration on the slespeed system which isnt covered by Bosch garage tools like the KTS system my garage use. Many garages carry multi purpose systems that can read fault codes off of a range of cars, you can buy pretty good systems off Flea Bay now!

On the cost front, it depends on the garage. The one that does all my servicing work, MoTs etc and which I have used for years will do the menial basic jobs like welding exhaust fixings back o, reading fault codes if a light pops on, resetting airbag light if I've hoovered under the front seat and clattered the cabling (Old Alfa GTV problem) off the books for free a lot of the time, or "for the price of few pints." if it takes longer. I assumed that most garages would do the same for regular repeat customers. Obviously the likes of Kwik Fit won't, nor would any garage for a new customer dropping in off the street for their first visit. I suppose thats why people build a trusting relationship with their prefered garage.