Code reader, dongle, phone app. (1 Viewer)

[Happy Jack]

Hi everyine.
Thinking of getting a code reader/resetter.
Can go up to a couple hundred £ if necessary.
Which one would you recommend?
Also, how would a phone app and dongle make things easier?
Must admit the app/dongle thing is new to me.
Happy Jack.

 

[rod_vw]

You don't say for what base vehicle.

 

[andyman]

If you have a Fiat based M/H AlfaOBD is a good phone app. MultiECU scan is better but you need a laptop. Plenty of info on the Fiat Ducato forum.

 

[Jane And Rog]

In my recent experience, a phone app and WiFI dongle is good for very broad diagnostics (e.g. why is the engine light on) and clearing faults but if you want to really look at what's happening - in more detail that we could understand despite a lot of help - then as andyman says MultECUScan is the way to go.

If you have a PC Laptop, the software is about £79 from memory and it'll work with a cheap USB dongle.

Of course, a WiFi dongle and your phone is much more portable if you're tight on space.

 

[tonka]

I used to have a cheap sub £10 OBD reader, did its job on basic functions and got me out of a mess while in Spain.
Dont have a laptop so didnt move on to ECU Multiscan.

Last year with air bag issues I went somewhere in the middle and bought the Autel AP200 around £50 at the time. You can select 1 vehicle for more detailed scanning and fixes, which is included in the price. Other vehicles can be added. Lots of videos on youtube.

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[andyman]

In my recent experience, a phone app and WiFI dongle is good for very broad diagnostics (e.g. why is the engine light on) and clearing faults but if you want to really look at what's happening - in more detail that we could understand despite a lot of help - then as andyman says MultECUScan is the way to go.

If you have a PC Laptop, the software is about £79 from memory and it'll work with a cheap USB dongle.

Of course, a WiFi dongle and your phone is much more portable if you're tight on space.

If you use Alfaobd app and Vgate pro dongle. it goes a bit deeper than a cheap dongle and something like Torq pro. Total cost around £65.
Good thing is it allows some access for 2021 onwards Fiat's with the secure gateway. A big plus is you can reset the adblue .

 

[Happy Jack]

Think I understand all the above but what's wrong with simply using an OBD reader/resetter?
Happy Jack.

 

[Jane And Rog]

Think I understand all the above but what's wrong with simply using an OBD reader/resetter?

I haven't really surveyed the market but it felt like the main advantage was price performance - you get more functionality with SW + ODB adapter than you do with an integrated solution for the same price.

 

[andyman]

Think I understand all the above but what's wrong with simply using an OBD reader/resetter?
Happy Jack.

To give you an idea. A few weeks ago my daughters car went into limp mode. We were away. So my grandson borrowed a cheap dongle (£8 from ebay) and downloaded some free software .
It came up with a fault code that indicated over voltage in about 5 different areas. ABS, aircon, cooling system and some others.
When I got home I plugged in my dongle (£35) and used Torq pro. That showed the fault in the cooling system.
I borrowed an Autel scanner (£1000), it indicated the same fault as my dongle. But it also allowed me to run the cooling fan from the scanner. The fan failed to run so, faulty fan.
So diagnostics was easy.
The reason for over voltage is because the fan is permanently live, so when it starts the voltage will drop. Hence the over voltage fault code.

Andy

 

[Happy Jack]

To give you an idea. A few weeks ago my daughters car went into limp mode. We were away. So my grandson borrowed a cheap dongle (£8 from ebay) and downloaded some free software .
It came up with a fault code that indicated over voltage in about 5 different areas. ABS, aircon, cooling system and some others.
When I got home I plugged in my dongle (£35) and used Torq pro. That showed the fault in the cooling system.
I borrowed an Autel scanner (£1000), it indicated the same fault as my dongle. But it also allowed me to run the cooling fan from the scanner. The fan failed to run so, faulty fan.
So diagnostics was easy.
The reason for over voltage is because the fan is permanently live, so when it starts the voltage will drop. Hence the over voltage fault code.

Andy

Sounds good but I havn't got a laptop although I do have a chromebook. Will the software work on a smartphone?

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[andyman]

Sounds good but I havn't got a laptop although I do have a chromebook. Will the software work on a smartphone?

AlfaOBD works on a smart phone, just make sure you buy a decent dongle. Some don’t give full functionality with the software.

 

[the1andonly]

What software/ hardware do i need to read OBD2 Codes

This a much bigger question than first appears. If we limit it to what is a cost effective DIY solution to "read my Fiat and simple maintenance issues eg change the oil in my euro 6 or add a new MAF sensor" then the answer for me reduces to...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

AlfaOBD

Please note Alfaobd and Multiecuscan can do a lot more than simple android aps including Torque pro. Though torq could be seen as easier to use than other 2.

 

[ManTheVan]

I’ve got ABS and anti-skid lights up in our Ducato.

Just a warning that there’s an app on the Apple App Store that calls itself Alfa OBD. It’s not THE AlfaOBD, which is only available for Windows and Android. It was useless; could even connect to my Vgate dongle.

CarScanner pro didn’t pick up the fault.

MutiecuScan app did, (P0500) but I’m not sure if it’s worth paying the £60 annual license to try clearing the fault if I’m going to have to take the van to the garage anyway! I wish they did a monthly subscription instead, or at least a lifetime one.

 

[rod_vw]

I’ve got ABS and anti-skid lights up in our Ducato.

Just a warning that there’s an app on the Apple App Store that calls itself Alfa OBD. It’s not THE AlfaOBD, which is only available for Windows and Android. It was useless; could even connect to my Vgate dongle.

CarScanner pro didn’t pick up the fault.

MutiecuScan app did, (P0500) but I’m not sure if it’s worth paying the £60 annual license to try clearing the fault if I’m going to have to take the van to the garage anyway! I wish they did a monthly subscription instead, or at least a lifetime one.

My first reaction would be that you have an ABS sensor failed in one hub, quite a common occurrence I believe. A good scanner should tell you which one.

PS £60 is probably less than half an hour labour time in a dealer's workshop. But clearing the fault will probably only result in it coming back within the first mile of driving.

 

[Happy Jack]

Didnt realise there is an annual license fee for the multicuescan.
What is wrong with a normal plug in obd reader/resetter?
My thinking is that it is simply one piece of kit, and no annual fees.
Happy Jack.

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[ManTheVan]

My first reaction would be that you have an ABS sensor failed in one hub, quite a common occurrence I believe. A good scanner should tell you which one.

PS £60 is probably less than half an hour labour time in a dealer's workshop. But clearing the fault will probably only result in it coming back within the first mile of driving.

Agreed. I figure that spending £60 to tell me which wheel isn’t going to help when I have to take it to the garage for them to change it, anyway…

 

[rod_vw]

Agreed. I figure that spending £60 to tell me which wheel isn’t going to help when I have to take it to the garage for them to change it, anyway…

So you are not able to change an ABS sensor your self then or have a relative do it for you.

 

[ManTheVan]

Didnt realise there is an annual license fee for the multicuescan.
What is wrong with a normal plug in obd reader/resetter?
My thinking is that it is simply one piece of kit, and no annual fees.
Happy Jack.

‘Fraid so. The dongle needs an app to interrogate and interpret the results. Multiecuscan seems to do the trick, whereas CarScanner doesn’t, but I figure that there’s no point paying the multiecu subscription if I’m going to have to take it to the garage anyway.

 

[ManTheVan]

So you are not able to change an ABS sensor your self then or have a relative do it for you.

I haven’t done one before, but I’d give it a go if I knew how to find it, get it off and replace it, always supposing that I could get exactly the right part for my van and that it would definitely solve the issue.

It’s easy when you know how, I suppose. I’d love to fix it myself, but worried that I haven’t got the tools or sufficient knowledge not to balls the whole thing up and make it worse.

What tends to happen with me is that a bolt will be completely seized or break off, or the part is wrong, or I’m half way through and find that I need specialist tool XYZ and can’t get it, then I’m stuffed.

Is it an easy job then?

 

[pappajohn]

I bought an obd reader when i drove my chrysler 300C, in use every few days.
Cheapshit mercedes wiring unlike the original American cars.
Now ive driven a Hyundai i40 for the last 8 years i dont evwn know where it is.

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[Kannon Fodda]

According to the email's I received, the Multiecucan licence is for 1 years worth of updates. My understanding is the software as loaded onto your laptop would keep working, but without updates. So only really a problem if you changed vehicle for something newer, albeit that I'm not sure if the most recent Ducatos are fully covered by the software.

 

[ManTheVan]

According to the email's I received, the Multiecucan licence is for 1 years worth of updates. My understanding is the software as loaded onto your laptop would keep working, but without updates. So only really a problem if you changed vehicle for something newer, albeit that I'm not sure if the most recent Ducatos are fully covered by the software.

Thanks, but I’d be using the mobile app, so would need to buy the annual sub to keep the app running.

 

[the1andonly]

According to the email's I received, the Multiecucan licence is for 1 years worth of updates. My understanding is the software as loaded onto your laptop would keep working, but without updates. So only really a problem if you changed vehicle for something newer, albeit that I'm not sure if the most recent Ducatos are fully covered by the software.

Absolutely spot on my version 4.7 bought as 4.5 in 2019 is still valid and usable.. The £60 annual fee is down to apple. £120 would buy a good 2nd hand laptop on ebay. This is a popular route with apple users.