Code reader, dongle, phone app.

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Happy Jack

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Just looking
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.

2024 Autel MaxiAP AP200 Bluetooth OBD2 Code Reader with Full Systems Diagnoses

Autel AP200, as an innovative Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, equipped with its own App -"Maxi AP200", complete OBD2 functions, along with various reset services (Oil/ EPB/ BMS/ SAS Resets, DPF Regeneration etc.), is a compact option for family DIYers to troubleshoot vehicle's issues in no time.
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Jane And Rog said:
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.
Click to expand...
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 .
 
Think I understand all the above but what's wrong with simply using an OBD reader/resetter?
Happy Jack.
 
Happy Jack said:
Think I understand all the above but what's wrong with simply using an OBD reader/resetter?
Click to expand...
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.
 
Happy Jack said:
Think I understand all the above but what's wrong with simply using an OBD reader/resetter?
Happy Jack.
Click to expand...
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
 
andyman said:
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
Click to expand...
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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Happy Jack said:
Sounds good but I havn't got a laptop although I do have a chromebook. Will the software work on a smartphone?
Click to expand...
AlfaOBD works on a smart phone, just make sure you buy a decent dongle. Some don’t give full functionality with the software.
 
www.motorhomefun.co.uk

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 www.motorhomefun.co.uk
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.
 
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.
 
ManTheVan said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.
 
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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rod_vw said:
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.
Click to expand...
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…
 
Happy Jack said:
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.
Click to expand...
‘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.
 
rod_vw said:
So you are not able to change an ABS sensor your self then or have a relative do it for you.
Click to expand...
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?
 
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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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.
 
Kannon Fodda said:
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.
Click to expand...
Thanks, but I’d be using the mobile app, so would need to buy the annual sub to keep the app running.
 
Kannon Fodda said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.
 
What would folk recommend for a Peugeot boxer based Bailey. 2017 2.0 HDI 160hp please ?

Something that would interrogate faults a bit further than a cheap scanner. Be able to rest TPMS values etc.

I have just had an issue that came up as a low pressure on the pump identified as the adblue fault.

But further investigation has lead to the sub code ide rogues the eolys tank feed pump into the diesel tank being low pressure.so nothing to do with the adblue.

My thinking is to get a higher end reader.
 
My understanding of code reading on PSA is that there are different approaches required for different engines, alfaobd is approropriate for one engine type but i dont know which. Try the developer. there are other chinnese clones for other engines. Forscan is appropriate for the ford engined versions.

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