Recommend A Code Reader Please

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Neil H

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Hi, I have just purchased a 2021, Fiat Ducato based van conversion. Its a Carado 6m, euro 6 , with Ad Blue. I'm looking for something that can do some basic diagnosis and hopefully reset the engine warning light when it comes on, which seems to be a problem on these vans.

Thanks in advance for your help

Neil
 
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I use a cheap WiFi one from eBay. It was £12 with a free app for the phone.
 
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Googlebot said:
I use a cheap WiFi one from eBay. It was £12 with a free app for the phone.
Click to expand...

AUTOPHIX OBD2 Scanner Enhanced OM126P Vehicle Code Reader Auto Diagnostic Check Engine Light for All OBD II Car After 1996[Upgrade Version]​


This is the one a bought on Amazon and it certainly does the job.
 
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You need a obd2 reader that speaks Fiat there are 2 used in the diy world
Windows laptop and multiecuscan (as previously mentioned) or Alfaobd for Windows.
Android phone, tablet and alfaobd . Specific obd2 dongles are also needed as as not all talk Fiat. Gendan is a distributor for both mes and USB dongle . For Bluetooth I use a vgate from ebay seller in Porthcawl s Wales they work, cheap £10 ones do not. To use other ecus you will need a yellow adapter.
I use a win10 obdsx USB dongle and multiecuscan
Alfaobd Samsung j6 phone a8 or tabA tablet and vgate. More detail in previous threads
Generic ones will not do many of the 2 way applications eg turning lights or equipment on to show they are under control, these 2 are the only diy product that can reset the oil degradation counter. They can interogate the systems in depth eg give you the software version you are running.Buy a £10 device you get £10 of info when you want to do more there is the advice here on how to use them , almost dealer spec for £100 (MES +win laptop) to less than £60(alfa obd android device)

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cyberyacht said:
Those of us with Apple stuff will just have to hope that now't goes wrong.
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Multiecuscan now appears to be useable on apple products -

apps.apple.com

‎Multiecuscan

‎Multiecuscan is a dealer level diagnostic tool for most models of Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Lancia vehicles and also covers some models of Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and Suzuki. We also have support for some Ducati bike models. Please visit our web site for a full list of covered models. The...
apps.apple.com
 
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ontheroadagain said:
Multiecuscan now appears to be useable on apple products -

apps.apple.com

‎Multiecuscan

‎Multiecuscan is a dealer level diagnostic tool for most models of Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Lancia vehicles and also covers some models of Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and Suzuki. We also have support for some Ducati bike models. Please visit our web site for a full list of covered models. The...
apps.apple.com
Click to expand...
I know of 2 people that were apple through and through (like blackpool rock) that started off with this version but apple rules are apple rules and its £50 a year and not £50 for life for windows version. The developer is not partcularly happy with what he has to do either. so back to beggining they both bought windows laptops to purely use Multiecuscan, one a £1000 plus dinky thing and the other a £30 ebay XP machine, both work perfectly just don't connect to internet with XP.
I can only reccomend the windows version. PS as a Linux user windows is not my first choice either.
 
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the1andonly said:
Windows laptop and multiecuscan (as previously mentioned) or Alfaobd for Windows.
Android phone, tablet and alfaobd
Click to expand...
Spot on for the Ducato. I use a Veepeak mini obdII vp11 - the blue one,dongle €16.99 off Amazon. It also works great using Torque lite and Carista on our Toyota.

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It's quite possible (likely even) that on a 2021 Ducato the OBD port is read only, and can only be used to extract information, not to reset anything. This is because the van will have a 'secure gateway' buried somewhere behind the dash that locks out attempts to make changes via the OBD port. Proper Fiat kit used by a Fiat garage has the codes to send commands through the secure gateway. For a DIY mechanic, you have to find and bypass the secure gateway module if you want to do anything.

I know all of this because I tried to get a spare key cut for our 2021 van, and the gateway module stopped the tools that the locksmith used from programming the new key onto the van's systems. From a security point of view this is a bit of an improvement, since it's no longer just a case of being able to program in a new key in 30 seconds via the OBD port... A potential thief has to dismantle enough of the dash to get to the secure gateway too.

cheers,

Robin
 
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Cheers guys, that's a great help, was just about to order a code reader, but what Robin says has just put a spanner in the works ☹️
 
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Just to say that you can still read error codes even if you have the secure gateway, and that could come in handy even if you cannot clear them

Cheers. Robin
 
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For vans with a security gateway there is a cable that can be used to bypass the gateway. Think of it as the security gateway being an inline box that Fiat have put in before the normal OBD wiring. This box connects via two connectors. Break the connectors and plug in the adaptor cable and the box is then out of circuit! I spoke to Gendan (or it could have been the other one) about Multiecuscan for my new Fiat based van (when it arrives!) and they said it could be used if you had this adaptor. No idea how difficult it is to do or how deep in the wiring loom you have to go. Cable is about £25 (or cheaper on eBay).
 
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rwg said:
Just to say that you can still read error codes even if you have the secure gateway, and that could come in handy even if you cannot clear them

Cheers. Robin
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Exactly.
If you've got an error code you can read it, fix the error, and the ecu will usually clear the fault after a number of ignition on and off cycles (may be to 20 or so).
Just clearing the code without fixing the underlying fault will turn off the dashboard warning light(s) sure, but the code and lights will only come back after a few ignition cycles.

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Cheers Guys, that makes sense, hopefully I will never need it, but always handy to have it in the van just in case.
Love this forum, so helpful
Thanks again Neil
 
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I think we need a precise date for introduction of SGW, to help others.
so here's a question
2019 sgw yes or no and date on CofC if known twin egr or adblue
2020 sgw yes or no and date on CofC if known (reg may be much later) please state which.
2021 sgw yes or no and date.
Remember you can fit and forget the cable, even relocate the OBD port away from the norm and leave a BT dongle in place.
 
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I used Blue Driver on Apple and works great on my iPhone and iPad 👍🏻
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cheers Burgo, very interesting, they don't make it easy 😭

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Not tried any of the above myself but will give it a try in a couple of weeks
 
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Not tried any of the above myself but will give it a try in a couple of weeks
 
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Cheers Bernie, be interested to see how you get with it, all sounds very complicated to me

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berni109 said:
This from the guy selling dongles on Ebay.

Vgate icar pro wont work! with alfaobd
(Although the1andonly has it working on his 2018 2.3)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/22319540...d=link&campid=5338547443&toolid=20001&mkevt=1

should work fine. I don't know if you need any coloured cables
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I even bought a spare from him, so definitely works on mine with Both Multiecuscan and alfa obd. Both also work with the OBDlink SX usb cable. To access certain ecus you will need the Yellow adapter. Any more info on needing a SGW cable
 
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the1andonly said:
I think we need a precise date for introduction of SGW, to help others.
so here's a question
2019 sgw yes or no and date on CofC if known twin egr or adblue
2020 sgw yes or no and date on CofC if known (reg may be much later) please state which.
2021 sgw yes or no and date.
Remember you can fit and forget the cable, even relocate the OBD port away from the norm and leave a BT dongle in place.
Click to expand...

I've just done an oil change on my 2019 Peugeot Boxer and am struggling with getting a definitive answer on whether the Boxer has a Security Gateway Module (SGW) fitted. In theory it should have as all/most? Fiat Chryler Automotive (FCA) vehicles post 2018 should have one fitted. However whether this includes the Ducato and hence the Citroen Relay and Peugeot Boxer vehicles is not clear and despite intensive Google searches I've drawn a blank. Apparently the dealer software connects to Fiat's servers to provide a one time session code enabling the dealer software to get past the SGW. According to my local dealer the Peugeot dealer software connects automatically suggesting the session code is communicated in the background. He also said that he believed the third party software wouldn't be able to do the oil reset procedure, including Snap-on, though I understand Snap-on either have, or have agreed a solution with FCA. If the SGW exists then it should be possible to get round it using a SGW bypass module such as that sold by Gendan in the UK, amongst others.

I have alfaobd software running on Android connected via Bluetooth to an OBDLink MX+ which I've used successfully previously to alter TPMS values. Using Alfaobd there is a function 'Connect Requested to Security Gateway Module' This operation fails with a message 'Interface Message: No Data'. This could mean that it's not getting the data it needs from FCA's servers or it could mean that there is no data because there is no SGW! I've removed the lower dash panels on the driver and passenger side and can see no evidence of the SGW. Alfaobd seems to connect to the engine ECU but once connected you can't actually do anything. There is an 'Oil Change' procedure which sounds promising but this fails too.

I know that I can remove the warning light on the dash by keeping the brake pedal pressed whilst switching on the ignition but this is only half the story. To do the job properly means re-setting the oil degradation parameters in the engine ECU.

As per the quote above, does anyone have any definitive information about whether Ducatos, Boxers and Relays post 2018 have a SGW? (and if so where is it located?) Also has anyone successfuly used alfaobd (or MES on a post 2018 Ducato) to reset the oil change parameters?
 
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I just use a cheap ELM327 bluetooth one I bought off ebay for around £8 and Torque (lite).
If it requires anything more than that then the van is off to the local mechanic.

I just did a quick search and this one looks like the one I bought years ago and still works fine.

The 2nd one down or "ELM327 Bluetooth OBD2 OBDII"
www.ebay.co.uk

LM327 WiFi Bluetooth OBD2 OBDII Car Diagnostic Scanner Code Reader ATF | eBay

ELM327 USB V1.5 OBD2. OBDII Protocols:ISO15765-4 (CAN), ISO14230-4 (KWP2000), ISO9141-2 ,J1850 VPW, J1850 PWM. Read diagnostic trouble codes, both generic and manufacturer-specific. ELM327 Bluetooth OBD2 OBDII.
www.ebay.co.uk
 
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Gromett said:
I just use a cheap ELM327 bluetooth one I bought off ebay for around £8 and Torque (lite).
If it requires anything more than that then the van is off to the local mechanic.

I just did a quick search and this one looks like the one I bought years ago and still works fine.

The 2nd one down or "ELM327 Bluetooth OBD2 OBDII"
www.ebay.co.uk

LM327 WiFi Bluetooth OBD2 OBDII Car Diagnostic Scanner Code Reader ATF | eBay

ELM327 USB V1.5 OBD2. OBDII Protocols:ISO15765-4 (CAN), ISO14230-4 (KWP2000), ISO9141-2 ,J1850 VPW, J1850 PWM. Read diagnostic trouble codes, both generic and manufacturer-specific. ELM327 Bluetooth OBD2 OBDII.
www.ebay.co.uk
Click to expand...

I am a total coward around ECU issues. I'd be terrified of sodding everything up.
 
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DDJC said:
I am a total coward around ECU issues. I'd be terrified of sodding everything up.
Click to expand...
I was answering Neil H question. Reading data/codes should not have many if any risks. I do it without a second thought.
 
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