Diagnostics

[mike020150]

There are now lots of ads for diagnostic interface leads appearing on eBay and other sites. Typically, they cost as little as £3 (plus postage from China/HK) and they come with software to install on the laptop to which the lead attaches. The analysis provided is fairly basic but in these all electronic days and at these prices, it's a lot better than nothing at all! So, I now possess an ELM 327 interface lead which I used recently for the first time. After some initial set-up difficulty, I managed to get the software to talk with the new lead and the engine ECU. Since I was not looking to solve a specific fault I was pleased to uncover a P1111* code which meant the car hadn't registered any fault codes since last time the memory had been cleared. For anyone curious about diagnostic codes in general or looking to understand an engine problem, I'd recommend buying one of these leads. Having this information is not a substitute for a proper diagnostic system operated by an experienced technician but it is interesting and may help confirm some simpler faults. Mike.

[jagtech]

Hi Mike
Do you know if this lead will work for other manufacturers or are there other leads available???

[bt965]

Hi, I bought the same thing couple of weeks ago due to "gearbox fault" light coming on, it retrieved fault code no problem which on cross refrence could be any of 4 faults, anyway ran through all the checks and came to conclusion that box is bo**oxed (why no fault code just saying that? save a lot of hassle). I digress, tried the elm device on Rover 75 , Renaut megane, Peugeot summat 0 summat and an 06 Transit van. The only one it wouldn,t communicate with was the Transit. for the price its a fantastic bit of kit. Mine came with lots of software, a lot of it useless unless you posess a German car.

[mike020150]

As bt965 says, the 'Jaguar' lead works for quite a few cars and there are other variants available too. There is a useful link from the eBay adverts to a list of vehicles/models and their OBD protocols. From this info it's possible to deduce with which vehicles the lead will work. Mike.

[Mark666Ask]

Hi, does this lead and software work on the early XK8's? I've heard that the ODB standard was not implemented util sometime in 97 and (assuming this is correct) how can I tell if it will work with mine.
Rgds Mark

[bt965]

mines one of the first,02945, works o.k

[bt965]

Just to expand. All cars built or imported into the states from 1996 were required to have OBD with the connection socket situated for easy access

[MarkyM]

BT965

I think it was OBDII from 96 for the US market which is vastly superior to standard OBD. 96 UK XK8's have OBD, 96 US XK8's had OBDII.

Mark

[Bassman]

Just to expand. All cars built or imported into the states from 1996 were required to have OBD with the connection socket situated for easy access
But not all cars exported from the USA had OBD II from '96 I also have a '97 build Ford Probe V6 made in USA which is OBD I as all UK versions are, yet all domestic to USA Probes from '96 were OBD II compliant weird eh?

[Mark666Ask]

Thanks for the replies, think I'll buy myself one for Xmas.

Rgds, Mark

[bt965]

Typical!! The Yanks get the best equipment....... but they still can,t build a decent car !!!!

[Bassman]

Typical!! The Yanks get the best equipment....... but they still can,t build a decent car !!!!

If that is suggesting that the Probe isn't a decent car then you plainly never owned one, I have had 2 over the last 8 years and around 50,000 miles and in all that time had 1 very minor breakdown and apart from consumables like tyres, brakes, exhaust had no expense whatsoever on either car, neither car ever failed and MoT either, which TBH is far more than I can say for the XK which aside from costing me 4x as much to buy has cost me way more in repairs over a 2 year ownership period, don't get me wrong I love my Jag but if judged on reliability and running costs/problems the Probe wins hands down