Printable Version | Subscribe | Add to Favourites
New Topic New Poll New Reply
Author: Subject: Free OBD software?
contaminated

posted on 14/6/12 at 02:25 PM Reply With Quote
Free OBD software?

Chaps

I have a dashboard light lit up on a 2007 Mini Cooper (R56). This light is to do with emissions and potential damage to the cat. In reality it's highly likely to be a sensor (possibly the lamda sensor). Rather than change them all out or take it to a garage I'd like to try and diagnose it myself. I could buy a code reader, but a friend has an OBD 2 cable I could use (I think). With this in mind there appear to be a few freeware bits of software that are capable of reading codes and resetting them. Do you think it's worth me having a go and does anyone have and words of wisdom of knowledge of any free software? I don't want to mess the ECU up but I'm quite interested to have a go.

thanks

Dan





Tiger Super Six Independent
www.southernkitcars.com

View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member
MikeRJ

posted on 14/6/12 at 02:59 PM Reply With Quote
If you friends cable is the simple VAGCOM type interface (i.e. for VAG group cars) then it will not work on a Mini. If it's some other type of interface, then you need to be sure that whatever software you want to use supports it.
View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
contaminated

posted on 14/6/12 at 03:01 PM Reply With Quote
I believe it is VAG cable - it was for use on his Seat. Answers my question I think then. Thanks.





Tiger Super Six Independent
www.southernkitcars.com

View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member
contaminated

posted on 14/6/12 at 03:07 PM Reply With Quote
Slightly redundant thread actually. I remembered a mate who does my MOTs. He's going to plug it in next week if some decent fuel doesn't clear it over the weekend.





Tiger Super Six Independent
www.southernkitcars.com

View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member
britishtrident

posted on 14/6/12 at 03:30 PM Reply With Quote
Really not a good idea to run around with the EML on it could up costing you both cats, especially as the clone dongles only cost a few Jensons complete with software on ebay,, just Ebay on OBD.





[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
contaminated

posted on 14/6/12 at 03:36 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
Really not a good idea to run around with the EML on it could up costing you both cats, especially as the clone dongles only cost a few Jensons complete with software on ebay,, just Ebay on OBD.


I would agree with you, although several people I've spoken to seem to think this is quite common on Minis and could be down to a dodgy batch of fuel. I will just put some decent fuel in it and take to the garage to check i think.





Tiger Super Six Independent
www.southernkitcars.com

View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member
britishtrident

posted on 14/6/12 at 07:41 PM Reply With Quote
Misfires can turn cats into rubble with a single backfire if you are sure the problem is water in the petrol stick some Dry Fuel additive in the tank , but modern engines don't take well to diagnosis by lottery OBD2 isn't perfect but it gives a lot more clues. This forum has a way above average spectrum of knowledge I don't know the MINI forum some other forums out there have a fair big quota of dubious advice. If you have rough running or misfire under acceleration then the old firm of Coil Pack, Plug Leads and Spark plugs are the main suspects.





[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member

New Topic New Poll New Reply


go to top






Website design and SEO by Studio Montage

All content © 2001-16 LocostBuilders. Reproduction prohibited
Opinions expressed in public posts are those of the author and do not necessarily represent
the views of other users or any member of the LocostBuilders team.
Running XMB 1.8 Partagium [© 2002 XMB Group] on Apache under CentOS Linux
Founded, built and operated by ChrisW.