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Elm327 obd recommendation
steve8274 - 27/8/13 at 04:56 PM

Hi all
I have a mk4 mondeo diesel and the air con has stopped working. On checking the net, it appears there maybe problem with switch wire. Seems a pain to do but people have said if you get a elm327 obd scanner, then this can be confirmed. Error code po691
Have checked on eBay, there appears to be hundreds of them at a very reasonable price. Are these any good? Do they work? Can anyone recommend one that will work.
Thanks
Steve

big_wasa - 27/8/13 at 05:44 PM

Some of the early ones where dodgy but I've bought a couple that advertise they work with "Torque" and they have been great.

stevebubs - 27/8/13 at 07:06 PM

I bought item 261257369925 a few weeks ago... Works fine on my mk3 Mondeo and my F10 Beemer..using torque on android device

steve8274 - 27/8/13 at 08:02 PM

Thanks for responses. Think I will give one a try. Found one on amazon too.
@ Adrian if they don't happen to work, then I will get in touch if that's ok
Thanks
Steve

britishtrident - 27/8/13 at 08:18 PM

These clones do work up to a point but no matter what the ads claim they are not ELM327, they actually sell for less than the bulk cost of the real ELM327 chip.

The Elm 327 uses a custom made chip but these clones use a much cheaper general purpose chip, and the quality of these devices is very variable and the communication rate will be slower than with a genuine EL327.
Torque software generally works with these chips but will flag them up as a "Faulty Adaptor".

If you plan to use one with an Android phone need to get get a Bluetooth one, iPhones need a WiFi.
The WiFi ones won't work with Android phone unless the phone is Rooted, also the WiFi ones are fixed to a 192.168.0.10 IP address and WiFi channel 1.
If using one with a Laptop the USB ones are the best bet.

You should also consider an Autel hand held scanner.

steve8274 - 27/8/13 at 09:01 PM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
You should also consider an Autel hand held scanner.


Is the ms309 any good? Reasonably priced it seems

britishtrident - 27/8/13 at 09:24 PM

quote:
Originally posted by steve8274
quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
You should also consider an Autel hand held scanner.


Is the ms309 any good? Reasonably priced it seems


Any genuine Autel is good, however ISTR the MS 309 has been discontinued and replaced by the AL319 --- and most of the MS309 now for sale are clones.

woolly - 28/8/13 at 09:27 PM

Thought torque etc. Only did engine codes any different please tell me more

britishtrident - 28/8/13 at 10:18 PM

quote:
Originally posted by woolly
Thought torque etc. Only did engine codes any different please tell me more


I am pretty sure P0691 (nb PZero691 not Po691) is generic ISO/SAE Power train code ---- P numbers up to 999 are generally generic P numbers 1000 upwards are generally manufacturer specific.

stevebubs - 29/8/13 at 12:20 AM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
Torque software generally works with these chips but will flag them up as a "Faulty Adaptor".


Not seen that on mine in my (limited) testing...

britishtrident - 29/8/13 at 06:44 AM

quote:
Originally posted by stevebubs
quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
Torque software generally works with these chips but will flag them up as a "Faulty Adaptor".


Not seen that on mine in my (limited) testing...



In torque go into the adapter status menu if you scroll down it will give you a lot of info about your particular adapter. error count and the comms performance.

navyseamonkey2011 - 29/8/13 at 07:19 AM

I would highly recomend the Ford super F 2, used with the fordmidable software which is free off the net.
It was around £15 for the interface and it worked brilliantly I could read live data look at and delete ABS,Aircon,Airbag, and engine codes.
It even alowed me to read and re-code the injectors on a 2.0 tdci mk3.

I cannot recommend it enough especialy for the price.

Slimy38 - 29/8/13 at 07:32 AM

quote:
Originally posted by navyseamonkey2011

It even alowed me to read and re-code the injectors on a 2.0 tdci mk3.



That's interesting, my mate recently scrapped his Mondeo because he'd been quoted megabucks to recode injectors. Is there anything you could point me towards to learn more?

navyseamonkey2011 - 29/8/13 at 07:53 AM

http://www.ozenelektronik.com/?s=software

Link for the Fordmidable software, some have had luck with re-code like myself, some havent, depends on vehicle year.
But as i said earlier as a tool fro reading and deleting codes along with the super f interface I was well inpressed.

navyseamonkey2011 - 29/8/13 at 08:06 AM

http://www.talkford.com/uploads/monthly_09_2010/post-28373-12837189635064.png

stevebubs - 5/4/14 at 07:14 PM

Bought another cheapie from Amazon and same issues as the first - refused to connect using PWM protocol.

Ordered a Gendan one yesterday, arrived this morning and worked perfectly.

stevebubs - 5/4/14 at 07:15 PM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
quote:
Originally posted by stevebubs
quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
Torque software generally works with these chips but will flag them up as a "Faulty Adaptor".


Not seen that on mine in my (limited) testing...



In torque go into the adapter status menu if you scroll down it will give you a lot of info about your particular adapter. error count and the comms performance.


Figured out it was refusing to connect using PWM...which is the protocol I needed...bit more research indicated this was a common problem so bought a genuine Elm327 via Gendan. Worked perfectly.

[Edited on 5/4/14 by stevebubs]