hobbsy
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| posted on 14/2/08 at 05:21 PM |
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Anyone got/use a ELM327 or similar OBD2 reader
After buying car / make specific OBD2 tools like VAG-COM and BMW Diag I'm after a more generic OBD2 fault code reader (clearly for the tin
tops!).
E.g. my girlfriends Peugeot is playing up slightly and it would be handy for this.
Plus I change my car quite often and its costing lots keep buying car specific readers.
Sooo anyone got experience of the ELM327 type generic interfaces used with free software? Cost about £40 ish on eBay.
Are they any good?
Any other alternatives I should look at?
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omega 24 v6
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| posted on 14/2/08 at 05:55 PM |
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Ditto I've been trying to work this one out for a while. Some of it seems too good to be true.
I'd be vry interested in any info anyone can post as well.
If it looks wrong it probably is wrong.
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britishtrident
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| posted on 14/2/08 at 07:28 PM |
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I have both an older Elm323 and a hand held U480 code reader link http://stores.ebay.com/alpha-bid
I found Alpha bid very good to deal with.
If you have a laptop Elm scan is the way to go because it will give you live data & freeze frame as well as fault codes however OBD2/EOBD can use
different protocols.
Most European and Asian manufacturers (including post 2001/2003 BMW and VW) use the ISO protocol.
However Ford & GM groups each thier own protocol.
The U480 reads most protocols including the recently introduced CAN bus which is being used on a lot of models,
Universal EOBD/OBD2 laptop software tools won't do much more than read and clear codes and read live data.
Most hand held reader won't read live data --- but this is a fast changing market place... see the U581 on alphabid.
The Gendan diagnostics web site is a good source of info but the prices are much higher than Aplhabid
[Edited on 14/2/08 by britishtrident]
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