Diagnostic Tools

[f8rdy]

Ive been looking at diagnostic tools on flea-bay. Has anyone used any of them before?

Looks like you can get one incl. Software for under 40 quid. But theyre a bit vague about what cars they work on. Mines a 1999 Opel Frontera 2.2 (or at least it was) its a Frontera A shape though. It has a 16pin plug under the fuse box on drivers side, a sort of D shape.

Can anyone recommend one?

EDIT: Any thoughts on this? http://www.ajdirect.co.uk/index.php?mai ... cts_id=197

[yaki]

There was good article HERE on fault code reading and how to do it. Used it myself on a 2.2 16V Frontera.

Chap in work was gonna buy the PC interface kit to sort out his Vectra, will check tomorrow see if he did and if it was any good.

[f8rdy]

WELL! It arrived, and after playing with ports etc. in the settings it came back with no faults until the engine was running for 5 mins and then gave me 3 fault codes but not the description. Also, those faults weren't activating the EML so im not too worried about them.

It doesnt look asthough its recovering old codes though so im going to have to take the car on a run and hit the code read button as soon as the light comes on as its an intermittent fault and only lasts about 10/20 secs!

Ive got one of those vauxhall TIS2000 discs though which im installing to my laptop. If thats compatible with my cheapo diagnostic cable i'll be over the moon!

[brachunky]

Reading this thread pushed me to go out & test for fault codes using the paper clip method with the engine running.I was expecting a load of faults bearing in mind the fronty is 14 years old Glad to report that I got an all clear Code31(engine rpm sensor) came on when engine was off but as soon as I started her,It were gone
Feel quite pleased!!!!

[yaki]

Had a chat with the Vectra guy and he didn't buy one as the fault magically fixed itself

[f8rdy]

its not an amazing peice of kit but for £40 it saved a lot of time and messing about. Diagnosed a number of oxygen sensor faults so i changed the lambda sensor (and a leaky water pipe at the same time). Have done over 50miles with no EML so its looking good

[yaki]

Thanks for letting us know, always wonder aout these things and how good they actually are

[f8rdy]

If you need a lend of it anytime just let me know Yak, am only in Cardiff

[yaki]

[f8rdy]

Definately, never been offroad before so i'm 100% up for that!