Recommend me a good OBD reader
Recommend me a good OBD reader
Author
Discussion

Lincsls1

Original Poster:

3,938 posts

164 months

Hi guys.
Have a 'service vehicle soon' message on my Astra mk6 dash, My basic OBD reader won't read the code, assuming because it hasn't triggered a EML light, and the problem is stored in another sub system.
I know what the 'svs' message can often be (glow plugs etc), but I'd like a reader that can simply tell me.
Any recommendations?
Thanks...

ARH

1,633 posts

263 months

Are you sure its not just telling its time to book or do a service?

Lincsls1

Original Poster:

3,938 posts

164 months

ARH said:
Are you sure its not just telling its time to book or do a service?
Thank you, but no.
Weird I know, but it has nothing to do with requiring 'a service'.

ARH

1,633 posts

263 months

A basic reader will only read codes generated by an EML light coming on. If you have not had one there won't be an issue. You could inspect live data to determine if a sensor is giving out what is expected but my guess is you won't find anything.

So have you checked how long it is to the next service, assuming it tells you?

What scanner do you have right now and have you tried elm car scanner https://www.carscanner.info/ this works with cheap elm readers and provides a lot of info.

Lincsls1

Original Poster:

3,938 posts

164 months

ARH said:
A basic reader will only read codes generated by an EML light coming on. If you have not had one there won't be an issue. You could inspect live data to determine if a sensor is giving out what is expected but my guess is you won't find anything.

So have you checked how long it is to the next service, assuming it tells you?

What scanner do you have right now and have you tried elm car scanner https://www.carscanner.info/ this works with cheap elm readers and provides a lot of info.
I appreciate you're trying to help, but it isn't a 'service due warning'.
Historically, this 'svs' warning as been faulty glow plugs, but it required a proper scanner to pull that info from the car (tech2), my cheap reader couldn't. As soon as I (personally) replaced the glow plug reported as faulty, the 'svs' warning disappeared immediately.
I have since replaced the other 3 too following another 'svs' warning.
The 'svs' warning can also refer to other issues such as egr/dpf and o2 sensor issues, but won't bring the 'EML' light on so the cheap readers have nothing to read. Tech2, for example would tell me what is triggering this 'svs' warning.
I'm looking for personal recommendations on readers that can read deeper, nothing more. smile

Thinkdiag is looking appealing, but its not clear on the licence renewal cost to keep all function working after the initial package expires.

https://thinkdiag.co.uk/index.php

Belle427

11,441 posts

257 months

Topdon are worth a look too, they make some reasonably priced stuff.