Car fault code diagnosis tools, 1 for all ?

[steveatesh]

Right I know some of you are into techie things so this is my first port if call. Recently I have had fault codes on three of my four cars, the BMW, the Merc and the Porsche. Porsche is under warranty but it's a keeper so I'm forward planning a bit. The Vantage had been fine, touching wood just in case !

Anyway, it's costing £48 a time for diagnosis at a nearby auto electrician, or an "oh about.... Depends on what the fault is, but it sounds expensive..." If I take it to a relevant Indy.

So, just wondering if there is such a thing as a diagnosis tool of some description that covers more than just engine codes - for example, wheel sensor faults, air con, Uncle Tom cobbly and all modules if you get the picture. And of course is not dedicated to one brand of car, I'd like it for the Aston, Merc, BMW and Porsche if possible.

Such a beast exist that won't cost me a fortune?

[V12Vanquish]

I also want such a tool, if it exists. I have bought a few different cheap code readers over the last few years and to date on a Gaydon era Aston I can only read engine codes. They work tolerably well on most others cars I have fiddled with.

[8Tech]

I really wish there was. I spent £3500 on a Snap-On diagnostics tool plus £67 per month subscription for updates and it still does not cover all systems on even the most popular marques. I charge £40 to plug in and download fault codes after all this outlay and people still look at me like I have just ripped them off.

Most people just want the diagnosis too, so it's not like you are getting any work from it either.

I believe the only one that diagnoses almost all systems on almost all cars is the Autologic at around £11000.00 and even as a professional, I cannot ever hope to recoup that outlay.

Here was a secondhand one on ebay........

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AUTOLOGIC-SCAN-TOOL-BEST-A...

[DB9VolanteDriver]

V12Vanquish said:

I also want such a tool, if it exists. I have bought a few different cheap code readers over the last few years and to date on a Gaydon era Aston I can only read engine codes. They work tolerably well on most others cars I have fiddled with.

Autel Euro Reader will retrieve data from Aston engine and body data ports and allow SRS resets, etc. in addition to normal engine OBD stuff. About $120 from China.

[SS972]

8Tech said:

I really wish there was. I spent £3500 on a Snap-On diagnostics tool plus £67 per month subscription for updates and it still does not cover all systems on even the most popular marques. I charge £40 to plug in and download fault codes after all this outlay and people still look at me like I have just ripped them off.

Most people just want the diagnosis too, so it's not like you are getting any work from it either.

I believe the only one that diagnoses almost all systems on almost all cars is the Autologic at around £11000.00 and even as a professional, I cannot ever hope to recoup that outlay.

Here was a secondhand one on ebay........

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AUTOLOGIC-SCAN-TOOL-BEST-A...

For our Land Rover workshop we have an Autologic (LR only) + IDS + Omitec T4,you cannot work on modern cars without them.For pre 2006 Aston you may try to find a WDS witch was used by Ford Jag and Mazda as well as AML,you will then need to find the data CDs fotr it.

[john ryan]

There is no easy solution for non-engine codes. For some vehicles it's possible to get a basic tool to read/clear codes which is locked to the vehicle vin (effectively a single user licence). I have such for my Disco which cost c.£250 but which has repaid several times over the past five years. More expensive tools @ £6-700 allow re-setting of limits - eg suspension hieght. I also have a cheap generic reader which can read/clear engine codes in the V8V and Focus, but will not read engine codes on the Disco. These are all Ford systems of course.

[8Tech]

SS972 said:

8Tech said:

I really wish there was. I spent £3500 on a Snap-On diagnostics tool plus £67 per month subscription for updates and it still does not cover all systems on even the most popular marques. I charge £40 to plug in and download fault codes after all this outlay and people still look at me like I have just ripped them off.

Most people just want the diagnosis too, so it's not like you are getting any work from it either.

I believe the only one that diagnoses almost all systems on almost all cars is the Autologic at around £11000.00 and even as a professional, I cannot ever hope to recoup that outlay.

Here was a secondhand one on ebay........

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AUTOLOGIC-SCAN-TOOL-BEST-A...

For our Land Rover workshop we have an Autologic (LR only) + IDS + Omitec T4,you cannot work on modern cars without them.For pre 2006 Aston you may try to find a WDS witch was used by Ford Jag and Mazda as well as AML,you will then need to find the data CDs fotr it.

I know what you mean, but as we do all marques, a vehicle specific reader system is just no good to us. We get along able to do 80% of everything to 90% of cars so is the best value compromise we have found for us.

[steveatesh]

Thanks guys for the input, obviously such animals are for professional workshops rather than somebody who would only use one occasionally.

I just had the Z4 problem diagnosed ( £48) and turns out to be the yaw sensor, just over £ 500 to fit apparently. So, just the Merc problem (£520 apparently) and the Porsche to sort out, but at least that ones under warranty!

Joys of car ownership!