Aston Martin Vantage diagnostic software HELP!!

[therustysheriff]

Hello everyone!
I'm Steve and 36, massive Peteol head, owned a few nice cars, front 2.1 RS Turbos at 18, E30 Alpinas, E36 and E46 ///M3 Convertables, 335i Convertable running 418bhp, currently own Q7,B10 Alpina, VW Camper, and Scooby Newage track car. I just love cars and have my own garage based in barnet London....however I have had aloways loved the Aston Martin Vantage Roadster....however being in the trade makes us thinks your immortal to buying crap...not true 🤦🏼‍♂️
So got a great deal on a perfect car for me....except is has an engine light on.
I'm looking for proper diagnostic software for this car...can't seem to find anything out there...
Please help! Thanks everyone in advance!
Ps ordered 15 & 20mm wheel spacers....didn't know if that would help 🤣

[SS972]

Found this in Germany, no ideas what's it really does.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tester-Diagnose-Service-...

[bogie]

that looks like an expensive OBD II reader for £199 when you can get similar functionality for £30 to use with your phone or standalone.

I think what is referred to is the real AM Diagnostic software AMDS that can read from all the ports on the car rather than the basic OBD II stuff.

http://www.autodiagnostictools.co.uk/original-asto...

...... £12500 !

[robinessex]

Isn't this a growing trend. Basic code reading is available, but the “all singing all dancing” stuff you really need, is priced out of anyone but the dealers pocket?

[Grumpydev]

Guy over the road from me sells car diag equipment, usually the dealer stuff running with "non-dealer hardware", not sure whether he has any Aston stuff or not.

[Herbs]

I am far from an expert but following a recent chat with garage I had that have an ex Aston Martin chief engineer working there and specialise in Aston Martins, he conceded that certain stuff they cannot do as they do not have the AM software equipment so the car had to go to a main dealer (had to be recoded as the tracker failed)

There seems to be nothing inbetween basic readers and the full monty.

[BamfordMike]

Herbs said:

I am far from an expert but following a recent chat with garage I had that have an ex Aston Martin chief engineer working there and specialise in Aston Martins, he conceded that certain stuff they cannot do as they do not have the AM software equipment so the car had to go to a main dealer (had to be recoded as the tracker failed)

There seems to be nothing inbetween basic readers and the full monty.

The AMDS kit can perform every function needed both electrical configuration (coding new keys, enabling / disabling tracker) and perform the link to electro mechanical (talk with engine and gearbox controllers). So if someone outside franchised dealer has the kit, there is nothing they cannot do with it if they know how to use it. However without the kit, beyond a basic engine fault code checker, there are few functions that can be performed. The main reason for this is communication has to go thru body control module and interrogation of body module requires the bespoke Aston kit as nothing generic seems to communicate adequately

[robinessex]

BamfordMike said:

Herbs said:

I am far from an expert but following a recent chat with garage I had that have an ex Aston Martin chief engineer working there and specialise in Aston Martins, he conceded that certain stuff they cannot do as they do not have the AM software equipment so the car had to go to a main dealer (had to be recoded as the tracker failed)

There seems to be nothing inbetween basic readers and the full monty.

The AMDS kit can perform every function needed both electrical configuration (coding new keys, enabling / disabling tracker) and perform the link to electro mechanical (talk with engine and gearbox controllers). So if someone outside franchised dealer has the kit, there is nothing they cannot do with it if they know how to use it. However without the kit, beyond a basic engine fault code checker, there are few functions that can be performed. The main reason for this is communication has to go thru body control module and interrogation of body module requires the bespoke Aston kit as nothing generic seems to communicate adequately

Isn't this illegal? I though Car manufacturers had to allow independent garages to acquire/purchase vehicle diagnostics

[BamfordMike]

A few years ago they sold a package widely available called AMDS lite which could more-or-less get someone by on, there are also plenty of race car diag kits out there which can get by on.

Since the Bosch cars came out there is now AMDS II in the marketplace, I have no idea what packages are available to buy that kit on but I hear for franchised dealer is 30k ish.
But yes, as Gen1 Gaydon cars get older and more breakdown prone and owner might be a long way from a franchised dealer to turn the emissions light off or diagnose a potentially polluting error state car quickly, yeah, the quick fix by anyone of an error state car was main reason legislation insists the hardware is made available, which it probably is, but just with its high price tag and only if you have a justified need signed off by both great grandparents and if the request is made on leap year on day of a full moon kind of stuff....

[therustysheriff]

Massive thanks to everyone. If anyone knows of a second hand AM kit pls let me know. Thanks all

[craig elam]

have a look at diagnostic-world,com , they do an autel with AM / ferrari etc , its about £1600 from memory.

best regards

craig

[therustysheriff]

Thanks Craig

[craig elam]

your very welcome, if you buy one will you let us all know how it works out , it seems to have a good coverage of "normal" as well as the exotic stuff, so a very useful day to day tool.

ce

[telum01]

I use an Autel MD802 which can cover most of the basics. Certain things require an AMDS, though.

BR Mike - I believe the AMDS 2 is $27k for the dealerships here in the US. Pretty steep!

[avinalarf]

Hi Stephen,
I'm " avinalarf " ,and I just phoned you up and had a little chat about your garage and your new Vantage .
As I live in Barnet it's good to know that you're a local garage that can help me out with my cars.
You said that you're new to this forum,so welcome,and let's have some pics of your Aston.
All the best, Steven

[EvoOlli]

telum01 said:

I use an Autel MD802 which can cover most of the basics. Certain things require an AMDS, though.

BR Mike - I believe the AMDS 2 is $27k for the dealerships here in the US. Pretty steep!

Hello Rich,

Could you please tell me which ECUs you can access with the Autel ?

[ian448]

have a look at Aston 1936 site , he uses the Autel 802 and he provides some good information about its capabilities

[EvoOlli]

Hi Ian,

looked at the site....but he 'only' talked to the Engine ECU. I'm looking for a solution, which could talk to the other ECUs like ABS and Gearbox or other ECUs on the Body Connector.

[Grumpydev]

Checked with my neighbour yesterday and he doesn't do Aston stuff unfortunately, I guess the market isn't big enough to be worth creating "non-official" hardware/software for it.

[therustysheriff]

Thank you