Obd2 Diagnostic Software For Pc

[acox99 74 1 Cars]

I'm looking to get some diagnostic software for my laptop. It's not something I have ever got involved with before so it's unknown Territory.

 

Looking online the ELM327 Bluetooth is a good obd plug. Unless anyone can recommend just a lead, sounds less hasten to me.

 

It's software that's causing me headaches. Are there descent free offerings or anything under £100 that's good. I want something that will read various cars and support older ford based software so jaguar land rover of the late 90's early 2k.

 

I know without spending mega bucks I'm not going to be able to do a lot of interrogation but if it can do mil lights, airbags, abs and service lights that would be handy.

 

I'm going to download vagcom as they do issue a free ones do I've got a VW.

[Ramigojag 19 1 Cars]

I sell diagnostic and garage equipment for a living. One of the ELM327's from eBay aren't bad, but you certainly get what you pay for. They are purely OBD2 and EOBD protocol readers so you will only read basic emissions related information, read and clear codes etc. no ABS, airbag etc.

 

Just to give you an idea the all makes after-market equipment we sell range from around £1,000 for a basic car package to around £8,000 for a commercial fleet package. So if your trying to get free software or software for around £100 it's going to be very limited.

 

You can buy single brand diagnostics (normally pirate copies) for cheap. I've just bought a full dealer suite for BMW for £26 with software and cable.

 

JLR stuff is a nightmare there isn't much that has very good coverage even for the modern stuff let alone late nineties/ early 2000's. It's getting better, but only in the Bosch, Texa, Delphi, Snap-On stuff which retails in the thousands.

 

VAGCOM as far as I know won't work without the genuine lead because the license key for the software is in the lead. We sell our genuine copies of vagcom on eBay for £375.

 

I think about the best you'll get for your price range will be a chinese copy of a Delphi DS150, but these always come with old software and generally last anywhere from 30 days to about a year. Not something I would really recommend because at work i get so much hastle from people thinking they've bought a top of the range kit and then I have to tell them it's a fake.

 

Delphi are really cracking down on counterfeit equipment.

 

If you want any more info, I will do my best to help if you want to private message me.

 

Callum

Edited August 11, 2015 by Ramigojag

[acox99 74 1 Cars]

Thanks for that Callum, that's really helpful, I'm weigh out with my prices. It was an idea I had at the weekend over a beer, I specialise in classic cars but we are having sa few customers coming to us asking if we do jag xk8's and db7's which around that time where all ford based but if we where going to kit up for those it worth getting software capable of reading all the systems. We won't be doing code reading on all makes. It's weather it's worth it as this stage. I looked online and like most things you can't get a straight answer as you aren't speaking to someone who deals with diagnostics. And some of the reps I have asked in the past aren't exactly the most dynamic people in knowing the can do's and cannot do's of what they are selling.

[Ramigojag 19 1 Cars]

For ford based stuff it could be worth looking at a DEC super scan solo. You can buy it with a certain manufacturers software on (in this case ford).

 

Jags and db7s will still be a bit of a grey area as you can also buy jaguar software on the DEC super scan.

 

Now you mention it I have a customer who bought one because he said it was the best on land rovers so it could be worth looking into. I will try and get you some more info when I'm back in the office later.

 

My background is a car mechanic spent several years in garages learning all the basics then progressively moving more into diagnostics and electronics then ended up selling it into garages lol.

[jackherer 543]

Do you deal with Snap On diagnostics?

[Ramigojag 19 1 Cars]

I've used it but it's not part of our catalogue

[jackherer 543]

OK no worries, I'm just trying to find a new battery for my Solus Pro for a decent price...

[Ramigojag 19 1 Cars]

Sorry mate, can't help you with that.

[jackherer 543]

I don't think anyone can help when you say 'snap on' and 'decent price' in the same sentence

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

Not that I claim to know a great deal on the subject, I bought an Autel machine about 18 months ago, it was (for me) quite expensive at around £350 iirc but it has worked well on the majority of stuff I have tried it on. It can do a basic OBD scan, but you can also select specific vehicles and then access all the various modules. Can't comment on JLR stuff as not tried it, but it's been great on VAG, BMW, Vauxhall, Mitsubishi which are the main ones I have used it on this far. I used to use a local guy who would come out and plug in for £40 a time with his Snap on kit, I would estimate that I'm probably getting to break even already with my own use of it.

[Ramigojag 19 1 Cars]

Autel isn't bad stuff to be fair. Lacks some tech data that the other tools have but has decent level of programming and adjustments. £350 is very cheap as a new unit will cost around £1100+VAT iirc

 

EDIT: Which model Autel do you have? I'm thinking of the large touch screen tablet the DS708? I think

Edited August 12, 2015 by Ramigojag

[acox99 74 1 Cars]

Ok I will have a look. This is a new area to me I've never had anything to do with diognostics so I don't know much. I was reading online that fords software was called WDS, and you also have AMDS but I think the dealer software would be out the window price wise. As I say I'm only exploring the possibilities at the moment and getting an idea of what available.

[acox99 74 1 Cars]

Looking on eBay at autel products they must be fakes coming from China for that price.

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

Mine isn't a touch screen, it is the MD802 all systems and live data, as per usual looking on ebay the prices have come down since I bought mine, but it is a genuine product from a UK seller not a Chinese knock off. As I say its done everything I have asked of it, used it again last night as a matter of fact on a neighbours Fiesta with a misfire, and engine light on. Code was misfire cyl 4, pulled cyl 4 plug out and sure enough the porcelain insulator had broken that shrouds the centre electrode and had dropped down masking the spark. Amazing it ran as well as it did in actual fact!

[Ramigojag 19 1 Cars]

Autel is a Chinese brand but they are one of the better, you may well be looking at Chinese knockoffs of a Chinese tool lol.

 

Ford is called IDS.

 

If I was starting up my own garage as a starter machine I'd be looking at either an Autel or a Delphi. The official UK importer for Autel I believe is sealey tools.

[Ramigojag 19 1 Cars]

Any motor factor/tool outlet with a sealey account will be able to get you an Autel