I didn't want to hijack George's other thread. I was wondering what a good tool is to buy? I see the elm327 mentioned a lot that links with a PC. Does it have to be connected to the PC and car at the same time? I don't have a laptop.

I have been borrowing the one from my local parts store when needed. But I have been thinking I should have one of my own for the shop. Plus it's just a readed not scaner. No PC out in the shop so it would be a bit of a pain running back & forth to the house. Although I mostly just do bodywork it would be handy for our cars and the occasional problem with ones for resale.

 

Which modules do you want to read and on which cars?

The cheap scanners read just one module (PCM) out of maybe 20. Some cars it's nearer 40 modules.

 

Dollar for dollar one that hooks to a laptop would be your best bet. Any that would do what the ELMSCAN 5 or the ELM327 does thats stand alone will probably be the cost of a laptop with the scanner. I would check your local craigslist or even best buy for an open box netbook or something. Also try newegg they usually have some good laptops for reasonable prices. You dont need a super computer to run them so a low cost cheap laptop would do the job just fine just make sure to get one with usb 2.0. The abilities that it can read mixed with the knowledge of these boards you'd probably pay for it the first problem you had with what you would save.

 

Thanks, You have to forgive me cause I'm a bit challenged in the high tech dept. But...I'm not one of these old school hard heads that think cars should still have points ignitions. I always enjoy the challenge of learning about new stuff. Just takes me a while sometimes.

 

Yea you should enjoy the ELMScan 5 its very user friendly. I was checking out graphs within 10 minutes of installing. I would keep you eyes peeled for a good price on a laptop. I have a pc in my garage but would need a usb extention to be able to get it to it. Im gonna dig around my wire collection this weekend and try and run mine that way. A cheap laptop is definitly the way to go. If it wi-fi you can get internet out there and upload data logs right after you record them.

 

Bodyman,

For the price of an Elmscan 5 these days, you can get a cheap laptop off of craigslist, or i might be able to get you one from my work that's coming to EOL to work it, you're much better off with a laptop / interface combo than you would be with a hand held scanner of similar price.

I think Chris may have one in your area... Not sure yet. I have scanmaster-Elm if needed.

PM me for more details.

Take care,

George

 

I realize the conversation was several weeks ago now and you may have bought something already, but for what it's worth, I bought a Bluetooth ELM327 today that should arrive in the mail in the next few days, and I plan on using it with my phone. My phone is Android and there are 3 or 4 apps that work with the ELM and read both generic and manufacturer specific codes. There are free versions of the apps and paid versions with a few more features. None of the paid apps is more than a few bucks, though. I've already installed the free versions of the apps and when I figure out which one(s) I like, I'll buy the paid version(s). I don't know what apps are available for other phones like the iPhone, but for me it's a great solution that will let me have a powerful OBD2 scanner that should read all codes and will also provide real-time monitoring of fuel efficiency and other operating measures for only about $50 bucks. The circuitry in the ELM327 v1.4 (the one I bought) is also designed to consume very little power so as not to drain the battery so it can be left in place for applications like fleet use. I will probably leave mine plugged in so I can tune in to what's happening whenever I want with my phone.

 

Jim,

I have an Actron CP9575 handheld. I'll bring it to the Meet in June if you want to check it out, or if you are up this way let me know. I'm only about 10-15 minutes from Rahal if you go there for a new key I'm not far away.

 

Ill most likely bring my ELMscan 5 if anyone wants to check that out also.

 

Elmscan does a good job in reading the codes. However, I'm interested in a tool that can flash program as well for a reasonable price. Any suggestion.

 

Define that price!!
In theory any J2534 tool should do. E.g. from Drew Technologies

 

A reasonable price would be $400-600

 

Generally, a code reader or scan tool will NOT reflash. The super-expensive IDS will, but it's far more than just a scan tool.

A J2534 tool MAY reflash an S-Type. I think that is SHOULD, but investigate with care. I'm a bit doubtful your price range will buy one that can do it.

Apart from IDS, the above ONLY means the PCM. No other module.

Reflashing is all very well but then you'd likely want to edit the maps inside the calibration file. Needs another tool.

 

Standard Affordable ECU Chip Tuning Kits:

1. MPPS K+CAN Flasher + OBD USB Cable (Read/Write Map to Car ECU Chip)
2. KESS Tuning Kit: ECU Chip Tuning/Remapping/Flashing
3. Galletto 2
4. KWP2000+

High-End Professional Chip Tuning Kits (for dedicated Car Tuning Shops):

1. J2534 Programmer

2. Alientech KESSv2

...and the only tuner-flasher listed there in the Standard-Affordable category, which then even claims that it will do unspecified "Jaguar", is Galletto 2 ($247 US):

FGTech Galletto 2-Master BDM-TriCore-OBD with BDM Adapters

 

I think it only does Motorola/Freescale-type chips. Not used by the S-Type PCMs.

 

Galletto2 pdf file detail for Jaguar:

Manufacturer_Model___Engine__ECU Type_________R/W___CHK Write__Write Technology

Jaguar________ALL_____ ALL_____Bosch EDC 17____R/W___ Yes_________Boot Mode Tricore

Jaguar________S-Type____2.7l V6__Siemens SID 201_R/W____Yes_________Flasher

Jaguar________X-Type____2.0/2.2l__Delphy PWM_____R/W___Yes_________Flasher

Jaguar________XJ________2.7l V6___Siemens SID 201_R/W___Yes_________Flasher

 

...S-Type 4.0 V8 not listed, JagV8.

All S-Type 3.0 V6 not necessarily having Siemens SID 201 pcm/ecu, either, speaking as a newbie who has no idea but allows for the distinct logical possibility of different ecm's.

 

Review of OBD2 scan tools, principally the car's obd2 connector interface for a laptop:

Elm327 Scan Tool Review

...sounds like we don't want to just go to ebay for those. Links in the review lead to very reasonably priced units with full functionality. The best laptop software vendors are going to link or sell one that's not a disappointing knock-off, and does not limit their software function.

 

This is the Galletto 2 tuner-flasher hookup:

http://www.totalcardiagnostics.com/f...m-function.pdf

...and since it doesn't just connect to obd2 connector, wow, I dunno nothing.

 

A few places say they can do the diesel S-Type. Only the diesel uses a Siemens PCM. No idea which chip is inside it but the STR etc use a Denso PCM with such as twin Renesas SH705x CPUs.

BTW, this is not new data...

Remember the diesel S-Types were never sold in USA/Canada.

I take it everyone has read the OBD tools thread in General Tech!