need recommendation for code reader
 

Is there any advantage to spending $100-$200 vs the $20 ebay cheapies ? Would like something that has all, or most of the features I might need when troubleshooting my 2002 XKR . Do I have to spend many hundreds of dollars to attain that goal ? If so, I'll start saving, but was hoping there was a nice product in the $200 range +/- , that would be more versatile than the $20 ebay readers.

I'm no stranger to engines, just automotive computer illiterate.

What say the wise ones ?


Z.

There are threads with details - worth reading. For the mega-thread, start at the end and go back :)

Check Foxwell & icarsoft. IDS/SDD is the OE one but painful.

+1

See https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/g...-%2A%2A-33347/ in General Tech Help for extensive discussion of this topic.

It sounds like you just want capability to read the basic Powertrain (Pxxxx) codes. This is what most of us need to do most of the time. If so, any basic code reader will fit the bill.

If you really want to dig deeply into the vehicle modules and sensors then it becomes scan tool territory with costs in hundreds or thousands and a steep learning curve to make proper use of them. This is also where compatability comes into play and you should read member recommendations carefully before spending your money.

Graham

The iCarsoft i930 is far from perfect but mine has paid for itself since I acquired it nearly two years ago for about $125. It has identified and helped me resolve several issues on both of our Jaguars. If you decide to purchase one, be sure to order it from a source with a liberal return policy so you can send it back for a full refund if you are not satisfied with it. And be aware that the iCarsoft so-called "tech support" is nonexistent, so you are essentially on your own with it....

Honestly, you cannot go wrong with a cheap ELM327 and a phone app, independently of whatever else you get. Granted, it only covers standard OBDII (nothing Jaguar specific), but it is still tremendously useful. This is also great to sort of get a sense of what these tools are capable of, and bring your car repair skills to the "next level", so to speak.

At the intermediate level, you can get a Jaguar/Land Rover-aware handheld device. These are a bit more pricey, somewhat incomplete, but convenient for most jobs. Search iCarsoft and Foxwell for posts.

At the service tech level, there is the SDD/IDS software. It runs on a laptop and requires some form of USB-to-OBD cable. Look for British Diagnostics for a packaged solution for about the same price level as a handheld device.

ELM's for Sale!
 

Z,
I've bought (3) ELM iPhone things and have yet to get one to connect.......My Jag Guy told me I should have bought an Autel AL 519 as it will do anything you and I will ever need for about $60Bucks...........Either eBay or Amazon.....He was right!
Oh! I got (3) of those ELM things for sell..........cheap!

Billy Clyde

i got the ELM327 and the torque pro app for droid. Worked fine on my jag and used it on other cars also. I had a few times of connection issues but usually restarting the app on my phone fixed that.

received the iCarsoft LR v1.0 yesterday, and so far it's performing as advertised.

It's supposed to be an "improved" i930. ICarsoft does have a more featured model called the iCarsoft LR v2.0, (cost about $50 more than the V 1.0) which has additional capabilities that I'm not sure I really needed such as: Steering Angle Sensor reset, Electronic Throttle Control System reset, and the battery management system reset. Can a 2002 model make use of those features ?

In any case, the iCarsoft LR v 1.0 does have some feature tailoring aimed at Land Rover & Jaguar. After picking which make you are working on, you are prompted to pick a model and YOM, before all the different modules are offered for diagnosis.

This product maybe overkill for the average owner, but after I had purchased & tried two other OBD-II products that wouldn't connect to my '02 XKR, I am just happy to finally have a product that worked right straight out of the box.

Z

I don't know if this thread is still open but I've also been searching through threads to find a recommendation for either an OBD2 reader or an ELM327 / iPhone app combination that will work with my newly acquired 2001 XK8. My understanding is if I go with the ELM327 I'll need one that is wifi compatible for the iPhone. I found this on Amazon:


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...30208774e2.jpg

I've also found an iPhone app called Car Scanner ELM OBD2 with 23K ratings putting it at 4.8 start.

The ELM unit is supposed to be here tomorrow so I'll fire it up and see what I get. The problem, which I posted in another thread, is that I keep getting a check engine light along with dashboard messages saying "ASC NOT AVAILABLE"," TRAC NOT AVAILABLE" and "FAILSAFE ENGINE MODE" when I start the car. I've tightened up the battery cable and sometimes I don't get the messages and other times I do. It seems that after several starts the messages go away but the check engine light stays on. Then after driving, stopping and starting it up again the check engine light goes away. When I took it to get smogged the guy at the station put his reader on he got a "Air Mix Solenoid Circuit Malfunction". I checked with my reader when I got home and got nothing. We'll see what happens when the new unit comes.

I'm seriously thinking about going back to pre 1965 cars again. No computers, no smog, just crank up the power and go!! LOL.

Joe

How old is your battery, and have you measured its voltage (both with the engine off and the engine idling?)....

Hi Jon,

The battery is almost new. I get 12.5v, engine off and 14v+ engine on. I was thinking there might be some kind of short that's draining the battery overnight because it seems to happen when I try to start it up after sitting in the garage overnight, but last weekend after it started I drove about 20 miles or so to breakfast and when I got out of breakfast and tried to start it, at first nothing happened when I turned the key, then it finally started and no lights or check engine light was on. It's weird and very frustrating.

Joe

Ditto! Bought the same unit. Still figuring out all the features, but worked right out of the box. Was even able to update the scanner’s factory software from the iCarsoft tech support page.

I would like to do that, but last I heard from icarsoft was that they didn’t support the Mac platform.


In any case, my LR v1.0 works fine . I think the upgrades are primarily beneficial to cars much newer than my 2002.

Z

There is a Mac OS version of the updater tool and it works. But the link is buried at bottom of their upgrades page. See my recent post here:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...pgrade-284966/

thank you

Well the one I ordered above does not work with my car. Back to the drawing board. After reading the above posts I looked for the iCarsoft's i930, however, iCarsoft does not make it anymore. I found an iCarsoft on Amazon identified as LR V2.0 (Enhanced Version) which claims to be specifically for the LandRover/Jaguar. I suppose I'll find out when it gets here tomorrow. It's a corded reader rather than one of those bluetooth/wifi units so it's all self contained.

Anyone know the difference between the LR V2.0 and the LR600 V2.0?

The saga continues,
Joe

I'm very satisfied with my Foxwell NT530. One main reason purchased was it does all modules including SRS. If I were to do it again I'd buy one with a bigger and touch screen. Going back and forth through the menus with up/down arrows is not user friendly. Also can display more parameters at the same time.

I have had a FIXD unit left plugged into the OBD11 socket for the last 6 years and it works a treat with my 2002 XKR. I also have one plugged into my Saab 9-5 Aero - they work well, and have several advanced features like 0-60 timers etc, although the reason I leave mine plugged in is because my cars run on LPG and occasionally throw a random code which I just cancel and ignore! I can do this instantly with 2 clicks on the app and the unit costs less than £50 at the last count (in fact I bought one of mine for £15 off eBay!) Because of the small dimensions and no cable, I rarely even remember it's there! It won't cancel off messages like Trac/ESP/ABS etc but most of those type of messages come up because of Low battery or not using the car enough! They usually disappear on their own unless of course there was really a major problem, in which case my DIY skills would probably be overstretched!

I have an icarsoft i930, first generation, which I bought used. It reads everything I need but will not erase U and B codes, which I have several. These codes may have been in there for 25 years so I would like a machine which will erase. Suggestions?