Hi all,

I am looking for recommendations for a good OBD reader that can read DTC, SRS and ABS codes and has
been proven to work on a 2001 XK8 convertible.

Many thanks

 

Did you look in the very extensive thread on this topic in General Tech Help?
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/g...-%2A%2A-33347/

Graham

 

I have now thanks!

 

Apologies for the hijack, but I still have not found one for my 97XK8 that will read ABS codes. I can only see engine data with the ones I have tried (torque APP, Icarsoft 930). Has anyone else found a good reader for a the earlier models?

Thanks

 

AutoEnginuity works, but it's expensive.

 

I had an "exchange of views" with AutoEnginuity when they first switched to subscription. I didn't object to paying an annual charge but I seriously objected to paying for something that didn't work. They may have resolved the issues now but I gave up and haven't been back since.

If you have an old laptop to spare then a Mongoose clone with SDD 1.34 is a low cost option for comprehensive code reading.

Graham

 

Unfortunately I do not but I am seriously considering trying to find one to go down this route, albeit I am a bit bamboozled by all the different software versions available.

 

That's good to know, Graham. I never updated mine from the original, and now I won't be tempted.

 

I purchased the original AutoEnginuity hardwired USB scantool in the early days when the software updates were free. It was a fairly basic tool but good value for money, robust and reliable. When their ProLine Connector was introduced, I purchased one together with the Jaguar Expansion (Extension). Again this was a good value scantool which offered comprehensive diagnostics at a reasonable cost.

Then they started to get greedy - the Jaguar Expansion had to be renewed annually. I still didn't object as it was good value BUT the subsequent software updates were simply not fit for purpose. Updates crashed and/or failed to connect to the vehicle. I had a lengthy exchange of emails which did nothing to resolve the issue and AE wouldn't give me a refund. They gained a few dollars and lost a customer.

Graham

 

SDD is regularly updated. It is designed to be used online by dealers (and anyone prepared to pay for a subscription) and is therefore kept up to date as new models are introduced and existing ones are upgraded.

Anyone can download and install the current SDD directly from the JLR server but it will only work for 24 hours before requiring a subscription to continue. As it can take half a day to install, getting a fresh download every time you want to use it is not really an option.
Index of /265935/idscentral

The current version is SDD 1.59 which has had 6 incremental updates. The last update was in March when the UK went into "lockdown" and JLR ceased operations. There are many cracked versions of SDD sold on the likes of ebay which are either patched (so they don't require an internet connection) or run in "deep freeze" so they don't time-out.

Version 1.34 is a favourite for those with early models and version 1.50 was the last one where all the files could be downloaded from the JLR server. The VDF (Vehicle Definition Files) have had to be downloaded with a live connection (and subscription) since then. I suspect JLR were getting tired of the Chinese pirating their software.

Graham