OBD scanner/ code diagnostics question
 

Hi all
I've asked preliminary questions on this before but I'm still a little confused. I have a March 2001 build XK8 coupe.

A motor engineering firm in Australia (trying to sell me a code reader) informs me that my car is NOT OBD11 compliant and has the OBD1 system which only provides basic info such as emissions. They are trying to sell me a comprehensive unit for approximately $1500. This information seems to conflict with many other posts on this forum.

Can anyone tell me if this is correct or if the Australian delivered cars were in some way different from home market (UK) cars.
Before I lash out and buy a unit I want it to be the right one!!
thanks

jd

Jaguar used OBD II beginning in 1995. Don't listen to them.

As a suggestion i would stay away from the "cloned" scan tools...i wasted time and money trying to get them working. I opted for a Mongoose interface cable from mavericktechnology.co.uk "genuine" does just about everything you need it to do with SDD V133.

Trevor
Thanks for the info but I got on the web site you refer to and couldn't find any link to the SDD V133 and won't I need more than the "cable"??
Sorry if this is a silly question.

jd

John what do you want to do here? Just read & clear codes?

Hi I have no problems at present but for all the difficulty you guys seem to have with service places I thought having a code reader/ diagnostic scanner would be a good idea. Additionally I'm attracted to the idea of the monitoring functions of these things - I've read the forums on temperature gauges and their lack of accuracy etc and so it seems some way of "painting" a picture of ongoing system performance would be good.
I have a late model laptop and am getting better at IT stuff so this would also serve as an introduction to IT controlled cars.
Thanks for taking an interest
jd

I think this may be what you are looking for. It communicates with a laptop via bluetooth technology and has software to display all the reported functions of the standard code set (P0xxx) . . . for less than US$10.

Mini ELM327 V1 5 Bluetooth OBD II OBD2 Car Diagnostic Scanner Tool Adapter M2 | eBay

+1...No need to spend big dollars to do what you want.

Yes i agree..big dollars involved if you want the full blown product and the software to read it. I opted for the "works" as i am in the motor trade & i have a 2 X JLR vehicles in the family. Earlier in your post you quoted $1500 for a reader so i anticipated you were prepared to pend that kind of money on a reader.
The Mongoose will cost you around $650 if you want the real one & the software is around $100 see here...
New 2013 IDS VCM DVD 133 Full Flashfiles Jaguar Land Range Rover Software V133 | eBay

So for around $800 (assume shipping and tax) you have the bees knees...but the question has to be asked do you need that much power ?
TS

If you start with the ELM327 as suggested by Test Point, you will at least confirm definitively that your vehicle is OBD-II compliant. The plain USB versions might be better as it eliminates any difficulties with getting bluetooth to pair with the device.

It will cover P codes related to the engine, but not chassis codes.

If you want something a bit better, check out the red scantool from scantool.net. The included software is pretty good.

BTW, my mongoose replica works perfectly for $80 all in including software.

After reading all the documentation and tips in the thread, the software installed first time around.

thanks to all. The ease which you guys can rattle of this info is rather daunting. Whist I do understand that you get what you pay for (within limits of rip-offs) I also understand that the full functionality required by a serious dealer service department is over-kill for me. I'm a reasonable "bush" mechanic but am a novice with computerised cars.
What I'm really after is the best (ie cost effective) way of monitoring your vehicle but also aiding the diagnostic process when things go wrong. I have a lap top computer already and was hoping whatever system I used would allow me to store and display historical information as well as identify fault codes and clear minor issues. Its not meant to be "instead of" a fully equipped workshop.
I'm also confused in that it appears that at least some of these systems require you to go on line to identify codes (paying a service fee) - if this is the case is there not a risk that this service may become unavailable if the business is sold/ goes out of production etc etc.
Its probably too much to ask but I'd love someone to say "this is what you need, it can be found in this version or that one, and will cost approximately >>$ per year in service fees.
Whether its $15.00 or $1500.00 is less important than "functional value"
(I do accept that any feedback will be personal experience and personal opinion but that's the whole point of asking you guys!!)
thanks
jd

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/a...ine=1381334524



Hey JD.....whilst you're waiting on further responses, have you read this thread below....?

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/g...-%2A%2A-33347/

You may find it very useful and somewhat illuminating, hopefully......at least thats the general idea.

Hope it helps.. :icon_beerchug:

Get the inexpensive ELM327. It will provide the fault codes for the engine and transmission, real-time monitoring of the engine parameters on your laptop.

As far as aiding in the diagnostic process, if you download JTIS (free), you will get access to the code definition specific for your car and a list of most likely faults. That, in combination with support from this forum will likely serve you at least as well if not better than the services where you pay for diagnostic suggestions.

For your convenience I pulled the 2001 XK8 code chart out of JTIS and attached it to this post so you can see what I mean.

I got myself an inexpensive Mongoose clone for 99$, it works with Jaguar SDD/IDS (or whatever it's named anyway), giving you basically all the dealer tools.

Before that I had an ELM327 and diagnosed a faulty lambda probe with it, you can get them on eBay for about 20$.

You hear so much negative comment about clones - how it is identified (serial number/ model type etc etc) and where did you get it??
thanks
jd

You can buy them on e-bay for just $100 or so, search for Mongoose Jaguar / Landrover and you should get some results. compared to the original they look much the same but obviously made with inferior parts & mostly chinease back room cloneing expertise. So are they good or bad...that's the chance you take compared with an original item that costs $700. I have read some real horror stories on here with ECU's being "bricked," electrics being fried, half programmed / flashed modules and some that simply never wake up when you plug it into your laptop.
There are also many readers of this forum who have never had any of the above and the clone simply does as the original. I remember an old saying "you pays your money you take your choice." When i bought a clone i got stung so i was an unlucky one.
TS

With ^, I bought mine at Search Result: JLR, but it seems to be gone now. They now have one for half the price that says "Mangoose" instead of Mongoose, description seems sketchy.