OBD II code readers - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Chas H · #16 06-23-2010, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catmandoo62

freeze frame tells you what was happening when it threw the code.i carry my scanner in my suburban because if say i'm cruising along and have to hit the brakes all the sudden it will throw a pp420 code which is a bad catalyst.but that is not my problem.i can drive this thing for 5000 miles and if i don't have to get on the brakes hard it does not throw a code.i bought mine at o'reilly's for like 120 bucks.well worth it.

P0420 is a general code that might be caused be a number of faults. Most of the time it IS the cat gone bad, but it could be something else. This is the situation MS Fowler is complaining about. A more advanced code reader such as a Scangauge can be used to compare the front and rear O2 sensor's output and help identify the fault.

Angel · #17 06-23-2010, 12:14 PM

if you have a VW/Audi, a "VAG-COM" is the superior product - shows you lots of factory codes/data. Support forums....excellent tool.

ross-tech is a 3rd party company (ie- they hacked into VW's ecu programs) but its a mature product and I've never heard of any safety/reliability issues - it just lets you read all the factory codes (that are more far reaching than teh generic OBDII codes.

http://www.ross-tech.com/ <- they make VAG-COM's

If its not VW or audi - I'm not sure. You'd think that every manuf. has a proprietary tool....

-Johnh

MS Fowler · #18 06-23-2010, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angel

if you have a VW/Audi, a "VAG-COM" is the superior product - shows you lots of factory codes/data. Support forums....excellent tool.

ross-tech is a 3rd party company (ie- they hacked into VW's ecu programs) but its a mature product and I've never heard of any safety/reliability issues - it just lets you read all the factory codes (that are more far reaching than teh generic OBDII codes.

http://www.ross-tech.com/ <- they make VAG-COM's

If its not VW or audi - I'm not sure. You'd think that every manuf. has a proprietary tool....

-Johnh

Silly me, I thought the whole purpose of OBD was to be universal; not proprietary.

aklim · #19 06-23-2010, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

Silly me, I thought the whole purpose of OBD was to be universal; not proprietary.

AFAIK, OBD has to be universal. That means anyone should be able to read it. HOWEVER, take my 99 for instance. The other parts that do not pertain to powertrain DO NOT have to be universal. So if you want to service the trans, you need to hook up SDS to get a temp reading. If you want to add a MB CD changer, you need to have SDS to set it up. HOWEVER, if I want to read PCM codes, that is fine. Any scanner can do that.

okyoureabeast · #20 06-23-2010, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angel

if you have a VW/Audi, a "VAG-COM" is the superior product - shows you lots of factory codes/data. Support forums....excellent tool.
-Johnh

That has got to be the most unfortunate name for a product I have ever seen.

Chas H · #21 06-23-2010, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

Silly me, I thought the whole purpose of OBD was to be universal; not proprietary.

That is true. The car makers resisted a user friendly diagnostic but the g'ment prevailed up to a certain point. Now it appears that a number of OBD protocols are permitted, so the universal reader is less so.