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[Diamond Black Geezer]

Dirty word, so I understand, however... a friend of a friend got rid of his Veccy GSi, but still keeping his *ahem*-com and offered me use of it at some point. Without going into things I can quite easily break (I gather people have had ECUs destroyed by cheap n cheerful code readers, yes?) what sort of things can I do with this - safely. I can google the 'h"My Naff Code Reader"' and get plenty of marketing-blurb, but I ask here as I'll get a straight answer.


edit: straight as rubber boomerang. 

[Broomies Mate]

Live data is useful, as is reading codes and turning lights off, but pretty much any ELM327 can do that with 'Torque' App or similar installed onto a Smartphone.

I used to use it a lot, but find taking the laptop out to the car a ball-ache now, so just use the phone instead.

[zirk]

There handy for code reading on pre 2001 cars (odb2) which yours is, just dont start practicing your programming skills with it, as in 'I wonder what this does'

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Haha. Nooo, warning heeded  Wasn't in any way interested in actually buggering about 'changing' anything. I watched one (a cheap n perfectly legal, I suppose) one of a laptop plugged in a dn fans spooled up, shut off, and some live data shown. I find it hugely interesting, but know nothing of it/them. In spite of my extreme youth I'm still very much a 'oily, nuts n bolts' engineering type, not a 'plug it in and click some buttons' type home mechanic

[Nick W]

Elm327 and Torque etc require OBD compliance, and only read the engine. The code reader discussed gives access to ALL the systems, on all our cars and makes efficient diagnosis much more likely.
 
For instance, when my ABS&TC warning lights came on, but the Speedo was still working, "My Naff Code Reader" reported two faults relating to the valve block. This meant I didn't waste any time checking the wheel sensors etc, or struggle to remove only the ECU for testing/repair. I sourced a replacement ECU/block and fitting it cured the problem.

As a clone is only about £20, it makes perfect sense to own one. I am wary about using it for programming though.

[deviator]

Is a good cheap code reader. It will allow certain adjustments and changes to be made.

I've used mine for...
Live data read
ECU Read/clear
Airbag Read/clear
Programmed immob chips

The one menu that has always caused me problems has been the ABS/TC option. There isn't one there for the 2.6 Vectra, but there is for the Omega. I tried the Omega one on the Vectra and promptly ended up with no ABS or TC and lights to tell me so. I am led to believe it 'wipes' the data. Less learned.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Wow, didn't know it did chips, ok  (still most likely be paying for the services of MarksDTM for that) but nevertheless interesting to know. 

[TheBoy]

If you get the legal, original, they appear to be not too bad, but too bloody expensive.

The cheap Chinese clones are suitable for plain code reading only, with limited live data.  Definitely avoid any programming, including keys.


Somebody who should know better has gone and shagged their Corsa by trying to do some ECU reconfiguration, and now can't start it.  So I have to pop over the weekend to see if it can be recovered. The silly tit was previously warned not to use the PoS for programming, but didn't want to bung me £20, so now is at the mercy of whatever I want to charge, if I can be arsed.  I quoted him £200 in the hope he'd say no, but he's now desperate as he can't get the car to a dealer.

From knackered immobilisers and alarms that have been ruined with Chinese copies, I have about a 2/3rds success rate in recovering them.


I truly would urge not using it for anything other than code reading and live data (that its poor at anyway)

[The Sheriff]

Even if they were any good at reconfiguration which, apparently, they are not, they would have to be in the right hands.
Reprogramming a factory-set electronic unit could, I imagine, cause you a whole world of pain. Fiddling with one parameter usually has a knock on effect with others.
Leave it to the people who can (bus) 

[Diamond Black Geezer]

yes indeed  I can only repeat, I have no intention of doing anything other than code reading. To be honest, i wouldn't even shell out a ten pound note on buying one, its simply because I've been offered free use of one.

When we say 'reprogramming', I'm assuming it'd be safe to physically clear old stored fault codes? Given Pissy may have literally years an yearsworth stored it makes any form of diagnosis harder if i do need to go paperclipping one evening 

[steve6367]

Live data, code clearing and testing actuators like the multi ram works for me. 

Never tried (and won't try) programming though.

[TheBoy]

When we say 'reprogramming', I'm assuming it'd be safe to physically clear old stored fault codes?

Yes, it seems robust at doing that. I've not personally seen or even heard of problems with reading codes, reading live data (other than its slow) and clearing codes

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Nice. To be honest I was most interested in having a 'clean sheet' re: codes. It's a bit annoying when I do the paperclip test and after 15 minutes I'm still reading codes haha. So nice to start a fresh.

[TheBoy]

Nice. To be honest I was most interested in having a 'clean sheet' re: codes. It's a bit annoying when I do the paperclip test and after 15 minutes I'm still reading codes haha. So nice to start a fresh.

There are a few ECUs it can't read, so you may not get a perfectly clean car, but it can do most of the running gear ECUs in Omegas.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Cheers, will still be using the Tech2 services of yourself or Mr DTM... have messaged him enquiring, but nothing back yet. Reason is I'm visiting a mate in Nottingham next month, so would ideally like to combine the two.