Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Jimbob on 16 May 2008, 07:58:49

Title: Time for cheapo tech2 to earn its keep again
Post by: Jimbob on 16 May 2008, 07:58:49
Airbag light came on as I left home this morning :(

Last time I lend Ljay the car for a few days  ;D

Ahh well time to dig out the old cheapo tech2 and turn it off again, hasnt done it for months.

That thing has been well worth its cost  :D
Title: Re: Time for cheapo tech2 to earn its keep again
Post by: bighed on 16 May 2008, 08:13:25
How much did you pay for it jimbob??
Title: Re: Time for cheapo tech2 to earn its keep again
Post by: TheBoy on 16 May 2008, 08:17:16
Cheapo tech2 around £20 - £30 from egay, BUT you need a laptop with a proper REAL com port (ie not usb-serial adapters, or port replicators).
Title: Re: Time for cheapo tech2 to earn its keep again
Post by: Auto Addict on 16 May 2008, 08:19:51
It's not the 2.2 is it?
Title: Re: Time for cheapo tech2 to earn its keep again
Post by: Jimbob on 16 May 2008, 08:21:50
Payed about £22 for it,

Nope its the 3 litre

It works well on either laptop with a serial port, or vista laptop with usb - serial adaptor  :y  

not everyone has such results though
Title: Re: Time for cheapo tech2 to earn its keep again
Post by: TheBoy on 16 May 2008, 08:33:41
I managed to get it to work on usb adapter on my old p4 tosh, but only if I ran cpu at full speed (which obviously killed the battery in about 40mins)
Title: Re: Time for cheapo tech2 to earn its keep again
Post by: Markie on 16 May 2008, 09:15:03
i`m confused by such things....

have i got this right that these things are "generic" and do they all need the connectivity described above?

Was thinking about getting the one below - hoping it would cover the Jag, Omega and anything else that turns up  :-/

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/U581-Car-Diagnostic-Scanner-Error-Code-Reader-OBD-2-08_W0QQitemZ260238181995QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item260238181995&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C65%3A3&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
Title: Re: Time for cheapo tech2 to earn its keep again
Post by: Jimbob on 16 May 2008, 09:18:50
Quote
i`m confused by such things....

have i got this right that these things are "generic" and do they all need the connectivity described above?

Was thinking about getting the one below - hoping it would cover the Jag, Omega and anything else that turns up  :-/

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/U581-Car-Diagnostic-Scanner-Error-Code-Reader-OBD-2-08_W0QQitemZ260238181995QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item260238181995&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C65%3A3&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

They are a different kettle of fish, standalone, so no pc needed.

Will work on most newer cars, post 2001/02 I think, so not as good as expected.

Generally that means the facelift engines, 2.2, 2.6, 3.2, but saying that when I borrowed one it wouldnt talk to our early 2.2  :(
Title: Re: Time for cheapo tech2 to earn its keep again
Post by: TheBoy on 16 May 2008, 19:03:24
Quote
i`m confused by such things....

have i got this right that these things are "generic" and do they all need the connectivity described above?

Was thinking about getting the one below - hoping it would cover the Jag, Omega and anything else that turns up  :-/

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/U581-Car-Diagnostic-Scanner-Error-Code-Reader-OBD-2-08_W0QQitemZ260238181995QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item260238181995&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C65%3A3&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
A generic ODBII reader should read the engine (only) ECU on a OBDII (or EOBD) car, which in UK generally means ECUs updated after 2001 for petrols and 2003 for diesels, but there are exceptions.

Ignore the guff about all post 96 cars, thats not valid for UK cars.
Title: Re: Time for cheapo tech2 to earn its keep again
Post by: Mr Skrunts on 16 May 2008, 19:20:24
So which reader (s) would anyone recommend then?
Title: Re: Time for cheapo tech2 to earn its keep again
Post by: Jimbob on 16 May 2008, 19:20:39
Bugger......

It failed

error 77 Driver side airbag resistance high, but it wont erase :(

guessing a slightly more permanent problem  >:(
Title: Re: Time for cheapo tech2 to earn its keep again
Post by: Mr Skrunts on 16 May 2008, 19:20:55
and are PC /laptop based ones better.?
Title: Re: Time for cheapo tech2 to earn its keep again
Post by: TheBoy on 16 May 2008, 21:05:26
Quote
Bugger......

It failed

error 77 Driver side airbag resistance high, but it wont erase :(

guessing a slightly more permanent problem  >:(
Check TIS, think there is a bulletin that describes how to fix if it is high resistance (as opposed to open circuit) - something to do with soldering wires or crimping, bypassing a connector.  May be worth doing live data first, seeing with you can locate where the HR is...
Title: Re: Time for cheapo tech2 to earn its keep again
Post by: Jimbob on 16 May 2008, 21:07:12
there is, under drivers seat iirc.

gave em a wiggle (technical term) but to no avail

that fixed it last time  ;D
Title: Re: Time for cheapo tech2 to earn its keep again
Post by: TheBoy on 16 May 2008, 21:08:42
Quote
there is, under drivers seat iirc.

gave em a wiggle (technical term) but to no avail

that fixed it last time  ;D
do same, but looking at live data feed, see if resistance varies.
Title: Re: Time for cheapo tech2 to earn its keep again
Post by: VXL V6 on 16 May 2008, 21:09:09
Sounds like the Vectra, the wires come adrift in the connector under the seat if it's moved. VX do a fix kit but unless you are planning to take the seats out it's far better to cut the connectors off then solder and shrink tube the connections.

Title: Re: Time for cheapo tech2 to earn its keep again
Post by: Jimbob on 16 May 2008, 21:10:13
Quote
Quote
there is, under drivers seat iirc.

gave em a wiggle (technical term) but to no avail

that fixed it last time  ;D
do same, but looking at live data feed, see if resistance varies.


A cunning plan, now if only I was seeing someone with a tech 2 tomorrow  ::)
Title: Re: Time for cheapo tech2 to earn its keep again
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 16 May 2008, 21:10:38
Quote
Cheapo tech2 around £20 - £30 from egay, BUT you need a laptop with a proper REAL com port (ie not usb-serial adapters, or port replicators).

I use a port replicator on my dell l400, works fine with the cheapo tech2  :y


Title: Re: Time for cheapo tech2 to earn its keep again
Post by: TheBoy on 16 May 2008, 21:23:06
Quote
Quote
Cheapo tech2 around £20 - £30 from egay, BUT you need a laptop with a proper REAL com port (ie not usb-serial adapters, or port replicators).

I use a port replicator on my dell l400, works fine with the cheapo tech2  :y


is that the PIII 500Mhz ultra slim (in its time), or am I thinking LS400....
Title: Re: Time for cheapo tech2 to earn its keep again
Post by: TheBoy on 16 May 2008, 21:23:27
Quote
Quote
Quote
there is, under drivers seat iirc.

gave em a wiggle (technical term) but to no avail

that fixed it last time  ;D
do same, but looking at live data feed, see if resistance varies.


A cunning plan, now if only I was seeing someone with a tech 2 tomorrow  ::)
if only ::)