Many here have used scanguage etc - and I have longed for something for my Patrols but every time I
check them out nothing worked very
well.
Recently I got told again that Scanners won't work on my car, but electronics engineering is my field and I reckon it should and that probably someone without any real knowledge of the subject looked up a chart my car wasn't on.
Even Patrol websites couldn't tell me - but thats the internet.
I took a chance and got this cheap $65 item from ebay - sort of expecting I might waste my money but you guessed it, it actually did something and is useful. There are cheaper items but I figured there would be less button pushing with this ones long screen (proved correct)and I felt EOBD was important.
I already have a laptop Nissan diagnostic system which does a better job but its a bit cumbersome.
I wanted something that could be always with me and possibly help others.
This item is the size and shape of a mobile phone and plugs into the OBD11 16 pin diagnostic connector under dash near steering wheel on most cars.
It even fits into my mobile phone holder.
As such it can become a useful tool to carry out bush.
Many of todays cars are so crammed with electronics that you can be in real trouble if some sensor plays up, puts you into limp mode or worse won't let you start the car because an air bag has gone pop or whatever.
These devices can reset codes, read them out etc and even do some primitive monitoring on its graphic screen.
I have already had my first incident whereby a car had to be "Fixed" and the usual hammer gaffa tape and wd40 or car battery welding setup didn't cut it.
This device should work with all Aussie cars made post 2007, and many before but you need to
check earlier cars. "There are no guarantees".
On start up you have to let it figure out the comms system protocol of your car.
With no info on my 4800 Patrol and expecting a dud I waited with bated breath as it tried to connect at it got in on the very last protocol (ISO 9 for EOBD ).
You have to select a few menu items every time you start the car which is a pain but thats life.
I use
mine to read out revs, actual speed , timing ,Maf and water temps which allows me to take action ahead - for instance my setup only has electric radiator fans, if water temp is 95 I know fans are on and can wait till its off to cross a river.
While these things can log faults and codes they aren't much use without an explantion of the fault so take extra documentation with you.
Mine was from ebay seller AutoDoctor007
"Brand New AUT 100 Auto Scanner OBD Tool obd2 diagnostic tool OBD2 CODE READER"
P.S. In an unusal twist this scanner didn't work with our Toyota 2006 RAV4 - usually its the Nissan stuff that has the funnies.
SCANNER