diagnostic software

[bobbak]

I want to buy the fault reading software and serial connector to interigate my ecu for fault codes but not 100% sure if i need the hand held one or the one that connects directly to the lap top so what do you fellas and lasses use on your cars mine is a 2000 model and i read that pre 2001 the one i want is not suppoerted but also read a paragraph that stated that a 96 v8 owner used it and it worked so now confused

please let me know your thoughts

regards bob

Edited November 27, 2005 by bobbak

[Guest teigan]

the ones that download to a personal computer are most convenient. i wish they made one which stored to a flash memory card.

i noticed the smelly tree installed in your vehicle. what brand do you recommend?

[bobbak]

Ah well the tree choice was not down to me it came as part of the valet I had done just not got round to taking it out yet.

[lotusracing]

Greetings,

The only software that can read the lotus unique codes is from odb2.

It works great

-Larry

[Zhastaph]

About a year ago I bought an Elmscan interface from Gendan direct

http://www.gendandirect.co.uk/product_STNISO.html

as mentioned here on LEW;

http://www.lotusespritworld.co.uk/EMaintenance/OBII.html

==================

At the time it came with Scantool.net and Digimoto. It looks like it only comes with the former now.

Scantool.net is great for getting diagnostic codes and also give sensor readings. Other than that it isn't very good, it's refresh rate is slow and has no method of logging or graphing, which makes it diffult to map say lambda sensor readings against throttle, rpm, boost etc.

i have v1.08 so it may have moved on from then.

Digimoto I could never get to work it always got stuck part way through it's startup.

I have since bought a piece of software called ProScan from the states. It plugs into the Elmscan device.

http://www.myscantool.com/order.html

At $40 {about a fiver in proper money } it's a bargain. Logs, graphs, does rolling road style diagnostics etc

[Zhastaph]

Oh, forgot to add.

I have a 2000 v8

Col

[Rob]

I have the digimoto (gendan). Can be a little temperamental but works ok on my 98. Col - try a re-boot on the pc?

[bobbak]

About a year ago I bought an Elmscan interface from Gendan direct

http://www.gendandirect.co.uk/product_STNISO.html

as mentioned here on LEW;

http://www.lotusespritworld.co.uk/EMaintenance/OBII.html

==================

At the time it came with Scantool.net and Digimoto.  It looks like it only comes with the former now. 

Scantool.net is great for getting diagnostic codes and also give sensor readings.  Other than that it isn't very good, it's refresh rate is slow and has no method of logging or graphing, which makes it diffult to map say lambda sensor readings against throttle, rpm, boost etc.

i have v1.08 so it may have moved on from then.

Digimoto I could never get to work it always got stuck part way through it's startup. 

I have since bought a piece of software called ProScan from the states.  It plugs into the Elmscan device.

http://www.myscantool.com/order.html

At $40 {about a fiver in proper money } it's a bargain.  Logs, graphs, does rolling road style diagnostics etc

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thats the one I was considering so if it works on your car then it should do me fine right will get one then

cheres for the info

regards rob

[Zhastaph]

I have the digimoto (gendan).  Can be a little temperamental but works ok on my 98.  Col - try a re-boot on the pc?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nah, I've tried all that. Even 2 completely different laptops

It stops every time on "Retrieving DTCs & OBD info" {i think}

What version is yours, mine's v3.7 there was no update at the time, I haven't looked since.

[andyblackman777]

Rob,

I was the guy with the 96 v8 . I rang the guy at genden direct and he said that the elmscan should work on my car but could not be guarantee it, so, if it didn't work i could have a refund. very fair and it worked just fine.

one thing was that it only worked using a usb connection instaed of the rs232.

cheers Andy

[Jonathan]

Had good success with the Digimoto stuff advertised on LEW as well.

It was a little tricky to handshake with the ECU but it worked well on the 1997 car too.

[bobbak]

Rob,

I was the guy with  the 96 v8 . I rang the guy at genden direct and he said that the elmscan should work on my car but could not be guarantee it, so, if it didn't work i could have a refund. very fair and it worked just fine.

one thing was that it only worked using a usb connection instaed of the rs232.

cheers Andy

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for that info Andy I am in the process of moving house at the mo but will be ordering one asap as I reckon my O2 sensors are playing up and I need to identify which one it is without incuring a huge bill from a dealer for diagnosis time.

regards rob

[hovgaard]

Thanks for that info Andy I am in the process of moving house at the mo but will be ordering one asap as I reckon my O2 sensors are playing up and I need to identify which one it is without incuring a huge bill from a dealer for diagnosis time.

regards rob

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't own a V8 so I don't know how practical this is to do. But you could try to measure the lambda sensor signal voltage with a normal volts gauge while the car is idling and the sensors are connected to the ECU. If the sensors are working, the signal voltage should oscillate between about 0.2 and 0.8 volts or so about once every couple of seconds. If you get a fixed voltage, try replacing the sensor. If replacing, any cheap generic lambda sensor ought to work, I guess (again, not having a V8 myself).

[Paula&Marcus]

Thanks for that info Andy I am in the process of moving house at the mo but will be ordering one asap as I reckon my O2 sensors are playing up and I need to identify which one it is without incuring a huge bill from a dealer for diagnosis time.

regards rob

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Rob,

The O2-sensors in the V8 are 4 identical ones. The post cat sensors are not (really) used while the engine is running (The ECU just looks for them at startup if they are there. BTW, this not correct for stock US-specs ! Are you in the US ?)

If you like you may simply swap out the suspicious O2-sensor with a good working post cat sensor.

Marcus

Edited December 2, 2005 by Paula&Marcus

[actwon]

Well, does anyone know of a pc datalogger that records boost information? I use Alex Pepper's data logger (as I bought it when I had an Mitsu Eclipse GSX). It works great. My only issue is that it does not record boost information in its datalogging. I am looking for one that does.

[WEllison]

Go to www.obd-2.com

I delevloped an enchanced version of Alex Pepper's "Vechicle Exployer" software which also reads all the enchanced Lotus functions. It costs $182.00 with the required Tricom cable.

Wayne

[WEllison]

Go to

www.obd-2.com

I use their Vechicle Exployer software with my PC it data logs and displays all Lotus data provided by the factory. You will need the Tricon cable. Total $182.00

Wayne 2000 V8