MOT Q - Warning messages

[Jem45]

So I understand Joe - not vida/dice but significantly better than your SnapOns etc.. Gonna make some more enquiries with local garages tomorrow and will update with progress.

I had a deckko on ebay last night and the phase 1 iCarsoft can be had for under 100 notes it seems. Trouble is, 'cause the fleet is mostly elderly, I've (confession) not used diagnostic software..ever. I'm thinking what if I buy it and then I aint got a clue what it's telling me ha ha!

I'll be like my dad when we got him a laptop and he used it to balance on his knees to eat his fish and chips off, God rest him.

[comfortablynumb]

Have you rung the guys that do your MOTs and asked them?
My lot would be quite happy to tell me if they’ve got to fail it over the phone
Just a thought

[timbo1956]

Jan 30, 2020 6:42:32 GMT comfortablynumb said:

Have you rung the guys that do your MOTs and asked them?
My lot would be quite happy to tell me if they’ve got to fail it over the phone
Just a thought

As a tester I'd still need to see it or at least a photo, which we still haven't got on here to know if it's a fail.

[comfortablynumb]

^^^^fair point that

[mk2cossie]

Jan 30, 2020 9:09:53 GMT timbo1956 said:

Jan 30, 2020 6:42:32 GMT comfortablynumb said:

Have you rung the guys that do your MOTs and asked them?
My lot would be quite happy to tell me if they’ve got to fail it over the phone
Just a thought

As a tester I'd still need to see it or at least a photo, which we still haven't got on here to know if it's a fail.

I thought I had answered it
As it isnt a warning light illuminated, it should be a pass. The OP said it comes up with a message in the info display only, and no accompanying warning lights

[joem83]

Jan 29, 2020 20:21:14 GMT Jem45 said:

So I understand Joe - not vida/dice but significantly better than your SnapOns etc.. Gonna make some more enquiries with local garages tomorrow and will update with progress.

I had a deckko on ebay last night and the phase 1 iCarsoft can be had for under 100 notes it seems. Trouble is, 'cause the fleet is mostly elderly, I've (confession) not used diagnostic software..ever. I'm thinking what if I buy it and then I aint got a clue what it's telling me ha ha!

I'll be like my dad when we got him a laptop and he used it to balance on his knees to eat his fish and chips off, God rest him.

I think I paid £50 for mine & sold it on here for £40, so they can be had cheap.

It's quite easy to use to be honest.

[Jem45]

Jan 30, 2020 17:21:12 GMT mk2cossie said:

Jan 30, 2020 9:09:53 GMT timbo1956 said:

As a tester I'd still need to see it or at least a photo, which we still haven't got on here to know if it's a fail.

I thought I had answered it
As it isnt a warning light illuminated, it should be a pass. The OP said it comes up with a message in the info display only, and no accompanying warning lights

Sorry - a photo.. this is newer than mine but same arrangement.

I realise now I have fluffed, as there is an amber triangle with exclamation mark as well as message. When I said no warning lights, I was referring to the EML, ABS (etc) lights which sit to the right of the tacho. The exclamation mark is what tells you there's a message to read:



Anyway went for a chat with MOT man today and he said he'd have to see it but that he thought it was ABS. I know f-all but I know its not ABS so this hasn't filled me with confidence. He says his kit will read it though - we'll see

[Rich]

Jan 30, 2020 20:33:58 GMT Jem45 said:

Jan 30, 2020 17:21:12 GMT mk2cossie said:

I thought I had answered it
As it isnt a warning light illuminated, it should be a pass. The OP said it comes up with a message in the info display only, and no accompanying warning lights

Sorry - a photo.. this is newer than mine but same arrangement.

I realise now I have fluffed, as there is an amber triangle with exclamation mark as well as message. When I said no warning lights, I was referring to the EML, ABS (etc) lights which sit to the right of the tacho. The exclamation mark is what tells you there's a message to read:



Anyway went for a chat with MOT man today and he said he'd have to see it but that he thought it was ABS. I know f-all but I know its not ABS so this hasn't filled me with confidence. He says his kit will read it though - we'll see

Well it’s kind of ABS. It’s related to the ABS system in as much as it’s all the same system although the ABS system will function as ‘simple ABS’ when this message is displayed.

[damageandy]

That message on its own is not a fail.

[ChasR]

Jan 29, 2020 15:59:33 GMT Rich said:

Jan 29, 2020 10:23:15 GMT Jem45 said:

That's helpful Mk2cossie mate, thanks.

Rich - my understanding is that only Vida/ Dice will give the specifics on what triggers the message and the other generic systems are a bit, well, generic - but happy to hear that if that's based on your experience. We'll see.

I think someone may be trying to get you to part with expensive diag. The whole point of DTCs being set is that the DTC can be read. I’ve had no issue reading volvos in the past, let alone much else.

You'd think that and I'd almost agree. I know you work with cars most times, but I have dealt with a few myself as have people I know ; they also do it for a living like yourself. If you can show me where I've gone wrong I'm all earrs. But little has shown me that so far.

Examples?

-I've been caught out on the M3. Snap-On registered a misfire on my M3, but not on the cylinder. The BMW INPA system got it down to the cylinder. The £10 reader? Nothing ; the car was perfect according to it
-Clio 172 ; it said there was an issue with brake pressure coherence ; CLIP managed to narrow it down to a sensor, well a broken ABS ring in my case.
-Saab; The Snap On Solus honestly couldn't give a flying flamingo about that car. Saab? WTF is a Saab: Is it a car? Nah, I can't give two flicks about the car; go away; You shouldn't have bought a car from quirky Swedes ; Tought S**T. Seriously. I tried it, searched to Kingdom Come online, my mechanic whose machine it is gave it a go. A car dealer friend of mine refuses to buy Saabs to flip on for exactly this reason; it makes fault finding trickier compared to a VAG for example. Only GEN2 or whatever the GM software is called could read the codes and in my case reset a service light I previously tried to cheat (Thanks Bagnall Saab).

Basically, it's not quite as cut and dry as you think, at least in my experience, espeically on Saabs, where it seems no aftermarket reader will read them, no matter how expensive.

That said, the Solus machine came in handy for registering my dad's BMW E61 535d's battery.

It seems most code readers can read emissions codes, but not much beyond that without specialist equipment IME.

[comfortablynumb]

Have to agree with ChasR, ive tried several different code readers over a period of time, some are so bad they won’t even acknowledge the car!

[Jem45]

Jan 31, 2020 1:07:38 GMT ChasR said:

Jan 29, 2020 15:59:33 GMT Rich said:

I think someone may be trying to get you to part with expensive diag. The whole point of DTCs being set is that the DTC can be read. I’ve had no issue reading volvos in the past, let alone much else.

You'd think that and I'd almost agree. I know you work with cars most times, but I have dealt with a few myself as have people I know ; they also do it for a living like yourself. If you can show me where I've gone wrong I'm all earrs. But little has shown me that so far.

Examples?

-I've been caught out on the M3. Snap-On registered a misfire on my M3, but not on the cylinder. The BMW INPA system got it down to the cylinder. The £10 reader? Nothing ; the car was perfect according to it
-Clio 172 ; it said there was an issue with brake pressure coherence ; CLIP managed to narrow it down to a sensor, well a broken ABS ring in my case.
-Saab; The Snap On Solus honestly couldn't give a flying flamingo about that car. Saab? WTF is a Saab: Is it a car? Nah, I can't give two flicks about the car; go away; You shouldn't have bought a car from quirky Swedes ; Tought S**T. Seriously. I tried it, searched to Kingdom Come online, my mechanic whose machine it is gave it a go. A car dealer friend of mine refuses to buy Saabs to flip on for exactly this reason; it makes fault finding trickier compared to a VAG for example. Only GEN2 or whatever the GM software is called could read the codes and in my case reset a service light I previously tried to cheat (Thanks Bagnall Saab).

Basically, it's not quite as cut and dry as you think, at least in my experience, espeically on Saabs, where it seems no aftermarket reader will read them, no matter how expensive.

That said, the Solus machine came in handy for registering my dad's BMW E61 535d's battery.

It seems most code readers can read emissions codes, but not much beyond that without specialist equipment IME.

Well it's booked in next week for diagnostic and MOT at 'bog standard diagnostics and MOTs limited' so will report back with documentary evidence.

[Rich]

Jan 31, 2020 1:07:38 GMT ChasR said:

It seems most code readers can read emissions codes, but not much beyond that without specialist equipment IME.

Launch isn’t a ‘code reader’, it’s a diagnostics system with mainly dealer level of programming support. As are most garages equipment these days to be fair. I don’t really struggle with most diagnostic needs

[ChasR]

Jan 31, 2020 22:12:30 GMT Rich said:

Jan 31, 2020 1:07:38 GMT ChasR said:

It seems most code readers can read emissions codes, but not much beyond that without specialist equipment IME.

Launch isn’t a ‘code reader’, it’s a diagnostics system with mainly dealer level of programming support. As are most garages equipment these days to be fair. I don’t really struggle with most diagnostic needs

I may bring my sister’s Saab to you next time then. I’m hoping for a different outcome, as no reader locally bar GEN2 will even connect . My other friend would also be interested in the outcome.

I was being generic with the term code reader . I was referring to it scanning the car and then coming back with codes, diagnostic info etc.

[Rich]

Feb 1, 2020 8:34:58 GMT ChasR said:

Jan 31, 2020 22:12:30 GMT Rich said:

Launch isn’t a ‘code reader’, it’s a diagnostics system with mainly dealer level of programming support. As are most garages equipment these days to be fair. I don’t really struggle with most diagnostic needs

I may bring my sister’s Saab to you next time then. I’m hoping for a different outcome, as no reader locally bar GEN2 will even connect . My other friend would also be interested in the outcome.

I was being generic with the term code reader . I was referring to it scanning the car and then coming back with codes, diagnostic info etc.

I mean, I’m up for a go I reserve the term ‘code reader’ for those £19.99 EOBD2 readers, that’s all they are. All the diagnostic kit I use is way beyond that. I can use launch to configure and code pretty much at dealer level on a lot of marques.

[comfortablynumb]

Jem45 let us know how you get on will you?
I for one would be interested in the result

[Jem45]

Feb 1, 2020 9:29:26 GMT comfortablynumb said:

Jem45 let us know how you get on will you?
I for one would be interested in the result

Yep, will do CM. Although the outcome is unlikely to be definitive more generally I guess.

What I'm hoping for is "We've cleared the message; there was no fault stored. Your DIM is probably a bit sensitive 'cause of the age and mileage and it tripped a fault when you reconnected the battery for the 6th time - but nothing to worry about. There's your test certificate", or a variation on that.

What I'm laying against that is: "Can't read it mate, but it's a fail. You'll need to take it somewhere".

[Jem45]

An update - not helpful to those who are wanting the MOT 'skinny' though. Lad from VOC came over tonight with his Vida set up and read the code. Whaddya know, it's not a random tripped message - it appears my rear diff is inoperable (it's an old 4x4 cross country with Haldex system) and is therefore blocking the stability control/ active yaw control/ and traction control. This was the only thing on a pretty impressive list of stored codes that would seem to relate to 'anti-skid service required".

So I'm going to cancel the MOT until I understand more about the problem and whether its going to be mega bucks to fix. Bugg3r...

[mk2cossie]

Do you know if the Haldex unit has ever had an oil and filter service in its life?
May possibly be a good start

[comfortablynumb]

This is another one of those things that really annoys me on moderns
One fault showing can be only vicariously connected to the actual problem 😡
I’m sure it’s done to make you spend your money at the dealership