ODB2 Reader

[Brizzle]

Hi folks, I've not been on the forum much in the past couple of years - my bad

My 2009 C220 has had an intermittent amber engine warning light for the last few years (the codes of which suggests a faulty fuel temperature sensor) and despite several components being changed it is still there and the local MB stealer is scratching his head for things to change next. The only thing I can be sure of is that whatever they come up with will be expensive. Personally, I suspect a fault in the wiring loom but hey I'm only an electrical engineer so what do I know?

After having been off for the last week or so the light came on again just as I was driving to the MOT centre yesterday and guess what - it failed on that and not meeting emissions £50 later they had reset the computer and it passed both

I know this is a fault that needs to be rectified and I will be rewiring the sensor when I have the time. In the meantime is there an ODB reader that people recommend that can also reset fault codes?

 

[M80]

You can start with the more basic free 'Torque' app on your Android.
That's fed BT from the OBD port via an EML327 sender.
Senders start at less than £5, although I'm having issues with these at the moment and the more expensive (older) EML327 unit I have is connecting more reliably.

Next up is the iCarsoft. There are choices here. I have the MB specific V2 version, there are cheaper and more expensive.

For you to specifically identify which wires you need to test from sender to ECU you need a wiring diagram. Or you might unplug your ECU and test out to the sender to identify the pins. Use needles and crocs as probes flare the connectors.
Trouble with a intermittent fault is you can't find it when it 'ait there.

My way, to start, would be to identify the pin outs to sensor/s. Check resistance when connected. Wiggle plugs and see if it changes.
I've seen poor connections due to flared connectors and that'll throw the ECU.

 

[LostKiwi]

Also look at the Autel AP200 dongle and phone based app. Cheaper than an iCarsoft and in my experience works pretty well if you have an Android phone.

 

[Droverunner]

I have the iCarsoft and rate it highly. It has helped with every problem I've faced it with on wife's CLK and my Viano.

 

[M80]

I have the iCarsoft and rate it highly. It has helped with every problem I've faced it with on wife's CLK and my Viano.

Do you find it can see much more on the CLK than the Viano?
Both iCarsoft and Star (well DAS) seem limited on the 639.

 

[Brizzle]

Hi folks, thanks for the prompt responses and suggestions which I will surely look into.

The dongle approach looks interesting as long as there is a good one that works with the iPhone. D'oh! Just remembered the car has an Android head unit fitted

 

[KennyN]

As previously mentioned , iCarsoft . The extra few ££ for the CR Pro is worth it as it covers nearly every mainstream model.

Used mine recently to diagnose the "Xmas tree lights " of faults on the dash of the Porker , turned out it was a faulty rear driver side ABS sensor and the machine took me straight to the cause of the fault, if i had put it into a garage to have it repaired it would have cost me more than buying the CR Pro and the sensor and repairing it myself.

K

 

[M80]

Both our MB's have Android HU's. I monitor 'things' while I drive. For the Viano I like to see when it's doing / done a regen.
Torque comes with all sorts of dials pre loaded, mainly boy racer stuff imo. I delete that lot from the off.
Then setting up to monitor the components I like to see takes a while.
I use it to gauge 'spot' fuel economy also.
But it will read 'some' codes, and reset them. It does have limitations.

 

[Droverunner]

>>>Do you find it can see much more on the CLK than the Viano

I don't have a back to back comparison in any particular area but yes that's my impression. However I have been lucky really over both vehicles that neither has needed intensive diagnostics.

You mentioned DPF regen monitoring. Would I be able to do that with my 2012 642 engine on the iCarsoft or would I need an app like your Torque? In truth my journeys are a bit short for a DPF but I do tend to drive quite briskly which may offset that.... would be interesting to monitor the regens for a month or so though.

 

[M80]

I have read that it is possible to sort of programme Torque to monitor soot levels and provide a mileage since last regen. DAS (Star) does this. It would remove my style of monitoring with Torque.
So far I have failed in this endeavour.

On Torque I monitor exhaust temperature at the DPF and reset mileage as that falls again following a regen.
Our exhaust temperatures can rise to perhaps 500 C, depending on engine requirements / our right foot. Feasibly more.
I've set my DPFs temp monitor to start flashing at 525 C, I may adjust if I find 'my setting' is out. As it flashes I see it has entered regen, when it stops it's finished.

My MB V2 can tell me exhaust temperature, good enough. But it's a bulky item to have floating around the cab as I drive, plus OBD lead as well (that I hang over the gear stick) when I do use it.
The V2 can tell me the soot level but as far as I see that is only when I've triggered a forced regen, not something I want to do routinely.

If I remember you still have your Comand installed. I replaced mine with a Chinese 9" Android. Watching the live info on that is easier.

That reminds me
Anyone wanna buy a Comand 4gig unit?
From a 2014 Viano but fits other mo mo's.

I hope Brizzle is ok with all our additional chatter.
As a leccy with engine ears he will hopefully have interest.

 

[M80]

I'm only an electrical engineer so what do I know?

More than liddle 'ole me. I was a mere Leccy up the ladder with neon driver.
I learned the hard way why they don't work for testing not live.

 

[mioba]

Given what they do, I would go for the icarsoft v3 MB, V2 is now old. they are not that expensive given.

Just because you have the amber light coming back, doesnt mean its the same fault, yoi dont mention the fault codes.

 

[mattkh]

....... Use needles and crocs as probes flare the connectors.

And I find that I always have to clean the probes of my tester with acetone every use before they register.

 

[Botus]

I have a paid for phone app and used it for the first time ever this week. Rather basic and only does Engine stuff - info in the bottom paragraph

Mate has a pug tractor with ad blue, as he's a clever guy he's been running distilled water in the ad blue tank and safeway trash in the fuel tank and likes to save fuel by killing the ignition switch and coasting at any possible opportunity

the effects of this stupidity is evolving as car electronic sophistication rolls on
Vauxhall Insignia's both coped and just worked
Mondeo would throw can bus errors and all manager of what the hell happened (but never reported any of this to the driver)
Pug is throwing fault codes and warning of impending doom (it was really confused when he decided to key off coast when in the middle of a DPF regen !)

He bought a 27 quid orange thing that gives 6 parameters of OBD info out of a possible16, and shows an engine code PD00 and doesn't wipe it
My phone app shows that code plus 3 canbus bits of its confusion and clears all of them
My snap on tool (silly money on current 21.4 update) finds >30 codes across all manner of cars systems and clears them. And after I forced him to brim the ad blue tank with real stuff and told the car to think about life using the snap on tool, engine codes cleared and stayed gone and the DFP regen worked a few miles later. But I suspect he's damaged the vehicle as it has canbus comms errors all the time that come straight back that weren't there when he first got the car

the phone app is the paid version of this freebie https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.wgsoft.scanmaster&hl=en but of course all phone apps needs a good diagnostic BT dongle to go in the ODB socket to talk to the phone app. And here is the big issue, most adapters run fake faulty chips that only do partial support of the many different comms protocols and only send 8 byte data strings when some cars need the full 255 byte strings to do real work. I was using one of these adaptors as I need it for playing on BMW bikes https://www.bmdiag.co.uk/unicarscan-ucsi-2000-bluetooth-obd2-adapter

 

[Droverunner]

So does anyone have ideas of a decent app for an iPhone and a matching OBD dongle... happy to pay a sensible amount for function and quality.

 

[mioba]

On my iphone i use car scanner and https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264663295132?hash=item3d9f29649c:g:hYMAAOSwtMVeVcy3

But got rid and got myself a icarsoft MB v3 - much easier with multiple mercs,

 

[Botus]

So does anyone have ideas of a decent app for an iPhone and a matching OBD dongle... happy to pay a sensible amount for function and quality.

this posh dongle supports the iPhone https://www.bmdiag.co.uk/unicarscan-ucsi-2000-bluetooth-obd2-adapter

as for apps no idea

here's one I just found https://apps.apple.com/us/app/obd-auto-doctor/id908897183

I think people need to understand what a phone app can do, vs a decent big money big boy garage diagnostic gadget, its very different... its a bit like a tin of beans vs an annual pass to every Michelin stared restaurant in the world

 

[M80]

I would have thought the EML327 BT transmitter just puts out a BT signal that can be picked up by iphone.
The app is another question.

 

[Botus]

I would have thought the EML327 BT transmitter just puts out a BT signal that can be picked up by iphone.
The app is another question.

I believe it has to be a special different connection - remember apple do all their software wrong - as this is critical comms, it mustn't do apple's randomware interpretation of the right way to do things... it shows up when you connect the uni car scan adaptor on an andriod - you'll find two BT connections "the normal way" and "the apple f***up connection" - you must pick the normal one on android and the mess for apple

 

[AnthonyUK]

I would have thought the EML327 BT transmitter just puts out a BT signal that can be picked up by iphone.
The app is another question.

I believe it has to be a special different connection - remember apple do all their software wrong - as this is critical comms, it mustn't do apple's randomware interpretation of the right way to do things... it shows up when you connect the uni car scan adaptor on an andriod - you'll find two BT connections "the normal way" and "the apple f***up connection" - you must pick the normal one on android and the mess for apple

Apple only support BLE for this antiquated serial connection. The adaptors are a little more expensive e.g. £7-8 (direct from China) but do work.

So does anyone have ideas of a decent app for an iPhone and a matching OBD dongle... happy to pay a sensible amount for function and quality.

Carista is probably the best option if you have to use your mobile but not all makes are supported. MB support is pretty limited.
An iCarsoft unit may do what you need e.g. an i980 and these are low cost.