Reader for Mercedes

[John Peerce]

Hi All. I would like to know if anyone here can advise on getting a handheld OBD-II diagnostic codes reader for mercedes cars (post 1996).

I noticed that the plug for the OBD computer inside the engine bay of my car (W202 1999 C43) is circular shaped (with 30 or so pins in it) and, having done done some search on the internet the OBD-II readers that i saw have a rectangular shaped connector...

Also apparently with some OBD readers you can hook them up to the car's computer from inside the cabin - so you can monitor the car and at what points error codes arise while driving .. has anyone got experience of this ? where is the plug for the OBD reader located exactly inside the cabin ?

 

[NormanB]

John

I know nothing about this OBD marlarkey but guess the hardware may be less of a problem than the software.

From what I do know OBD is a standard but there are revisions OBD I, II etc.

From another site this guy seems pretty clued up and even gives an example of how to rig up something less ambitious for $15!!- it may not be exactly relevant to your specific needs but it may be the 'starter for ten':

http://pages.prodigy.net/jforgione/MB_X11.html

Good luck. please feedback to the forum if you make progress!

NormanB

PS: The guy's website is quite impressive on content, his homepage is http://pages.prodigy.net/jforgione/MB_S500.html

 

[John Peerce]

NormanB. Many thanks for your reply.

As you say, this guy indeed looks very clued up, the kind of person any Mercedes owner would like to have as a next door neighbour

I will follow up the suggestions on this guy?s web page for various scanners, although when to comes to the $15 home-made one I think I will pass as my knowledge in this department is rather lacking.

 

[guydewdney]

sorry.

spoken (mailed) this guy - yes - hes very clued up. The systems he has are pre-1995 - which are different to the 1996+

theres no easy solution to this problem, except a costly copy of carsoft.

unless you know different - I'd be interested.

the OBDII socket, by definition, has to be within 2' of the driver, inside the cabin. my 1996 CL doesn't have such a socket, being a UK car. Its a yank thing.. It DOES have the same 30 pin diagnostic socket under the bonnet. pin 1 is - pin 3 is + and pin 2 is data. pin 25 (or whatever) is diagnosrtic for airbags, pin XX is for window motors etc etc

 

[John Peerce]

guydewdney, thanks for your reply.

It does seem that most handheld readers are too expensive.

I am now moving in the direction of buying a diagnostic software for the laptop, that it then connected to the OBD in the engine bay.

I have found one such company that sells this with a cable for about £140 (i haven't looked into carsoft yet, or maybe cheaper products):

http://www.autoenginuity.com/products.html

let me know what you think of this, it looks promising.

PS The the OBD in my car's engine has a round socket with about 38 pins in it, which i suspect is same as yours. Can it be as easy as just buying a cable with USB on one end (that goes to the laptop) and the 38 pin connector on the other (that goes to the OBD socket) ? does such a cable exist ? or would an expensive adapter be needed...

 

[wagamama]

Hi

I have a C240 (2001), and (i think) the socket for the OBD reader inside it is near to the bonnet release mechanism under the steering wheel column

HTH in some way )
Waga

 

[BillyBoy]

When I had my Scorpio, one of the lads on their forums found a chap in america called Alex Peper who sells leads and software for a laptop. I don't know if he does anything suitable for the Merc, but you could give him a try. I have the Ford lead as it still works on my wifes Fiesta even though I originally bought it for the Scorpio and it is quite good, though the software takes a bit of getting used to as it is functional rather than pretty. His web site is at http://www.obd-2.com and you can see examples of what the software does at http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/obd2a.htm

Cheers,

Bill


'01 E320 CDi Estate

 

[guydewdney]

that has the standard yank obd2 plug...

 

[crawfy58]

Nice info on your site Billy Boy.
I am seriously thinking of buying Alex's kit. Its certainly cheaper than most other offerings even though it takes some learning.
The only drawback that i can see is the lack of support in his software for my car which is an A Class. I dont think its available in the US.
Do you think that I would be in a similar situation to you with your scorpio in that I couldnt make the most of the data as its not specific to my car.
Other than that it certainly seems very good indeed.
Crawfy58

 

[John Peerce]

guydewdney, it does look like, as you say, there is no easy (or rather cheap) solution my specific situation. There are plenty of OBD software packages available out there to choose from, and i have a laptop ready, the problem is that the connector that i need from the laptop to the OBD socket in my car has to have a 38-pin plug to fit the OBD socket. Most companies ship their software with the standard 16-pin OBD plug these days. Even Mercedes, it seems, have phased 38-pin connectors out in favour of 16 pin standard OBD connector in newer cars (post 2000). Only carsoft seem to ship this 38 pin connector with their software, but then their software is very pricey (> £1000, i was thinking more like <£200).

 

[crawfy58]

John,
Might be worth emailing Alex at obd2 to see if he can supply a 38 pin connector with his kit as he certainly seems to know his stuff over there.
Crawfy

 

[John Peerce]

Crawfy, I think that it is a good idea. He might hopefully be able to supply a "home made" connection to suit the specs that i require. I will give it a try.

 

[BillyBoy]

Alex is certainly very helpful. I know that Steve Congrave (one of the guys who runs the Scoprio site) got quite a bit of help from him and when I bought my lead, Steve got about 20 orders together and negotiated a good price with Alex (If I remember correctly I think they were £47 all in including postage from the States.)

It's definately worth mailing him and seeing if he can do something for hte UK Mercs.

Cheers,

Bill

 

[Spike]

Mebbe this will help?

http://www.justoffbase-tools.co.uk/tools.asp?parent=1I4488P1054M0