nopcbs

Will the i980 report MB-specific codes related to the charging system (alternator, voltage regulator, etc.)?


Thinking about getting one after a recent bad alternator "adventure" on my E320 cdi.


- nopcbs

Plutoe

Don't waste your money-----simply read your manual and be aware of the dash light signals as they appear!!

PS: It's the holiday season please elaborate on your so called alternator adventure---did this happen at Disney World!!

nopcbs

As to the $1163 dollar adventure, go find the other recent thread that I started.


Your answer makes no sense. Most MB cars are loaded with sensors to help with identifying the problems that (as any MB owner knows...or will find out) you will, inevitably have. There is a rich vocabulary of detailed error codes available, if you can read them. The cheap OBD2 code reader only reads emission-related codes, nothing else. A Star code reader just cost too much.


- geo

Plutoe

You are exactly correct you are lost because you will not read and follow your manual and all the important dash lights that are discussed---if you had done this in the beginning you would not have confused yourself and loads of others---instead of looking out for the cheap DIY solution----solve your problem first and you do not need a code reader to do that---go to auto zone or billy bobs or abu mousses place they all have code readers and they normally check the codes for free!!

nopcbs

What the heck are you talking about? Nothing in the owners manual will help you diagnose the problem that I experienced with the alternator. The only dash lights are a "check engine" and a glo plug light. Neither is of much use in diagnosing ANY problem beyond a glo plug gone or going bad.


Thanks for nothing.

Honcho

This guys doesn't like it much



It's still not SDS!

But this guys likes it


Google and youtube are your friends

nopcbs

I saw that earlier. My problem is that a LOT of these things are being sold and there are precious few reviews available on them. If they were really bad or near useless, there would be loads of "what a piece of cr*p!" revenge reviews out there and they would be showing up used in droves on eBay. Neither is true.


My question was quite specific about a single system. I accept that these things are at least OK; just want to know if they cover that specific system.


- grl

Plutoe

The answer to your original blue sky question is NO, repeat No---move on!!

Honcho

You're on the bleeding edge of the release of half decent "code readers" that do read the data from each sensor.

The Foxwell NT622 seems to be off to a good start:

http://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35780


The Launch X431 iDiag, Launch Diagun. and Launch Creader 123, 129 etc. are all very new, but sound like a great value.

The Autel MD802 looks like a quality unit, but costs about half as much as a full SDS setup.

I just ordered the X431 iDiag since it makes use of your iPad or iPhone (or Android phone or tablet) and all you have to buy is the Bluetooth sending unit and the specific software for your brand of vehicle.

Neither tool will do adaptation or other SDS type tweaking, but getting the data and codes stored on each sensor is a big step up from your basic code scanner.

I'll report back after I get to play with the X431.

mike75

I have icarsoft i980. It is very helpfull.

Honcho

Don't be shy.... tell a story!

cetialpha5

Where did you get the x431 iDiag? I found something called Launch X431 EasyDiag for about $21-$25 on Aliexpress. Sounds like bluetooth is built in and all it needs is the specific car line which they claim you can get for $39.

Honcho

HIJACK ALERT

I ordered one on the bay... like this http://www.ebay.com/itm/Launch-X431-iDiag-Auto-Diag-Scanner-For-iPhone-Diagnostic-Tools-OBD2-Code-Reader/161473870962?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131003132420%26meid%3Dd747e8901529447eb624a922f4a1facc%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D20131003132420%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D251740809508&rt=nc&tfrom=251740809508&tpos=unknow&ttype=price&talgo=origal

It's just the BT Reader dealio...... then once you have a serial number from the hardware, you can register it on a site (dbscar ? https://cas.x431.com/login?service=h...adSofts.action) and buy the vehicle specfic scanning software.

We shall see....

Honcho

Finally got the x431 iDiag up and running.

The only difficult part was getting the BENZ software.
You have to register the BT reader, then you can buy the software needed via the iOS app, but I had to use my iPad since my iPhone 4S only gave the option to buy a package for 26 different makes of vehicles, which is $600 and I only wanted the BENZ which is $66.

There is nothing even close to a useful manual.

The scanner does see all the different sensors and you can test each one individually, clear codes, and my favorite part is that I don't have to carry a big OBDII scanner or anything.... just the little Bluetooth connector, and I always have my iPhone with me anyway... very nice set up.

I haven't tried it with the iPad yet, and only scanned it once with the iPhone, so I don't have an in depth review for ya. It's going to take some time playing around / YouTube searching, to learn the ins and outs.

So for a total of ~108 bucks, I'm happy, but not ready to sell my Actron CP9580 just yet!