obd2 readers

[M@tt]

gav the VGate VS550 as far as i can tell is an EXACT copy of the Gendan GCR25 one, i think its a similar situation with the Chinese tools re badged, its just this one is about £20 cheaper than the other one. In fact in the manual it even mentions the Gendan GCR25 so i think its a complete rip!!

HTH

 

[the snooper]

Having not fixed the fault, I take a look every now & again, just to make sure there's nothing else causing the engine light to be on, other than the oxygen sensor.

you shouldnt leave the dodgy lambda too long apart from costing you more in fuel, if unburnt fuel is getting into the cat it will eventually cause the cat fail

 

[Country Joe]

you shouldnt leave the dodgy lambda too long apart from costing you more in fuel, if unburnt fuel is getting into the cat it will eventually cause the cat fail

Oh. Damn! Thanks for that, Snooper - I thought of it as just being something to do with emissions (which it passed), and as it wasn't in some kind of "limp mode" then it wasn't much to worry about!
It uses quite a bit of fuel normally (V6-4Motion), which makes it hard to tell.
Looks like I've got another item on the never-ending list, then!
Thanks for that (I guess you can tell I'm no mechanic!), I'm on the case, now!
All the Best,
CJ

 

[gavuk]

You gotta love this forum,information available on nearly anything
,thanks for all the info guys ,just spoke to Country Joe ,looks like we are meeting tomorrow,and hopefully go and read direct from the Mrs car......will be looking to add a reader to the tool collection soon though

 

[the snooper]

the lambda reads the oxygen content in the exhaust gases if it measures too much oxygen the ecu increases the petrol and vice versa, so if it is reading oxygen on the low side i will increase the petrol, im surprised it passed the emmisions check with a faulty lambda, they are usually the cause of a fail

 

[Country Joe]

the lambda reads the oxygen content in the exhaust gases if it measures too much oxygen the ecu increases the petrol and vice versa, so if it is reading oxygen on the low side i will increase the petrol, im surprised it passed the emmisions check with a faulty lambda, they are usually the cause of a fail

Odd one, that. I was just saying to Gav, the light went out for about 6 months, and it was during that time that I had the MOT done (end of Feb) but it's on again now.
I sort of told myself that it maybe stayed on for 6 months, and went off for 6 months, but that so long as it wasn't lit when you had the MOT, you'd pass anyway. Looks like I'll have to do something about it now, anyway.
It wasn't a shonky MOT either, I guess I haven't fully murdered the CAT yet, but, as you say, that'll probably be the next thing.
Another of life's little hurdles, I suppose!
CJ

GavUk - I'll be the odd looking fellow with a dark complexion & a swollen mouth, who can't speak properly - hanging around in the Dentist's car park!

 

[the snooper]

if its intermitant check the wiring to and from the plug and check the plug and socket for signs of corrosion and the seals on them, ive never known a lambda fail intermitantly so it could be as above

 

[Country Joe]

if its intermitant check the wiring to and from the plug and check the plug and socket for signs of corrosion and the seals on them, ive never known a lambda fail intermitantly so it could be as above

I'll have to find it first! I have seen a picture of one, though, and it looked like a small spark plug, type thing, with wires coming from what would be the "HT lead" end. Which most likely means a "special tool", as you'd have to cut off the wires to be able to get a socket over it!
But find it I shall, as I've an inkling that a CAT costs a lot more than 2 lambda sensors.
As said above - a mine of information! (not me, the forum!)
CJ

 

[the snooper]

the 1st lambda will be on the downpipe and you use a spanner to undo it, the second if it has one will be after the cat

 

[Country Joe]

Hey, that's good, as it sounds easy to find from above, then.
I think they're both "pre-cat" sensors, one for each bank of 3 cylinders. I read something about them a year or so back, when the light first came on.
It's starting to look like a job that may not be completely beyond me, and there can't be many breakable items on an exhaust downpipe!
Thanks again snooper!
CJ

 

[the snooper]

you wont even have to remove the lambda just check the wiring and plugs / sockets

 

[Robotstar5]

Which most likely means a "special tool", as you'd have to cut off the wires to be able to get a socket over it!

The special tool's not too dear - example

 

[rich r]

I usually just unplug the lambda sensor and feed it's plug through a 24mm ring spanner, down to the sensor itself. But it's dependent on how the wiring runs I guess - that works for me on Subaru engines anyway.

 

[the snooper]

The special tool's not too dear - example

an old socket and a grinder with a cutting disc and blue peter here's one i made earlier

 

[Country Joe]

Hey, get this! I've found it!
That's a bit of a lie, actually - GavUk somehow managed to point it out in about zero seconds flat! I, meanwhile was looking at the front of the engine, where the downpipe isn't!
Unfortunately, my unit didn't communicate properly on the vauxhall, so GavUk probably isn't as happy as me - sorry Gav!
Can't get straight to it right now, 'cos someone's just rung up "with an idea for a project", so just nipping out to see what that means. But it doesn't look too tricky, even for me!
Thanks Snooper, robotstar & Gav, and apologies for hi-jacking the thread (again!)
All the Best,
CJ

 

[gavuk]

CJ your a gent for trying ,I will order the kit but ,due to the time lag of the postal system,i've been in contact with a mate from work ,his lad is up to speed on such things and am arranging to see him...hopefully soon ....
Country Joe ,I owe you, if you need a hand with anything just shout .. ;

 

[Country Joe]

Country Joe ,I owe you

Not a bit of it! You've already identified (almost immediately!) the things that I'd have spent ages looking for, and most likely I'd have removed (and maybe broken) the wrong bits, too. And like a proper professional, you even kept a straight face and never even laughed, as you pointed out (very tactfully) that they're "right over here".
The way I see it, I owe you the drink!
Good to meet you both, too.
All the Best,
CJ
Just for the record, people - I turned out to be no help at all!

 

[the snooper]

Not a bit of it! You've already identified (almost immediately!) the things that I'd have spent ages looking for, and most likely I'd have removed (and maybe broken) the wrong bits, too. And like a proper professional, you even kept a straight face and never even laughed, as you pointed out (very tactfully) that they're "right over here".
The way I see it, I owe you the drink!
Good to meet you both, too.
All the Best,
CJ
Just for the record, people - I turned out to be no help at all!

but you were willing and thats all that matters

 

[gavuk]

Quick update,opted for the laptop based opcom (cheers Mr Snooper),at least for now ,as it was cheap and faster delivery than most of the standalone's.... installed without issue on my newer windows 7 laptop,and pretty self-explanatory to view and reset faults....

Fault came up, p3040 cam sensor intermittent fault ,I reset fault code and on 6-7 starts had no engine management light(EML)...took it for a drive this afternoon and the light came back on ,checked wiring etc ,tried some contact cleaner spray ,still the same....

As it was near 5pm i decided to go to the local factors and get a new sensor,so £30 was exchanged for a sealed in the bag Lucas sensor,fitted this evening, the new sensor would not start without the EML displaying and error 3040 again...

Original sensor was a siemens,so i have just finished putting the original back in ,started 3-4 times without the light coming on ....having read a few posts from other vauxhall owners who have had trouble with non genuine sensors ,i'm going to try and get my money back from the factors first and see if the error 3040 comes back on the original sensor......

On one post I read I should have 4-5volts on the plug to the cam shaft sensor ,I have measured mine at 2.5v which could be pointing to an ecu failing....great ..........Also i notice the o2 sensor varies wildly,displaying lean to rich to lean again ,almost like its hunting ,which i need to look into as i had the cat replaced free 3 months ago after an mot emmissions failure ,replacing the cat cured the problem and it passed the mot alright,original cat was just over 2years old and the lambda just about 18months old now.....any ideas or am I looking at something normal?...

Think I may go for a blast in my non ecu GOLF

 

[hareng]

Not much use for GM without specific additional software but this does more than Vagcom, the most highly respected.
http://www.kauto.co.uk/shop/product_info.php/products_id/89 Cleared codes that dealers left on. Come down in price last 12 months, even so nearly paid for itself at £25 a throw at a garage, they wont clear the code either need to go again so £50.

Back to the OP the cheaper ones will only give a P number which needs to be looked up in a directory.