OP
OP
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Which OBD black box did you buy, Foss?
Car D.I.Y.
- Thread starter Drago
- Start date
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fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Kingbolen Ediag Elite, about £80. Amazon. Someone on the VX forum recommended as it works with the Combo Life (the smaller Berlingo/Rifter version) but it seems the Vivaro C isn't in most databases as VX didn't switch to the PSA van until 2019 - been about since 2016. My issue was this 'gateway' some PSA and other manufacturers have introduced. Looks like mine isn't affected - couldn't get an answer on the internet at all.
Would have gone for a screen type, as before (cost/risk wouldn't work), but this does a hell of a lot of stuff, and I risked the 'investment' rather than go the dealers for a pad change having an electronic handbrake - I'd rather do brakes etc myself as I can clean the calipers up properly - a garage wouldn't. It's a bluetooth gizmo and did it's stuff with my Samsung phone. I've not needed anything clever before - my old Nissan was sort of basic, but I needed general engine/airbag fault detection etc. gadget that I had until it got broken. Never used one on MrsF's Qashqai - it's a 2012, never been plugged in, it just works.
It seems to do a lot of stuff, like you can test up and down on windows - checks it's not a 'switch issue', and the handbrake test was very useful - I was outside the car next to the wheel - they are quite noisy - don't really hear it in the car. ZZZZZ Umph.
I wasn't messing about too much as I'm tagging along on the van being something else - TBH, the Software in the vans are the same - think it's just logo's on screens TBH then subs to Vauxhall connect, which is pointless in this van - live traffic - already use google.
I've seen a few reviews and there has been alot done with the gadget on VW.Audi. You aren't getting into the VAG level stuff like my son does on his laptop - making the dials sweep when they didn't or changing start up logo.
The only thing it doesn't do, that I'd like, is an ad-blue reset, but, I'm already using Wynns Crystal Clear to keep any crystallisation issues at bay - it's like £8 a shot with an ad-blue top up, but if you buy the truck sized, you get 3x shots for a few pence more.... I'm not driving enough to worry about cost, but would rather add this stuff as well to protect the 'system' as the car stands alot.
Would have gone for a screen type, as before (cost/risk wouldn't work), but this does a hell of a lot of stuff, and I risked the 'investment' rather than go the dealers for a pad change having an electronic handbrake - I'd rather do brakes etc myself as I can clean the calipers up properly - a garage wouldn't. It's a bluetooth gizmo and did it's stuff with my Samsung phone. I've not needed anything clever before - my old Nissan was sort of basic, but I needed general engine/airbag fault detection etc. gadget that I had until it got broken. Never used one on MrsF's Qashqai - it's a 2012, never been plugged in, it just works.
It seems to do a lot of stuff, like you can test up and down on windows - checks it's not a 'switch issue', and the handbrake test was very useful - I was outside the car next to the wheel - they are quite noisy - don't really hear it in the car. ZZZZZ Umph.
I wasn't messing about too much as I'm tagging along on the van being something else - TBH, the Software in the vans are the same - think it's just logo's on screens TBH then subs to Vauxhall connect, which is pointless in this van - live traffic - already use google.
I've seen a few reviews and there has been alot done with the gadget on VW.Audi. You aren't getting into the VAG level stuff like my son does on his laptop - making the dials sweep when they didn't or changing start up logo.
The only thing it doesn't do, that I'd like, is an ad-blue reset, but, I'm already using Wynns Crystal Clear to keep any crystallisation issues at bay - it's like £8 a shot with an ad-blue top up, but if you buy the truck sized, you get 3x shots for a few pence more.... I'm not driving enough to worry about cost, but would rather add this stuff as well to protect the 'system' as the car stands alot.
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fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
The warnings didn't half 'ship' me up, from the van's dial display (not the bigger screen) - loads of warnings as I tested the handbrake, but that would happen as it's active protection systems would shut off during test as it disables ABS etc. as the engine has to be running. It was a shock at first especially as I was pretending to be another vehicle.... 
. Worked in the end, a few kg lighter in sweat, but it's all re-activated OK.
Why the fluff is a VAN so complicated ? At least the 'bits', and proper bits, are cheap.
. Worked in the end, a few kg lighter in sweat, but it's all re-activated OK.Why the fluff is a VAN so complicated ? At least the 'bits', and proper bits, are cheap.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
It took a few month's for MrsF's new pads to bed in across the disk surface as the disks were good, especially at the back (time wise).
My new front's are about 90% there bedded in (changed over a month ago but my driving is distance or not much local), but the disks are getting a better finish than before - I don't brake hard, and I've had the van a year, previous owner did 30k in 2 years then about 5k in a year. I think a lot of people never think of jet washing or cleaning near brakes/wheels on cars and that's why disks and pads end up in a bad state. My old Nissan did 150k miles on one set of disks - lovely braking surface.
My new front's are about 90% there bedded in (changed over a month ago but my driving is distance or not much local), but the disks are getting a better finish than before - I don't brake hard, and I've had the van a year, previous owner did 30k in 2 years then about 5k in a year. I think a lot of people never think of jet washing or cleaning near brakes/wheels on cars and that's why disks and pads end up in a bad state. My old Nissan did 150k miles on one set of disks - lovely braking surface.
OP
OP
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Ive currently got Carista. ITs excellent, but limited to VW and the annual subscription grates. ICarsoft v4.0,ismon the way and ill flog the Carista dongle on the can club site.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Got to see what works, and my van is in a grey area because it wasn't the initial Citroen/Peugeot/Toyota investment, all the parts are stamped with the three logo's - it's funny, but it makes parts (and genuine ones) good value. I'd get a better reader if the suppliers knew it worked, but this has just saved me at least an hour's labour at a garage and premium charges for OEM pads (covered it's cost), and I have something again that can help out family. The error messages were a WORRY ! FFS.....
