Member Since: 04 Aug 2005
Location: Newbury
Posts: 6861
I thought the 'lag' was built in specifically to the D3 to prevent the lights turning on and off too quickly as at the time most were fitted with Xenons?and theeeeennn......???
4th Jun 2009 9:14 am
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
Ive just had a demo of the Faultmate and I must say its quite impressive. It looks easy to use and very comprehensive.
The system can be run standalone or via a laptop, although if you want to make any sense of the info then you need to connect the diag port to the Faultmate to the laptop as running in standalone mode the Faultmate only shows diag codes and not their descriptions.
There are a few niggles that stood out on my 10mins at looking at it, but none of them I would suggest should be difficult to overcome, they are :
1) Comms error was experienced when reading one of the files
2) system/PC appeared to "hang" on one occasion when reading a file. It continued after a couple of mins but is was impossible during this period to know it it had failed or was just "thinking"
3)The faultmate is powered from the D3diag port when connected. it would be useful to see a "main battery condition" indicator when connected to warn of low battery
4) I would like to see the Fault description displayed on the Faultmate to save me needing a laptop.
Overall a pretty impressive piece of kit.
Still too expensive for me though now the discount has been withrawn . I would suggest to those who dont like it but havnt actually seen it to get in touch with someone whoes got one and have a look.
Like all new software it will have problems, expecially given all the combinations and permutations of processing routes it can take. The niggly problems that occur I am sure can be sorted as it would seem all the technical difficult base software has been written.
Sorry Mr Wiggs , I wasnt meaning to do take this off topic as my mini "review" but all other threads on this are locked Duncan
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If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
FFRR Autobiography 4.4 SDV8 MY17
D4 HSE MY13 SOLD
FFRR 3.6 Vogue TDV8 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D4 SE TECH MY15 SOLD
D4 XS MY12 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D3 HSE MY06 - Re-Cycled Worldwide
8th Jun 2009 3:15 pm
wiggs
Member Since: 03 Sep 2006
Location: Manchester
Posts: 14372
No problem Dunc ..
The faultmate on its own does not display the fault codes , but it does show the fault ..you just have to keep scrolling down and it tells you
G4 Gone ...but not forgotten
8th Jun 2009 3:48 pm
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
hey
the one i saw showed DTC and NDTC "codes", you had to look at it connected to the PC to see the description.
Or have I got it totally wrong
If it shows the Code and the Description ... great - But I still cant afford it without the discount Duncan
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If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
FFRR Autobiography 4.4 SDV8 MY17
D4 HSE MY13 SOLD
FFRR 3.6 Vogue TDV8 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D4 SE TECH MY15 SOLD
D4 XS MY12 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D3 HSE MY06 - Re-Cycled Worldwide
Last edited by DiscoDunc on 8th Jun 2009 4:21 pm. Edited 1 time in total
8th Jun 2009 4:04 pm
BCP
Member Since: 25 May 2005
Location: East Scotland
Posts: 1468
TazDaz wrote:
one thing that really bugs me with the D3 is the 'lag' that you get with the auto lights
going into tunnels they don't react fast enough, nor do they switch off fast enough either
I had a loaner FL2 the other week and the response on that was brilliant
- worked just as they should
So the question is, can the response / delay be adjusted on the D3 ??
I thought the lag was to make sure it was actually dark and not just an underpass or similar.
8th Jun 2009 4:17 pm
wiggs
Member Since: 03 Sep 2006
Location: Manchester
Posts: 14372
Dunc,
Once you get this display up
You then use the cursor and enter button to read the faults ...it wouldnt be much use as a stand alone reader if you could not read the faultsG4 Gone ...but not forgotten
8th Jun 2009 4:21 pm
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
ThanksDuncan
-----------------------------------------------------
If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
FFRR Autobiography 4.4 SDV8 MY17
D4 HSE MY13 SOLD
FFRR 3.6 Vogue TDV8 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D4 SE TECH MY15 SOLD
D4 XS MY12 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D3 HSE MY06 - Re-Cycled Worldwide
I think the confusion is that when you select on of those lines you are presented with the aphanumeric fault code listings for that module. I presume you can then go a level deeper to get the fault description decode.
Member Since: 05 Feb 2009
Location: Lincolnshire
Posts: 937
The demo of fault finding with the MSV i got was brilliant
Picked up the fault within minutes...Agreed there may be a few niggles but i would rather own one than pay main dealer prices
Yes they seem expensive but on a 3 year old or older D3 i think it is essential to be able to do some diagnostics yourself
8th Jun 2009 4:39 pm
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
just to clarify - my demo was done by methley as he only works around the corner to me so popped in to let me see what it was like and wasnt done by a BBS rep..
agree its essential (IMO) - but i still cant afford it. I can nearly afford/justify it, but not quite.Duncan
-----------------------------------------------------
If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
FFRR Autobiography 4.4 SDV8 MY17
D4 HSE MY13 SOLD
FFRR 3.6 Vogue TDV8 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D4 SE TECH MY15 SOLD
D4 XS MY12 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D3 HSE MY06 - Re-Cycled Worldwide
8th Jun 2009 4:53 pm
wiggs
Member Since: 03 Sep 2006
Location: Manchester
Posts: 14372
DiscoDunc wrote:
and wasnt done by a BBS rep..
G4 Gone ...but not forgotten
8th Jun 2009 5:11 pm
matt_tdv6
Member Since: 05 Feb 2009
Location: Lincolnshire
Posts: 937
How many BBS reps are there?
8th Jun 2009 5:13 pm
wiggs
Member Since: 03 Sep 2006
Location: Manchester
Posts: 14372
A little update
Ok , while i have been sunning myself ...working abroad a lot recently and not had much time for testing , Colin and his team have been busy with a few more bits and bobs .
Mainly the air suspension side of things .They have now added calibration modes for setting up the height sensors etc , and tight tollerance modes for 4x4 alingment etc.
All very easy as usual , and just makes the faultmate an even better investment .
A few shots
New menu
Click image to enlarge
Car put into tight tollerance mode for keeping the suspension from moving .
Click image to enlarge
Car in calibration mode for adjusting the heights of the 4 corners
Click image to enlarge
Input page for changing the height settings .
Click image to enlarge
I also belive ..although i have not had time to try yet , that in the last picture you can raise the height of the car ..so you could have the normal height set heigher than normal ..same for access and off road height . ( or lower )
Im sure Baben has tryed this , maybe he can confirm . ( or Colin )
Big thanks to Colin and his team for bringing out more useful features
I will have a play myself soon .G4 Gone ...but not forgotten
16th Jun 2009 5:54 pm
MCW
Member Since: 12 Jun 2009
Location: N Ireland
Posts: 65
Still looking for a good D3 but in the meantime….is there much that can be enabled on an S without having to get hardware each time or is it only the SE that is the most adaptable? Is there a table somewhere of what can or cannot be done on each type?
Something that I would find useful (without going to a multi vehicle licence) is being able to read (without clearing) fault codes for a limited number of vehicles, so that any underlying fault on a possible vehicle purchase would be known about before the deal went too far. No harm in asking!!
22nd Jun 2009 6:29 pm
XX03
Member Since: 03 Sep 2006
Location: London
Posts: 474
MCW...with reference to No 2....You should find quite a few universal fault code readers that will work on most cars about, and not a massive amount of cash....Try Google....Search "DTC Reader".
And definately no harm in asking.....If you dont ask you may never know and there are always plenty on here with far more experience than me to help out.....I know coz I've had loads of help.Formerly Blakey
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
. I would suggest to those who dont like it but havnt actually seen it to get in touch with someone whoes got one and have a look.
Thanks
...working abroad a lot recently and not had much time for testing , Colin and his team have been busy with a few more bits and bobs .
