Diagnostics

[Bill]

Bit quiet in here, isn't it?

After a fatal problem with my Disco 1, I was persuaded to invest in a
Jeep Grand Cherokee. At least I now know that they don't have a 4WD that
matches what I want and that the mixture of German and US technology
leaves a bit to be desired.

I have also become a little more knowledgeable on the subject of vehicle
diagnostics. I may not be expert, but I can do better on the Jeep than
anyone round here, including the nearest main agent.

Can anyone give me advice on the diagnostics situation on Disco's and
Range Rovers ie what years are the diesel ones compliant with the
standard engine codes etc.? I don't think my 1997 Disco complied with
anything much.

I'm probably going to have to replace the Jeep with an older LR product,
and it would be useful to be able to plug in my trusty bluetooth device
and see any engine and other error codes.

[Adrian]

Post by Bill
Can anyone give me advice on the diagnostics situation on Disco's and
Range Rovers ie what years are the diesel ones compliant with the
standard engine codes etc.? I don't think my 1997 Disco complied with
anything much.
I'm probably going to have to replace the Jeep with an older LR product,
and it would be useful to be able to plug in my trusty bluetooth device
and see any engine and other error codes.

Legislated OBD standards came in in the early noughties for European
markets - 2001 for petrol, 2004 for diesel.

But, even then, they're really only a bare minimum of mainly emission-
related codes, and to get anything _useful_ you want manufacturer-
specific diagnostics.

[Bill]

Post by Adrian
Legislated OBD standards came in in the early noughties for European
markets - 2001 for petrol, 2004 for diesel.
But, even then, they're really only a bare minimum of mainly emission-
related codes, and to get anything _useful_ you want manufacturer-
specific diagnostics.

That's why I asked. You see, the Cherokee is a 54-reg diesel, and it
doesn't follow ODB2 standards, and I believe there are some produced in
early 2005 that have the same engines and control units.

Is it therefore correct to assume that all diesel Disco 2's are ODB2
compliant, as I've read, or are the early ones something else?
Similarly, is there any specific time when the Range Rovers became
compliant?

With the Jeep, I'd got as far as sending serial AT codes to the
bluetooth car unit and getting answers from the ecu when I discovered
that an Estonian had written some free diagnostic software that worked
and reported the faults I have, such as a swirl actuator problem.

His software has gone beyond the engine codes to also read gearbox
codes, but not any bodywork, abs etc. Does any free software like this
for the LR vehicles exist?

[bert]

Post by Bill
Bit quiet in here, isn't it?
After a fatal problem with my Disco 1, I was persuaded to invest in a
Jeep Grand Cherokee. At least I now know that they don't have a 4WD
that matches what I want and that the mixture of German and US
technology leaves a bit to be desired.

What year is your Jeep?
I had 4 litre straight 6. Took it off road many times and enjoyed
yanking RR and Discos out of the mud with kinetic recovery rope.
What do you not liej about the 4wd system?

Post by Bill
I have also become a little more knowledgeable on the subject of
vehicle diagnostics. I may not be expert, but I can do better on the
Jeep than anyone round here, including the nearest main agent.
Can anyone give me advice on the diagnostics situation on Disco's and
Range Rovers ie what years are the diesel ones compliant with the
standard engine codes etc.? I don't think my 1997 Disco complied with
anything much.
I'm probably going to have to replace the Jeep with an older LR
product, and it would be useful to be able to plug in my trusty
bluetooth device and see any engine and other error codes.

[Bill]

Post by bert
What year is your Jeep?
I had 4 litre straight 6. Took it off road many times and enjoyed
yanking RR and Discos out of the mud with kinetic recovery rope.
What do you not liej about the 4wd system?

2004, 54reg. It ought to be good, with a galvanised body, but it has a
leaking injector that you have to either cut holes in the bodywork to
get to or drop the engine, and swirl valve problems, plus a gearbox
solenoid problem.
I've just yesterday found a mechanic (I'm too old and past it) that
seemed to know what he was talking about, and he hopes to be able to
start in a fortnight, so I've put the Disco I found yesterday (too) on
hold.

The Jeep has the Merc engine and gearbox, and the only low ratio locks
the transmission. In the old Disco, I always used to use low ratio to
juggle trailers and boats into position on rough ground and/or tarmac.
The fishing boats were heavy, our boat is about 3.5 tons on trailer and
I need to jiggle it into a piece of rough ground at son's house, where
the tractor vehicle is on and off tarmac doing something related to an
Austin Powers n-squared point turn.
I never worried that the Disco's transmission would wind up and go bang.

I also seem to be reading that some models of Jeep are having to have
towbars removed in a recall. Ironic that they fitted towbars in a
factory recall to protect the behind the back axle fuel tank.

The place selling the Disco already had 2 broken Grand Cherokees, so
were not keen to offer much in the way of a trade-in.