My budget is a top end of £300 which puts the Nanocom out of my price range,
I have a 1996 Range Rover 4.6 P38.
I am looking at the Lynx Evolution and Hawkeye, I desperately need to get one asap as my car is stuck at the garage with an ABS and Traction fault. And the garage can't connect to the diagnostics with there device.
All opinions and advice really appreciated. Thank you.
At the risk of sounding silly, Can you not take it to a garage that are able to do the diagnostics? Be cheaper than top end of £300. The money you'll save will go a way to buying the possible bits to fix it.
The garage cannot get there device to connect to it. And I would rather have something I can use long term myself anyway instead of keep paying someone
Before you buy anything, are you sure that you don't have a problem with your OBD socket or wiring? Usually generic code readers can get at least some 2 way comms going. If your socket/ wiring have issues, then nothing will connect.
As for diagnostics, if you have a laptop running Windows XP to 10 you might consider EasUnlock V4. Good things have been said about it and it's only around £150.
With a P38 its definitely worth having your own kit. My nanocom has saved me at least once where I wouldn't have been able to even limp home - no start 30 miles from home.
I had a Lynx for all of one day before sending it back. That was 2-3 years ago so it might have improved, but it was naff.
The price of the nanocom has gone up slightly, but it's far better, and certainly more convenient than having a laptop if you wanted to leave it in the car.
You need a Nanocom.
Morat wrote:
You need a Nanocom.
I think anyone who's serious about keeping a P38 on the road long-term needs a Nano, but GON is on a budget that doesn't stretch that far.
I've had a Hawkeye and it was OK-ish, but I sold it after a few months and put the money toward a Nano. If you don't have the money you have to go with what gives best bang for the buck you have.
I'm more concerned that there's a potential problem with OBD comms and whatever he buys won't work.
Green-oval-nut
I've just given up Lynx and joined the Nanocom club so maybe we could do a deal. I'm fairly sure it does everything on the ABS, not sure what comes up for traction faults. I could fire things up over the weekend and check but mine is a year 2000 car so significantly different to yours.
Where are you located? I'm in East Sussex.
Original Lynx needs a laptop to run on. As I recall matters installation is a bit of a fiddle and relies on the ODB port working correctly. I'm not sure how tricky it is to transfer to another computer. I don't really want to loose the Toughbook its currently running on. For something like this I'd be a darn sight happier with a physical meet, greet and successfully works verification before doing the money thing. In all fairness it does work fairly well and pretty much does what it says on the tin. Which, unfortunately isn't always what you thought it said. Also prone to dump you in the "WTH" kitty litter if you don't really understand the operating interface. One nasty is that it will let you deflate the air suspension and lock it into transport mode but can't unlock it so the car comes back up again. Free version of EAS Unlock sorts that but need to make up a lead! Essential accessory if you ever want to use Lynx to let the suspension down.
Last Update was version 2.6.2 back in February 2015. Nothing since despite a list of promises on the Britpart site that have now disappeared. For example rather incomplete on the HEVAC side. Can't test actuators or read settings properly. Appears to be abandonware now as the Evolution version looks to have a few more features including HEVAC actuator testing.
No technical back-up or assistance. Zilch. Nada. Not at all. No one at BritPart will talk to you, answer e-mails or even acknowledge that they sell the darn thing. Except. Nice helpline for registering the device so you can actually use it. Run by third party, nice guys on the phone when I've talked to them but even they can't get hold of BritPart if there is a problem!
Bottom line with Lynx it is what it is, does what it does and thats your lot.
As I understand it Hawkeye uses the same basic software.
Clive
Orange is right of course, there's no point buying a Nanocom if it can't connect. The cheapest way to test the OBDII socket for yourself is to get a cheap ELM gadget from eBay and use the Torque app on your phone.
It can't do anything fancy with a p38 (just read the generic codes from the motronic) but if it works you know it is worth hooking up something more comprehensive.
However I stick by my initial statement . You DO need a Nanocom! It's worth saving up for one. Mine has saved me several tow truck fees already.
After doing a lot of research, I found that apparently a lot of the latest garage OBD readers can't connect to the port. I decided against both the Hawkeye and the basic Lynx, I bought a Lynx Evolution, awaiting delivery. But I have got some switch cleaner, so if the Lynx refuses to connect when it turns up, then I will get the plugs apart for the OBD port and clean it all up and try and check the wiring.
Check fuse 33 first- it's the power to the OBD socket.
Then pop OBD connector out and clean/ check, then the 2 white connectors behind the LH footwell kick panel- the wires in there have a tendency to corrode and break.
The wires for the ABS ECU from the diagnostic port go through the kick panel connectors in the RH footwell (that also link to the engine ECU).
I personally would have waited the bit extra and saved up for a Nanocom - but hopefully the Lynx Evo will be better than the original Lynx. I had a look at one that another owner let me have a go with, and after having a play with that, showed him the nanocom, and he ended up ditching the Lynx, and buying a Nanocom based on about 10 minutes of me showing him the features.
You'll have to let us know what it works out like though.
Connection - as others have said, check the OBD pins in the socket and the footwell connectors, and fix up any bits of corrosion etc that you find.
Budget was a big factor though for this. I have to admit on the face of it, I would have gone for a Nanocom, but the app on my phone for the Lynx Evolution looks promising. I can't wait for it to turn up now. But now can't get near the car until Monday :(
Budget was a big factor though for this. I have to admit on the face of it, I would have gone for a Nanocom, but the app on my phone for the Lynx Evolution looks promising. I can't wait for it to turn up now. But now can't get near the car until Monday :(
Well if you're not impressed there's always the 14 day return option under distance selling laws.
Best of luck though, let's hope you get it all running sweetly!
Morat wrote:
Well if you're not impressed there's always the 14 day return option under distance selling laws.
Best of luck though, let's hope you get it all running sweetly!
Could've bought a nano, fixed the problem, then sent it back within 14 days. lol