Forester Check Engine Light on

[coaster]

If it's a "one off" problem, the code reader will reset the codes, or have
a button to do a manual reset. However, if the problem keeps occurring the
fault light will keep coming on.

well if the fault comes back i'll have to take it to the dealer

 

[coaster]

i wish aussie mechanics were that generous

 

[JohnO]

It will give you options. Most code aggregations lead to very few

How does reading the codes elimitate *potential* problems?

The very puropse of such codes are to tell you if something is working
okay or not, and if it's not the problem has already occured. I don't know
of any OBDII code that equals "Will most likely fail pretty soon".

You're just being argumentative now. His tool is following standard
troubleshooting situations, probably making guesses based on some collected
history of codes, plus some expert opinion...I assume. Sure it's subjective,
but so are the diagnoses made in your head, right?

-John O

 

[Klompmeester]

i wish aussie mechanics were that generous

If you're in Perth I can give you a number...

 

[Noddy]

You're just being argumentative now.

Not really, but anyway....

His tool is following standard troubleshooting situations, probably making
guesses based on some collected history of codes, plus some expert
opinion...I assume. Sure it's subjective, but so are the diagnoses made in
your head, right?

Sure.

As I said earlier, the thing sounds as if it'll try to guess what's wrong if
you can't figure it out for yourself, but how it can predict what's likely
to fail or be used to "tune" the engine in any way is beyond me. It just
sounds like an elaborate method of doing what a hand scanner does in 10
seconds.

But hey, some people like to be over technical don't they?

 

[Klompmeester]

degree of wisdom
are equally foolish and vicious, as those who are two inches under water.

361. The sovereign good. Dispute about the sovereign good.--Ut sis contentus
temetipso et ex te nascentibus bonis.48 There is a contradiction, for in the
end they advise suicide. Oh! What a happy life, from which we are to free
ourselves as from the plague!

362. Ex senatus-consultis et plebiscitis...

To ask like passages.

363. Ex senatus-consultis et plebiscitis scelera exercentur. Seneca.
588.[49]

Nihil tam absurde dici potest quod non dicatur ab aliquo philosophorum.50

Quibusdam destinatis sententiis consecrati quae non probant coguntur
defendere.51

Ut omnium rerum sic litterarum quoque intemperantia laboramus.52

Id maxime quemque decet, quod est cujusque suum maxime.53

Hos natura modos primum dedit.54

Paucis opus est litteris ad bonam mentem.55

Si quando turpe non sit, tamen non est non turpe quum id a multitudine
laudetur.56

Mihi sic usus est, tibi ut opus est facto, fac.57

364. Rarum est enim ut satis se quisque vereatur.58

Tot circa unum caput tumultuantes deos.59

Nihil turpius quam cognitioni assertionem praecurrere.60

Nec me pudet, ut istos, fateri nescire quid nesciam.61

Melius non incipient.62

365. Thought.--All the dignity of man consists in thought. Thought is,
therefo

 

[coaster]

If you're in Perth I can give you a number...

unfortunately no

 

[Noddy]

from the habits of their fathers, as
hunting in animals. A different custom will cause different natural
principles. This is seen in experience; and if there are some natural
principles ineradicable by custom, there are also some customs opposed to
nature, ineradicable by nature or by a second custom. This depends on
disposition.

93. Parents fear lest the natural love of their children may fade away. What
kind of nature is that which is subject to decay? Custom is a second nature
which destroys the former. But what is nature? For is custom not natural? I
am much afraid that nature is itself only a first custom, as custom is a
second nature.

94. The nature of man is wholly natural, omne animal.[18]

There is nothing he may not make natural; there is nothing natural he may
not lose.

95. Memory, joy, are intuitions; and even mathematical propositions become
intuitions, for education produces natural intuitions, and natural
intuitions are erased by education.

96. When we are accustomed to use bad reasons for pro

 

[JD]

You're just being argumentative now. His tool is following standard
troubleshooting situations, probably making guesses based on some
collected history of codes, plus some expert opinion...I assume. Sure it's
subjective, but so are the diagnoses made in your head, right?

-John O

Yup. Just saves me looking it all up. I already have the interface and the
software is free. Why would I want anything else?

 

[JD]

Not really, but anyway....


Sure.

As I said earlier, the thing sounds as if it'll try to guess what's wrong
if you can't figure it out for yourself, but how it can predict what's
likely to fail or be used to "tune" the engine in any way is beyond me. It
just sounds like an elaborate method of doing what a hand scanner does in
10 seconds.

But hey, some people like to be over technical don't they?

I does it in the same amount of time. If how you 'tune' a car with OBDII is
beyond you then, yes, the laptop tool is useless to you; stick to whatever
tool is simple enough for you. The handscanners don't do what I need done.
What I have costs no more and does what I need.

 

[Noddy]

I does it in the same amount of time. If how you 'tune' a car with OBDII
is beyond you then, yes, the laptop tool is useless to you; stick to
whatever tool is simple enough for you. The handscanners don't do what I
need done. What I have costs no more and does what I need.

Fine.

How the **** you "tune your car" using OBDII output codes is beyond me
though

 

[JD]

Fine.

How the **** you "tune your car" using OBDII output codes is beyond me
though

You don't use the output codes to tune the car. You use the port, and the
real-time parameters tell you what you need to change and what effect any of
your changes have had. However, the tool also reads and clears trouble
codes, provides diagnostics, using the same interface and software; no
additional cost and no need to look up the codes.

 

[Noddy]

You don't use the output codes to tune the car. You use the port, and the
real-time parameters tell you what you need to change and what effect any
of your changes have had.

I'm aware of that, but I', surprised the software allows you to make any
changes at all. Most ECU's are not "adjustable".

 

[JD]

I'm aware of that, but I', surprised the software allows you to make any
changes at all. Most ECU's are not "adjustable".

Not so. Most ECUs are reflashable. The dealers do it all the time to
address TSBs. Depending on what you reflash it with, you can tune them
virtually on the fly.

 

[Noddy]

Not so. Most ECUs are reflashable. The dealers do it all the time to
address TSBs. Depending on what you reflash it with, you can tune them
virtually on the fly.

Flashing an ECU isn't "tuning a car", and dealers do it to correct issues.
Basically, what I'm saying is that you can't go in and change the timing map
or up the fuel pressure to "tune" the engine.

Like I said, if you get off on the bells & whistles then more power to you.
My OBDII socket doesn't see any action unless the car has a problem.

 

[JD]

Flashing an ECU isn't "tuning a car", and dealers do it to correct issues.
Basically, what I'm saying is that you can't go in and change the timing
map or up the fuel pressure to "tune" the engine.

Like I said, if you get off on the bells & whistles then more power to
you. My OBDII socket doesn't see any action unless the car has a problem.

What I am saying is, yes you can. Tuning the car is about manipulating the
timing maps, boost controllers, timing advance, commanded fuel ratio, open
and closed-loop fuel system behaviour, etc. Depending on what you reflash
your ECU with, the tools allow you to do just that. The only difference in
what the dealer does is that they reflash an entire image coming from the
manufacturer. There a lots of tools on the market that when you reflash the
ECU with them, and you have the correct software and interface on your
computer, you can manipulate virtually any performance parameter you like;
as long as it is not the emission system.

And if that is all you do is read codes when the light comes on, you
probably can just get a buddy to scan it. If you want to do more than that,
the software scanners are about the same price with a lot more capability.