Technical and social day - testing out new diagnostic kit!

The region for Herts & North London

Moderator: Dave J

User avatar
Rob Bell
Committee Member
Posts: 14425
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 2:36 pm
MGF Register Region: South East
Model of Car: MGF 1.8i + MGF Shed!

Technical and social day - testing out new diagnostic kit!

Post by Rob Bell » Fri May 02, 2014 3:11 pm

Hi folks,

As you may have seen on the technical forum, I've been helping out Philip develop a new diagnostic box of tricks that can read practically all the ECUs on an MGF/TF - and yes, that includes MGFs fitted with MEMS1.9 and 2J!

Philip has made very good progress - he has a productionised prototype ready, but would like to test it on all versions of MG Rover/ Rover group cars he can get his hands on.

I have absolutely no connections with Philip, financial or otherwise - I just see this as a really good way of helping us sort out problems with our cars without resort to more expensive diagnostic options (or Chinese knock-offs of someone else's kit!)

What I was thinking is some kind of social day/morning/afternoon where he could test his kit on many versions of MEMS/ other ECU combinations. And if any of us own other non-MGF/TF cars, then so much the better! I know his kit works well on my MGFs and our MG ZTT 2.0CDTi, but how about other versions???

What do you chaps think? Might be a good chance to read all those fault codes! :lol:

User avatar
fatbaldingoldgit
Posts: 251
Joined: Wed Nov 13, 2013 1:53 pm
MGF Register Region: South East
Model of Car: MG TF LE500 #493
Location: West Sussex

Re: Technical and social day - testing out new diagnostic ki

Post by fatbaldingoldgit » Fri May 02, 2014 4:02 pm

Count me in, Rob.. :D
"You can’t be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline – it helps if you have some kind of football team, or some nuclear weapons but at the very least you need a beer"
- Frank Zappa

User avatar
cath's mg
Posts: 1181
Joined: Mon Jun 04, 2012 5:02 pm
MGF Register Region: Hertfordshire
Model of Car: MGF
Location: Broxbourne

Re: Technical and social day - testing out new diagnostic ki

Post by cath's mg » Fri May 02, 2014 6:30 pm

HI Rob, I can bring Cath's 96 F down if its any good to you :)

Gary :thumbsu: :thumbsu:
Cath's car but Gary's plaything :-)

User avatar
talkingcars
Posts: 5766
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:44 pm
MGF Register Region: South East
Model of Car: mk1 VVC
Location: West Sussex
Contact:

Re: Technical and social day - testing out new diagnostic ki

Post by talkingcars » Fri May 02, 2014 6:43 pm

If I pull my finger out and get the KV6 ECU up to him in time for him to get it on the machine I'll up for this with my Zed.
Home to black Alfa 159 3.2 V6 Q4, blue MGZR160, green MGF VVC and grey MGF 1.8i, and red MG Maestro T16.

MGF chatting on the Register and at http://www.the-t-bar.com

User avatar
Rob Bell
Committee Member
Posts: 14425
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 2:36 pm
MGF Register Region: South East
Model of Car: MGF 1.8i + MGF Shed!

Re: Technical and social day - testing out new diagnostic ki

Post by Rob Bell » Fri May 02, 2014 6:48 pm

I'm going to see whether I can borrow the in-law's ZS120 :)

User avatar
talkingcars
Posts: 5766
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:44 pm
MGF Register Region: South East
Model of Car: mk1 VVC
Location: West Sussex
Contact:

Re: Technical and social day - testing out new diagnostic ki

Post by talkingcars » Fri May 02, 2014 7:00 pm

Rob Bell wrote:I'm going to see whether I can borrow the in-law's ZS120 :)
The 120 uses the MEMS3, unfortunately the KV6 uses a Siemens 2000 ECU.
Home to black Alfa 159 3.2 V6 Q4, blue MGZR160, green MGF VVC and grey MGF 1.8i, and red MG Maestro T16.

MGF chatting on the Register and at http://www.the-t-bar.com

ColinP
Posts: 76
Joined: Sun Apr 28, 2013 8:48 pm
MGF Register Region: Hertfordshire
Model of Car: TF160 Solar Red

Re: Technical and social day - testing out new diagnostic ki

Post by ColinP » Fri May 02, 2014 11:04 pm

Yes from me, time and date permitting.
TF160/mems3 - the easy one!

purplebargeken
Posts: 734
Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2013 9:01 pm
MGF Register Region: Hertfordshire
Model of Car: MGF VVC
Location: North London

Re: Technical and social day - testing out new diagnostic ki

Post by purplebargeken » Sat May 03, 2014 9:40 am

Me too!
1965 Volvo 'Amazon', TR7 powered Triumph Toledo, Triumph 1500 FWD and a modern 1.6 Beetle. My name is Ken and I am a caraholic. There is no cure. Thankfully!

purplebargeken
Posts: 734
Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2013 9:01 pm
MGF Register Region: Hertfordshire
Model of Car: MGF VVC
Location: North London

Re: Technical and social day - testing out new diagnostic ki

Post by purplebargeken » Sat May 03, 2014 9:41 am

Just a thought, would it also apply in use to the 75 T4 thingy, as that would be another avenue to pursue perhaps.
1965 Volvo 'Amazon', TR7 powered Triumph Toledo, Triumph 1500 FWD and a modern 1.6 Beetle. My name is Ken and I am a caraholic. There is no cure. Thankfully!

User avatar
talkingcars
Posts: 5766
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:44 pm
MGF Register Region: South East
Model of Car: mk1 VVC
Location: West Sussex
Contact:

Re: Technical and social day - testing out new diagnostic ki

Post by talkingcars » Sat May 03, 2014 10:43 am

purplebargeken wrote:Just a thought, would it also apply in use to the 75 T4 thingy, as that would be another avenue to pursue perhaps.
Which engine?
Home to black Alfa 159 3.2 V6 Q4, blue MGZR160, green MGF VVC and grey MGF 1.8i, and red MG Maestro T16.

MGF chatting on the Register and at http://www.the-t-bar.com

User avatar
steveinoxford
Posts: 15
Joined: Tue Dec 24, 2013 3:58 pm
MGF Register Region: Thames Valley

Re: Technical and social day - testing out new diagnostic ki

Post by steveinoxford » Sat May 03, 2014 12:31 pm

Rob,

date and time permitting, I would be keen to provide a car to try out.

Mine is MEMS 2.0, 2001 car -which I thought was the point they started to fit MEMS 3.0 but obviously not for mine:(

Not sure if that comes with OBD2 compliant signals, I'm just playing with a bluetooth OBD2 reader on my Mondeo and a phone app which is a really useful bit of kit, but not investigated if MG Rover followed the protocol or not.

just found this thread on OBD readers, handy!

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=15475&p=134183#p134183
Steve

User avatar
Dave J
Regional Rep
Posts: 335
Joined: Thu Oct 09, 2008 7:20 pm
MGF Register Region: Hertfordshire
Model of Car: Poseidon TF160
Location: Ware

Re: Technical and social day - testing out new diagnostic ki

Post by Dave J » Sat May 03, 2014 12:48 pm

You lot really need to get out more :lol:
herts@mgfregister.org

2004 monogram Poseidon TF160
2003 monogram Lagoon TF135
2017 MG3

User avatar
Rob Bell
Committee Member
Posts: 14425
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 2:36 pm
MGF Register Region: South East
Model of Car: MGF 1.8i + MGF Shed!

Re: Technical and social day - testing out new diagnostic ki

Post by Rob Bell » Tue May 06, 2014 11:24 am

MEMS2J is sadly not OBD2 compliant - but should be fine for Philip's box of tricks.

Getting a KV6 powered ZS/ZT/75 would the ideal for Phillip because he hasn't had one of these to test yet. Our ZT is a diesel (which we have tested!) and the ZS is a MEMS3 car.

I think all are welcome irrespective of whether the type of car has been tested - after all the idea is to see whether it works in 100% of cars 100% of the time...

Plus it is a good excuse to get together for a natter ;)

No idea on times/dates yet - shall we aim for a weekend or a workday evening?

User avatar
Rob Bell
Committee Member
Posts: 14425
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 2:36 pm
MGF Register Region: South East
Model of Car: MGF 1.8i + MGF Shed!

Re: Technical and social day - testing out new diagnostic ki

Post by Rob Bell » Tue May 06, 2014 11:25 am

talkingcars wrote:
Rob Bell wrote:I'm going to see whether I can borrow the in-law's ZS120 :)
The 120 uses the MEMS3, unfortunately the KV6 uses a Siemens 2000 ECU.
We'll need you along for that - how is your ZS180 coming along?

User avatar
talkingcars
Posts: 5766
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:44 pm
MGF Register Region: South East
Model of Car: mk1 VVC
Location: West Sussex
Contact:

Re: Technical and social day - testing out new diagnostic ki

Post by talkingcars » Tue May 06, 2014 9:53 pm

Rob Bell wrote:No idea on times/dates yet - shall we aim for a weekend or a workday evening?
Needs to be a weekend.

I shall have the ECU off the ZS by the weekend.
Home to black Alfa 159 3.2 V6 Q4, blue MGZR160, green MGF VVC and grey MGF 1.8i, and red MG Maestro T16.

MGF chatting on the Register and at http://www.the-t-bar.com

User avatar
MaddAussie
Posts: 754
Joined: Thu Feb 03, 2011 9:16 am
MGF Register Region: Somerset & Dorset
Model of Car: TF160

Re: Technical and social day - testing out new diagnostic ki

Post by MaddAussie » Tue May 06, 2014 10:44 pm

I could be up for this if only to get my EAK!
TF160 - Bilstiens, Mike Satur 4-2-1, Sports Cat, Quad Daytona, Z and F Tuning Phase 2 Remap showing 177Bhp @ Janspeed RR day and a Big Grin :D (oh and a glass rear screen and bits of shiny stuff) 85th suspension bits to fit!

User avatar
Rob Bell
Committee Member
Posts: 14425
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 2:36 pm
MGF Register Region: South East
Model of Car: MGF 1.8i + MGF Shed!

Re: Technical and social day - testing out new diagnostic ki

Post by Rob Bell » Wed May 07, 2014 10:23 am

No worries James. Hopefully Phillip can work with the ECU! :)

Mark, the one ECU on the car he has hasn't tackled is the alarm system! But we can have another go with the T300 - hopefully we can get it to work this time! :D

User avatar
Rob Bell
Committee Member
Posts: 14425
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 2:36 pm
MGF Register Region: South East
Model of Car: MGF 1.8i + MGF Shed!

Re: Technical and social day - testing out new diagnostic ki

Post by Rob Bell » Tue May 20, 2014 10:33 am

Right - how shall we arrange a date? Week night, or weekend day chaps?

User avatar
MaddAussie
Posts: 754
Joined: Thu Feb 03, 2011 9:16 am
MGF Register Region: Somerset & Dorset
Model of Car: TF160

Re: Technical and social day - testing out new diagnostic ki

Post by MaddAussie » Tue May 20, 2014 10:46 am

Weekend will be better for me!

Sent from my XT890 using Tapatalk
TF160 - Bilstiens, Mike Satur 4-2-1, Sports Cat, Quad Daytona, Z and F Tuning Phase 2 Remap showing 177Bhp @ Janspeed RR day and a Big Grin :D (oh and a glass rear screen and bits of shiny stuff) 85th suspension bits to fit!

User avatar
Rob Bell
Committee Member
Posts: 14425
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 2:36 pm
MGF Register Region: South East
Model of Car: MGF 1.8i + MGF Shed!

Re: Technical and social day - testing out new diagnostic ki

Post by Rob Bell » Tue May 20, 2014 12:27 pm

Phillip has just come back saying his preference is a week day evening - but for getting as many different cars along for testing, a weekend day might be better...

He's also invited Practical Classics along (no idea whether they'll accept, but nice idea to get a mag article out of it) - and it could be a lot of fun if we can get Lotus Elise and Caterham 7 owners along too :)

Post Reply