What code reader?

[spannertech]

Hi to all. over the years I've been more involved with mending and building classic cars. I've owned a Jaguar of some sort since 1978 and I still have a XJ12C and a 97 XK8.
Just recently I've purchased a 2011 3.0D XF and although its been reliable (so far) I'm thinking it would be a good idea to buy a code reader that would tell me what was going on in the event of a fault. The reader I have for the XK is not really suited to the XF.
Would anyone here point me to a useful reader that would display the code and its supposed cause at the same time? I've been looking for a while and some of them are quite expensive so getting it right from the start would be a good idea! I'm particularly interested in reading the last time a DPF re-gen took place.
So far I've been pointed at the Autel Diaglink PK MD802 and the Icarsoft LR V2.0. The Icarsoft unit is quite expensive but some info on this subject would be very appreciated. Thanks in advance. S

[ninjag]

spannertech said:

Hi to all. over the years I've been more involved with mending and building classic cars. I've owned a Jaguar of some sort since 1978 and I still have a XJ12C and a 97 XK8.
Just recently I've purchased a 2011 3.0D XF and although its been reliable (so far) I'm thinking it would be a good idea to buy a code reader that would tell me what was going on in the event of a fault. The reader I have for the XK is not really suited to the XF.
Would anyone here point me to a useful reader that would display the code and its supposed cause at the same time? I've been looking for a while and some of them are quite expensive so getting it right from the start would be a good idea! I'm particularly interested in reading the last time a DPF re-gen took place.
So far I've been pointed at the Autel Diaglink PK MD802 and the Icarsoft LR V2.0. The Icarsoft unit is quite expensive but some info on this subject would be very appreciated. Thanks in advance. S

I've come across the Foxwell NT644 Car Master Pro being recommended but it's a hell of a price. The iCarsoft LRII seems to be the best one because it's has the DPF regen options etc. Besides, if you move away from LR or Jaguar I think they are pretty quick to sell second hand. I've just bought one today so I'll let you know what its like.

[spannertech]

Thanks for that. I'll await your report on that. Personally I don't see the point on buying a reader for an XF that doesn't read the state of the DPF as its that that keeps us all awake at night!

[DouglasXK]

I bought an inexpensive reader, it might have been no more than £10, and of course it only recognised the emissions fault codes or those faults likely to lead to an emission error. On the two occasions that it was needed, it couldn’t identify nor cancel a fault with the pedestrian collision nor could it identify a fault with the steering wheel air bag of my XK. Both faults were recognised but not specifically enough to repair if that makes sense. But the cost of a reader which had these Jag fault codes was very expensive. However, we also own a VW Golf TDI and my reader performed adequately and was very useful. Much less complex a car, perhaps?

[ninjag]

spannertech said:

Thanks for that. I'll await your report on that. Personally I don't see the point on buying a reader for an XF that doesn't read the state of the DPF as its that that keeps us all awake at night!

The iCarsoft LRII came yesterday and it's a brilliant bit of kit. I didn't realise the XF has so many sensors and this thing seems to read them all. I've got the common faulty passenger door lock problem and there's a DTC for this showing.

It also covers the DPF including calculated soot in oil, DPF filter remaining volume, engine coolant and also sump temperature (annoying that there's no temp gauge in this car) and you can also use it to force a dynamic regen.

Covers all the jags and also Land Rovers plus a separate section for the generic OBD2 codes. For £140 it's invaluable and lives in my boot now.

[spannertech]

Hi ninjag. hanks for the positive report. I've been looking at a lot of readers lately but the icarsoft does seam to be the one to have.
Yes, it is a shame they failed to fit a temp gauge to this car but if I remember correctly, the one we had in the XJ8 was about as much use as a chocolate teapot. by the time it changed position it was too late!

[johnxjsc1985]

I have the I carsoft and it does my Jag XK8 and my Range Rover. It correctly identified a missing tooth and the front right ABS ring. causing lots of warnings about ABS, DSC and Cruise Control etc.

[spannertech]

What year is your XK8? I have an early XK8 registered in 97 and I'm wondering what the icarsoft will see in that car. I'm buying it essentially for my XF and I've already asked Ultimate Car Parts the same question but they can't guarantee it will read anything as the early car was built for the IDS system.
I have in fact ordered the LR V2.0 today and I'm looking forward to plugging it into the XF.

[johnxjsc1985]

spannertech said:

What year is your XK8? I have an early XK8 registered in 97 and I'm wondering what the icarsoft will see in that car. I'm buying it essentially for my XF and I've already asked Ultimate Car Parts the same question but they can't guarantee it will read anything as the early car was built for the IDS system.
I have in fact ordered the LR V2.0 today and I'm looking forward to plugging it into the XF.

2004 but I think it cover 1996-2005

[ninjag]

spannertech said:

Hi ninjag. hanks for the positive report. I've been looking at a lot of readers lately but the icarsoft does seam to be the one to have.
Yes, it is a shame they failed to fit a temp gauge to this car but if I remember correctly, the one we had in the XJ8 was about as much use as a chocolate teapot. by the time it changed position it was too late!

lol, just to add I am sure I also read that the temp gauges value are adjusted/corrected by the computer anyway (or something like that) so it's never a true reading. Don't really understand why or if it's true.

[spannertech]

You will never see a true reading on the temp gauge of a XJ8. It sits in the middle when all is running ok, then it hits the top when there's a problem. There's no tell-tail warning.
I've done a bit of research on this and there's no better gauge than the old fashion Smiths jobbie for the coolant temp and the oil pressure.
I had a MGZ-TT and that had the same tech on that car that the Jaguar has and that was next to useless as well!
Thing is, there's nowhere on the dash that a Smiths gauge would look right at all. Just imagine it....!