I'm thinking about purchasing an Actron OBDII Scanner (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00009RAX7/qid=1076078449//ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl60/104-7668539-0301516?v=glance&s=hi&n=507846) to use with my RX-8 in case I get a MIL/CEL status. (good so far!), and just because it's a cool thing to have ...

question for those who may know something about his area:

1. where is the OBDII interface located on the RX-8?

2. Should I buy this one, or try the cheaper pc -based solution, Digimoto?

3. If you have experience with either products mentioned, maybe you can tell me how well it works with the RX-8...

According to ODBII specs, the interface should be easily accessable. So this means just under the dash somewhere, i.e. not hidden or tucked away.

The port is located under the dash, near the steering column....very easy to find!

Before you spend any money you should double check that it will actually work with the RX-8 and its CAN protocol.

I have read about a few projects that are in the works but the only available one that I know of is from AutoEngineuity (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20181). Check out the other thread for more info.

Yes it should ne nearby. By law it must be withing 4 feet of the driver seat or instrumwnt panel and accesible by the driver.

thanks guys!

Go ahead and spend the money. ODBII compliant means just that, ODBII compliant. It MUST support the ODBII interface, and associated codes. No if, and, or buts...

It probably won't read Madza proprietarty codes.

A scan tool that reads only OBDII codes will not work with the RX-8. The tool also needs to support the new CAN protocol.

It would be an added bonus if the tool is also able to read the Mazda/rotary proprietary codes.

So tread carefully and do a little research before spending an money. It would suck to buy something that doesn't support your car.

there is quite an extensive thread going in the tech forum that has info about this kind of stuff that you may want to read before buying one. Some of the info has already been repeted here, but i would suggest checking it out any way. it is here:

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10988

I don't think any one has mentioned the one you did, but I could be wrong, there are a lot of posts on there! :) let us know if you do get it or what their sales people say about it's compatibiliy with the rx8/Mazda 6

late!

My suggestion, and I have only read about half of the linked post here, is to find a tool that reads ALL trouble codes, not just OBD II.

All OBD II cares about is conformancy with emissions laws, not whether your car is performing its best. It depends what your objectives are: Just to know the trouble code, or to fix the car. If you know the trouble code, so what? You still have to take the vehicle to the dealer to find out why it threw the MAF sensor code anyway?

I don't see any use in having any reading tool unless you have the tools and expertise to monitor all the sensors and know what to do about it. If you still have an interest though, I would go for the cheapest, widest ranging reader available. Like I say, limiting yourself to OBD II is not going to help you fix your car, just tell you which one of the seven OBD monitors failed. Hope this helps (I think not...!)

Originally posted by Mr M
If you know the trouble code, so what? You still have to take the vehicle to the dealer to find out why it threw the MAF sensor code anyway?


I might not be able to fix it, but at least i have an idea of what is wrong with the car before I bring it in so I know if the repair shop is trying to screw me or not though. there are advantages to just reading the trouble codes. It would also help to know what those codes ment too though. I think it is in all of our intrests to know what is going on with our cars before takeing it somewhere...don't you?

Sure, I understand wanting to know what is going on with your car so you are not totally at your dealer's mercy. I do the same. That is why I suggest going for the cheapest tool available (one that works!) that shows all trouble codes, maybe on a PC. With the codes, and a printout of the descriptions from the workshop manual you will be on the road - metaphorically. It would be just as easy to go to your dealer (or a F#$D dealer), and ask them to hook up and download though. 30 second job if their WDS is switched on.

I recently bought the Actron scanner (sale at Pep Boys, $125). Using it on my wife's 96 Miata that has an idle problem. It works well, but haven't tried it on the 8 yet. So I can't say that it will definitely work on the 8. The issue is the car may not report on all the codes that the reader can read, it will just give a N/A for codes not supported.

Actron scanner comes with a CD with the scanner manual and all of the codes when you send in the warranty card they will advise you of any software updates. At least it points you in a direction on repairs. What I have for the Miata is a shop manual. The manual gives diagnostic troubleshooting to follow once you get the error code reading. I guess it is up to you what use you have for the scanner, I think it is good to have and I'll try it out on the 8 next weekend for the heck of it....it better not give me any errors with only 1300 mi. on it. ; )

coolio.. keep us posted!!

I'll let you know how it works after this weekend.

If you want to see the Actron CP9135 that I bought go to http://www.actron.com/ The unit will read I/M codes and pending codes that are supported by the manufacturer. I don't know if that means it will read specific codes that Mazda uses but the I/M readings tell you where the problem is such as EGR (exhaust gas recirculating system), etc. that are over and above the standard QBD II number codes. The website gives a lot of info. Check it out.

bump....any updates, Silverstreak?

Unfortunately did not get to try it on the 8 last weekend, spent a lot of time cleaning the throttle body on the wife's Miata and using the scanner on it instead. This weekend looks like I will be able to check it out on the 8.

Well, Speed Racer had it correct. The Actron scanner would not read the codes. Just gives a link error. I spoke with Actron Tech Service and was told that the Controller Area Network (CAN) protocol is the reason. OBD II alone will not work even though it will plug in. CAN will be the standard for all autos by 2008, the Ford/Mazda moved forward to introduce it in all 2004 vehicles. Actron Tech Support said that they are working on a CAN compliant scanner that will be out later this year. In the meantime, at least the scanner I have will work on our 96 Miata and the Montero Sport, both will be around for awhile.

My suggestion is that you should hold off purchasing (hey we do have 4 yrs/50K) until the newer CAN and hopefully still OBD II scanners come out and drop down in price. Kind of like buying a new computer then seeing the next generation come out.

Here you go..this is what I am looking at getting...maybe...sorry I jumped in late...i just noticed this thread...

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/pro_det.asp?P65=&tool=diagnostics&item_ID=65565&group_ID=16815&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Originally posted by SilverStreak

My suggestion is that you should hold off purchasing (hey we do have 4 yrs/50K) until the newer CAN and hopefully still OBD II scanners come out and drop down in price. Kind of like buying a new computer then seeing the next generation come out.

Some mighty fine advice.. I'll hold off on the purchase after reading your info...

Thanks for the heads-up!

Silver, I'm a bit confused...

I've been thinking about buying an OBD scanner (for my '99 626 that LOVES showing me its CEL :mad: ) and for future use on my RX8.

You said it wasn't able to read anything on yours, right?

Well, unless you had the CEL on already, wouldn't it just give you some kind of error since there really isn't much for it to diagnose? :confused:

either get teh Hymee scanalyzer(my personal favorite) or the Harrison Canscan. dont bother with any other

either get teh Hymee scanalyzer(my personal favorite) or the Harrison Canscan. dont bother with any other


Zoom44,

Can we get some links to those?

Scanalyser thread http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=39583&page=1&pp=15 is 46 pages long. you can probably ge the gist of it from about page 20.

Harrison can scan is mentioned around the forum many times here is harrison's site http://www.obdscan.net/canscan.htm

www.hymee.com/scanalyser.htm (http://www.hymee.com/scanalyser.htm) has lots of information on sCANalyser in a nice concise form... (if I don't say so myself - I wrote it :p )

Truthfully, here's why I'm a bit hesitant to get the scanalyser (I see you finally picked a name... :cool: )

I'm really not much of a car guys...dont' get me wrong, I LOVE cars but I'm not very handy underneath the hood.

What I'm really looking for here is just a chance to read some codes should I ever trigger a CEL that way when I do go to the dealer, they can't feed me a bunch of B.S. about what's wrong with the car.

Sco, your product looks AMAZING and I really would love to have such a nifty contraption but I just don't see myself using most of those options / functions.

Also, I have an Eddie Bauer Explorer, a 626, and a Toyota Tacoma that I'd like to eventually read codes from. (hence the simple solutions of maybe just getting a normal code reader)

I just wish I had a definite answer as to whether a product such as the Actron can really diagnose codes on an RX8. :(

I just wish I had a definite answer as to whether a product such as the Actron can really diagnose codes on an RX8. :(

Jedi, do you have Pep Boys where you live? The repair shops attached to the Pep Boy stores will read your codes for free. A lot more convenient than going to the dealer and if their scanner works you'll have an idea of what a general purpose scanner will do or not do for the 8.

For everyone wondering whether there is a value to scanning yourself, remember that not all of the codes get retained in memory. Some codes self cancel after a number of ignition on/off cycles. If you have a scanner available, you can tell the dealer what code was thrown even if it's gone before you get to the dealer.

We use the Harrison unit. Works very nicely, and you can use it while you drive to tune the car (with a laptop, of course). You can get it from Canzoomer or direct from Harrison.

no the actrron cannot read the codes

Sco, your product looks AMAZING and I really would love to have such a nifty contraption but I just don't see myself using most of those options / functions.

Cool.. thanks for the feedback.

Cool.. thanks for the feedback.

I tried to keep up with your thread and from what I can tell, you guys have put together one hell of a product.

Well, with Zoom raining on my parade about the Actron code reader, you might just be earning my business after all.

Hmm, Zoom and Sco are conspiring against us! :p (just kidding)

No conspiracy here... I just said "Cool" when you said you woudn't buy from us... I'd rather have a happy customer than a reluctant customer.

We don't currently work with non-CAN vehicles, but we have plans to support them soon. It's next on the list once I get through the current schedule of work which includes everything we've committed to deliver. Non-CAN vehicles will need a different piece of hardware - we haven't worked out what sort of upgrade offering we'll have for current customers yet.

I found another decent OBD-II interface for the RX-8.

http://www.tekmatetools.com/order.html

They sell a CAN-derivative of their software. I was having the notorious fuel cap CEL and having difficulty convincing the dealer to replace the cap. This was great at self-diagnosing and clearing the code.

(They eventually replaced the cap, no more CEL!)

The software is very easy to use, reasonably priced and comes with a OBD-II-to USB plug. The software includes a UART/USB bridge, which I really like - don't have to mess around with a serial cable (many notebooks don't have serial anymore)

Just thought I'd share with the rest of the class.

Take It Easy,
/Anomaly

reflash capability will be coming to the Harrison CANScan, with a membership to the Mazda Tech website you'll be able to perform your own reflashes

well you need a pass thru device to flash dont you? and the pass thru device is like $1500

it's just a matter of working out the SAE J2534 pass-thru communication, there's no reason the device can't do both, they are not that far apart ;)

then why is that one at www.mazdatechinfo.com so damn expensive? i aree with this approach however. i want to be able to tune MY car. not add something to trick it or takes control away from the pcm. the pcm is a hell of a computer lets just change the maps in it. flash pass thru is the first step .

when I sad reflash I meant the factory flashes( M, N, P, R, ... etc.) obtained from the mazda tech info website, you could do your own flashes if you had the factory programming software but that's most likely a very unlikely proposition

you wopuld be able to download the factory flash from the MTI website onto your laptop, then install it in the PCM via the CANScan without going to the dealership

not as unlikely as you would think

You will still have to have the pass through device if you don't have the WDS. I am waiting for the Pocket PC replacement to come out before laying out the $$$$ for tooling. I was set to buy a used WDS last year and was advised to wait as it is soon to be replaced. The projected date that I have heard is November. Ford is already using it and the feedback so far is good. I have not looked forward to spending on a new piece of equipment in a long time but I am stoked about this one.

not as unlikely as you would think


:cool:


You will still have to have the pass through device if you don't have the WDS. .


the point is that the CANScan will be the pass-thru device ;)

charlie its true dont bother with the wds the new pda tool willl be out by the end of the year.

I use the AutoEnginuty scanner. Works with a lot of cars, so that is worth considering. I have a CAN compliant one, but it works with the older ODBII cars as well.

charlie its true dont bother with the wds the new pda tool willl be out by the end of the year.

Cool news, glad to hear some confirmation of what I had been told.