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

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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