OBD II Scanner C110

[Pls]

More fun at the Black Isle ZedShed as a C110 error code scanner arrived. It's one of the cheaper ones on eBay, but was well reviewed so I took a chance. There are lots of other references to this fairly economical scanner on the forum, but I thought that my OBD-virgin first impressions might be of use to someone.



The first time I tried it, it wouldn't communicate with the car. So I whittled a small splint of wood to fit the sockets in the 20-pin connector on the car, moistened it with WD40 and twiddled it in each hole, removing 20 years' gruddle. The scanner then connected instantly.



First I got it to diagnose any errors and all it came up with was '70 camshaft position sensor'. Not a 'PXXXX' code.



Having read up on this, I decided to erase the code and take the car for a drive, to see if it was a historical error or a current one. On return, and on reconnecting the scanner, the error was no longer reported and it came up with 'no trouble code!' So perhaps it was a historical code that hadn't been erased. I shall keep my fingers crossed!



I then went on to live datastream, requiring the engine running. The instructions said that the unit must be connected before the ignition is switched on. However, having done this, as soon as the engine was started, the unit screen went blank. But by ignoring the instructions (!) and starting the engine with the unit connected and in DTC mode, seven screens of live data appeared, reporting the values of lots of sensors, with the option to display graphs of many of the results.




Fascinating! I've no idea what most of the sensor readings mean, but some are obvious. A number of the values were varying in real time. Anyway, it should assist the learning process as I look all the different things up, and if it helps to diagnose problems as they occur, it could be useful.

Cheers

Paul

 

[Stevo7682]

I have a c110 Paul they are useful and can get you a heads up of an issue and has a number of useful reset options.
Stephen.

 

[gookah]

looks like your multiplicative mixture adaptation (part load) is at 4.19%

I could be extremely concerned about that....










If I knew what the hell it meant

 

[Pls]

Oh good, it's not just me then!
Cheers
Paul

 

[Stevo7682]

looks like your multiplicative mixture adaptation (part load) is at 4.19%

I could be extremely concerned about that....










If I knew what the hell it meant

That's an indication that the clench pin is not located in the wobble jammer correctly

 

[Redline]

looks like your multiplicative mixture adaptation (part load) is at 4.19%

I could be extremely concerned about that....










If I knew what the hell it meant

This explains all - other than what is an excessive value
Think it's the amount that the ECU modifies values due to externally applied conditions. Basically adjustments to the standard mapping to accommodate erroneous or unexpected inputs.



Engine Adaptation Values
Additive mixture adaptations: This adaptation is referred to as “short term fuel trim”. This value is measured in milliseconds and can occur in positive or negative values. These adaptations are made to the engine while at idle.

Excessively positive Additive values indicate a lean condition. Some common causes are:

• Unmetered air leaks, torn intake boot, leaking intake manifold gaskets
• Crankcase vent system fault, system valve stuck open
• Low fuel pressure, pressure regulator malfunction
• MAF malfunction, sending incorrect signal information

Excessively negative Additive values indicate a rich condition. Some common causes are:

• A restriction at engine intake, such as clogged air filter blocking air intake into engine
• Crankcase vent valve stuck closed or blocked
• High fuel pressure, caused by pressure regulator or restricted fuel return line
• MAF malfunction, sending incorrect signal information to ECM

Multiplicative mixture adaptation: This adaptation is referred to as “long term fuel trim”. This value is measured in percentages and can occur in the positive or negative values. This adaptation occurs during part-load driving conditions.

Excessively positive multiplicative adaptation values indicate lean condition. Some common causes are:

• MAF malfunction, incorrect signal information sent to the ECM
• Low fuel pressure, faulty fuel pump
• Unmetered air leak, such as torn intake boot, etc
• Pressure regulator malfunction

Excessively negative multiplicative adaptation values indicate rich condition. Some common causes are:

• Sensor failure that could result in erroneous information to falsely enrich mixture, such as engine coolant temperature sensor or intake air temperature sensor
• High fuel pressure, restriction in return line or fault with fuel pressure regulator
• MAF malfunction, incorrect signal information being sent to the ECM
• Restriction at air intake blocking airflow into engine, such as a clogged air filter

Hint: To determine if the MAF is sending incorrect information to the ECM, check the additive and multiplicative mixture adaptations. When the mixture adaptations are contradicting each other, this indicates that the MAF is faulty and sending incorrect signal information.

 

[Pls]

According to http://www.unofficialbmw.com/images/BMW_Adaptation.pdf, it turns out that you're ok if it's less than 8% and greater than -8%. So I'm good at 4.19%
If I had nothing else to do, I could Google every one of those datastream reports! It could become addictive.
But it's all good learning.

Cheers

Paul

 

[Stevo7682]

I could also say that if It aint broke dont fix it .
And sometimes if you read too much into stuff like that you end up looking for fixes to stuff that ain't broke.

 

[mrscalex]

"all it came up with was '70 camshaft position sensor'. Not a 'PXXXX' code."

That's what you want. The BMW specific error codes not generic P codes.

 

[Redline]

I could also say that if It aint broke dont fix it .
And sometimes if you read too much into stuff like that you end up looking for fixes to stuff that ain't broke.

The engine is applying minor corrections. Only when those corrections are way out of kilter is there anything that needs to be fixed. It's quite possible the engine will still run fine even then, but, it can do only so much.

 

[Pls]

Indeed. Despite being 20 years old, it is very sophisticated! But then, the last cars with which I was deeply involved were of designs that originated 60 or 70 years ago. So this little unit certainly acts as a good tool to point me in the right direction to learn about the car and how it works. And keep the grey cell active!

Cheers

Paul

 

[t-tony]

We're never too old to learn Paul, just don't let it give you nightmares.

Tony.

 

[Althulas]

I could get my C130 to speak to my car most of the time I will have to try cleaning the pins. It works perfectly on the wife’s Cooper S.

 

[Pls]

Cleaning the contacts worked for me. A lot of dirt came out of the holes.



When I'd previously tried doing a oil service light reset with a piece of wire, it had taken a while to make a good contact in hole 7.

Cheers

Paul

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Got something similar after a few years of using a generic reader and getting pi55ed off having to go look up what every code number meant, the BMW specific ones are much better. And if you'd only just started the car up from cold, don't pay too much attention to the live data-stream stuff, it may all be very different once it's warmed up properly.

 

[D R Oldfield]

Will this scanner communicate with the abs sensors and abs pump .

 

[bessieblue]

I have this scanner but not a clue how to use it. Wanted to try and reset the service lights but gave up in the end

 

[Pls]

Will this scanner communicate with the abs sensors and abs pump .

Yes, I think so. I had only shown the 'DTC' datastream screens which report on the engine, fuel system etc.

These areas are also shown:



Opening the 'chassis' area:



Opening the ABS area:



I believe that this may be the part number of the ECU in the car. But I can't find the source of that information at the moment. Further than that, I haven't discovered.

Cheers

Paul

 

[Pls]

I have this scanner but not a clue how to use it. Wanted to try and reset the service lights but gave up in the end

I don't think that this scanner resets the oil service lights.
But you just need to connect the connection hole No 7 in the 20 pin socket under the bonnet with earth with a piece of wire for ten seconds, with the ignition on, having ensured that the contact hole is clean. Perhaps earth it to one of the nuts on the adjacent suspension tower. Contact No 7 is the lowest outer one in this photo:




Hope that helps.

Cheers

Paul

 

[D R Oldfield]

Thank I will get one ordered