reading the ODB port

[danielr]

Hello Everyone...
I've read around, but sometimes things can be a bit hard to piece together. rather than hijack another thread, I thought I'd start one of my own...

Story is I'm just upgrading from a (92/K plate) 205 to a 206, (2002/52 plate).

so this whole OBD thing is a bit new to me, (indeed having a car were there are more things electronic than just a light switch is a bit novel!). And I'm wondering how I go about accessing it...

I read somewhere that an ELM based reader is cheap (and possible to even make for near free!) should be able to read the codes, then I read somewhere that it probably couldn't, or at least probably couldn't read all the codes.

I could go for an ELM reader, but I might not be able to access some specific error codes?
or I search Ebay for a Lexia 3 and I should be able to read all the Peugeot error codes? (is that correct). -and whilst this costs more, overall it's probably a better investment?

I understand that in order to use the Lexia 3 I'll need some software, I guess that this is Peugeot planet?
will this software come with the Lexia3 when I buy it? or do I have to 'acquire' this separately?

What will I be able to do with this ODB reader and associated software once I've got it?
I'm guessing I can read fault codes to find out why the MIL light is on, reset the light (turn it off), and I could set some parameters like turning on or off features such as the CD changer?

Will the OBD port on this 2002 Diesel give me access to live data? I mean could I use it to record things like the engine revs, the speed temperature and such? live as I was going along so that I could effectively look back at my journey?

[bettyswollocks]

Answered

[danielr]

ah, ok that's brilliant.

so lexia is best, ebay's the place to get it, software has to be gotten separately...

so my next question is the lexia is marketed as a pug/Citroen tool only, but does that mean it'll only read those cars?
I've got a mate with a smart car, and my dads got a landrover, would the lexia be able to read from these. I guess planet won't, but does other software work with the lexia?

and hopefully the final question...

would using the lexia cable and planet allow me to remap the ECU?

I know that that's the kind of thing that's best left to a professional, but I'm thinking I might get a couple of maps made (by a professional) that i'd be able to upload to the ECU myself.

The thought there being that I could perhaps have a thirsty but fun map for the weekends, say I was going on holiday, I might like an economical map for the long drive.
that last one isn't really that important, I think it'd be a few years before I wanted to make that sort of change to a car. -would just be interesting to know.

[bettyswollocks]

Lexia comes with peugeot and citroen software ,but any problems i can get you the newest versions,

lexia will only read peugeot and citroen

remap ecu through planet ?not sure to be honest but don`t see why not with the right software,but as you say best left to those in the know or learn yourself its your car.

[danielr]

any chance that the two threads I've created could be merged? I didn't mean to create 2, I got an error 500 and didn't think that the thread had actually been posted.