Aldi Code Reader

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
View Threaded
Wed 13 Jan 2021 14:20
Aldi Code Reader - Steveieb

Aldi have a plug in code reader on sale this week for £14.99

I spoke to someone who is buying one simply to put out the dashboard lights pre MOT.

But are these of any value?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 13 Jan 2021 15:47
Aldi Code Reader - skidpan

Aldi have a plug in code reader on sale this week for £14.99

I spoke to someone who is buying one simply to put out the dashboard lights pre MOT.

But are these of any value?

Hope they come back before he gets there or during the test.

They should get the car sorted.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 13 Jan 2021 15:54
Aldi Code Reader - elekie&a/c doctor
A code reader that costs this much money, is only going to read eobd engine faults and not much else . So probably won’t work on diesel cars prior to 2006 . Suppose you could read the bar code on your spuds .
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 14 Jan 2021 12:30
Aldi Code Reader - Gibbo_Wirral

Generic readers are hit and miss. Even if they can connect there's no guarantee they're giving the right information.

I've seen them report faulty glow plugs on petrol cars!

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 15 Jan 2021 01:00
Aldi Code Reader - edlithgow
A code reader that costs this much money, is only going to read eobd engine faults and not much else . So probably won’t work on diesel cars prior to 2006 . Suppose you could read the bar code on your spuds .

To modern for me then.

Maybe I should get my brother to get me one, though, to sort of "grow into"?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 15 Jan 2021 12:46
Aldi Code Reader - pd

If it is a pre-2006 diesel then it doesn't matter for a MOT if an engine light - they are just an advisory on (I think) pre 2008 cars.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 15 Jan 2021 13:08
Aldi Code Reader - elekie&a/c doctor

Engine mil light is only mot testable on petrol cars registered after July 2003 and diesels after July 2008.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 15 Jan 2021 19:18
Aldi Code Reader - Ted66

Well worth the (low) price in my opinion. Used a similar one on mine a few times with good success.

Edited by Ted66 on 15/01/2021 at 19:19

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 15 Jan 2021 19:31
Aldi Code Reader - bathtub tom

Well worth the (low) price in my opinion. Used a similar one on mine a few times with good success.

I've a fifteen quid ebay job that correctly diagnosed a failed cam sensor and saved me a few quid and a lot of time. Used it succesfully a few times since on other car engine problems. I recognise it's not going to tell you what's wrong, but point you in the direction.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 15 Jan 2021 23:47
Aldi Code Reader - Railroad.

Probably good value for that money providing you understand what it is and what it does.

European On Board Diagnostics came into legislation in the UK on 1st January 2001 for petrol cars and 1st January 2004 for diesels. It provided a standardisation for fault engine emission related codes across five protocols which cover most vehicles manufactured in Europe, North America and Asia.

An EOBD scantool will only be capable of reading fault codes and live data (if that function is supported) that relate to engine emissions. It will not read engine specific data, nor will it connect to any other module on the vehicle. As it is a read only device it will not be able to write to any controller, therefore you will not be able to make any adaptions. But since EOBD is a standard it should do what any other EOBD will do. So for £15 it's worth having and keeping in your car.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link