home made fault code reader, how to make one

Please check here before posting to see if your question has been answered before.

home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby jayrs on Fri Sep 21, 2007 1:25 am

i found this site ages ago and due to reasons and forgetting never got round to doing it, im sure i put a post up about it but the search cant find it.

anyway, ive got all the bits together now and i sahll start to make it this week

the chip it self has to be got from the designer, its £12 posted for the chip, and the componants can differ in cost depending where you get them, i got most from rapid online and 2 bits from maplins due to rapid being out of stock, and in total its cost me about £38.50 in bits.
if you have to buy solder and a soldering iron etc then it will cost you more, and amore again if you get from maplins.

anyway, the bits

Image

i marked out and preped the strip board tonight quick while i stood in the shed having a fag but the main bits will start asap.
the site the FCR can be found on is here

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/a.harby2/ggpfcrpg.html

the site gives you the following

parts list with part numbers both maplins and rapid online
full detailed instructions with pictures for building it
full instrcutions how to use it
and a few months back, a pc interface software was added (free download)

this reader will give error messages/codes but not in sill flashing led light style.

im guessing here in gen would be the best place for this :)

i will update as i build, then i need someone with a car with a fault to test it on, jon hows the rs mate?

oh btw, it doesnt just cover a rs, it covers a range of fords, i belive 3 and 5 pin ports


23rd sep 2007

right, to save it being all ver the place i will add here on the first post.
had a bit of time yesterday, so got on with it, had to make a trip to mapins as i found rapid had sent me a 20 pin DIL socket not a 18 :rolleyes: , still no matter, burnt more fuel than the 75p i spen getting it and 2 more led's :lol: :lol:

anyway, altough there are pictures on the site, i will add some here as a visual progress report, not for instuction on how to make one.

i did draw round the board and mark out numbers etc to make it easier to locate where to put stuff, i always double checked before soldering etc and i even made a mistake and marked a resistor 1 hole short, but i hadnt bent the legs so no harm done, just shows its important to double check.
anyway, enough spill, pictures for now, im gunna crack on with it now, i wont finish it as i still need a plug for the car as i can find the one i had set aside :x

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

24th, not had much time to do anything.
got stuck on a couple of wires, not sure where they go on the switch so have asked the designer ifwhat i think is right,
pics so far

Image
Image

30/9/07

i finished this reader last week, but it failed to work.
not having much time and really not knowing where to start i emailed the designer (graham) graham was massive help, i checked all i could and all the bits he said and it narrowed it down to a LED, it turns out maplins had given me the wrong LED's :x and thius it was drawing all the power and nothing else was working.

anyway, i had some time to mess about with it today so i tested it all before fitting the screen again, i had to remove it to check for shorts under it, i knew there wasnt any but you got to dopuble check these things, but it was tested and it allo worked so the screen was soldered back on.
those of you that have looked at grahams site and read the build instructions will see my led's are not as graham has done, i wanted them both at the top above the screen so i soldered wires to them and fitted them that way, and due to maplins giving me the wrong LED's it made it that little bit easier to fit a in libne resistor to the green one.
the red just flashes on test so graham tells me so that can stay as it is but the green is resisted now and it all still works fine.
pictures of it now, the case was a bit of a nigth mare, i messured it out wrong and with out double checking it (which isnt like me)i chain drilled it, only to check after and fine i went over a bit :lol: :lol: no matter, i plan on putting a coloured plastic over the front with the writing bits on and it will cover it but then again im thinking of like a frame round it too so it dont matter what it looks like as long as it works

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

pc plug is too big to fit as well as battery so got to doctor that

Image

and it working :)

Image
Image
Image
Image
Last edited by jayrs on Sun Sep 30, 2007 9:05 pm, edited 5 times in total.
jayrs
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 31520
Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:32 pm
Location: I.O.W
Your car: FRST, XR2, ST170, ST225

Car: 1991 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby mrjenrst on Fri Sep 21, 2007 2:19 am

genius mate.
Cant wait till you post the bit's
List up and instruction's
Image
I'll take a bloody win over a clean loss any day!
mrjenrst
Senior Poster
Senior Poster
 
Posts: 243
Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2006 12:50 pm
Location: hull

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby Ollybee on Fri Sep 21, 2007 7:50 am

This will be quality, the one from Gunson's, although good, is a pain in the arse to read.
Those that can, do; and those that can't, talk about it.
Image
YRN Thread - yrn-vt151433/
FACEBOOK - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=869385470
Ollybee
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 8535
Joined: Fri Oct 08, 2004 11:37 pm
Location: Ilkley, West Yorkshire.
Your car: Focus Titanium & Fiesta ST

Car: 1996 Ford Fiesta Quartz

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby jayrs on Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:10 pm

it is indeed.
i shall bung a parts list up in a min, no point with the instructions just yet incase the guy has to change something, i might just be me being blond, but i got to double check before i start building it.

well i say that, ive started on the strip board already but copying the picture:lol:
jayrs
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 31520
Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:32 pm
Location: I.O.W
Your car: FRST, XR2, ST170, ST225

Car: 1991 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby jayrs on Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:28 pm

i just tried to copy and past the parts list and it went funlumps up, so im gunna give the link to the site, ive emailed graham just now about somethign to double check but im going to carry on with the build anyay

the link to his web site is in the first post now (well i edit it in a sec)
jayrs
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 31520
Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:32 pm
Location: I.O.W
Your car: FRST, XR2, ST170, ST225

Car: 1991 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby Captain Tightpants on Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:05 pm

Just use a 9p LED.

I don't mind counting a blinking LED.

Steve
Attachments
led.JPG
led.JPG (9.95 KB) Viewed 60113 times
Image
Captain Tightpants
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 3723
Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2004 8:25 pm
Location: Somerset

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby jayrs on Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:50 pm

thats all well and good if you dont lose count, then you got o ref the amount of blinks to something to find out which fault it is.

anyway, not wanting to glog this up with leds and that i shall update progress as and when, i was hoping to have a fair bit done tonight but thans to the kids and the 2 cousins staying over (6 kids!) ive not done fock all :x
jayrs
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 31520
Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:32 pm
Location: I.O.W
Your car: FRST, XR2, ST170, ST225

Car: 1991 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby jayrs on Sun Sep 23, 2007 4:30 pm

all updates are added to the first post
jayrs
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 31520
Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:32 pm
Location: I.O.W
Your car: FRST, XR2, ST170, ST225

Car: 1991 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby jonboisescort on Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:49 pm

sounds great ive got the flashing led 1 i hate the thing counting the flashes :x :x

you can make me 1 :lol: :lol:
Image
jonboisescort
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 2055
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2007 1:48 pm
Location: christchurch dorset

Car: 1994 Ford Fiesta

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby jayrs on Sun Sep 23, 2007 9:10 pm

im enjoyinf this, been years since i done stuff like this, its nearly finished, had a bit of time on it tonight, made a slight change to it to suit me (being fussy :lol: , your see) and as long as i get time tomorrow without kids abotu i should have it finished.
i found the plug to plug into car today after another search in shed :lol: :lol:

yeah i could make ya one but i dont come cheap :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
jayrs
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 31520
Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:32 pm
Location: I.O.W
Your car: FRST, XR2, ST170, ST225

Car: 1991 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby FRSJON on Sun Sep 23, 2007 9:42 pm

nice one mate....i'll be round for a trial.. :wink:
Image
FRSJON
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 4662
Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2006 10:26 pm
Location: ISLE OF WIGHT
Your car: frozen white/carbon zt

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby knuckles on Sun Sep 23, 2007 9:45 pm

jayrs wrote:i dont come cheap :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:


i know :rolleyes: :lol:
ImageImage
~nomad~ wrote:Good god I love Clark.
knuckles
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 6841
Joined: Thu May 19, 2005 2:40 pm
Location: Hertfordshire
Your car: Fiesta Rs turbo

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby jayrs on Mon Sep 24, 2007 12:14 am

funny you say that jon, i had you in mind too :lol: :lol: :lol:

and clark, :P :lol:
jayrs
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 31520
Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:32 pm
Location: I.O.W
Your car: FRST, XR2, ST170, ST225

Car: 1991 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby j7aoc on Mon Sep 24, 2007 10:25 am

Sound's like you could be makeing a few of theses jay
j7aoc
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 6194
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 6:52 pm
Location: southampton

Car: 1991 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby onslack on Mon Sep 24, 2007 10:52 am

looking good jay :Q

i did electronics at school, but can i remember how to do this stuff.. umm.. no :lol:

might get you to make one :bonkers:
Image
click My sig -:- Sig made by :- xmadxmoex
onslack
Post Master
Post Master
 
Posts: 707
Joined: Sun Feb 27, 2005 6:58 pm
Location: West Sussex Drives: 2.0 16v Si
Your car: Si

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby jayrs on Mon Sep 24, 2007 6:20 pm

ah $hit, what havei let my self in for :o :lol:

up date in first post
jayrs
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 31520
Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:32 pm
Location: I.O.W
Your car: FRST, XR2, ST170, ST225

Car: 1991 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby jayrs on Mon Sep 24, 2007 6:21 pm

:)
Last edited by jayrs on Sun Sep 30, 2007 8:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
jayrs
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 31520
Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:32 pm
Location: I.O.W
Your car: FRST, XR2, ST170, ST225

Car: 1991 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby jayrs on Sun Sep 30, 2007 8:50 pm

its finished, see first post
jayrs
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 31520
Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:32 pm
Location: I.O.W
Your car: FRST, XR2, ST170, ST225

Car: 1991 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby Ollybee on Mon Oct 01, 2007 12:35 pm

s**t hot!
Those that can, do; and those that can't, talk about it.
Image
YRN Thread - yrn-vt151433/
FACEBOOK - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=869385470
Ollybee
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 8535
Joined: Fri Oct 08, 2004 11:37 pm
Location: Ilkley, West Yorkshire.
Your car: Focus Titanium & Fiesta ST

Car: 1996 Ford Fiesta Quartz

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby jayrs on Mon Oct 01, 2007 1:30 pm

just got to test it now.
when ya free with that rs jon :)
jayrs
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 31520
Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:32 pm
Location: I.O.W
Your car: FRST, XR2, ST170, ST225

Car: 1991 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby bakewell001 on Mon Oct 01, 2007 2:02 pm

Looks excellent mate.

If you want to test it on a non working motor you can always come see me... :rolleyes:
bakewell001
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
 
Posts: 2442
Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 8:54 pm
Location: Margate, Kent

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby jayrs on Mon Oct 01, 2007 6:12 pm

:lol: :lol: ill bring it to shows next year, could even charge :oooh: :lol: :lol:
na, your a bit far away tbh mate but if you want to tow it all the way down here..... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
jayrs
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 31520
Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:32 pm
Location: I.O.W
Your car: FRST, XR2, ST170, ST225

Car: 1991 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby Capri on Mon Oct 01, 2007 6:25 pm

Excellent guide, Jay - have popped it across to the Guides section, if that's OK. :)
My name is Alex. I used to have a Capri. I don't anymore. But I'm still called Capri.
Capri
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 13015
Joined: Sun Dec 09, 2001 12:00 am
Location: Tunbridge Wells
Your car: 1989 Citroen BX GTi 16v

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby jayrs on Mon Oct 01, 2007 6:36 pm

yeah thats fine mate, it wasnt ment to be a guide as such but sort of went that way didnt it :lol: :lol:
jayrs
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 31520
Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:32 pm
Location: I.O.W
Your car: FRST, XR2, ST170, ST225

Car: 1991 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby jayrs on Wed Oct 03, 2007 11:36 pm

this will be tested on jonfrst car on friday or over the weekend.
if all is well which im sure it will be i shall report good news.
and ive had a think, if anyone did want me to make them one i would do it, but to make it worth my while i would wanna do a couple at least
jayrs
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 31520
Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:32 pm
Location: I.O.W
Your car: FRST, XR2, ST170, ST225

Car: 1991 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby properphatboy on Thu Oct 04, 2007 11:48 pm

Can these be run all the time, like having the display on the dash?

Don't worry though, I'll make mine.
properphatboy
Post Master
Post Master
 
Posts: 808
Joined: Sat Mar 18, 2006 4:25 pm
Location: Holywell, North Wales.
Your car: Peugeot 306 D L

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby jayrs on Fri Oct 05, 2007 9:40 pm

why?
its not a dig display for reading live feed from the ecu mate, it dont work like that, nor does the ecu have the software/hardware for run a live feed output to it, so in short, no it cant dude
jayrs
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 31520
Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:32 pm
Location: I.O.W
Your car: FRST, XR2, ST170, ST225

Car: 1991 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby jayrs on Sat Oct 06, 2007 12:30 am

run a test on jons FRST tonight, the codes it gave were not fult codes but test codes, i cant get the interface to install on my pc for some reason so cant double check the codes but im 99.9% sure there test codes meaning jons car passed with no faults
jayrs
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 31520
Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:32 pm
Location: I.O.W
Your car: FRST, XR2, ST170, ST225

Car: 1991 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby properphatboy on Sat Oct 06, 2007 5:45 pm

Ok. What sort of faults will it display then? Down sensors and stuff?
properphatboy
Post Master
Post Master
 
Posts: 808
Joined: Sat Mar 18, 2006 4:25 pm
Location: Holywell, North Wales.
Your car: Peugeot 306 D L

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby jayrs on Sat Oct 06, 2007 8:47 pm

im not 100% sure as jons car didnt show any faults, but if it finds one it saves it and when cross ref with the interface it will tell you what that code means, it will not say for example, map sensor fault, it will give you the code thats asigned to that fault, e.g code 20 and you look up to see what code 20 is on the interface or somethign and it will tell you.

just to say, i dont know what code 20 is, i used it as a example
jayrs
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 31520
Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:32 pm
Location: I.O.W
Your car: FRST, XR2, ST170, ST225

Car: 1991 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby edders on Sun Oct 07, 2007 6:06 pm

where did you get the source code for the pic? as its kinda a redundant thing without it.
edders
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
 
Posts: 1318
Joined: Tue Apr 25, 2006 8:51 pm
Location: Leigh, Manchester

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby jayrs on Sun Oct 07, 2007 6:20 pm

[quote="edders"]where did you get the source code for the pic? as its kinda a redundant thing without it.[/quote]

what ya mean mate? the the chip??
jayrs
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 31520
Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:32 pm
Location: I.O.W
Your car: FRST, XR2, ST170, ST225

Car: 1991 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby edders on Sun Oct 07, 2007 6:32 pm

yeah the coding on the chip. did he (graham) do it himself or what.
edders
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
 
Posts: 1318
Joined: Tue Apr 25, 2006 8:51 pm
Location: Leigh, Manchester

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby jayrs on Sun Oct 07, 2007 6:46 pm

yes mate he did.
you buy the chip already programmed from him.
jayrs
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
User avatar
Posts: 31520
Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:32 pm
Location: I.O.W
Your car: FRST, XR2, ST170, ST225

Car: 1991 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo

Re: home made fault code reader, how to make one

Postby edders on Sun Oct 07, 2007 9:14 pm

'conquering device'.

i bet he wouldnt just send me the source code either would he.
edders
Elite Post Master
Elite Post Master
 
Posts: 1318
Joined: Tue Apr 25, 2006 8:51 pm
Location: Leigh, Manchester

Next

cron

Twitter

The second 20th Anniversary article, a dive into the history of how the site came about is available here: https://t.co/kbCfZ4sf0R

17:44, 4th December 2021 Twitter Web App

To celebrate https://t.co/wXVkvJipaS being 20 years old this year, I've written a series of articles detailing the… https://t.co/B0vE0Y3KvP

17:42, 4th December 2021 Twitter Web App

Follow fiestaturbo.com on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/fiestaturbo/

RSS Feeds

Subscribe to the RSS feed

What is RSS?

RSS is a technology that lets you use special applications or modern browsers to notify you you when a site is updated. You can then read the updated content in that application or your browser.

To subscribe to these RSS feeds you need to copy the links above. For instructions on how to add it to the feeds you keep track of, consult the documentation of your RSS reader.