Guide: Peugeot 306 GTi6 Idle Control Valve (ICV) Cleaning & Replacing

What is it?

The idle control valve (also known as a stepper motor) opens and closes to let air into the engine to stabilise idle when the throttle is closed. As you would expect it is located on the inlet manifold behind the throttle body.

How do I know if it's faulty?

The symptoms of a faulty idle control valve on a Peugeot 306 are:

• Stalling when throttle is closed
• Low/high idle
• Revs bouncing/hunting on idle

Cleaning and replacing

If you are buying a new one it is recommended to only buy genuine Magneti Marelli. These are available from Peugeot or slightly cheaper from Euro Car Parts or CarParts4Less. At the time of publishing this (27/06/13) the CarParts4Less part number is 436730100 for a Magneti Marelli idle control valve.

Cheap pattern parts are known to be of low quality (surprise surprise) and will likely fail 6 months later. Buy cheap pay twice.

Luckily cleaning or replacing the part is very quick and easy.

Old vs New

Tools required:

• 10mm socket/spanner
• Phillips screw driver

Step-by-step guide:

1. Disconnect negative terminal from battery.

2. Squeeze to unplug the vacuum hose (A) and remove MAP sensor plug (B) to give better access.

3. Remove two 10mm bolts holding the ICV housing to the inlet manifold and give it a gentle tug.

4. Disconnect multi-plug at the bottom and unplug it from black rubber hose.

5. The actual solenoid is held in place by two phillips screws. Undo these and pull it apart (remember which way the multi plug connector faces).

6. If this has never been apart there will be loads of oil and gunk in and around the solenoid and also the plastic housing and airways. Clean the hell out of these with WD40 or carb cleaner and an old rag.
7. At this point you either replace your old one or switch it for a shiny new idle control valve (remember to attach it the right way so the plug faces downwards). If you install a new ICV make sure you switch over the rubber O-ring seal.
8. Put it all back together and reconnect the battery. It is also advisable to do an ECU reset.
9. Take for a drive. The first idle may be a bit rough as it takes a while for the new ICV/stepper motor to calibrate itself.

Comments and questions welcome below.

A guide to help your Peugeot pass its MOT

Taking your car in for its next MOT is always a daunting prospect. There’s always that feeling of guilt when you realise that you probably should have taken better care of your car. And then there’s the cost; MOTs will notify you on necessary, but expensive, repairs that are needed to keep your car on the road.

Well, with the help of this guide, we’re going to help you cut the cost and make your car safe. Follow these simple checks and adopt these good habits to keep your car in tip-top condition.

Peugeot specific

There are a few important things you can do as a Peugeot owner to keep your car in the best possible condition. Checking you oil levels is easy and all you need is a rag and a few minutes of your time. Park your car in a level area and remove the dipstick from the engine. Wipe it clean, place it into the engine once more and then remove it again to see the remaining oil levels; if it’s getting a bit low, it may be time for a top up.

If something ever goes wrong with your car, we’d recommend using genuine Peugeot spare parts to keep it running efficiently. Alternative brands may not perform as well, or last as long.

Quick Checks

We find that the best way to check the lights on your car is to request the help of a friend. Have them sit in the car while you walk around the vehicle checking all the front and rear highlights. Have them flick the indicators on and off, as well as the hazard and dipped lights.

If any are broken, it’s relatively cheap and easy to replace them. It’s an easy thing to check but according to VOSA, it’s actually what 19 per cent of cars fail their tests on.

Tyres are also incredibly important. The legal minimum for tread depth on your tyres is 1.6mm along the centre of each tyre. A good check for this is to place a 20p coin in the lowest tread depth on your tyres. If the outer rim of the coin is hidden then your tire has passed. If you can see the outer rim, your tyre will need to be seen by a professional. Tyne & Auto Centre Group carries out car servicing in Middlesbrough, Darlington, Easington and Stockton on Tees. If you feel your tire could fail your MOT, they can provide a replacement and fitting service.

You should also check your wind shield to ensure there is no damage larger than 10mm in the central view. Additionally, the cumulative area of damage should be larger than 40mm. If it does, you could check with your insurance company to see if the repair is covered.

As a final tip, make sure your car is clean when you take it in to be checked. Other drivers should be able to read your license plate from 20 meters away, so make sure you give it a wipe down!

For more information on the test, gov.uk has an excellent guide that details what’s involved before, after and during your MOT.

How to Remove and Clean Toyota Yaris D4D EGR Valve

EGR valves are designed to allow a small amount of exhaust gas back into the combustion chamber, this in theory increases efficiency and reduces pollution.

Blocked and sticky EGR valves in diesels can cause all sorts of running problems which will vary depending on if your valve is sticky, stuck closed or even stuck open. Problems known to be related to EGR valves include:

• rough idling
• hesitation
• stalling
• knocking
• lower mpg
• black smoke from exhaust

On some vehicles the EGR valve is hard to access which can make cleaning a pain. Luckily on the Toyota Yaris D4D 1.4 diesel 2003 it is very easy to remove, this whole job can be completed in 20 minutes or less even for a complete novice mechanic.

Tools required:

• 13mm socket and extender
• Brake or carb cleaner (WD40 is also acceptable)
• Cleaning rag

The EGR valve is located on the front-ride hand side of the block as circled below.

Remove vacuum hose circled by pulling and then undo the 3 bolts circled. That is it!

 This particular Toyota Yaris EGR valve was not actually very 'coked up' at all.

 Just give it a good spray with your cleaner of choice and then get the rag in there to get all the carbon deposits cleaned out.

Fitting is the reverse of removal, torque the bolts in sequence and be careful not to over-tighten and don't forget the metal gasket.

Peugeot 306 Secret Fuel Cap Holder

Fed up of resting the fuel cap on the roof or pump? Check out the photo below and your mind will be blown. Ok, not quite secret but it's amazing how many people don't know about this so I thought it was worth a quick post and photo, I had my Peugeot for two years before someone else pointed this out to me, fairly sure it is in the owners handbook though.

Comment below if you didn't know this holder existed!

Peugeot’s Green Awards and Advancements In Motoring

Peugeot are one of the companies now leading the field in green advancements in motoring. The French manufacturer has rolled out a number of new systems, engines and technologies in the last decade that have put them at the forefront of ecologically friendly motoring. This is not just blue sky engineering either – these are solid, mass produced innovations that allow the average driver on the road the option of making an environmentally conscious choice without having to break the bank. So, what are their most notable achievements in recent years?

Most Reliable Car Award

In a recent survey of the cars most and least likely to give you mechanical trouble recently, the Peugeot 207 came out as the most reliable car sold in Europe. With an incident rate of just 6%, costing owners an average of £331 to put right this small hatchback was streets ahead of its nearest rival, the Fiat Panda, which has an incident rate of 14% - nearly double that of the 207. Why is this an important green credential? Well, every breakdown experienced by a vehicle requires a new part, which greatly adds to the carbon footprint it creates. Less fixes and new parts simply means the car creates less of an environmental impact. It’s not just the 207 that’s featured highly on the list either – the 206 came in third with an incident rate of 17%, making Peugeot the most reliable manufacturer in Europe by far.

Peugeot 3008 Hybrid 

The Peugeot 3008 Hybrid was incredibly well received by the motoring community, winning two major green engineering awards. First was the Best Eco Car of the Year 2011 title from Diesel Car Magazine, then the more prestigious What Car? Green Car award for the SUV category. At the time it was the world’s first full diesel hybrid, using an engine that combines diesel and electrical power. The What Car? award not only considers the amount of CO2 emissions produced by the vehicle, which was very low for an SUV at 99g/km but also looks at the amount of nitrous oxides and particulates that were also at very low levels. As you’d expect from a hybrid engined car it also produces exemplary figures for its fuel consumption running at an astounding 74 mpg – a figure that normal petrol and diesel powered SUVs can only dream of.

World Records

In 2008 a Peugeot 308 HD 110 hatchback managed to break two world records for economical engineering. A couple drove the car on a 9,000 mile trip round the coast of Australia, recording an average fuel consumption of 75.6mpg and travelling an astounding 1192 miles on a single tank of petrol. In addition to the weight of the passengers the car was also fully stocked up with luggage and supplies for the trip, adding to this phenomenal achievement. Although this figure has now been surpassed in recent times by the Volkswagen Passat, it still shows that the manufacturer have been producing cars that are absolutely world class in terms of their efficiency over the last decade.

Blue HDi 

One of Peugeot’s latest advancements is the development of their Blue HDi system. This is a diesel engine that the manufacturer has created in response to the challenge of reducing emissions throughout their range. When compared to a petrol engine it consumes approximately 25%, which means that it therefore produces around 15% less CO2. It uses a special mechanical system known as a DPF that permanently traps all particulates, which are then automatically burned during regeneration. This even manages to reduce the amount of nitrous oxide produced by the engine. According to Peugeot’s website, this is the most effective diesel emission control system in terms of reducing the amount of pollutant emissions.

48V Mild Hybrid

In January 2013, at its Innovation Day in Paris, Peugeot announced the development of a next generation air hybrid engine. This system uses a 10kW electric power unit coupled up with a 48 volt lithium ion battery, which can be combined with gasoline and diesel engines and normal gearboxes. This new type of engine promises even better performance than their e-HDi technology, reducing fuel consumption by 10-15% and cutting CO2 emissions 15g/km when compared to similar engines. The electric motor is powerful enough to drive the car up to 12mph and can be used to help park the car or it can be used to offer greater acceleration out on the road.

Peugeot iOn

Of course, it’s not just hybrid engines that are rolling out of the labs at Peugeot. They’ve also created their very own brand of electric car, the iOn. The vehicle won the Next Greencar City Car award in 2011 thanks to its urban friendly style and design. Although critics of the car have said that it is a little pricey when compared to similar sized hybrids and diesel run cars, this still shows that Peugeot are capable of producing a road worthy electric car, and from now on the cost of subsequent models is only likely to go down. The car uses a 66 bhp motor that’s powered by lithium ion batteries giving drivers a range of around 90 miles.

Overall Performance

Peugeot are showing a firm commitment to green motoring. They released a statement earlier this year revealing that the average emissions from their model range has dropped from 121.5g/km to 116.3g/km in 2012. This is in no small part due to their increased use of hybrid engines as well as various engineering advancements that have seen an increase in efficiency, such as their stop start technology. With more and more consumers now demanding green vehicles, being ecologically friendly is no longer just about savvy marketing. In order for any car manufacturer to remain competitive in today’s world, they have to show that they are environmentally conscious – and right now Peugeot look like they’re leading the pack.

This article was written by Justin Smith who blogs regularly for the used car parts location service Breakerlink who you can follow on Twitter or Facebook for more motoring musing.

Peugeot Common Problems and Fixes

Owning a Peugeot can be like a dream come true. Known for being reliable, safe, and long lasting, they are ideal for families, those who enjoy travel, and there are even models for individuals interested in protecting the environment. The Peugeot has been around for more than 200 years, and car owners all over the world have a love affair with them.

Like any car, however, things are not always completely perfect. There are a few common problems that can occur when owning and driving a Peugeot, and if you plan on owning one, it is important to be aware of what these problems are and how to have them repaired as quickly as possible.

Possible Problems With the Peugeot

• Automatic Gearbox Fault - Many of the Peugeot car models containing the AL4 gearbox suffer from this fault. This should be inspected immediately by a professional in order to prevent problems with other Peugeot parts from occurring. It can most often be fixed by re-programming and modifying the electro valve.

• Turbo Failure - Peugeot, Ford, and Citroen are all makes that are affected by turbo failure, but other vehicles makes can also experience this problem. In the case of the Peugeot, the models affected are generally the 206, 206cc, 307, 407, and Partner van. A turbo failure is often the result of maintenance failures, most often when car owners don’t take the time to change their oil or air filters at regular intervals as recommended by the car manufacturer. Prevention is easy, but if a turbo failure occurs, car parts like the turbo, oil feed, return pipes, and oil pick up strainer will all have to be replaced.

• Engine Not Turning Over - In most cars, when the engine doesn’t turn over or turns over very slowly, many car owners test the battery first to determine if that is the problem. In the case of the Peugeot, however, the problem most likely lies with a faulty starter motor. This car part will either have to be repaired or replaced.

• Convertible Roof - In the 207 and 208cc models, many car owners find that the convertible roof will sometimes fail to open or close. At times the roof may open part way and then stop as well. This often occurs when the Peugeot hasn’t be used in quite a while and when the battery isn’t in tip top shape. Most often, this simply requires replacing the battery and then manually pulling the roof from closed to open. The roof will then re-calibrate its movements and the fault will be forgotten.

• Diesel Injection Fault Light - This light often indicates there is a problem with the vehicle’s high pressure system, which includes car parts like injectors and pressure regulators. Before any serious steps are made to fix the problem, change the fuel filter first. Sometimes this small step is all it takes to get the car up and running efficiently again. Want to prevent this from occurring? Change the fuel filter at regular intervals.

Is your Peugeot acting up? While these cars are reliable, that doesn’t mean they won’t need replacement car parts and a visit to the local mechanic every once in a while. Make sure you are taking the right steps to keep your car healthy by fixing these common issues as quickly as possible.

Need parts for your Peugeot? Keep your car running strong; visit GSF for quality Peugeot parts and quality service!

Author info: This is a guest post written by one of our contributors and does not necessarily reflect the views of PugAddicts. Interested? Please contact us for more information about sponsored posts.

Bosch Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) - Peugeot 306 GTi-6 (XU10J4RS)

Often the cause of flat spots in acceleration, harsh engine braking, poor MPG and other running problems. The car will run with this sensor unplugged so this can be done to diagnose potential issues. Always test sensor with a multimeter to confirm if the part is faulty. If you don't know how to do this then why not read our how to guide?

This part is available from Peugeot but if you have a local Bosch dealer they should be able to order it in for you for quite a bit cheaper than Peugeot.

BOSCH part number: 0 280 122 009

Photos

Launch Tech Release X431 Pad - Latest OE Level Car Diagnostic Tool

There’s some chatter online about the new product from Launch which is definitely worth some consideration. It’s the new addition to their OE level tools, and the Launch X431 Pad – or X431 Euro Pad – looks like a real innovation in diagnostic equipment.

Launch Tech has adopted the performance and usability of tablet computing with this new piece of kit, making it one of the most user-friendly and accessible they have produced. Of course, being a Launch X431 product, it is the result of more than twenty years’ experience in vehicle diagnostics and displays all of the high performance functionality which has made their previous X431 tools so popular.

What’s Included with the X431 Pad?

The X431 Pad is delivered as a complete kit with all cables and connectors in a convenient heavy-duty carry case. Its integral features include the thermal printer and live streaming capabilities found on the X431 GDS alongside some new additions such as the 9.7” 1024 x 768 LCD touch screen and 1.3 mega pixel reverse-facing camera.

The camera, which can shoot video as well as take photographs, really comes into its own when using the Pad with MENS (Multi-Euro Networking System) – one of the real innovations in this new product.

What is the Multi-Euro Networking System?

The X431 Pad is a completely wireless piece of equipment. It can connect to the internet and to the Launch server through a VPN, and it has a Windows 7 operating system for ease of use – this really is just like a tablet computer.

Through this connection, MENS allows you to communicate with other X431 Pad users all over the world. You can share real-time information, screenshots of your live data streams, photographs and video from the camera, and get assistance all through the cloud-based system. Other users or brand specialists can offer help and advice where needed and users can become a paid technician by advertising services through the network.

Are there any extra capabilities for the X431 Pad?

This innovative piece of kit is designed for professionals, and is made to be flexible to suit different diagnosticians’ needs. Optional modules available for the Pad expand on its capabilities and include a four-channel oscilloscope with ignition analysis, a sensor tester and simulator, a battery test with print-out, and a bore scope.

Other Key Features

Here’s a quick break down of the key features of the Launch X431 Pad:

•       One button functionality

•       Open web browser with Google

•       Wireless or Ethernet connection

•       Windows 7 operating system

•       1.6GHz Intel™ dual core processor

•       2GB RAM memory

•       16GB hard drive

•       Bluetooth 2.1 and Wireless 802.11 b,g,n

•       7400mAh Lithium polymer battery – 7hrs standby, 3-4hrs operating time

•       Built-in thermal printer

•       1024 x 768 LCD touch screen with IPS technology

Photos

X431 Pad showing off multi-data graphing

Indicator lights and slot for keeping the wireless bluetooth OBD connector

Easy access shortcut buttons

Screen grab showing built-in internet browser

This new release from Launch Tech looks very exciting and we’d be keen to get a closer look at what it can do. For more information and photos, check out the official Launch UK website. If you have had any personal experience of the new Launch X431 Pad leave us a comment below. There aren’t many reviews for this product out there yet so it’d be great to get some opinions on it.

Guide: How To Polish Chrome/Stainless Exhaust Tip

A short guide for how to polish a stainless/chromed exhaust tip and bring it back up to it's original shiny glory. Years of neglect can result in rust and corrosion build-up which basically makes the whole rear of your car look like poo poo. Sometimes the rust build-up is so bad it looks unrecoverable but it's surprising what an hour and some elbow grease can do.

Below are the before and after photos for a second-hand Peugeot 306 GTi6 rear box I recently bought. I thought the rear tip would have to be replaced because it was such a state but decided it was worth giving it a clean up first and the results were very surprising.

Before

After

Equipment needed:

• Wire brush
• Fine sandpaper
• Metal polish
• Polishing cloth

As you can see from the first photo this exhaust was quite badly corroded and you could barely see any of the polished finish at all. After about an hours worth of elbow grease it looks like a completely different exhaust tip.

Step 1
Using the wire brush scrub the worst of the corrosion off. Focus on small areas at a time and work your way round, when one side is done flip the exhaust over and do the other side. Be careful as the wires can create scratches in the metal which are hard to remove. In this case the exhaust tip was so bad that it was going to be almost impossible to remove all the rust and corrosion without making some scratches. Once all the main corrosion has been removed move onto the sandpaper.

Step 2
Fold the sandpaper to enable you to rub only on areas which have spots of rust. Rub hard and watch the rust turn sandy and then disappear. Go round the exhaust tip focusing on small areas of corrosion at a time until they are all removed. I used 120grit sandpaper for this but I imagine anything up to 200 would be fine, harsher grits (lower number than 120) will scratch the finish.

Once all the surface rust is removed the finish may be still be pitted, depending on how bad the corrosion is and how long it has been eating away at it, unfortunately there's not a lot you can do about this.

Step 3
The final stage which will bring up the chrome exhaust tip to the best mirror finish possible is the use of a metal polish such as "T-Cut Original Metal Polish". Like a lot of things, the more effort you put into this stage the greater the rewards will be. Put a small pea-sized blob on the polishing cloth and work it into an area of the chrome until it is completely broken down. With this I found lots of pressure helps.

There you go, that's how to polish a chromed exhaust tip, a few blisters and a sore arm later and you should have a great mirror-like finish. Questions and comments welcome below.

How to reset Peugeot 306 ECU

Resetting the ECU is a good place to start if you are experiencing strange idle, running or stalling problems. Over time the 306 ECU picks up data from the sensors and 'learns' or adapts to the conditions. By resetting the ECU you will return it to the default settings and remove any 'incorrect adaptations' the ECU has made.

The most common use for this is to reset the Idle Control Valve (ICV) to its default position.

How to reset Peugeot 306 ECU:

1. If you have a standard radio make sure you have the code.
2. Open bonnet and disconnect negative (black) battery terminal.
3. Wait for 10 minutes (maybe time for a really swift cup of tea?)
4. Reconnect battery.
5. Insert keys and turn ignition to second click (all the lights in the dash will light up).
6. Wait 15 seconds or until fuel pump stops priming.
7. Start car
8. Take for a drive covering as many engine loads / rev ranges as possible.

Any questions or comments we'd love to hear about them below.

Peugeot 208 Type R5 Renamed To 208 T16

The T16 is back from the dead...More exciting news and photos of Peugeot's gorgeous new rally car. Previously unveiled as the Peugeot 208 Type R5 at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, it has now been officially announced the name is changing to Peugeot 208 T16. The choice to revive the iconic T16 name has caused much excitement amongst fans who quite rightly regard the 'T16' with almost religious deference.

More awesome photos were also released by Peugeot Sport. All credit goes to Peugeot Sport for these, follow them on their Facebook page for all the latest updates.

Click here for more photos and technical spec of the Peugeot 208 Type R5 208 T16. Like what you see? Comment below.

Launch CReader 6 OBDII Scan Tool Hands-On Review

So we recently got our hands on the CReader 6 from Launch and decided to do a little review for our readers. The format of the review is as follows:

1. What is it?
2. What does it do?
3. Photos
4. First impressions
5. Testing diagnostic fault code reading and clearing
6. Testing live data stream graphing
7. Video review - see the tool in action
8. Conclusion

What is it?

The Launch CReader 6 is an EOBD/OBDII car diagnostic tool aimed at the car enthusiast/home mechanic who wants the ability to diagnose engine sensor related issues with increased ease, accuracy and reliability compared to using multi-meters and other such methods.

Costing approximately £132 (as of Jan 2013) the C Reader 6 is priced at the higher end of the OBDII scan tool market but you do get a lot more for your money and we feel the extra cost is justified.

Features:

• Read and clear diagnostic fault codes
• View freeze frame data
• View live data streams from engine sensors
• View up to four data streams in graph format
• EVAP system test
• I/M readiness test
• o2 (Lambda) sensor test
• MIL indicator
• Record and playback up to 8 hours of diagnostic data

Specifications:

• 2.8" LCD colour screen
• Two frames per second data refresh rate
• 90cm OBDII cable length
• Input voltage range: 8 - 18V
• No external power supply required (runs from car battery)
• Weight: 500g

Free access to Launch's update service is included in the price so as they update the firmware and what-not you can stay up to date. How often they do this and whether the updates offer worthwhile benefits is yet to be seen.

What does it do?

In a nutshell - by communicating with your vehicles ECU via the OBDII port the CReader VI gives you access to data from the various engine sensors so you can see if they are malfunctioning. As we will demonstrate in the video review at the bottom of this page this engine sensor data can be viewed in a couple of ways - as a simple table with numbers or (more excitingly) in a graph. This is perhaps the most exciting feature of the CReader 6 - when in 'graph mode' you can display up to four data streams simultaneously which is pretty cool and very useful for seeing how a sensor is performing over time, rather than just seeing what it is doing at that very moment like in 'table mode'.

Like all OBD car diagnostic tools the CReader 6 gives you the ability to read and clear engine fault codes (turning off that pesky check engine light in the dash).

The ability to record and save sensor data for playback at a later date is also very interesting and would be great for catching intermittent faults. Without it, seeing what the sensors are doing when driving the vehicle is going to be a bit tricky if you are on your lonesome.

Another feature of the CReader VI is the freeze frame data area which gives you an idea of what the sensors were doing at the time a fault code was generated.

C Reader 6 Photos

Hands on review and video review below.

Hands-On Review

Initial impressions

The CReader 6 comes with a USB cable for updating and registering the unit as well as an instruction manual. Initial impressions of the build quality and durability of the tool are good, the case is constructed with a hard wearing plastic for the front face and a slightly softer type of plastic for the rear. It is quite light and although you might normally think light is bad I think it can be a good thing in terms of durability, for instance the Samsung Galaxy SII normally fairs a lot better when dropped than the much heavier iPhone 4S due to the inflexible nature of the materials which give it that high quality feel.

The buttons are made from soft rubber which require quite a lot of movement to register which can get a little annoying after a while. The OBDII cable is 90cm long which should be plenty long enough to have the scan tool sit on your lap whilst connected to most vehicles. The join where the cable joins the CReader 6 seems to be sturdy and is reinforced with some extra rubber round the sides of the cable.

The colour screen is bright, clear and easy to read with the only negative point being that it is highly reflective which can make use in direct sunlight awkward. Saying that, because this tool is used inside a car finding some shade is not normally an issue.

Diagnostic Test

Upon plugging in the OBDII cable and turning on the vehicle's ignition the CReader will automatically power on and you will see the start-up menu with several options including diagnostic trouble code look up and tool set-up options. Once you initialise the tool it will begin to connect to the ECU which takes approximately 12 seconds.

Once the tool is connected you are presented with a list of functions including read fault codes, clear fault codes, check I/M readiness, view freeze frame data, view sensor data streams and more. I will not go into much detail about all of these features but I recommend you see the data streams in action in the video review below.

I found the CReader 6 is easy to use due to the number of buttons on the device - I didn't find any strange double functions for any of the buttons depending on which screen you are on. Up is up, down is down etc, the green arrow on the right serves as 'Go' or 'Accept' and the blue back arrow on the left takes you back to the previous screen - very simple.

Finding and clearing fault codes

To test out the fault code reading abilities of the scan tool I unplugged the MAF sensor on the test vehicle and started the engine to artificially create a diagnostic trouble code or DTC as they are known.

The test was successful and the CReader 6 identified the MAF related fault code correctly. I was pleasantly surprised to find the CReader not only found the fault code e.g. P0100 but also gave a short description of the code e.g "Mass or Volume Air Flow A Circuit" which makes life easier.

I then went back to the previous menu and cleared the fault code successfully. This whole process took about 60 seconds so very quick.

Live data stream graphing

The coolest feature on the CReader 6, and what really sets it apart from the cheaper OBD2 scan tools, is the live data streaming in graph mode. In this mode you can select up to four engine sensors and have the live data display simultaneously on a graph which updates twice every second.

For the test we selected at engine RPM and engine coolant temperature. As well as seeing the data from these two sensors in a continually refreshing graph, the live values are displayed below the graph as well as minimum and maximum recorded values. Each data stream is given a different colour to make the lines on the graph easily distinguishable.

In our tests we found the graphing easy to understand and the ability to view sensor data over a period of time rather than just what it is doing at that exact moment is very useful. Furthermore being able to see how multiple sensors are behaving simultaneously is also a big benefit. As a little note the machine is set as default to display temperature in degree F but this can be changed in the setup options to degree C.

For an OBD tool aimed at the home mechanic the ability to have all of this data on one screen is very impressive - if there was one criticism it would be that, due to the size of the screen, the graph can be quite hard to read if you have more than two data streams active simultaneously. However, for the price of this tool it would be unfair to expect too much.

Video Review

Conclusion

If you are looking for a large amount of functionality and in-depth diagnostic capability then this probably isn't the tool for you. However, the CReader 6 has enough features to be of significant use to the keen home mechanic and could certainly save a trip to the garage for many essential tasks such as turning off engine management lights and diagnosing basic ECU sensor issues. With many garages now charging £50+ an hour you can see how this tool could pay for itself pretty quickly.

For the price you pay we think the CReader VI offers very good value compared to other OBDII scan tools on the market. A quick search on eBay will discover tools which cost up to £200 with weaker specifications e.g. no colour screen or live data graphing.

From what I have heard Launch have a good reputation in the garage trade for their dealership level diagnostic tools so I hope this transpires into the home user end of the market.

Do you have a CReader 6 or are you thinking of buying one? Like or really dislike the review? Please add your comments below there is no registration needed.