Value of a Nanocom for 'Light' Work

[4xsama]

Hi,

I'm thinking of buying a Nancom for my Puma but I only do occasional long trips (8hrs or so) so am questioning the value. The trips I do are without a trailer and typically on major or B roads. The off roading (particularly under heavy load - sand etc) are quite limited. That's not to say we wont up the ante in the future (which is the plan anyway but a few things need to fall into place) but for now its a pretty vanilla journey.

I'd like to think I was mechanically sympathetic, keep an eye on gauges, listen for noises, smell for smells etc but what does concern me is if something lets go suddenly causing a major loss of fluids or sudden spike in engine heat and I miss it. As a note the engine has had no mods whatsoever.

Andrew

[weeds]

Not sure about the setup with a puma but generally temp gauges are not that helpful for rapid coolant loss as the sensor needs water around it to read a temp......and even if the temp gauge does pick up something it rents to be too late.

A low coolant alarm would be a better option.

Although a nanocom will display the temp rather than the OEM gauge that sits somewhere in an ‘ok’ zone.

[Wallyb]

I monitor it all via my phone

- OBDC bluetooth sender , about $30 on ebay (I bought one from Jaycar for $60)
- Torque app ($4) from the app store

The OBDC sender plugs into the fuse box under the steering wheel.

Here is a screen shot of my current display setup (you can customise it, different type of displays, digital, analogue, all measuring a host of metrics available via the ODBC port). Bonus feature, each "meter" can be configured with an alarm eg water temp goes over 90c, battery under 13V etc

146399

Long term plan is to install a 8 inch tablet permanently into the dash where the radio is. Will allow GPS, Torque app and music

[Zeros]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a Nanocom more for fault finding and clearing than for monitoring? They are fairly cumbersome in terms of being permanently plugged in. I use a small Scanguage which shows engine temp, battery, etc live.

What's the consensus? A low coolant alarm would be good, but I'm pretty sure on a Puma the sensor on the coolant overflow would alert you to this, put you into limp mode? You'd then check / rectify problem / clear fault with Nanocom? or would it be better to have a separate low coolant alarm?

[Wallyb]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a Nanocom more for fault finding and clearing than for monitoring? They are fairly cumbersome in terms of being permanently plugged in. I use a small Scanguage which shows engine temp, battery, etc live.

What's the consensus? A low coolant alarm would be good, but I'm pretty sure on a Puma the sensor on the coolant overflow would alert you to this, put you into limp mode? You'd then check / rectify problem / clear fault with Nanocom? or would it be better to have a separate low coolant alarm?

Yes ... but - The Nanocom does have a monitor function that allows it to behave similar to the Scangauge (displays a bunch of key parameters). I have seen setups where people have permanently mounted the Nanocom on the dash.

The OP was questioning whether the price of the Nanocom was worth is where its use would be infrequent.

To that end I think either your suggestion (Scanguage) or my earlier post would easily do the job and have a a sub $100 price tag


PS. I own a Nanocom, mandatory piece of kit when you have a P38. Just haven't purchased the cable and licences to suit the puma yet.

[SPROVER]

Yep definitely worth it in my opinion. Also good for when you will need to find and clear codes. And it will happen[emoji16]

[loanrangie]

If you do your own maintenance and fault find then it will pay for itself quickly, to use just as a gauge as mentioned above there are other cheaper options.

[MLD]

for about the same money as the Nanocom there is the GAP diagnostic tool. Being BT you can use Android or iOS to both receive live data feed (and record the feed) and fault testing & clearing. Worth my weight in gold to have a diagnostic tool at all times. I recently used it to fault find an earth on my throttle. The position sensor reading on the foot throttle body was working but the ECU feed data was showing zero. With that info i focused on the harness between the throttle body and ECU. Found the exposed wire under the steering column. Fixed on the spot and my trip continued. It's not recommended to use the GAP as a permanent fixture. I concur with those that suggested the ScanGauge as a permanent monitoring device.

is it worth it, BIG YES if you don't want to be the focus of ridicule of the ignorant toyota driver that feels compelled to tell you that his grandfather had a LR series on the farm and forever working on it, which is why he bought a toyota.

[Zeros]

To be honest, I’m still confused by ‘fault finding’ with a Nanocom or similar.

When you find the fault, don’t you need to repair/fix the problem/fault before clearing the fault? What do you do if you don’t have the parts?

[martnH]

It's a diagnostic tool. The computer suggest what may be wrong so you do not need to do complex differential diagnosis

You find a fault, fix it and clear the code.

To be honest, I’m still confused by ‘fault finding’ with a Nanocom or similar.

When you find the fault, don’t you need to repair/fix the problem/fault before clearing the fault? What do you do if you don’t have the parts?

[Zeros]

It's a diagnostic tool. The computer suggest what may be wrong so you do not need to do complex differential diagnosis

You find a fault, fix it and clear the code.

Yes I know. That’s what I thought. ...it’s fixing it that’s the issue. Finding the fault is one thing. There’s no point clearing it if you don’t know how to fix it or you don’t have the parts.

I started a thread in the Defender section about a list of spare parts for common ‘faults’, it would be great if you could share your knowledge there.

[martnH]

I don't know much

But I know the car need three things to run
-Air. Related to turbo intercooler and all the piping
-Fuel, fuel tank, fuel filter and all the fuel line and pump
And ecu. The connectors, all the modules and sensors.

Not Much you can do at the side of the road really but the diagnostic tool can provide one important info that affect your decision that is can I limp home?

I.e. Will limping home cause more damage or should I wait on the side of the road for a tow truck.

Say if the fault code says turbo under boost, maybe it's a leakage in the air system so mostly likely you can limp home.If the fault codes says something with the engine cranking sensor or fuel rail pressure too high

I have a diagnostic tool too. A $700 one I used it to record the baseline data when my Defender was "mint"

And if the truck starts to play up, I can simply compare the data to see what are the difference and narrow my diagnosis down to a few components

Repairs is getting simple nowadays so you don't "repair" components but simply replace them. This include engine, gearbox transfer box and diffs...


My 2cents.
Cheers
Martin


Yes I know. That’s what I thought. ...it’s fixing it that’s the issue. Finding the fault is one thing. There’s no point clearing it if you don’t know how to fix it or you don’t have the parts.

I started a thread in the Defender section about a list of spare parts for common ‘faults’, it would be great if you could share your knowledge there.

[loanrangie]

Yes I know. That’s what I thought. ...it’s fixing it that’s the issue. Finding the fault is one thing. There’s no point clearing it if you don’t know how to fix it or you don’t have the parts.

I started a thread in the Defender section about a list of spare parts for common ‘faults’, it would be great if you could share your knowledge there.Diagnosis is 9/10 of the repair, doesn't matter if you don't have the parts BUT you will need them at some stage and won't need to throw money at unnecessary items.

[Zeros]

So in addition to the usual hoses, belts, bearings, filters, oils, etc ...which sensors, ECU related spares are people carrying for extended remote travel?

[Shoogs]

So in addition to the usual hoses, belts, bearings, filters, oils, etc ...which sensors, ECU related spares are people carrying for extended remote travel?

Apart for the above I carry a Nanocom, spare ignition barrel/switch and a SCV, they are the only things so far that have stopped/slowed me in a Puma.

[big harold]

I have 2 different readers.
One from Supercheap was on sale for $50 carry it in the glove box.
It has already paid for itself 4x over reset low fuel rail pressure fault caused by cold fuel.
I also have a gauge from 4WD supacentre cost $60 that lives on the dash and reads real time from the computer.
Can also be used to read and reset codes apparently.
Mark

[4xsama]

I have 2 different readers.
One from Supercheap was on sale for $50 carry it in the glove box.
It has already paid for itself 4x over reset low fuel rail pressure fault caused by cold fuel.
I also have a gauge from 4WD supacentre cost $60 that lives on the dash and reads real time from the computer.
Can also be used to read and reset codes apparently.
Mark

Are they name brands and which one is more useful?

Cheers,

Andrew

[big harold]

Depends on what you want it for.
4WD Supacentre one lives on the dash its good for getting real time info like temps and stuff.
Haven't reset any faults with it yet so can't comment on that side of it.
The other one is a fault reader tool can still view real time info.
Good to have in the glove box to reset faults can't think of the brand will have to have a look later.
Mark

[4xsama]

Depends on what you want it for.
4WD Supacentre one lives on the dash its good for getting real time info like temps and stuff.
Haven't reset any faults with it yet so can't comment on that side of it.
The other one is a fault reader tool can still view real time info.
Good to have in the glove box to reset faults can't think of the brand will have to have a look later.
Mark

What I'm after is an early warning device for temp changes or pressure losses while I'm on the go. Nothing OTT other than a set of supplementary gauges.

Andrew

[MLD]

What I'm after is an early warning device for temp changes or pressure losses while I'm on the go. Nothing OTT other than a set of supplementary gauges.

Andrew

Supercentre sell an EDS for $60 odd. It looks the same as the scan gauge. Scan gauge will give you 4 live read parameters on its screen and ability to clear most fault codes. No alarm as such. I used it for Kph (calibrated off my GPS to correct the gearing and tyres), head (water) temp, volts and a floating parameter depending on what i want to monitor. When i had a sticky waste gate it was good to monitor the MAP data to avoid it over boosting and going into a temporary retardation. It will read about 15 parameters that are useful for on the go. Because i use it for kph i look at it frequently so no need for an alarm. The Apps for your mobile are probably better than the scan gauge but for me sits on the dash and i don't have to think about it when i jump in or out the truck.

There was a mob out of South Africa (or Zimbabwe ) that sold a monitor and alarm that used independent sensors or you tapped into the factory sensors. I thought it was called EMS but a quick google search didn't come up with it. I thought Dave (Incisor) sold it through his shop (i didn't double check). The benefit of this is a low coolant alarm and an alarm for each of the parameters which means you don't have to monitor it (as you do with scan gauge).

[4xsama]

Based on the comments and my want of a simple device to monitor the vehicle on the go I'm guessing this is the go;

https://www.4wdsupacentre.com.au/engine-data-scan-computer.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiAi57gBRDqARIsABhDSMoooR Lm2BydzUK7O1O1Yej1N4mpguF6WGcfAcskvaDqKNiRIc7s_J0a Ap1GEALw_wcB

[Zeros]

Based on the comments and my want of a simple device to monitor the vehicle on the go I'm guessing this is the go;

Engine Data Scan (EDS) Computer | Scan Tool | Digital Gauge | Trip Computer | OBD2 - 4WD Supacentre (https://www.4wdsupacentre.com.au/engine-data-scan-computer.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiAi57gBRDqARIsABhDSMoooR Lm2BydzUK7O1O1Yej1N4mpguF6WGcfAcskvaDqKNiRIc7s_J0a Ap1GEALw_wcB)

I've an Ultraguage: Buying Guides UltraGauge EM Plus (https://www.preciseauto.com.au/buying/buying-guides/ultragauge/)

...works well, I like the display more. But it doesn't seem read EGT's, unless I'm missing a setting?

[4xsama]

I've an Ultraguage: Buying Guides UltraGauge EM Plus (https://www.preciseauto.com.au/buying/buying-guides/ultragauge/)

...works well, I like the display more. But it doesn't seem read EGT's, unless I'm missing a setting?

Would they cost around $200 AUD?

[big harold]

Based on the comments and my want of a simple device to monitor the vehicle on the go I'm guessing this is the go;

https://www.4wdsupacentre.com.au/engine-data-scan-computer.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiAi57gBRDqARIsABhDSMoooR Lm2BydzUK7O1O1Yej1N4mpguF6WGcfAcskvaDqKNiRIc7s_J0a Ap1GEALw_wcB
That's what I have been using so far.
Will not read exhaust temp or oil pressure as the current computer doesn't read this.
I have decided to fit an adapter to read oil pressure and a pyrometer to read exhaust temp.
I will run this in conjunction with the supacentre gauge.
Mark

[big harold]

I've an Ultraguage: Buying Guides UltraGauge EM Plus (https://www.preciseauto.com.au/buying/buying-guides/ultragauge/)

...works well, I like the display more. But it doesn't seem read EGT's, unless I'm missing a setting?
You will need a pyrometer fitted to read EGT'S
Mark

[Marty90]

Supercentre sell an EDS for $60 odd. It looks the same as the scan gauge. Scan gauge will give you 4 live read parameters on its screen and ability to clear most fault codes. No alarm as such. I used it for Kph (calibrated off my GPS to correct the gearing and tyres), head (water) temp, volts and a floating parameter depending on what i want to monitor. When i had a sticky waste gate it was good to monitor the MAP data to avoid it over boosting and going into a temporary retardation. It will read about 15 parameters that are useful for on the go. Because i use it for kph i look at it frequently so no need for an alarm. The Apps for your mobile are probably better than the scan gauge but for me sits on the dash and i don't have to think about it when i jump in or out the truck.

There was a mob out of South Africa (or Zimbabwe ) that sold a monitor and alarm that used independent sensors or you tapped into the factory sensors. I thought it was called EMS but a quick google search didn't come up with it. I thought Dave (Incisor) sold it through his shop (i didn't double check). The benefit of this is a low coolant alarm and an alarm for each of the parameters which means you don't have to monitor it (as you do with scan gauge).Redarc have one @$500 IIRC