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MG MGF Technical - Testbook

As I undertake performance mods on my 1997 MGF VVC and as time moves on and as I start to undertake more maintenance myself,and potentially as things start to wrong as the car ages, my desire to get my hands on Rover's test book increases!

I am hoping that as MG dealers fall by the wayside, Testbooks start to reach the market. As we know it is not just the software but also the hardware that is required to plug into the MG's onboard diagnostic connector.

Has anyone ever seen Testbooks available on the open market and if so where please?
Julian

I haven't seen them yet either - probably many are returning to the administrators, PwC - but keep an eye on eBay would be my advice :o)
Rob Bell

MG Rover Holland went into administration as well, followed by an auction of all their goods (from SV-R to the coffee machine and cups)

They had a few testbooks all going quite expensive... except one. It started it's life as a portable device (http://www.interro.com/cat/catalog_hht.htm) but is plugged in a kind of docking station which has a power supply and a LAN connection. The third cable of the docking station is a long data cable. The set also includes 5 different leads with plugs that will connect to the various sockets in a set of MG/Rover cars and to the data cable of the docking station. The reason why the price didn't went up that much was that the laptop connected to it is missing.

However we are trying to get it working with the help of a friend, who is an official MG Rover dealer.

I bet there will be a full story on a website soon.
Erik

It would prolly be cheaper to fit an emerald....

well cheaper in the diagnostic sense, in real money it will be far more expensive as you open the door for bigger engine mods!
Will Munns

Looking forward to reading the full story Erik :o) Let us know how you get on.
Rob Bell

Are 97Fs able to hook up to the testbook?I was told at last service my Sep 97 reg mpi didn't have this facility.
Paul Bevan

You'd be thinking of somthing else.

The testbook is the rover tool for connecting to cars, your thinking of the EU standard (forget the name) that all cars post 2000 have to show n-items such as water temp, lamda etc etc on a standard interface with a standard connector without encryption. Security or 'non-standard'* items may also use this interface, but in a diffrent or encrypted way.
Will Munns

I asked the garage if they could trace an alarm fault using testbook and they said no, as early cars did not have the ability to hook up to the testbook. Must have been that they were referring to.
Paul Bevan

Perhaps there is more to what your garage is saying, but to say that you can't connect an early car to Testbook is simply incorrect. Testbook was DESIGNED to hook up to ALL MG Rover cars - and therefore all versions of MEMS (including MEMS1.9 and MEMS2J used in MGF 1.8 and VVC respectively).

However, what I don't know for 100% is whether you can get all the alarm fault codes off Testbook. I would have thought you could...

Bottom line - your garage would appear not to know what they are talking about - best look to another garage/ specialist for better advice/service.
Rob Bell

I concur with Paul. Look close to the driver's side fuse box and you will find the Testbook Connection Point! From memory I recall someone saying several years ago that Motorola developed a standard Mems chip for Rover which could be tailored to the requirements of the various cars in the Rover range incl MG.
Julian

Sorry Paul. I meant I concur with Rob!!!!
Julian

Thanks guys - Julian, I'll have a look at my fuse box. Rob, they may have been referring solely to the alarm fault codes. Either way I think you'd be surprised to know who the garage is as they come highly praised on this BBS!
Paul Bevan


There is a method of testing the alarm using the LED as an indicator - It will be in the archive somewhere.
Will Munns

Alarm test is detailed here: http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/group2/DIY/simple_procedures/diagnostic_tests.htm

If Testbook can't read fault codes, what can?
Rob Bell

I thought that the Testbook software/system was actually leased from MGR. If this is the case, then they should have been returned to MGR/PwC when the dealer ceased maintaining MGR vehicles.

Anyone confirm this?

Ralph
Ralph

Can't confirm, but it sounds right Ralph - especially when one considers that eBay hasn't exactly been awash with these things despite wide-scale dealership closures.
Rob Bell

It would be nice to reverse enginer such a test book interface. Is the software PC-based?

For the more modern MEMS with the european standard diagnostics, DIY diagnostics should be *almost* readily available (at least the specification of the interface), right?

cheers
Oskar
O Sander

OBD2 is the name

http://www.andywhittaker.com/ecu/obdii_hardware.htm

is a link to get you started
Will Munns

Well done Will. The connector certainly is the same as is in the MGF. Hardware sorted but what about Test Book software to go on the laptop? Need to watch out for these cds! And before anyone suggests this, the software required is not the same as the Workshop Manuals!!!
Julian

Don't get too excited - AIUI this only got into the rover range as a standard when it was mandated (i.e. 2000) even though it was in earlier cars of diffrent models.
Will Munns

Post 2001 cars are easy due to OBD2 compliance - but the earlier MGFs are more difficult. Like Oskar, I would love to see a reverse engineered 'Testbook' solution - shouldn't be beyond the wit of man! But it will take someone quite a lot of time to figure out the interface and the fault codes... a good project for someone!
Rob Bell

This might be usefull for posr 2001 cars

http://www.rwmotortec.com/default.asp
Joe one

So, if I understand it right, my Trophy, which uses the MEMS3, should support the ODB2 interface? Isn't it so that the ODB2 protocol uses a standard set of codes, like any other ODB2 compliant engine management system?
A.P. van Wijngaarden

A couple more links for ODB related stuff that may be of use to someone

http://www.elmelectronics.com/index.html
http://www.obdscan.net/
D Billington

>> So, if I understand it right, my Trophy, which uses the MEMS3, should support the ODB2 interface? <<

Yes, it would :o)

Steve Wight and John Thomas have both purchased OBD2 readers for their TFs, and they seem to work well. As these are the same as the one on your Trophy, there is no reason to doubt that you would be able to read the fault codes from MEMS
Rob Bell

>>> Looking forward to reading the full story Erik :o) Let us know how you get on. <<<
It must be a small miracle, but yesterday evening I visited my friend who happens to have an official testbook. I started comparing the components. Big surprise as it started all well: the same handheld device plugged in in the same looking 'docking station'. I started following the LAN cable of the docking device and it went up to the docking thing under the laptop. We had bought such a docking thingie, but ours didn't had a LAN connector, just a power connector. Examined the official one a bit further and found out that there's a big chance that the docking thing is just an empty box as the network cable (straight, not crossed) is plugged into the laptop.
We continued by disconnecting the LAN cable and connecting our HHT docking station with the official laptop. After a bit of fiddling it connected properly and we were able to diagnose a pre 2000 MGF.

The laptop is running Win98 and just starts the Testbook application. However it is possible to switch to an explorer window and start communicating with the rest of the world by using the LAN connection and the installed TCP/IP. Good news as this method of communication allowed us to 'backup' the system to another laptop. Next step will be configuring a new laptop, using the backup.
Erik

Now that is going to be useful Erik. :o)

I guess for anyone else looking to 'build' their own 'Testbook' they're going to need that interface?
Rob Bell

Does anyone know if the testbook software is downloadable somewhere? I'd like to build my own ODB2 interface, but I'd need the software...
A.P. van Wijngaarden

OBD2 is not MG specific, so the freely available software in the usual places should work.

Testbook is SuperSekrit and not available
Will Munns

I have coreesponded with this company and they do make one for the MGF, although it is not listed on site.

http://www.rovacomlite.com/

If anyone is interested I have loads of details about this in my received emails. I can forward to you if you want.

Cheers,
Branko.
Branko

>I can forward to you if you want.

mgf at mgcc dot de <<< volunteer!!
:)

Cheers
Dieter
Dieter

Branko,

These rovacomlite, do they use rover's propriatory interface, not the OBD?

If you don't mind, could you faorward to me too, please?

cheers
Oskar
O Sander

How much would the MGF interface cost Branko? Would love to read some more detail. Any chance of putting the correspondance on the net? On this BBS perhaps?
Rob Bell

Branko:

I'd like to have those e-mails please!!!

Cheers
Alex
A.P. van Wijngaarden

"OBD2 is not MG specific, so the freely available software in the usual places should work."

Will, you are partly correct. OBD2 uses a set of standardised generic codes, but these are very 'general' and only really give you a rough area where to start looking if you have a problem. Manufacturers still use their own detailed codes for identifying specific problems, and in the case of MGR's you need testbook to read these.
Not many people know, but PTP developed a new advanced set of fault codes around years ago that not even testbook can read, you need PTP's own software.
The OBD2 interface and software I have will read the generic OBD2 codes and reset the engine warning light etc and also display real-time data on various engine parameters (RPM, inlet temp, exhaust temp, throttle position etc), but it will not read the manufacturers specific codes and does not give you full access to MEMS 'settings'. You can't view or alter any engine management or alarm settings as this requires testbook software.
The OBD2 software I use is free, Google for "OBD gauge" to find it. There are also several site around that sell OBD2 interfaces, the problem I had was that they use a serial connection, and I don’t have a laptop with serial connection. I opted for a Bluetooth OBD2 transmitter solution, and run the software on an Ipaq. The main advantage of this is that I can leave the transmitter in place in the fuse box and view the real-time data on my PDA sat on the dash while driving :D You could do this with a laptop interface too, but the leads trailing across the car would be a pain, as would having to look at a laptop on the passenger seat.
Steve White

"MGR's you need testbook to read these. "

Yep, I said that earlier in the thread ;-)

Your setup sounds dead cool though! how much did it cost you?
Will Munns

As Rob mentioned I sourced Scantool.net OBDII kit from Gendan.

http://www.gendan.co.uk/viewproduct.php?product=STNISO

They also supply Serial to USB connector for £19 so you can use it with more modern laptop.

jt
John Thomas

Will have a look at www.vitalengineering.co.uk
John, I recall reading the serial to USB convertors need to be reconfigured to work correctly as the wire configuration is not compatable with OBD2.
Steve White

Steve, USB is no problem, see pics of Gendan cables I use
http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ccsjst/mgf/obdII.jpg

and OBD II plug on car's fuse board
http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ccsjst/mgf/tfobdsocket.jpg

Cheers, John
John Thomas

Sorry guys. have been away.
I have just attended to sending of emails.

Dieter, sent you email but it bounced back.
I sent to < mgf at mgcc dot de >

Oskar, Rob, Alex, You have email.


Cheers,
Branko.
Branko

Steve,

yes, the codes are specific to MGF, Rover and testbook.
Rovercomlite have in their posession several testbook units and have developed their system using all the correct specific codes that MGF cars etc, use.

The rovercomlite system is a direct and better replacement for the testbook (so they say) Cheaper too.

Cheers,
Branko.
Branko

This thread was discussed between 04/07/2005 and 09/07/2005

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