the words "rovacom", "autologic" and "cheap" can never be used in the same sentence!

http://www.blackbox-solutions.com/

These guys do rovacom. If you are an individual, you probably want Rovacom Lite (use your own Laptop) it is about 1/4 the cost of Rovacom. But on top of the basic system, you will also need the leads and software modules for the type of work you want to do, so be careful.

If I had the money I'd get Rovacom Lite for myself, but I just can't afford it at the moment. I've been searching for a 2nd hand one, but they just don't seem to come up - I guess if you've spend that sort of money on one then you are pretty sure you are going to keep it!

Matt.
 
The basic Lite kit is relativley cheap at a few £hundred. Its the modules that put the price up, ie for the gearbox, HEVAC engine ECU etc. Go to Blackbox solutions site and you can download a a program that calculates the cost for you depending on what bits you want..
 
BBS were offering second hand Rovacom tablets with software for around £2000.
You could also go for the Faultmate single vehicle system which is dedicated to the first car it's plugged in to which means it's as much use as a chocolate teapot when you sell the car but decide to keep the Faultmate or sell it on.:behindsofa:
 
Just had a look, they have one at €2000. Covers all Rangies, Disco's, Gaylanders and Defenders. Does not have the BECM direct memory module-just the standard BECM module. Covers Engine, Airbag, ABS, Suspension, HEVAC, BECM etc.
Good buy if you have the readies and wish to earn a few bob on the side.
 
with all the coders in the world surely someone can write the program for rangerovers, its absoloutly ridiculous to spen thousands on a piece of kit that is neither use nor ornament for most of the time and then can only be used on one car! its a rip off! i wonder if the monopolies commision can help!
 
What you are paying for is the time & trouble someone went to, to break the main stealers monopoly with Test Book. Obviously, the system is dedicated because of LR's determination to look after the stealers and as the number of P38's etc on the road is relatively low and the potential market relatively small the selling cost is higher than normal generic OBDII fault readers. Of course the likes of BBS want to sell their products, that is why they bought out the Faultmate Single vehicle system.
 
i understand the reason they want to keep it tight but surely someone out there knows the way to get into the system!
 
If they did, believe me it would be on the web...especially Egay. OK you have the EAS software on the web and someone is working on by passing the immobilised function (Don't know how that would affect your insurance). People like the RR's because of all the "Extras"-trouble is they were designed when computers etc were starting to take off big time and the word "Electronics" was the height of style and the young whizz kids were given a free hand to design & build revolutionary yet unproven-with regard to reliability-systems. A few years down the line, poor sods like us are reaping what they have sown
 
i was looking at a obd2 stuff but its only for later rr's Autocom and i dont know anything about diagnostics!!!

I have looked at the Autocom site, they seem to only do RR's from 2002 when they became OBD2 standard. P38's use their own peculier system as far as I can see,:confused: and as they are relatively low volume, no one seems to want to take them on. I have emailed Autocom to ask if they have or are likely to have a system for the P38.:D
 
I also have generic OBDII diagnostics BUT it doesnt cover the Missus's Vauxhall Vectra, so I had to buy a dedicated OBD unit for it despite being OBDII. OBDII is supposed to be a standard agreed by all auto manufacturers but in reality, they all put their specific bits in so that you need their kit. Fortunately, the software and hardware is not as complex and protected as LR so you can easily get the stuff at a reasonable price. The whole setup is corrupt and protectionist as hell. Oh for the old days when a wiring diagram and 12v bulb on a lead would sort you out without all this crap involving ECU's,closed loop systems, Canbus etc. which involves labour costs of £80/hr for starters.
 
I also have generic OBDII diagnostics BUT it doesnt cover the Missus's Vauxhall Vectra, so I had to buy a dedicated OBD unit for it despite being OBDII. OBDII is supposed to be a standard agreed by all auto manufacturers but in reality, they all put their specific bits in so that you need their kit. .


The wifes uncle has a vauxhall corsa he tried several diffrent diagnostic scanners including one i have on my laptop (wich reads the engine ecu on my p38) none worked, after a few phone calls the cheapest one to read his car was £280.00 and the corsa doesnt have anywhere near the systems the p38 has. So the rovacom i think is reasonable, i had the msv2 it is locked to my car but i can add other cars to it. My car had a full dealer service history but has still cost thousands in garage bills, i only wish that i had got the rovacom a lot earlier, it wouldnt have saved my engine but it would of still paid for itself in under 12months of me first having the car.
 
If I was in the market for one, I would look for the Rovacom secondhand - they do come up on eBother.

I think if you are spending that sort of money you want to be able to get the most out of it.

Also, you don't see it mentioned often but the earlier Rovacom is much more robust, the newer products like Faultmate that are designed for the enthusiast market are made down to a price and not as reliable, hardware or sofware, and if you have a single vehicle licence, you don't want to be wondering if your diagnostic tool is at fault do you...?
 

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