Merged Lexia & Diagbox threads

[colchesterguide]

Would one of these allow you to match a new tyre pressure sensor to a C5?

[Estately]

Not sure what type of Tyre Pressure monitor you have but our 2007 C5 needs a separate piece of equipment to activate a new sensor. IE switch it on so that its internal battery does not run down whilst awaiting sale. Battery life is supposed to be 10 years.
It needs to be an ATEQ VT55 which I am told sends a signal to the sensor to switch it on once installed on the rim in the tyre, then the other sensors need to be read prior to plugging the VT55 into the diagnostic socket to load info into the car’s ECU.
I do not think that the Lexia is capable of sending that initial signal to switch on a new TPMS.

It would be interesting to see if the car’s sensors will allow wheels to be swapped or if the Lexia is needed to relocate each sensor with the appropriate position on the car.

Andy.

[Gibbo2286]

This might interest, if not help, you.


http://www.motoringassist.com/motoring- ... ems-tpms-/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[colchesterguide]

Thanks - that is useful and interesting. I hadn't realised they had a battery on-board that would only run for 10 years

[DickieG]

Time for an update on the situation of supplying Lexia's to forum members.

Recently my Lexia interface from the original supplier appears to have given up the ghost so I've since spent several weeks trying to contact him but he now appears to be unobtainable so as a result I've been carrying out extensive research to find a new/more reliable supplier.

Jim at Easy Diagnostics (also recommended by "Birdman") appears to have a very good reputation at providing quality equipment and back up all at a decent price so with this in mind I contacted him and following a couple of detailed conversations it was clear Jim knows what's he's talking about when it comes to Lexia's/Diagbox. As a result I placed an order with him (delivered the next day) for a new Lexia/Diagbox, it came with very detailed instructions both for installation and using it, installation on my Windows 7 laptop (can use XP) was very straightforward using his installation video on You Tube.

I've successfully used the new Lexia on a couple of my Citroens, C3 and Xantia with complete success, I will provide further updates as and when I get the opportunity to use it on other vehicles.

Upshot of all this is that should a forum member wish to purchase a Lexia/Diagbox then rather go through me please contact Jim direct using the above link.

[Mandrake]

Interesting development. I should check back here more often I've now got a problem with the V6 that requires a Lexia session so it might be time for me to get one...

I looked on the linked website but just saw call for price. Any clues on approximately what you paid for yours ? Also the picture on the website shows one cable, does it come with a selection of cables for different models that use different connectors ? (Eg old and new Xantias) And I assume there is a USB adaptor box that plugs into a USB port that is not pictured ?

Diagbox is the name of the actual Lexia software is it ?

[DickieG]

I believe the price varies a little bit from time to time but here's a link to a recent eBay listing from Jim. The best thing to do is give him a ring (he's a very personable and helpful chap) to find out the latest situation with supply and price. Mine came with the 16 EOBD, the 2 + 30 pin Citroen plugs, the interface plugs into a standard USB port.

Diagbox is the later software used to diagnose very new (to most of us anyway ) PSA cars say from about 2008ish, with this kit instead of having simply Lexia to boot up, Diagbox boots up then opens Lexia inside the diagbox screen according to model, well that's what I've worked out so far, I need to find some newer cars to play with to gain the additional knowledge to be exactly sure how Diagbox works, however Jim has posted this video on YouTube demonstrating Diagbox in action. The Lexia section of this kit works as per the traditional Lexia screens.

[Mandrake]

Wow, if the price is in the same ballpark as that ebay listing, I'm sold.

I've wanted a diagnostic tool like this ever since getting my previous Xantia in 2005 but in those days they were big, expensive and hard to source outside normal channels...(and therefore I couldn't really justify it, especially when that Xantia never really had any faults that required a Lexia)

However now that the price has come down and I have a 14 year old V6 to look after on a minimum budget - which has just gone and developed an engine fault that needs a Lexia diagnostic - the time may have finally arrived and I think it could be a very good investment to help me keep it running...

Yes I watched that video already, looks very interesting, the thought of being able to measure and test so much on the car is quite appealing for the geek in me.

The fact that you've already done the research on finding a suitable replacement for your previous model and have personally tested it on a Xantia also gives me a lot more confidence than picking one randomly from Ebay etc...

The only laptop we have is a Dell Inspiron 1520, Dual core 1.6Ghz, 2GB ram, 15" screen, which hopefully should be fine. It runs Mac OS (hackintosh) but I still have the original hard drive with XP which I can slip in to boot Windows XP, in fact I think I would do a fresh install of Windows XP on that hard drive and dedicate it to the Lexia software. (Original software on the laptop was actually Vista, but it was never very stable running that, so if the software works well on XP I'll stick with that)

I'm also paid tomorrow so I'll have to run this past the missus...

[brittleware]

I've had a fully functional LEXIA and PP2000 for ages - but now both (when connected to the car) states that there's a problem - and need to "re-start the work station". What's going on, anyone?

TIA, Chris

[DickieG]

I've had a fully functional LEXIA and PP2000 for ages - but now both (when connected to the car) states that there's a problem - and need to "re-start the work station". What's going on, anyone?

Is yours a Lexia 3 running off of a laptop or a Lexia 2 tablet?

[Mandrake]

Phoned and spoke to the chap at easy diagnostics, out of stock of the Lexia 3 at the moment but new stock expected on Monday. Turns out he's in Hamilton which is a 15 minute drive from me I have monday off so if stock arrives then he says I can come and collect it if I like, otherwise next day delivery by courier. Since I have the day off and want it in my hands as soon as possible so I can play with it while I'm off work I think I'll probably collect it...

Price is actually on the website after all - £119.95 including next day delivery, I originally looked at the website on an iPad and the site does not render properly due to lack of flash player so no pricing was visible, however as soon as I went to the website on a PC the price was there.

Feeling quite excited to be finally getting one after wanting one for years Will report back my experiences with the unit once I've had a chance to use it a bit...

[spider]

Be aware some of these (not all I think) say that the OS can be 98/2K/XP/Vista/7 etc. The one I have will *not* install on 2K but its fine on XP, this is due to the *modified* installer, it may be possible to correct this as its looking for a sys path that's not present in 2K but is in XP but I've not sat down to determine if a fix is possible.

I also find its impossibly slow on a 900mhz ancient laptop too, about 5 minutes to get to a stage where it is 'ready' after the OS has started that is. Only having 256mb ram (won't take more unfortunately) probably does not help :p

I did not get mine from the link above, although I had all the adaptors with it it was a fraction cheaper than that but I think I may need an older software version as its 6.01 and the model list stops at 2008 I think. Thinking 'older' as it may run a little better perhaps.

[Mandrake]

Thanks Andy,

I think I should be fine - I'll be using it on a 3 year old Dell - Windows XP Service pack 3 (who uses windows 2000 anymore ? ) dual core 1.6Ghz CPU and 2GB of ram. Your biggest problem is probably 256MB of ram.

From what I understand the software in the kit linked above supports cars right up to 2012 and they're claiming that its possible to run the online update on it to bring it even more up to date... as long as it supports my 1998 Xantia I'll be happy!

[spider]

OK. Without going off topic I wanted 2K (I know XP is technically faster) but *not* on old hardware it isn't

Sounds good though, I'd be slightly wary of it being able to update, I have a suspicion it will read your ID and then lock it, although if it did that you could just remove and reinstall it and remember not to update it.

[Mandrake]

I like Windows 2000 a lot, I used it for years, the problem is that its discontinued for critical security updates from Microsoft, that alone is enough to make me not use it even for a turnkey application like running a Lexia.

Regarding the updates, I probably won't run the update as I doubt theres any relevant updates for a Xantia. It's a real shame that we have to rely on hacked software to do legitimate maintenance on old cars that we paid for with our own money!

Not sure how the car industry gets away with making proprietary diagnostic and configuration tools like the Lexia which on later models is almost mandatory to get any kind of servicing or troubleshooting done... that's all very well when the cars are a few years old and being maintained by dealers, but once they're 10 years old or more and not worth much more than the cost of a few diagnostic sessions, it becomes untenable. You would think there would be some sort of legislation that would force them to open up the troubleshooting tools for older models after a few years of exclusivity, but nope.

Imagine if the bonnet was bolted closed with special proprietary bolts which you couldn't legitimately buy a 3rd party spanner to fit, forcing you to take it to an authorised dealer to even get the bonnet open... people would be up in arms, and yet thats more or less the situation we're in now with 2012 models cars where you can change the oil and water without a computer diagnostic tool and thats about it...everything else is opaque and computer controlled.

So while 3rd party Lexia's and the software they run are technically "naughty", and we're relying on software hacks to get it working, given the lack of alternatives I don't have a problem with that... Ten years from now when we're trying to maintain old 2010 model cars it will be a mandatory tool as important as spanners and socket sets...