[pikeman]

The car gave me a CEL yesterday and I stopped by the dealer to have it read.
Loose gas cap. WTF? I haven't even put gas in the car yet - just broke 100 miles! The prep guy was the culprit.
Anyhow, while talking to the service guy he mentioned that their shop had only one machine that can read the 124 ECU. And no currently available hand-reader is compatible!
I was ready to buy one and he saved me the $$.

So I wonder when we'll be able to get a compatible reader? Anybody else wise to this situation?

 

[Chas H]

I doubt your service guy is correct about a reader. I've used my 2 different readers on my 2016 Miata with great success. The shop would/should have equipment capable of further interrogating the various computers in the car, but the OBDII port is still accessible with a hand held reader.

 

[iamz]

I'm running a reader full time on mine.

 

[pikeman]

Brand?

I'm running a reader full time on mine.

This is strange. He certainly had no reason to make that story up. I still want one, so what kind are you using?

 

[pikeman]

isn't it a different ECU?

I doubt your service guy is correct about a reader. I've used my 2 different readers on my 2016 Miata with great success. The shop would/should have equipment capable of further interrogating the various computers in the car, but the OBDII port is still accessible with a hand held reader.

I'd think the ECU comes from Fiat with the engine and wouldn't be the same one in the Miata . . . ?

 

[GuidoVeloce]

I have tried two ELM327 Bluetooth OBD-II devices, and they both work perfectly in the Spider. I use them with the Torque Android App. In addition to error codes, Torque can be used to display fun stuff such as boost, torque, voltages, 0-60 times, etc.

 

[Chas H]

I'd think the ECU comes from Fiat with the engine and wouldn't be the same one in the Miata . . . ?

You have a point. How ever the engine ECU communicates with other computers in the car and receives input from sources common to both makes.
Others have posted they haven't had problems.

 

[TomM]

There is a "Warning Guidance" application on the Infotainment screen. Does that give info on CEL codes? The descriptor of it says, "Verify and receive information regarding active warnings."

I have no idea what it does as it just says "No active warnings" when I bring it up.

ETA: Apparently it does, according to Ameridan's blog:

One option that those of us with the Infotainment Center have, is to go to the Applications Menu and bring up the Warning Guidance Warnings app whenever any * warning light turns on or flashes. This should bring up a descriptive screen describing somewhat as to the cause, so that you might save yourself the inconvenience and expense of visiting the dealer.

 

[iamz]

This is strange. He certainly had no reason to make that story up. I still want one, so what kind are you using?

An Ultragauge. http://www.ultra-gauge.com/ultragauge/

I'm running the wired one. The neat thing about these is they will tell you about pending codes before your CEL will in many cases.

 

[Unknownsir]

In the US by federal law all manufacturers must provide a certain amount info through the OBDII connector. There are certain generic codes that any scanner designed for the OBDII connector will be able to pull. The auto manufacturers have other information that they can see that a generic scanner might not. The higher end the scanner the more information that you will be likely able to see but probably not everything a dealer could.

 

[kpoling]

There is a "Warning Guidance" application on the Infotainment screen. Does that give info on CEL codes? The descriptor of it says, "Verify and receive information regarding active warnings."

I have no idea what it does as it just says "No active warnings" when I bring it up.

ETA: Apparently it does, according to Ameridan's blog:

They aren't very comprehensive - its really just a reminder of what all the various icons actually mean. When my CEL went off it just basically said what the CEL was for. I had to go to the dealer to determine that it had a bad ignition coil.