What is the easiest and most cost effective tool i can buy to be able to diagnose my Mk1 Fabia?

There is a spanner thats come on and INSP flashes.

I had been running on 2 cylinders and i've changed all 4 ignition coil packs.

 

i am running Win 8 on my laptop.

 

thanks in advance

 

As above, vcds is far superior to cheap code readers

Plus the spanner you speak of is the service light, so once it's been serviced you can turn it off without a code reader by pressing the button in the Speedo in a certain procedure

Spark plugs inspected?

 

Spanner and INSP message are coincidental, unrelated to the misfiring.

Edited 1 February, 201511 yr by Wino

Spanner and INSP just means the car is due a major service and not indicative of a fault. If you had the spanner and OIL then its due the cheaper oil change service.

Thanks for the replies thus far.

 

Spanner light came on. Car needed a service. But also needed to have the brakes done.

i have recently had the brakes done all round. Rear were esp bad, almost, if not, metal to metal.

Shortly thereafter had a major service - Oil, oil filter, fuel filter, air filter, cabin filter, plugs.

Done by a friend and he didnt reset it. I found out how to do this and then it was cleared.

Not long after and approx @ the same time, the Spanner light came on, the INSP was flashing and the engine was running really rough.

Distinct lack of power too. I suspected it was running on 3 cylinders. I went back to my friend and he said that it was in fact running on 2 cylinders! Not good!

He said that 2 of the ignition coil packs were faulty. It appears that one had previously been changed (previous owner).

Got all 4 replaced but in the 5 days the car was sitting the Battery died! It had been temperamental for a little while.

Got that replaced and now we have a happy motor.

I still have to clear the Spanner and the INSP lights.  

 

i am also hearing what sounds like the rear bearing on the passenger side on its way out....... more shelling out!

@ the last MOT i was told that there is some misting on the front passenger side shock...... will get looked at but again £££

 

i have seen VCDS Lite and some compatible diagnostic readers on ebay are these kosher?

Dont want to spend much as i've already been drained.......

 

thanks in advance 

Pedro

Any other hardware and software i could use?

ta

if you look in the manual there are instructions on how to reset the service indicator using the ignition and trip computer reset button. I don't have a Fabia manual handy so not sure of the page number, but you can reset the indicator without a diagnostic tool.

 

VCDS Lite with a dumb interface from eBay is ok, avoid those selling full VCDS for £60 or so as they are all fakes.

Thanks Mannyo. 

I was able to reset the Service Indicator.

Now to get the kit to see whats going with the car in general.

ta

Edited 2 February, 201511 yr by entapryz