[Gas for GOSH]

Brief bit of background before the question. I am thinking about the considerations of getting a New v Old Challenger. I live in Cornwall UK. There is now no Dodge dealer in Cornwall - the nearest one is in Bournmouth which is a long, crap drive away (by UK standards ). They do not sell Challengers - only Vipers and Calibres etc. So I phoned them and said I wanted to know whether the new Challenger's computer codes can be read by anyone with a compatible connection.

They certainly have the ability to decode the Viper as they sell it but when I asked them about a Challenger they were exceedingly disinterested, said they wouldn’t touch it etc.

So thinking there is no point even considering a 2008 one if no-one can decode the OBD I asked my local garage. The reply was:

All I can think is that the EOBD (European On-Board Diagnostics) program that allows access to the engine management system of all cars sold in Europe since 2001 might be directly compatible with the American OBD-II standard (introduced in 1996) that allows the Americans similar access to all the cars sold in America. Certainly the EOBD standard was based on the OBD-II standard which was introduced first (I guess there would be no point the manufacturers having to come up with two separate programs that do the same thing?!).

So I guess we would have a chance of talking to the engine management system ok but I think it is safe to say that we wouldn't be able to talk to any other sub-system in the car (e.g. air-bags etc.)!

So has anyone with a new Challenger in the UK had any issues with decoding any OBD codes? If you have are you lucky enough to live near a Dodge dealership that has been more helpful in sorting you out? Or if not near a Dodge dealer how has anyone else got into the engine management system or the sub system?

Thanks for your help. Simon

[dave-r]

There are specialist american car service centers in the UK I am sure. Might be worth calling one and asking them. Try looking in the back of Classic American magazine to see if any advertise there?

[Eddie]

I dont fully understand what you want. The current OBD-II systems use a 16 pin connector under the dash/steering wheel. With a Universal Connector and the right software you can access the codes directly with a LapTop or a cheap scan tool. The 2 ways to communicate with the onboard PCM,(PowerTrain Control Module or the drivelines computer), is either uni-directionally,(one way,,it can only read any fault codes stored), or Bi-directionally,(2 ways the scan tool can recieve and program the PCM to make changes to the operating system). Are you worried about servicing the Challenger after a sale in your area?

[Gas for GOSH]

Dave - must say i have not looked in CA small ads - I wanted to hear first from someone who has a new Challenger in the UK who has had experience of any decoding issues rather than just trust what someone says on the phone as the basis of thinking there is no problem. When you live in a remote county area you need to either be able to fix something yourself or know who can and how long it will take them to get there.

Eddie - my main concern is this. From what I understand there is a lot of on board diagnostics on the new Challenger - right down to plug fouling sensors which will give you a warning code if the mixture isnt right in plug 7 for instance. If I were to buy any modern car I would be sceptical if I could not understand what any fault codes meant if they are displayed. My daily driver is an Outlander - because it is sold over here I could take it to any Mitsubishi dealer or indeed my local garage who have the equipment to connect to the computer and the shared openly available Mitsubishis software to understand what any codes say. As the Dodge dealership in Bournmouth say they dont have the software for the Challenger because Dodge will not give it to them because they do not sell Challengers over here they are no help. My local garage reckon they have the equipment to connect to the read out port but Dodge has not made the software to decode faults openly available in the UK. So as stated above they HOPE they could decode any engine related codes but doubt they could access any sub system codes.

For example I know someone who runs an elite taxi service - he has two new style Chrysler 300s. Look nice but have been in the garage tons of times. For example the computer thought it picked up a fault and shoved the engine into get you home mode - slow speed and no gear options. He has been lucky because the engines are Mercedes diesels and Mercedes can decode the fault and fix it.

I'm not going to consider a car unless I know any computer code fault can be read, understood and fixed locally. What I might be hoping for is for someone to say here is a link to what the OBD codes mean for a 5.7 or 6.1 2008 on hemi AND what the codes mean for any sub system menus not related to the engine.

[Eddie]

Here is hepful site that explains a lot of trouble codes. http://www.obd-codes.com/ click 'trouble codes' then click on the Dodge Ram symbol for all Dodge codes However, more importantly than just reading the 'codes' the scan tool's bi-directional capabilities can access the data-stream. This is THE most important thing to realise for a repair because you can see what the system is doing in real time, the code only tells you when a sensor or something else is out of range only! It doesnt tell you whats wrong,,for this you need to access the datastream.. I always access the datastream on any car I hook a scan tool to. My Snap-On Verus has all the adaptors for Import car and European/Asian makes. I cant believe the shop you are intersted in cant get a simple American OBD-II adaptor for their scan tools? But to let you know,, there are some handheld Tuners with datastream access like the Diablo Sport Tuner available form www.shophemi.com hope this helps and good luck (Diablo Trinity tuner, 599.00!!!Dayum)

[Gas for GOSH]

Ideal. Many thanks Eddie