iCarsoft i970

[Gadgetman]

There was a thread about this diagnostics tool back before the big hack of 2014...

According to the blurb, this third-party tool supports K-line communication which is supposedly what the older Berlingos use, and which is why so many of us have fought long, valiant battles trying to install Lexia...

Anyway...
I ordered it on tuesday, and today there was a notice slip in my mailbox when I returned home, and if wasn't for Discovery Channel distracting me(Mike and Ed are restoring a Darrac) I'd have it in my hands tonight...

Expect a short report on whether or not it actually works sometime tomorrow night, and probably a longer one later, after I've had a chance to actually use it. 

[Trevor]

I for one will be very interested in how you get on with this as I have been thinking about the same device.

The link I saved before:-

http://www.diagnostic-world.com/pages/Pe...=64215.cfm

[3rensho]

That link doesn't work for me. Just says it's either not available or has been moved.

[Trevor]

Sorry about that link, it works ok here but not once I have posted it into this site?

If you visit http://www.diagnostic-world.com/
Then on the left hand side click Fault Code Scanners
Then click the Citroen badge
Then click the left hand icon for i970
That works, I don't know why it is such a faff to get there though?

[Trevor]

This tiny link works ok from here

http://tinyurl.com/neg7so6

[Gadgetman]

Well...

It's handier than having to drag a laptop out into the garage.
It found a DTC (Permanent error Oxygen sensor) which it let me erase.
(But now I'm not all that certain that I can replicate how it did that... )

It also gives me the manufacturer Id of the ECU and a revision code. Which is pretty useless really.
Trying a OBD scan doesn't fin any units, it can't even find my ECU or airbag system.

Of course, it may be that there's a problem with the wiring in my car...
Tried to go on the icarsoft website to check for updates...
Clicking on any links leads to a Chinese-language page.
To find the updates I had to google 'icarsoft i970 update' to find the page.
And no there aren't any updates for it, yet.

Language-wise, there's currently two choices on this unit, German(I don't read German so can't comment on that choice), or awkward English...

So far, I've seen nothing that would make me recommen it for anyone with a Pre-BSI model.

[Trevor]

I can find no other review of this device anywhere on the Web, and after reading yours I think I will pass on it for a while.
Thank you for the information.

[Gadgetman]

I think it's abut time I updated this...

I recently used this to diagnose an error, and started palying around a bit...

For one reason or other I picked a Citroën ZX(the 1.4i was an option in that car, too) instead of Berlingo, and...
The sky opened up and angels came down...
Well, not really.
But I could read SENSOR DATA in REALTIME!

Then I did something really, really stupid...
I went to iCarSoft's webpage, and downloaded their updater software...
(This piece of crap needs WinXP and it seems Admnistrator privileges to run)
I dug out an old netBook and installed the SW, hooked up the i970 (you NEED to use the USB cable that it came with. There's something 'special' about that cable... )
The SW told me that the latest SW online is way more updated than what I had, from September in fact, so I clicked on upgrade...
6 progress bars later, and I got a 'Upgrade fails. Please try again' message.
I tried again and again... Same result.
(Restarted the PC, tried another PC and so on)

Currently, the unit will boot when connected to a PC, but when hooked up to the ODB connector in my car it's just the background illumination that switches on. Blank/black screen.

Good luck then that I got my car started today...

[polar]

Hi Gadgetman i have no experience with you unit but i do have an older Autocom and to get the software to load i had to wipe my hardrive and reload XP i have never tried to update it as i dont want it to crash! It will talk to almost any vehicle of any age, some it will do more with than others but Citroen stuff its very good with of any age.

Im wondering if it may be worth wiping your pc and reloading XP then trying to update your SW?

[Gravity]

I have a Mercedes coupe that is my long distance driver. Contrary to the usual perception of Mercedes cars, they are regularly prone to numerous electronic hiccups. For several years now I have used an iCarsoft MB2 unit on this car (and earlier models before it).

It is a dedicated scanner just for Mercs - identical in appearance to the i970 unit. It has been amazing. The Mercedes dealer scan system is called Star, and this is the next best diagnostic tool to it.

I am thinking of buying the i970 for my B9 Berlingo on this recommendation alone, because if it is anywhere near as good as my Merc unit it will do more than I'll ever need. But I am new to Citroens, so will sit back and learn a bit more before I decide whether to buy one.

Any feedback in the meantime will be hungrily digested!

With regard to iCarsoft update software, I had to download and install their own updater app before I could get the latest improvements. Once I'd sorted how to use it, I've had no problems. I also bought my unit from a UK approved reseller (beware Ebay resellers who do not have iCarsoft approval) who have been very helpful with my initial daft questions. I use Windows 10, with no compatibility problems.

I can't speak for the i970 update package, but if you persevere Gadgetman, and the Citroen unit is anything like the Merc unit, you will be really pleased.

Gravity