Exploring the MB STAR C3 (SDS)

[emerydc8]

Just an update on the SDS 3 that I ordered about six weeks ago from the Ebay seller Mercedes BENZ Xentry DAS WIS EPC Dell D630 OFFLINE Programming C3 Multiplexer | eBay

I received it within a week. It was completely plug-and-play, but for some reason it was unable to read the ignition module data on both my E420s, so I sent that unit back to Maryland and I received a new unit this week, which came from Shenzhen (just north of HKG). There was a bit of a delay in shipping because of the Corona virus issue but I'm looking forward to trying it on my cars, especially my 1999 W140. The guy I've been dealing with has provided excellent service so far and it has really been a relief that there is no language barrier and he has replied back to my texts, usually immediately. I'll post back when I get a chance to try the new unit.

By the way, I talked to a tech at the dealer today and he told me that every time there's the tiniest update to Xentry it wipes out the HHT function on his SDS and he has to reload the app in order to test the older cars like ours. He wondered if it was intentional (e.g., MB is trying to push the older cars out of the dealership service department). It wouldn't surprise me, considering what they're doing with all the NLA parts.

 

[gerryvz]

For the C3 that you received, I recommend that you DO NOT apply any updates (keep it as it is), and DO NOT connect it to your home wireless network (for security purposes). Keep it as a standalone system, or if you must connect it to the Internet for any reason, use public Wi-Fi like you'd find in a Starbucks (or a neighbor's open network ).

 

[nocfn]

Love the neighbors open network theme. My neighbor has a "FBI Surveillance Van #2" network which is not password protected LMAO!

 

[JC220]

Love the neighbors open network theme. My neighbor has a "FBI Surveillance Van #2" network which is not password protected LMAO!

Plot twist - there actually IS an FBI van there looking into your tax returns

 

[LWB250]

Love the neighbors open network theme. My neighbor has a "FBI Surveillance Van #2" network which is not password protected LMAO!

Youngest son always thought this was fun to do. Until a buddy of mine who works for the FBI suggested to him that they found no humor it it. The Fibbees aren’t the kind of folks you want to get sideways with.

I’ve got a C3 SDS that I run on a dedicated laptop that has the WiFi adapter removed from it. I think my version number is from 2013, and it works just fine with cars as late as 2005, I’ve found. I did have to reset the clock at one point to make the license happy.

-D

 

[emerydc8]

For the C3 that you received, I recommend that you DO NOT apply any updates (keep it as it is), and DO NOT connect it to your home wireless network (for security purposes). Keep it as a standalone system, or if you must connect it to the Internet for any reason, use public Wi-Fi like you'd find in a Starbucks (or a neighbor's open network ).

Thanks Gerry. I don't have any plans to update mine. Not sure what the dealer tech is using, but I suspect it's not SDS 3. It sounded like there was an app that had to be re-installed after every Xentry update. He said the shop still has an HHT but it won't read all the codes. I think Dave mentioned the HHT won't read certain analog codes for the anti-skid and HVAC. Still, it would be cool to have one of these. They seem to be as rare as hen's teeth.

 

[gsxr]

I think Dave mentioned the HHT won't read certain analog codes for the anti-skid and HVAC.

Correct! On the 124 chassis, there are 2 systems which are not capable of digital communication - the SRS (airbag) module, and HVAC. Both only have analog blink codes available, and a hand-held blink code reader is required to pull codes from either system. I don't know why the SRS system appears in the HHT menu at all for the 124.034/.036 chassis, unless perhaps there were some extremely late-build cars in Europe with different SRS systems. I always considered it to be a defect in the HHT software.

 

[emerydc8]

My W140 was in the shop last week and I was having (still unresolved) trouble getting the heat to work. I asked the tech to swap out the control heads as I left him a spare that I had previously purchased on Ebay. It was my understanding that no version coding of the new part was required if it was already put into service on another vehicle, but I see from what he left me that he re-coded it with the SDS. Does anyone know (1) if this was really required, and (2) how would you get to the place to do the KLA version coding with the SDS 3?

 

[gsxr]

Jon, was the eBay used control head from the same year/model, or similar year/model? If so, it shouldn't have required programming.

 

[emerydc8]

It was the same part number but was probably a different model car. Any idea how to go about version coding a part using the SDS 3? I presume nothing on the W124 needs to be version coded.

 

[gsxr]

Jon, documentation is located in the WIS (screenshot below). Apparently this can be done without SDS, but can also be done via SDS as well. (??)

Look for the climate control system in the W140 menu on HHT-Win (may be labeled "KLA"). One of the options in there should be something about coding. PDF attached. The WIS isn't very clear.

 

[emerydc8]

Thanks Dave. I'll take a look.

 

[emerydc8]

It only took me an hour to find in the WIS. I thought version coding required an SDS, but it looks like it's just done with the pushbutton unit itself.

 

[gsxr]

Jon, that looks like a variation of the PDF document I attached in post #61 above. I think yours is the European English version since it references production date break points instead of model years. Might want to verify your WIS setup has "US English" as the first language priority:

 

[Amg280]

Jon,

have you tried to enter the correct values via the push button unit and check to see if it works? Or at least check the values via the push button display to see if they are correct?
Forgive my ignorance, but what year/model car is it? One large push button control unit or two smaller ones? I just joined this forum and am trying to get my bearings correct.


also, what was the original complaint and what was done to try to remedy it?

thanks

 

[emerydc8]

Thanks, Dave. My language is set on English. Ver. 3.7.13.0 dated 2013-12-11.

This is for my 1999 S320. The push button control unit was fine. I had an extra unit so I had the dealer tech swap them out. The tech was the one who coded it. I was just curious how he did it.

I am having problems getting heat on this car. When the dealer did the transmission swap a few weeks ago, I had them check on this problem too. I left them with a duo valve that I rebuilt. When the tech installed it, he noticed that the ohms were out of limits and my rebuilt valve was bad too, so I ordered a new valve ($460) and installed it myself. I got heat when I initially started the car and warmed it up, but once the a/c was selected, I was never able to go back to get heat.

I have an SDS 3 that I intend to use on it. Unfortunately, the SDS 3 that I bought last month doesn't work well on my E420. The LH works but no EZL, DM, EFP, TPM or ISC. The seller actually sent me a new one from Shenzhen and it had the same problems. He's still trying to figure out why it's not seeing these modules. At least the seller speaks English better than me and he's been very good about trying to resolve the issue. I think it may take a while. but I'm willing to work with him.

 

[gsxr]

Jon, in the language seutp, note that "English" and "US English" are 2 different things. You should change yours to "US English", for the reasons mentioned previously... some documents will differ slightly due to "model years" only being used in USA (and Canada).

When will you be able to connect your C3 to the W140?

 

[emerydc8]

Jon, in the language seutp, note that "English" and "US English" are 2 different things. You should change yours to "US English", for the reasons mentioned previously... some documents will differ slightly due to "model years" only being used in USA (and Canada).

When will you be able to connect your C3 to the W140?

Okay. I see now. Thanks Dave.
The heat is now working on the W140 (at least for today), but I'm going to connect it as soon as I can get the car from my dad.

 

[Amg280]

My first thought on the heat issue is that it’s not the control unit. Ofcourse I have limited knowledge if the 140 body. In scenarios of error, mb usually defaults them to heat mode. When you have no heat, do the center flaps open? If you press the front defroster, will that produce heat?

I assume you coded it correctly or at least checked the coding through the pushbutton control unit?

Does the REST function produce heat with a warm engine in the key off position? Also, when REST is activated, can you hear the auxiliary water pump power on and off under the hood?

 

[emerydc8]

In circumstances where there's no heat, not even the defrost will put out heat. There's no button you can push that will cause heat to come from any vent. I'll have to check the REST pump at a time when the heater doesn't work. As of now, the heat is working.

Just an FYI, the tech mentioned that the duo valves almost always go bad and if you replace them with another duo valve from a pick and pull, that valve will likely be bad too. It's more than just the mechanical Poppet valve and seals that gum up, so a rebuild kit may not do much good. He was absolutely right in my situation. He checked the nominal resistance on the solenoid valves. The range is between 8 and 30 ohms. The coolant pump recirc resistance should be between 2 and 4 ohms. Even the valve that I rebuilt was out of spec.. The solenoid windings themselves seem to go bad. Checking the new duo valve from Naperville ($460), it landed squarely within spec. Since the heat is now working, I'm thinking my dad just didn't know how to operate the controls. They should have stuck with the mechanical thumb wheel of the earlier W140s instead of going to a digital system where you have to arrow down or up for the selected temperature.

 

[Amg280]

I’m glad it’s working
Let us know if it acts up again. I didn’t know duo valves are so sensitive. I’ve only had to reseal one in my life.

 

[gerryvz]

@emerydc8

I connected with your Star C3 guy, who is based in Gaithersburg, MD. Nice guy, and very helpful! I spoke with him yesterday. I ordered a new STAR system from him with the setup pre-installed on an SSD, directly (no virtual machine as my other STAR C3 has). This should make it super snappy and speedy.

I will report back here as to how it works and whether/how well it commects with my cars. He did assure me that the STAR C3 **does** have the HHT-Win software, and that only STAR C4 versions going up to the 2014/2015 time frame have it. Any software made after that time does not have it, although as said it can be (re) installed after the fact.

I'm going to use this "wirgin" SSD also to install the HFMScan software, and at long last I'll play with that as well.

The STAR C3 system is in his stock and I expect to have it by the end of this week if not before, since it's not going that far in shipping.

I am really looking forward to playing around with the HFMScan software with the G320, and also the STAR C3 with all of my cars. It's been several years since I've fired it up. With the other STAR C3 that I had, which uses a virtual machine running on Windows XP for the software, it is very slow to start up, but worked just fine and was fast enough when connected. At times it would take two or three tries to connect to specific modules with that system, but generally speaking I didn't have any major issues. As Dan noted, at one point I had to adjust the system time and date backward, but that was easy enough.

Thanks for the updates and I'll keep the thread apprised on how things go with my ability to use this STAR C3. I hope you'll do the same !!

 

[emerydc8]

Thanks, Gerry. I talked to Dan yesterday. He said he found an older (2013) version of the software on an SSD that he is sending me to see if that will resolve the problem of not being able to communicate with some of the modules. I'll post back when I try it. Dan has been a pleasure to work with and has replied to texts immediately in most cases. I suspect being local to you it's even better.

 

[gerryvz]

I got everything (including the SSD and power supply) today from him. The laptop he had was acting up before he sent it to me, so he has another one that he is sending separately and it should be here hopefully in the next day or so. When I have everything in hand, I'll document it.

The direct install on the SSD should be a HUGE difference in bootup time and speed from the VM-based, hard drive based STAR C3 I had before.

All of the cables and multiplexer are pretty much identical to what I had before. All Chinese made stuff that he had in stock already.

 

[jackKnox]

Star C3 xentry software data latest version is V2020.03 and now stop update anymore so that it cannot support online SCN Coding.

 

[Jlaa]

I just bought an old laptop from a selling gentleman with a w140. The text of the ad is pasted below in blue (ad is now deleted). Note that the ad indicates that the laptop is running Win XP SP3 and has HHT-Win.

Gang, @gerryvz --- can I buy a C4 with cables and wifi off aliexpress and expect this to work with my 93 500E?

Or should I buy a C3? I am a little scared of the reports of C3 units that do not work with LH EZLs but the difference is $200 between a C3 and C4 which is a lot!

C3 BELOW

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251...9002!sh&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa&_randl_shipto=US



C4 BELOW

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255800402272379.html

TEXT OF THE AD OF THE LAPTOP THAT I BOUGHT:

Mercedes Benz Star SDS diagnostic system is version 07/2015

• OS is Windows XP SP3.
• Laptop is D630 (Intel CoreDuo T7250 | 2.0 GHz | 4 GB RAM | 128 GB solid state drive) and comes with an AC adapter.
• Laptop is very good working condition. Screen is excellent too.
• Cosmetic condition is not perfect - some scuffs on the case are present.
• Battery passes test, but battery life cannot be guaranteed.

The software package includes Xentry / DAS / HHTWin / EPC / WIS / StarFinder, PL 69, SD media, etc.


The programs Xentry/DAS/HHTWin are part of the proprietary MB interface that allows communication with all electronic modules of the cars and trucks Mercedes Benz produced in the last ca. 30 years.

With Xentry/DAS/HHTWin one is able to:
- read ALL trouble codes
- erase ALL trouble codes - read live-data
- do component testing
- and much more
*A multiplexer unit is needed to perform these functions*

Please contact me by direct messaging if you need a multiplexer and would like a complete, turn-key diagnostic tool for your Mercedes.
WIS is a database with all workshop manuals with step-by-step repair guides (searchable and printable).
StarFinder is the program that will help you find the locations of electronic components (with detailed pictures) and ALL electrical wiring diagrams.
HHTWin is a must-use software for older models, such as the W140s and R129s with the 38-pin diagnostic connector in the engine bay. Please note that newer versions of Star SDS may not support this application, especially if the version is for a 64-bit operating system.
SDconnect (the software to connect a C4 multiplexer) is also installed. Configuration of the C4 multiplexer is up to the user.

 

[Jlaa]

Okay I bought a C3. I decided to take the gamble and get a C3 instead of a C4 because the C3s are like ~$200 and the C4s are like $400. TWICE the price!

Re: Exploring the MB STAR C3

I love my SDS C3 system... Yes HHT is used up to 2001 Mercedes and up. I diagnosed for instance a W202 C200 of 2001 and it does Diagnosis with DAS, but as soon as you want for instance reset ASSYST service reminder, it starts the HHTwin.exe, with which (oddly enough) you can do the whole diagnosis you can do in DAS on this particular car (error codes, live-data, activations/actuations).

Please also take notice of my post here: Star Diagnostic Tool | Troubleshooting and Diagnostics
There are issues you can tap-in if you buy "any" SDS clone of Ebay or so. Some cables are not fused, to low PCB thicknesses in the Multiplexer, cheap used electornics, etc etc.
There are quite some topic in german Forums (a few years old though!) where people grilled their ECUs with cheap SDS clones. So again for the matter of buying them on Alibaba, i'm not that convinced about it. There are sets offered for as low as 1$ (if you take 1000 Sets) which look the same on the pictures as the "good" clones. I would be careful after all.

After a bit of research on the intrawebz for this decade-old topic, it seems there are at least three different Chinese-copy-C3-MUXes on the market. The various Aliexpress listings show three permutations:

• YELLOW PCB with Omron relays (looks like trash - components aren't even placed straight and components seem dirty)
• GREEN PCB with white Takamisawa relays (looks reasonable to me)
• GREEN PCB with red NEC relays (actually the PCB layout looks to be the same as the one with the white relays)

The yellow PCB layout itself looks a little bit like "my first PCB" as well so I picked the green one ..... with red NEC relays. No idea if the red NECs are any better/worse than the white Takamisawas. I'm hoping it will work.

 

[gsxr]

Looking forward to your test report, Jlaa! The C3 should work with everything, the wildcard is if it will communicate with the EZL... that was the odd failure on some late-Chinese-production C3 MUX's.

It's probably mentioned earlier in this thread somewhere, but the SDS is unable to communicate with the HVAC (pin 16) or SDS (pin 30). You still need the old-skool blinker box for those 2 systems, regardless of their presence on the HHT-Win menu.

 

[LWB250]

C3 is the way to go if you're working on models prior to about 2008, I believe. It will work with pretty much everything as long as you've got the proper cables.

C4 is nice with a WiFi MUX, but most if not all of the C4 setups support HHT-WIN which is a problem on earlier cars, that is, ones built up through the early to mid-2000s.

I have a C4 WiFi setup, but nearly all of my cars require HHT-WIN for one or more systems, so it's sort of useless.

Dan

 

[gsxr]

Dan, AFAIK it's the software that is the limiting factor - not the hardware. Many/most newer software versions, in particular anything running a 64-bit OS (Win 10), do not support HHT-Win. I have a C4 with "older" software including HHT-Win, and it works perfectly on the early 90's 034/036.

Some Chinese C3's have issues with the LH EZL as noted above... some forum members discovered this a few years ago.

 

[Jlaa]

C3 is the way to go if you're working on models prior to about 2008, I believe. It will work with pretty much everything as long as you've got the proper cables.

C4 is nice with a WiFi MUX, but most if not all of the C4 setups support HHT-WIN which is a problem on earlier cars, that is, ones built up through the early to mid-2000s.

I have a C4 WiFi setup, but nearly all of my cars require HHT-WIN for one or more systems, so it's sort of useless.

Dan

Thanks! Glad to avoid paying for stuff I don't need! I would just be working on my one car, which is a 1993 model.
Do you have similar issues as the "ricebubbles" thread on benzworld where you force the system to talk at 9600 bps over the RS232 port?

 

[LWB250]

Dan, AFAIK it's the software that is the limiting factor - not the hardware. Many/most newer software versions, in particular anything running a 64-bit OS (Win 10), do not support HHT-Win. I have a C4 with "older" software including HHT-Win, and it works perfectly on the early 90's 034/036.

Some Chinese C3's have issues with the LH EZL as noted above... some forum members discovered this a few years ago.

Dave,

My point about HHT-WIN wasn't in reference to running it on later OSs' but about how some C4 setups either don't have it or it only runs independently of DAS. That is the issue with my C4 system, which is running under Win7. HHT-WIN was not on the machine and even after adding it there's no integration with DAS as in having the ability to "shell out" to HHT-WIN from DAS when required for older cars that "straddle" DAS and HHT-WIN. If I have a car that doesn't need HHT-WIN it's not an issue.

As you know I'm still trying to find someone who knows how to make HHT-WIN work under DAS, which I know it can do, I just have to be able to configure it properly.

I went back and read my previous posts and it's worded incorrectly, which is no doubt why there was some confusion...

Dan

 

[gsxr]

Dan, yup, that's a software issue. Both C3 and C4 should be able to run from the same software, if the software is new enough to support C4 MUX and old enough to support HHT-Win. I don't know the exact years of software but I am pretty sure 2014 vintage will handle both.

HHT-Win is ancient, super-simple stuff. The Holy Grail would be to get a standalone HHT-Win software package that doesn't require the entire SDS/DAS/Xentry software image. I know you were working on something along these lines. Looks like people have been able to make it work as standalone on a system with DAS installed, but I'd like to go one step further and run "Super Light". Guess the question is how much HHT-Win relies on DAS drivers/.ini files/etc to speak to the MUX.

 

[LWB250]

Dan, yup, that's a software issue. Both C3 and C4 should be able to run from the same software, if the software is new enough to support C4 MUX and old enough to support HHT-Win. I don't know the exact years of software but I am pretty sure 2014 vintage will handle both.

HHT-Win is ancient, super-simple stuff. The Holy Grail would be to get a standalone HHT-Win software package that doesn't require the entire SDS/DAS/Xentry software image. I know you were working on something along these lines. Looks like people have been able to make it work as standalone on a system with DAS installed, but I'd like to go one step further and run "Super Light". Guess the question is how much HHT-Win relies on DAS drivers/.ini files/etc to speak to the MUX.

So you're saying my C4 MUX should run off of my (original) C3 system if I hook it up and get the Ethernet port configured properly? Or if I get the WiFI set up between the two?

My whole thought process with getting a second SDS system was to be able to have one at both houses. However, I've got cars that need both just plain DAS as well as DAS + HHT-WIN at both locations, so the C4 system I got that doesn't do HHT-WIN is a bit of a doorstop at this point, unfortunately.

I spent years doing NT, XP and even Windows 7, so I'm comfortable editing .ini files. I'm convinced it's just a matter of configuration and I could get HHT-WIN to play nice with DAS on my C4 system. I just don't know how. If I could find someone who was computer literate that had a working system I could compare mine to I could figure it out, I'm sure.

That or if I could find someone with a working setup that I could make an image of I would just re-image my C4 machine and have at it.

Dan

 

[gsxr]

Dan, I *think* your C4 MUX will work with the C3 software/laptop. Definitely worth the experiment.

Do you know what year/month SDS software is on each laptop? I've never put mine side by side to compare, or tried swapping hardware, but now I'm curious how much will interchange.

Maybe @Jlaa will be the...

 

[LWB250]

Dan, I *think* your C4 MUX will work with the C3 software/laptop. Definitely worth the experiment.

Do you know what year/month SDS software is on each laptop? I've never put mine side by side to compare, or tried swapping hardware, but now I'm curious how much will interchange.

Maybe @Jlaa will be the...

View attachment 155367

2013 on the C3, 2016 on the C4.

I'll see if I can make it work this weekend. Would be a little more convenient to have WiFi.

That being said, a couple of German guys came to look at my last 400E when I was selling it, and they had a really nice little almost handheld setup with a color display the connected to it. I'm sure it was a far more modern scanner of some sort, but it was really nice. I meant to ask them about it, but I was a bit overwhelmed between their Teutonicness and knowledge of the car and simply forgot.

Dan

 

[Jlaa]

Gang, I just received my ancient SDS Dell concrete block, excuse me, “laptop”. (I cannot believe we used to lug these everywhere! The sticker on the bottom says 2006 …. Not that long ago!). I am still waiting for my C3 mux to arrive.

I wanted to double check this thing to ensure that HHT WIN was on it and indeed it looks like it is! How do you guys normally backup the image on these ancient Dell/WinXP systems given that you airgap them? I understand not connecting this to the Internet and not plugging in a usb stick for fear of viruses …
so what’s the best practice to preserve the image? Thanks.

 

[gerryvz]

I have my backup disk image stored on a USB-connected small hard drive (spinning platter). Although nowadays, I'm sure a USB stick dedicated to the DAS image would be just fine, given their cheapness.

 

[Jlaa]

I have my backup disk image stored on a USB-connected small hard drive (spinning platter). Although nowadays, I'm sure a USB stick dedicated to the DAS image would be just fine, given their cheapness.

Thanks. Did you *clone* the original HD with XP and SDS onto the "USB connected small hard drive" or did you make an iso of the HD?
May I ask what software you used?

If you made an iso, I might try burning a writable DVD. I just realized this ancient Dell laptop has a read/write optical drive, and I have spare writable DVDs from eons ago!

 

[Jlaa]

I hooked up my SDS C3-clone to my car. The following results were the same whether my engine was running or the ignition was on without the engine running.

Initial Connection:



Running Short Test:
Note the "!" I got for the EZ1 Test and the EFP, TPM, ISC Test:



More Details on EZ1 and EFP TPM ISC:

Does this mean that this clone C3 mux does not work with the EZL?
Also, what is "EFP TPM ISC"? Is an exclamation point normal for this?



Note that I was able to get info from the LH1and the GM so I do suppose everything is hooked up correctly and the serial port is working right (I forced it to 9600 N 8 1)



Thanks

 

[Jlaa]

OK after conferring with @gsxr I tested pin 7 and pin 17 with a Blink Code Reader ----- since it seems that pin 7 and pin 17 doesn't want to talk to the China-C3-MUX:

Video showing Pin 7 & 17 NOT working with the China-C3-MUX:

Video showing Pin 7 & 17 working with a blink code reader:

It looks like I rolled the dice and lost. I will try and return this thing on Aliexpress (I predict a 0.005% chance of success) and get a C4 instead.

 

[gsxr]

Thanks for the report, Jlaa! While I wasn't surprised about no comms with EZL, I was surprised there was no communication with EFP (E-GAS).

I thought this was the first report I've seen of a C3 not talking to pin 7, but nope, Jon reported this back in post #66 above.

@Jlaa, can you manually select DM from the menus (do NOT run "Quick Test"), and see if your C3 will communicate with DM? Should be able to view fault codes and live data. Not sure why DM doesn't appear in your Quick Test results, unless... your C3 ain't talking with DM either.

@emerydc8, did you ever get an SDS setup that worked with all modules on your E420?

 

[gerryvz]

I can confirm that I haven't been able to make my current SDS communicate with the EZL either, but it does communicate with everything else.

My original SDS from 2013? as far as I know, DID communicate with all systems. Unfortunately it is packed somwhere (still) in my basement.....

 

[Jlaa]

Thanks for the report, Jlaa! While I wasn't surprised about no comms with EZL, I was surprised there was no communication with EFP (E-GAS).

I thought this was the first report I've seen of a C3 not talking to pin 7, but nope, Jon reported this back in post #66 above.

@Jlaa, can you manually select DM from the menus (do NOT run "Quick Test"), and see if your C3 will communicate with DM? Should be able to view fault codes and live data. Not sure why DM doesn't appear in your Quick Test results, unless... your C3 ain't talking with DM either.

@emerydc8, did you ever get an SDS setup that worked with all modules on your E420?

Hmmmmm. Thanks for the suggestion. It seems my C3 and my car not on speaking terms when it comes to the topic of DM. I am really interested to know if @emerydc8, you have found a resolution for your issue, as it seems I have the same problem.

As well, I wonder if a C4 will solve these issues.

 

[gsxr]

UGH. Looks like there is a batch of C3 MUX's that won't work with THREE different systems... EZL/DI, EFP/E-GAS, and also DM.

I wonder if there is any way to identify the "bad" ones prior to purchase... and if the C4 inherently doesn't have the same issue?

 

[gerryvz]

Fortunately I have had the TRISCO PalmScan system and home-made blink readers as backups for pulling codes, so the lack of comms with my EZL/DI hasn't been a huge huge deal. I need to make a renewed push to find that initial Star C3 that is in my basement.

 

[gsxr]

For those wondering why this is a big deal, the EZL/DI shows live data that includes per-cylinder information, such as ignition voltage & combustion time per cylinder. This can be very helpful to identify which specific cylinders are misfiring with the disappointingly-common distributor cap problems. Also, both atmospheric pressure and intake manifold vacuum are only measured by the EZL, visible in the live data. I've seen a faulty EZL which had a bad sensor. The live data confirmed the recurring fault code stored was valid.

E-GAS live data is also critical, along with the 3-digit fault codes displayed.

I think the C3 sellers have ±99% of the customer base using the SDS for OBD-2 cars, not LH-SFI, which is why they don't know and/or don't care about the communication faults.

 

[Jlaa]

UGH. Looks like there is a batch of C3 MUX's that won't work with THREE different systems... EZL/DI, EFP/E-GAS, and also DM.

I wonder if there is any way to identify the "bad" ones prior to purchase... and if the C4 inherently doesn't have the same issue?

Well, definitely don't get this design. I verified that this design is the one that I have (that doesn't work properly).

 

[gsxr]

I wonder if @frall has any additional information besides what was posted in this other thread?

 

[Jlaa]

I wonder if @frall has any additional information besides what was posted in this other thread?

It would be interesting to note what SDS Kit @ninetytwo purchased in that thread where he couldn't talk to the EZL. Did he get a C3 or a C4?