LEONARDO DIAGNOSTICS, FOR ME NUMBER 1

Don't misunderstand. There are many owners very qualified to do the work but when places like this and producers of equipment encourage owners who are not to get in over their head expensive problems are the result.

 

No question about it that a great deal can be done without but it becomes a question of efficiency. If it takes 2 hours to accomplish a task that the proper equipment allows you to do in 5 minutes it is unethethical to charge the 2 hours because you have chosen to save money on equipment. Also there are an ever increasing number of jobs that simply cannot be done properly any other way. I recently replaced the 3rd clutch in 3000 miles in an F1 360 because the prior shop in LA kept making excuses all the while he just needed an SD2 to properly set up the computer to accept the new clutch dimensions. An F1 clutch just cannot be properly put into service any other way.

 

Rifledriver, I really hope you would take the time to come out to check this tool out, they have spent allot of time on it & I would value your opinion on it as you are close by. I am also hoping that Tony Palladino can take the time to see the machine, as he is not far away either. I want to get as many techs we can get at the clinic/demonstration. Both Giovanni & Augusto speak English & have full tech support via e-mail or telephone in English & it is part of the yearly licensing fee when you purchase the tool.

The unit will work on 458 & California, as a matter of fact when I contacted them initially; they were only concerned about the newer cars. 430 & up, I asked if they could work on the software for the 355/456/550/575/F50 cars, so along with the newer software it would make the machine a real solid tool for independent workshops in the North America, that is what the Accinni group has done. Currently they are working on the Lamborghini software and is approx 60 days away from completion.

We also need to get some more cars to Juan’s shop, Grand Prix Motors in Campbell California, he will have his customers cars there, but if any of you have a car that needs to be plugged in for a scan, contact me.

Again, my reason for wanting to do a clinic/demonstration is so we do not get mis information about the machine on the Internet for parties interested. The clinic is for all of you independent techs looking for a tool to help your business, this is a serious tool for professional workshops. Between the Accinni group & myself, you as a customer in North America will be looked after, before & after the sale if this product is of interest to you, rest assured.

I have been here from day one on Ferrari Chat as the first sponsor & am still here to offer great products for independent workshops & retail customers. I have had quite a few emails & PM’s & I will stay in touch with all of you, hopefully we will confirm the 26th date for the clinic/demo within the next few days so some of you can arrange your flights.

F Y I
The person who started this thread is an actual happy customer who purchased a machine from the Accinni group, he is genuine.

 

What if we were to conduct two other clinics/seminars in the USA within the week after the Bay area clinic/seminar, say in the NY/NJ area & in the Miami/Naples/Sarasota area, would there be any interest or would it be just the same techs that would fly out to the west coast anyways. Let me know via e mail or PM or post. Thanks!

 

The Porsche and BMW crowd survive quite well with DIY diagnostics etc. Why should ferrari be any different?

There are enough DIY'ers that do have a clue you know.. the rest, you can fix later

 

Jan,

The key is to make the diagnostics safe for owners.

(for example - remove something in BMW-land we call "component activation" if
the function can break components - same with "coding")

It's not that hard.

If Brian's experience w/ aftermarket diagnostic tools is limited to what he's already
said, it would explain a lot. When you start telling people they can "code" different
speed limits/etc - bad things can happen. If the tool is a copy of a factory tool
designed for "internal use only" - bad things can happen. If the OEM didn't include
a function for trained dealership technicians - yet you include it for owners - bad
things can happen.

If a tool is designed right, bad things WILL NOT happen.

(Example: we've enabled owners to program "mid 5-figures" of DMEs in their BMW's
at home - without losing a single DME permanently to date - even the BMW factory
tools cannot claim that sort of record - of course BMW factory tools are like a donkey
[aka - a horse made by committee])

FWIW, I've seen this "closed-ness" before - this "pushback" from an "establishment".

(The "you can't/you shouldn't - unless it's blessed by ME sort of stuff)

I saw it in the BMW arena back in 1993.

Back then I used bow and arrow to deal with it - now I use weapons-grade Pu239

Jim

 

O.K. This all seems to be getting quite interesting now that newer models will be covered. Perhaps my initial assesment of the machine was inacurate. It's just i'm sick of having my pants pulled down by suppliers of diagnostic gear and tooling that's supposed to be good enough for trade use but simply isn't. Please keep me updated on how this machine evolves Nick, and when it's at a stage where the software package is complete and the unit has been thoroughly tested drop me a PM. Any feedback from any Techs that go to the demonstration would be very much appreciated.
I await with interest....

Eddie.

 

From the amateur side, me looking at the tool demonstration would be like a dog watching TV, something going on, just not sure what. The input of the pros, like Eddie said, will be really worthwhile because I would buy or help buy a system for my techs, who do know what they are doing and have used SD2/3 tools in the past.

There is room in the field for competition and if Leonardo and Durametrics both provide good products, it can only help us all in the long run.

There was talk of an annual licensing fee, which I assume also includes updates. Any idea on cost?

If anyone can build a cheap clutch/F1 tool, there is a market for that, too.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

I think the license fee is going to be $ 900.00 Euro per year, I will confirm all of this when we work out all of the details for our North American customers.

Rustybits, if you have an ST05 send me the batch number & serial number & let me know where you purchased it & I will get you updates so the machine is running correctly.

The Leonardo is going to be great as it also already works on other makes of cars such as Jaguar, Landrover, Mercedes, Alfa, Audi, BMW, Mini, Porsche & others.

 

From where I live in Australia it is hard to get the local dealer to do anything without commanding a huge dollar, I have my own tech guys who repair and service my own cars however with the F1 clutch on a 360 we/I need an SD2, Terry is correct in saying if someone can do a unit for the F1 system in just to reset the parameters of clutch wear etc it would be a great advance forward, as it is the local dealer here wants 1200.00 aussie every time the 360 challenge goes in for system analysis. problem could be solved if the cost of a system is fair and reasonable, like something for 3k US and I would jump at it.

 

We are getting some good response for the clinic/seminar at Grand Prix in Campbell Ca. We will have a 550, 355, 360 spyder, looking for a 430, California, 599 or some Maserati's if anyone wants to drop by.

Event is on June 26th, I will confirm the time, shooting for noon if all goes well.

Here is link to some info and photos, I should have delivery of my Leonardo next week.


http://www.nicksforzaferrari.com/forzaferrariwebsite1_087.htm

I am now the official USA distributor for the product

http://www.accinni.com/index.php/distributors#USA

 

Looking forward to seeing some hands on input, can you pm me some cost estimates Nick?

 

PM sent

 

Here is a link to what the testers look like that we are shipping NOW. We have stock here in the USA ready to go! I will also have them on display and avail for sale at Concorso Italiano at my booth, so if any of you are going to the show, stop buy and get some hands on with the units.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqFZI0t8z2E

 

Nick,

Really push them on developing a limited use tool for do it yourselfers. You could have the market locked up on a low cost limited function tool. We really need a single model tool that does most functions with setting clutch PIS as a must have.

 

Might I suggest changing the music for a verbal walk through of the device and what is being shown with each of the clicks?

I will second the idea of having something made for the DYI market, even if it did not have all of the bells as the commercial application. Given that presumably the expensive thing is the software, once the software is developed, it costs the same to put it into a device. Perhaps the DYI software is a step or two behind the commercial version or something.

 

To cross market software you don't keep it a step behind because it raises your support costs. What you do it limit the features/capabilities. That is easy to do with licensing and you only maintain 1 code stream. Of course the DIY version should also have limited support unless the user wants to pay for updates & support.

 

Hi Skidkid,

Thanks for all your interest and all your ideas are always welcommed as it hepls us improving Leonardo and make it suitable to any requirements.

We will be working on the 'DIY' version immediately after the Italian Summer Holiday in September, so in the meantime any suggestions will be welcommed.

Our only reason and concern for keeping it with 'limited' functions is to do with the fact that for some applications-activation & programming it is paramount to have a very good technical & mechanical background in order to correct faults, this is why we all take our vehicles to specialists. I hope you'd agree with us that a tool like Leonardo in the hand of someone with little knowledge could potencially result in a recipe for a disaster.

We strongly believe in technical support, so it will be part of the 'DIY' package too.

Ciao

 

I totally agree. Changing the wrong things without detailed knowledge about how the systems interact can cause huge problems. That kind of think could make the specialists crazy.

 

Good idea! I am also on a number of BMW forums, and there are software packages for BMW's that allow for dozens of changes and modifications, many enthusiasts get carried away and in "way over their head" and end up making changes that actually disable the car, requiring a flat bed to the dealer, and restoration of all the basic engine parameters.

 

I totally disagree. Electronic tuning has come of age and there are simple precautions that can be taken to prevent a failure and besides a pro can always put the stock program back in. My understanding is the Leonardo can read and interprete obd2 codes, read and interprete proprietary codes, and flash program some ecu's all this on multiple ECU's from primary PCM's to BCM's to suspension ECU's etc... There is no question that the full tool is best but it is big bucks and hard to get back your money on the model you own. But if we could have a limited tool in the $2000-5000 range they would sell like gangbusters.

There are many things that are really important like being able to set PIS but there could be other things like bleeding a abs system that are great for convenience but can be done other ways. Saving flash programing for the pros is another good way to reduce cost since no diy'er I know owns a dyno. Even just knowing what the propietary codes mean is a great help because it gets us in the right direction on our way to diagnose. The pro is on the clock and can't take that time so on his tool more detailed fingering is important.

If Leo can do $6 diagnosis that would be awesome. I assume Ferrari uses this but keeps it quiet.

 

Giovanni and the team..

I would like to shake your hand for taking this on. I truly believe you are on the right path with this (these) product(s). They will go a long way towards the preservation and maintenance of these amazing cars we own.

Jan

 

Still on the fence on this product due to a visit they made to a friend of mine in u.k with this product. Guys..if you ever fancy a demo visit to Cyprus P.m me, wallet awaits!!

 

GF,

This is standard operating proceedure. Vette guys have been doing this for years and other makes too. For about 1000 bucks wide band 02 included you can do all the programing you want and have multiple programs saved to restore to any prior point or have a smog test program and a go fast program or a 100 octane gas program. The possibilities are endless.