Scan Tool / Engine Code Readers: Light To Heavy Duty Diesel Repair

[Vic Turner]

First time poster

I own a diesel repair facility and my techs have different opinions on our future tech upgrades. We need to upgrade our diesel engine diagnosis capabilities with a new scan tool or lap top.

I am leaning toward a lap top and just doing direct with the manufacturers for their software: Detroit Diesel, Cummins, Benz, Ford Etc.

That being said, the cost to do that is very high and there appears to be a very big learning curve when using all these dealer specific software packages. I also know too scan tools have limitations compared to actually using the dealer specific software. We do require to sometimes flash ECMs and do some of the injector/cylinder cut off testing where most of the scan tools can't perform those tasks. We also work on just about any size truck with any manufacturer you can think of.

Any and all input from diesel mechanics are appreciated in recommendations.

Thank you,

 

[DieselJH]

Take a look on eBay. You can find a used laptop with most manufactures programs already loaded on pretty cheap compared to new. And a lot of them are lifetime programs. I wouldn't even bother with a scan tool for heavy duty diesel. We have one from snap on at work that won't do anything other than pull the fault codes.

 

[WhiffySpark]

We have the iq or whatever snapon calls it. Works ok for me.

It would be very expensive to do every manufucater.

I have a verus at work, but I only do light duty diagnostics

 

[Showkey]

Many of us use the Autel MD802 on the MB Sprinter diesels. The 802 does work well on several other vehicle also well. Benz alone can be a real problem and the 802 does that well.

Autel also has some other more expensive scan tools. DS708 come up often to address most vehicles in the market. Not sure how well it does on diesels.

 

[hamsmotorsports]

http://jcdieselcomputer.com/
I just bought a laptop last month from them. So far everything works great. All OE programs. Will not do light duty only six and nine pin round.

 

[DieselJH]

http://jcdieselcomputer.com/
I just bought a laptop last month from them. So far everything works great. All OE programs. Will not do light duty only six and nine pin round.

Will it do the new volvo and Mack style plugs?

 

[Vic Turner]

Im hearing the specific dealer software all are different and require a learning curve for each program, and yes they would be VERY expensive.

What is the best: Heavy truck scanner, medium duty, truck and auto scanners?

I suspect I will need 2-3 scanners to cover everything, still wont cover all but hopefully most.

 

[WhiffySpark]

I'm a snapon fan. I've had auto enguinity, otc scanners, autel etc

We currently have a verus setup. They just came out with the verus edge. It'll cover up to 550 trucks.


We have their heavy duty scanner with all manufucaters as well

 

[hamsmotorsports]

Will it do the new volvo and Mack style plugs?

If it is 9 pin round yes. It has the mack and Volo software but not sure how new you are referring to. Do not work on too many of either in my shop mostly cat, cummins,international, and one fleet is switching to Detroit and Paccars so just starting to see them.

 

[hamsmotorsports]

Im hearing the specific dealer software all are different and require a learning curve for each program, and yes they would be VERY expensive.

What is the best: Heavy truck scanner, medium duty, truck and auto scanners?

I suspect I will need 2-3 scanners to cover everything, still wont cover all but hopefully most.

The best heavy truck I have used is the one I posted. It is OE software and yes they are all different to navigate. I have a couple nexiq units that are "fully loaded" as I am a test sight for them. They will cover most medium and light duty trucks fairly well with a good amount of data and bi directional tests. The heavy duty is good and will pull up most data but lacks in testing. Light duty and auto I like my autel maxisys.

 

[DieselJH]

If it is 9 pin round yes. It has the mack and Volo software but not sure how new you are referring to. Do not work on too many of either in my shop mostly cat, cummins,international, and one fleet is switching to Detroit and Paccars so just starting to see them.

No the new volvos (2013 or 14+) don't use the 9 pin round. They have their own style of connector that looks almost like an OBD2 connector.

 

[peterbilr98]

I just got the snap on pro link ultra IQ recently nice scanner gives me all the info I need if you can't diagnose off the pro link probably need to pass the job on to a mother shop that can diagnose or you could subscribe to shop key for about 150.00 a mounth the pro link ultra will show and tell you how to fix the problem you can get light and medium duty software so point is it's a pretty capable scanner in my opinion

 

[burke753]

http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemD...e&kw=OTC3824&gclid=CIDe95SW6cgCFQ-EaQodrhcIEQ

My Mac dealer sells the hell out of these at like $10,000 a piece. I've heard nothing but good things about it. I've never personally used it as I work for an OEM so I don't have the use for something like this.

But I've been told by a lot of the independent guys that this is the best aftermarket tool they've used. It's not perfect but it pretty much does everything they need.

We also had a guy come in and try to sell us bootlegged software for every manufacturer on a tough book. But when the owner caught wind of what was happening he said anyone caught with that computer would be fired. So needless to say while it was just as good as having all the OEM software we didn't purchase.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Vic Turner]

The best heavy truck I have used is the one I posted. It is OE software and yes they are all different to navigate. I have a couple nexiq units that are "fully loaded" as I am a test sight for them. They will cover most medium and light duty trucks fairly well with a good amount of data and bi directional tests. The heavy duty is good and will pull up most data but lacks in testing. Light duty and auto I like my autel maxisys.

hammotorsports,

I will reach out to JC Monday. So if I understand this right, they have loaded all the software onto one laptop. I assume it covers Cat, Cummins, Detroit, International, Paccar, Benz, Volvo, Mack in heavy truck? Do you just use a scan tool for medium duty and auto (Nexiq and Autel) or do you also like the OEM software there too? We work on sprinters, hinos, Isuzu's....cars and light trucks..you name it. Thanks for your help and really appreciate picking your brain!

 

[Vic Turner]

Contacted jcdieselcomputer and the guy told us they sell "hacked" OE programs downloaded on a Panasonic Toughbook. To update the programs we need to pay $1500.00 for a new hard drive. The price was good and list of programs was impressive, but they only offer a 14 day warranty, seems kind of risky for a 5000.00 investment.

 

[Vic Turner]

Anyone else deal with this company?

 

[KineticDissent]

That new Bosch unit is the real deal. I will be buying one at the first of the year. I borrowed one for a few days and did some work on some MBE 4000s and Cummins isx. Has excellent bi directionals. If you are an all makes/models shop it's the one to have.

 

[KineticDissent]

Another thing about the Bosch is that it gets into all the computers on all the trucks. Also has some repair info and diagrams built in.