Anyone own or use AutoEnginuity scan tools?

[SMKS]

My 2007 Hyundai Sonata has been having some ABS/ESC issues. I don't have access to any scanners that can pull these codes, so I finally had to take it to a couple pros last week. Eventually, the dealer told me it appears to need a new ABS module. The dealer wants $2,000 to replace it after taxes and fees.

I'm planning on tackling the job myself with either a new or junkyard pump. I'll have to contact the company to confirm, but it looks like the AutoEnginuity scanner would give me most/all of the ABS capabilities I need to determine if it really is the ABS pump and possibly bleed and program the new unit after it's installed.

The total cost would be $399. That includes the general OBD II system and the specialized Hyundai/Kia service pack. I plan on keeping the Hyundai for the long haul, so having these diagnostic capabilities will likely come in handy in the future. Plus, the general OBD II capabilities would be useful with our other vehicles.

I know $399 may seem like a lot on first blush, but DIY'ing this job will save me much more than that, plus I'll then have the scanning software to keep.

So, anyone own or use AutoEnginuity software? How do you like it?

 

[ATTappman]

I bought a copy about two months ago, with the enhanced Nissan expansion. Here's my experiences: When plugged into my 2011 Frontier, it says "No response from module" under the ABS and airbag modules when I tell it to pull DTCs from all available modules. I was kind of disappointed by that. I'm not sure if that will change if the ABS or airbag systems ever throw a code, I kind of think not. Also, the Frontier uses A/F sensors that don't cycle between 0 and 1 volt like a traditional O2 sensor. On the O2 sensor graph I sometimes get "Unable to determine fuel system status" and other times it says it's in closed loop, but the graph is a flat line at about 2.6 volts or something like that. Not sure if that's what's supposed to happen, but I don't know why it sometimes can't determine whether the status is open or closed loop. It's been a little flaky when it connects, sometimes working and sometimes not. It's also really easy to step on the USB cable and pull it out of the DLC connector without realizing it - suddenly the connection is lost and you don't know why.

I haven't tried it out on my other two vehicles. I sort of got depressed by it.

I ordered everything directly from their web site, first the basic package and then the expansion. There was some confusion when I ordered the Nissan expansion - they were supposed to send me a USB dongle but they didn't, they just sent an activation code that wouldn't work without the dongle. The instructions were wrong - they said I had to download a new version of the software when I didn't. One phone call fixed that. The guy on the other end told me that Chinese software pirates have forced them into this USB dongle scheme, and it's been a "nightmare." Supposedly additional expansions don't require additional dongles, past the first one. My advice is to buy directly from them, because he seemed suspicious that I had a pirated copy until I told him I bought it from him.

In retrospect I wouldn't buy it if I could do it over again. It's a nice gee-whiz application but hauling a laptop out to the car and using a touchpad, especially when it's hot and muggy outside, is more of a pain than I expected. Unlike you I didn't have a specific problem with a non-generic OBD2 system, so maybe I didn't have any business buying the thing in the first place. I read all the reviews on the forum and almost all are positive. Just prepare yourself for the possibility that you'll be somewhat underwhelmed. Maybe you could try to find a handheld scanner that can pull ABS codes from your Hyundai, but I don't know of one offhand. They tend to only get ABS codes from cars imported from Detroit.

My impression of you from your posts, though, is that you're a lot more on the ball than I am and you'll probably be happy with it. Good luck.

 

[SMKS]

In retrospect I wouldn't buy it if I could do it over again. It's a nice gee-whiz application but hauling a laptop out to the car and using a touchpad, especially when it's hot and muggy outside, is more of a pain than I expected.

Thanks a lot for the honest review. I think a lot of people are hesitant to give a bad review to a product they spent their hard earned money on. Believe me, if I had it over again, I would not have bought my 2007 Sonata. But now that I have it, the most economically sensible long-term solution is to keep it.

Maybe you could try to find a handheld scanner that can pull ABS codes from your Hyundai, but I don't know of one offhand. They tend to only get ABS codes from cars imported from Detroit.

I've learned this lesson the hard way. If this was a Big 3 car, I could buy any number of cheap scanners and pull the codes. Hyundai's codes are proprietary, like quite a few other brands. But some companies, like Toyota, offer a lower-cost version of their factory scanning software. Unfortunately, Hyundai doesn't.

My impression of you from your posts, though, is that you're a lot more on the ball than I am and you'll probably be happy with it. Good luck.

I think you're giving me too much credit.

If I decide I want to buy it, I'm going to have to contact the company and see if it can do a couple specific things I need it to do. Specifically, can it bleed the ABS pump and reprogram the variant codes in the pump. I'm not 100% sure it can perform these tasks, but I decided to see if anyone here had any opinions on the product before I hassled the company to find out.

 

[scott37300]

I'm not positive but I don't believe it will open/close the valves in the ABS to bleed it, you will have to email AE to find out for sure. They have pretty good customer service.

I had it for a few years with the ford bundle. It worked pretty good for the price. Whatever you do make sure you keep your obdii cord safe and secure. My cord went missing one day. I figured I could just call them up and give them my original purchase info and then buy a new cord for maybe 100 bucks or so. Not so. They told me I had to "start over" and buy everything new. Basically the software is free and the cord is what you are paying for. So make sure you don't lose it.

 

[Ign]

Yep, their fear of pirated versions is what gave me pause:
"Please don't call our technical support for help resolving your enhanced options giving no coverage. We can only solve this by selling you a working copy of the software."

I undertand pirated software has to be a problem for them, but what's to stop them from saying ANY problem you're having is due to a pirated version?

I recently got AE w GM enhanced. I haven't used it enough to comment much, but some of the general odds and ends are lacking. For instance, after installing it didn't say anything, just went away. Never confirmed that installation was complete or anything. Hmm, ok. I started the program and it was there. Ok, whatever.

Also if you leave it open for too long (dunno how long that is as I haven't timed it), it just closes out. Annoying.

None of this stops the program from doing it's job, it's just poor "fit and finish."

 

[Sailorman]

I just purchased AE Scantool with the GM Enhanced package. What a POS! It will not display even the simplest Freeze Frame information (something that even a minimal program like Obdwiz can do). The graphs reset whenever you click on anything and that after bragging in the manual that it can be saved as long as the program is running. bunk! My car's Live Data screen would not even show the engine rpm until I complained about it and received a new executable named "beta version". This is unacceptable behavior after spending almost $500. I am not pleased at all.

 

[nelstomlinson]

A friend has AE with the module for powerstrokes. It wouldn't connect to my truck. He said it works with some of his trucks, but not with others that seem identical - same year, engine, and so on.

He didn't seem very happy with it.

Any recommendations on what to buy to read codes and sensors on a '97 powerstroke?

 

[PaulsGarage]

I've had nothing but trouble with AE, run away.

 

[Tarheelgarage]

I own and use the AE ProBundle in the shop daily. It is the first scanner I pick up. It has a few bugs like all scanners, but still is the best overall for Domestic & Asian for the $s.

I bought mine directly from AE.