scan tool options

[Sugarfryz]

I'm working at a Honda dealership, and we frequently get other makes (used cars) in with some problems. Customer has a warranty comes for service yada yada. Problem is, we only have a Honda scan tool.

So whenever its something more than a simple check engine light, like something that needs an evap test, or abs code, trans code. We just send it away. I worked at an independent shop and am new to the dealer scene, im hoping to maybe get this work that currently were just sending out the door.

Currently looking at the autel scanners, but there's about 10 of them so have no idea which to get. it has to be bi directional, and have function test like commanding purge or vent valves shut.

Is the snap on worth the money, im not trying to spend 3 grand, but the 1k more or less autel wants seems reasonable.

any opinions are appreciated

 

[Sugarfryz]

also if you suggest an autel what is the difference between the ten or so different scanners they have, im not looking for it to be an ecm programming monster, just something that will help so were not sending everything out. we should have something other than a tiny code reader for cel

 

[boostedsubie]

Launch x431

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[Sugarfryz]

Launch x431

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this was one I was looking into as well. easy to use?

 

[Mr_B]

autel my main go to for daily general checks/diag, like any scan tool it don't work perfect on everything but it a good 1 tool option as function/coverage and ease of use very good, price point also very good .
Just pull up comparison charts on models and choose what fits your use/price then do heavier research on those contenders before making a purchase .

 

[VinceG]

here is a scan tool guide from PTEN magazine. it breaks them down pretty well. I can Email a PDF if you need it. but the Magazine is free to sign up and get.

https://www.vehicleservicepros.com/...hicleserviceproscom-2019-scan-tool-spec-guide

 

[Bretny]

I also use launch. I have been out of the automotive world for a few years though.

I recently needed to read an SRS code on my 05 tahoe. A $200 launch brand scaner worked. Im not sure on the model but it does do vehicle specific SRS, body and drivetrain codes. I understand your confusion with what reader will view what type of codes, went though the same thing about a year ago.

I dont see you needing to spend $1k to get a nice aftermarket scaner as long as its not snapon.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Autel 906 is what I use. The bidirectional autel start around 1100. Afaik aeswave is the only official seller of autel usa, so support for ones purchased on amazon or elsewhere may be questionable. I'm not sure what snap on is going to be 3k, I got a quote on the modern modis, now called Triton or whatever, it was like 5600. No thanks. A used snap on via craigslist can be a great tool. My gen 1 modis is only updated to 2010, but there's plenty of those cars still floating around. Bonus, you get a decent 4 channel scope.

IMO autel blows snap on out of the water on euro stuff. My 906 can do just about anything I need. It does struggle with the pre2003 Chrysler/Mitsubishi cars, usually generic obd2 is all you're gonna get.

 

[ItsNemo]

Autel MD808Pro is the easy/cheap option...few hundred bucks and you get an all systems scanner. No it's not going to do the more advanced tests or bi-directional...but at least you can pull/clear codes from any system and it does EBP stuff which is handy too.

If it's coming out of the dealerships pocket though, it's worth stepping up to their tablet style models with more capabilities.

 

[MattT]

I dont see you needing to spend $1k to get a nice aftermarket scaner as long as its not snapon.

Getting OEM read/reset capability under a grand isn't a problem. You can do that for a hundred with Bluetooth, which'll also have better PID graphing than most non tablet handhelds.

The OP wants bi-directional and that's where things get expensive. That could easily be 1K+ depending on what coverage he's looking for.

 

[Mr_B]

he looking at spending 1 to 1.5K but that small money for what these tools allow you do in daily auto diag/repair ...
he'll want a tablet style ideally, want fully consider update cost too, also want be sure he getting the work before committing, pretty small money and still pay for itself with minimal paid work out of hours .

 

[foghorn1966]

In to follow.....

 

[Wamsutta]

I'd be leaning towards the Launch if it were me. I've seen them do some amazing things on some of the youtube technician channels.

 

[skulldrinker]

Autel 906BT for 2 years now. Once you go BT wireless you'll never go back.

 

[Macneil]

Autel 906BT for 2 years now. Once you go BT wireless you'll never go back.

Amen to that!

When I was working in the auto field it was a god send. Worked for a big out fit with a few hundred fleet vehicles. -35C outside and shops full? No problem. Plug it into the port and walk back to the nice warm shop to do your business. The Autel is a nice unit. Strong tablets too. Had dropped ours a few times lol.

Now I work in heavy equipment on mining junk. Pretty much just need a good DMM and some rocks and you’ve got your diagnostic kit handled lol.


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[jcbarry]

Personally I would get the Autel 906 TS. The TS model is bi-directional and can also do tpms sensors. The mk808 is not bidirectional. Guy I work with has the 906 and its a great tool. I own a Verus Edge and have considered making the change. I cant speak to warranty/support but I have seen them for sale from around $1200 and up.

 

[Sugarfryz]

Thanks so much guys. Bi directional is huge deal, just all the Autel numbers confuse me. What is the most affordable, autel with bi directional? Thing is im working at a honda dealer so other brands aren’t the main focus, but want to be able to do them instead than shipping out work.

 

[Yarpo]

Thanks so much guys. Bi directional is huge deal, just all the Autel numbers confuse me. What is the most affordable, autel with bi directional? Thing is im working at a honda dealer so other brands aren’t the main focus, but want to be able to do them instead than shipping out work.

I dont think you'll ever find one that does everything. The launch and autels are sweet, but you might be better off sometimes letting the work go. I work at a mercedes dealership and am one of two guys who also gets used cars (trade ins, etc) and see a lot of BMW, Audi, Land Rover, porsche, things like mustang's and little SUVs from all makes and models. Every few weeks theres something I give up on and just request it be looked at by the proper dealer. Weve got a launch, an otc encore and an old Snap On boat anchor, and the boat anchor still does the most. I like the launch and feel like it could do more, but on a 1 hour inspection paging through modules for half of it and trying to diag codes for the other half doesnt really fly.

 

[mautotech]

I have quite a few OEM and aftermarket scan tools, and by far the best all around, do everything scan tool is my Autel Maxisys 908 Elite. It's the best Autel has and works VERY well.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Thanks so much guys. Bi directional is huge deal, just all the Autel numbers confuse me. What is the most affordable, autel with bi directional? Thing is im working at a honda dealer so other brands aren’t the main focus, but want to be able to do them instead than shipping out work.

Autel 906, is base level tool with the identical software to the big boys. You give up: Special TPMS menu button (gotta find it), writing autel-brand sensors, blue-tooth cable interface (no wires). I just bought a 15ft OBDII extension cable instead. Amazon has the 906 for $1100, reviews said it registered no problem. From the day you register the unit, you have 1 year of free updates. Any patch or update, you get for that year.

906 has 3 levels: Basic 906, 906BT (bluetooth), 906TS (bluetooth plus special tpms features). My basic 906 can still initialize sensors, read data, adjust threshold pressures when available.

I dont think you'll ever find one that does everything. The launch and autels are sweet, but you might be better off sometimes letting the work go. I work at a mercedes dealership and am one of two guys who also gets used cars (trade ins, etc) and see a lot of BMW, Audi, Land Rover, porsche, things like mustang's and little SUVs from all makes and models. Every few weeks theres something I give up on and just request it be looked at by the proper dealer. Weve got a launch, an otc encore and an old Snap On boat anchor, and the boat anchor still does the most. I like the launch and feel like it could do more, but on a 1 hour inspection paging through modules for half of it and trying to diag codes for the other half doesnt really fly.

Gotta know when to cut your losses. Your average used car fix-ups, check-engine lights, and associated repairs are pretty straight forward. Multiple models intermittently down on the can line? Rats nest of 3 different remote starts tied in? A successful used car dealer knows when to just punt something to auction. Trade in should be a bit less than auction average sale price. Make a bit at auction, or if it's worthwhile keep it and resell for actual profit. What the used car dept SHOULD be doing, is itemize obvious faults, price expected repair costs, decide to even fully diagnose at that point. If it's an EVAP code, you're looking at $150 in parts tops? And whatever the tech got paid. Plus the 2 tires, a tie rod, clean the headlight buckets, etc.

 

[Sugarfryz]

Awesome think I’ll go with the 906. Does most things and affordable priced, I realize no one scan tool does everything. I’ll look at launch too, I have a launch tiny check engine light reader I really liked

 

[chevy302dz]

You can consider the Autel DS808 as well, it has the same software and functions as the 906 but the hardware is less advanced (slower, smaller, etc). However if absolute speed and size are not major concerns you can save several hundred for the same functionality.
https://www.obdadvisor.com/autel-mk808-vs-ds808-review/

 

[jcbarry]

I agree, autel model numbers are hard to decipher. Looks like the ds808 May be the best bang for the buck if you don’t mind having a cord and foregoing tpms ability, your shop probably has a tool. At the dealer I work for almost everyone has their own scanner for used cars or the random off make that come in. With that being said, we aren’t going to do a convoluted repair on a vehicle brand we don’t sell, just send it down the road.


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[Sugarfryz]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0744JBC7W/?tag=atomicindus08-20




this is what I was looking at. mk 808 says bi directional? I feel like its misleading at that price. ds808 seems to be best option. I don't wanna pay for tpms I don't even wanna deal with that

 

[2ndGearRubber]

My understanding is that tool will do basic resets/relearns. It will not control computer outputs.

MK808, an advanced tablet diagnostic tool with all systems diagnoses, makes great sense in the faster maintenance and repair. Except the extremely fast processor, Android-based system and 32GB memory also greatly shorten the responding time. To better serve customers, MK808 is equipped with several special services for further vehicle health maintenance, e.g. oil reset service, EPB/BMS/DPF/SAS/TPMS service and IMMO."

It's like a reset/relearn tool for the shop. I'm sure with basic knowledge of the systems involved you could diagnose with it.

 

[chevy302dz]

I agree, autel model numbers are hard to decipher. Looks like the ds808 May be the best bang for the buck if you don’t mind having a cord and foregoing tpms ability, your shop probably has a tool. At the dealer I work for almost everyone has their own scanner for used cars or the random off make that come in. With that being said, we aren’t going to do a convoluted repair on a vehicle brand we don’t sell, just send it down the road.


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According to this you should be able to swap and program TPMS sensors with the DS808
http://blog.obdii365.com/2017/03/01/use-autel-maxidas-ds808-diagnostic-system/

 

[Sugarfryz]

I think ds808 it is. I need something more than mk808. And for 300 more it does a hell of a lot more

 

[Wamsutta]

Keith DeFazio from New Level Auto says he hates Autel. I don't know why, but if I was in the market, I'd either ask him or just take his word for it.

 

[chevy302dz]

Keith DeFazio from New Level Auto says he hates Autel. I don't know why, but if I was in the market, I'd either ask him or just take his word for it.

This thread appears to touch on some of this subject and it appears to have little to do with the quality of the tool.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=398259&page=2

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Keith DeFazio from New Level Auto says he hates Autel. I don't know why, but if I was in the market, I'd either ask him or just take his word for it.

I don't keep up much with the youtube mechanics, but doesn't he run mostly OE tools? No kidding autel is worse than those, they're the dealer level tools. Of course, a tech2 or witech is useless on a kia, whereas the autel would work. You gotta make trade offs unless you're doing lots of diagnostic work and programming where it makes sense to pay for OE tools and subscriptions.

 

[mautotech]

Keith DeFazio from New Level Auto says he hates Autel. I don't know why, but if I was in the market, I'd either ask him or just take his word for it.

This thread appears to touch on some of this subject and it appears to have little to do with the quality of the tool.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=398259&page=2

I don't keep up much with the youtube mechanics, but doesn't he run mostly OE tools? No kidding autel is worse than those, they're the dealer level tools. Of course, a tech2 or witech is useless on a kia, whereas the autel would work. You gotta make trade offs unless you're doing lots of diagnostic work and programming where it makes sense to pay for OE tools and subscriptions.

Since I have an Autel 908 Elite and quite a few other aftermarket and OEM scan tools, I can say with first hand experience that the 908 Elite is a very good scan tool, even compared to OEM tools. The Autels hardware is not the best and the software is not the most polished but it is fast, the data is accurate and the capabilities rival OEM level tools.
As for Keith Defazio, he doesnt know what he is talking about.
I had never heard of him until this thread so I looked at a couple of his videos and couldnt stop laughing with some of the BS he was making up. Its good wrenching entertainment, but not good information because I think most of the people that watch youtube mechanics watch them to learn something and dont know that they are being BSed.
In one of the videos, he was using a Bosch ADS625, which has nice hardware and software, but is not nearly as capable as the Autel 908 Elite. So I dont know where he got his Autel hate from but hes not the guy you want to listen to.

 

[454ragtop]

Love my Autel MS906BT.

 

[skulldrinker]

And i also love my 906bt. Only cause i can't afford the 908. $500 every year for updates on my 906bt.

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[volaredon]

never used anything by Autel, know nothing about them. right now have a brand new Snap on Solus EDGE on loan, trying it out to determine if I will buy it, I have about a day and 1/2 before I have to either decide to buy or to return it. so far does more than any other scanner I have ever used.... including my "old" Solus.....

 

[volaredon]

I have (only) heard of companies like Launch and Autel but never saw any for sale anywhere, no idea where to buy or to get after purchase support.
wound up going with a S/O Solus Edge (I guess one of the last ones left, supposedly at around 1/2 of what they *did* sell for....) leaps and bounds better so far than the original Solus which Id bought off the truck as a "trade in" from someone else.... sold that one for $100 more than I paid via Facebook marketplace (not a member, had my son list it for me) as a pretty good "down payment"to the S/O guy.