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Scan Tools... handheld or PC based?
- Thread starter 67speeda
- Start date
tonydanzah
Well-known member
pc based, auto tap or auto ingenuity
tonydanzah
Well-known member
laptops and netbooks are pretty portable.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Even the car manufacturers are moving to laptop based scan tools. It depends on what you want to be able to do and how much money you want to spend.
I want to be able to do these things:
Read DTC's
Have the actual problem shown, not just the code
show possible solutions like snap on modus has (maybe not as involved but if not, no biggy b/c i can get most info online)
Freeze frame
Read basic sensors...O2, IAT, Coolant temp, etc
for the most part, i only need the basics but with the availability to upgrade to dig deeper if the need arises (doubt it)
budget is 250 max for now...
auto enguity is looking pretty good but do i have to buy each of the upgrades to work with the cars? for example the kit is 250, then like 200 for each upgrade....i have ford, nissan, and GM that i work on a lot but all basic DTC
Read DTC's
Have the actual problem shown, not just the code
show possible solutions like snap on modus has (maybe not as involved but if not, no biggy b/c i can get most info online)
Freeze frame
Read basic sensors...O2, IAT, Coolant temp, etc
for the most part, i only need the basics but with the availability to upgrade to dig deeper if the need arises (doubt it)
budget is 250 max for now...
auto enguity is looking pretty good but do i have to buy each of the upgrades to work with the cars? for example the kit is 250, then like 200 for each upgrade....i have ford, nissan, and GM that i work on a lot but all basic DTC
tonydanzah
Well-known member
the basic program of autotap and autoingenuity will read generic odb2 codes and streaming data and can networks. The upgrades just give you more info and sensors to look at.
laptops and netbooks are pretty portable.
yeah, but for a lot of people (like me) that would mean buying a smaller laptop. My current laptop is 17", so not something I consider portable. I do however get what you are saying.
ovilla
Well-known member
the basic program of autotap and autoingenuity will read generic odb2 codes and streaming data and can networks. The upgrades just give you more info and sensors to look at.
+2 on autotap.com
I really like hooking up my laptop and then driving around to see the live data streaming as it's being recorded (for playback later on). I wouldn't even bother buying a generic code reader since you can just go to Autozone and have then tell you what the codes are for free. Anyway, autotap has a ton of features and guages that you can configure and customize with colors and alarms. I've been very happy with mine.
Busted_Knuckles
Well-known member
The AE, gets you all the OBDII powertrian, the additional bundles are for enhanced or OE exclusive codes, ie: instrument panel, HVAC, ABS Brakes, SRS, Seat Control Module, the list goes on and on, depending on the make/ model year. Also does bi-directional controls, or runs the built in tests.
Wont you dont get, is a "trouble shooter" that you get with the snap on diagnostic tools which from snap on is or was an upgrade as well.
The AE will allow you to graph 4 sensors, in 4 different colors on one page at one the same time live, and for as long as you have hard drive it will record. Solus will too, the laptop is much easier to see/look at/use.
I have the AE Pro Domestic Bundle, I dont come near any of the imports and work almost exclusively on trucks/suvs. For the $, in comparison to the other tools, its a smoking deal, not to mention with the laptop, you can actually make out what your looking for (as in see it). I also have a Snap On MT2500 for the OBD1 stuff, and have used the solus, and the Genesis (avoid like the plague). I'm running AE in smaller IBM thinkpad Xp Pro (corporate surplus) that I got NEW, as in never used, but is 5 years old on ebay for $100
For the $700 for all the domestics, its a bargain. The Solus is a better, more friendly tool, if you can afford it. Plus compare the $ for updates for both. Id say if you're spending most of your day with the scanner, you might not want to screw around with the laptop, just my 2 cents, but if you spend most your time flipping wrenches and not with a scanner in hand, allot of bang for the buck with the AE/Laptop.
Wont you dont get, is a "trouble shooter" that you get with the snap on diagnostic tools which from snap on is or was an upgrade as well.
The AE will allow you to graph 4 sensors, in 4 different colors on one page at one the same time live, and for as long as you have hard drive it will record. Solus will too, the laptop is much easier to see/look at/use.
I have the AE Pro Domestic Bundle, I dont come near any of the imports and work almost exclusively on trucks/suvs. For the $, in comparison to the other tools, its a smoking deal, not to mention with the laptop, you can actually make out what your looking for (as in see it). I also have a Snap On MT2500 for the OBD1 stuff, and have used the solus, and the Genesis (avoid like the plague). I'm running AE in smaller IBM thinkpad Xp Pro (corporate surplus) that I got NEW, as in never used, but is 5 years old on ebay for $100
For the $700 for all the domestics, its a bargain. The Solus is a better, more friendly tool, if you can afford it. Plus compare the $ for updates for both. Id say if you're spending most of your day with the scanner, you might not want to screw around with the laptop, just my 2 cents, but if you spend most your time flipping wrenches and not with a scanner in hand, allot of bang for the buck with the AE/Laptop.
nate379
Banned
Handheld for sure!
I had the auto tap or one of those and I sold it. Need to use it and the damn battery in the computer is dead. Then I have 600ft of extension cords out to the car, or have to rig up a power invertor. Not to mention having to dig out the computer, wait for it to boot up, then load the program, etc.
Hand held like the MT2500, Solus, etc... plug it in and 5 secs later ready to go.
I had the auto tap or one of those and I sold it. Need to use it and the damn battery in the computer is dead. Then I have 600ft of extension cords out to the car, or have to rig up a power invertor. Not to mention having to dig out the computer, wait for it to boot up, then load the program, etc.
Hand held like the MT2500, Solus, etc... plug it in and 5 secs later ready to go.
chevyboy91188
Well-known member
yeah, but for a lot of people (like me) that would mean buying a smaller laptop. My current laptop is 17", so not something I consider portable. I do however get what you are saying.
my laptop is 15.6" and I consider it portable! lol
i mean it has a battery that lasts 3.5 hours and an hd screen and its only an inch and a half thick when closed I would take that over the little pda anyday unless i needed to drive and use it but you don't unless you are tuning