Snap on Solus Pro buy ?

[86k10]

I talked to my Snap On guy and he has a NIB with everything still in plastic Solus Pro. He will update it to the last version it has. He wants $1200 OTD carried on the truck. It's for my personal fleet. My job uses OEM diag programs (IHC, DTNA,Cummins,Ford,ect) along with a Solus Pro and a Prolink.

Do you think it's a good buy for what it is? My newest car is a 12 Camry and my oldest is 95 Chevy C1500.

 

[L.Cheapo]

A Solus Pro would be a pretty old unit. There was a Solus Ultra after it, then the Solus Edge, which is the current model. I'd be weary about buying a scan tool that was either obsolete or soon to be. New updates don't just include new cars...sometimes they will add features for cars as old as your Camry...or even older.

I don't know what your budget is, but I would probably pass. Not because it's a terrible deal, but future update concerns.

 

[86k10]

I was talking to him and the Solus is going away all together, I think last last update is next year for its current version. Thats the problem with these scan tools all together.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I had one of those. Autel 906 is basically the same price at ASE Wave. Much better unit, 95 chevy MIGHT have OBDII, autel 906 has no OBDI IIRC.

 

[86k10]

My 95 is OBD1 aka ALDL. I like to have OBD1 capabilities with bidirectional control.

 

[Tallpilot]

That is a tough call. What is the last version on the Pro? The Vantage Pro was 16.4 but I can't remember when the Solus Pro quit. It really is a good unit for your truck. I'm just not sure that price is low enough for its age even though it is brand new. I assume no warranty?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SNAPON-SOL...m=332782671336&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

 

[Bobioz1]

Nothing wrong with getting a Solus Pro as a legacy tool, but why buy a brand new one? Look for a used one with the final update installed. Should be around half that price.

 

[86k10]

I don't know the actual version, he told me it was the last one offered. I think that scanner shines on my Chevy but when it comes to OBD2 there are many options. I think I would buy a cheap Pro for the Chevy and something else for my OBD2 cars.

Also I don't think there is a warranty on it.

 

[Tallpilot]

I don't know the actual version, he told me it was the last one offered. I think that scanner shines on my Chevy but when it comes to OBD2 there are many options. I think I would buy a cheap Pro for the Chevy and something else for my OBD2 cars.

Also I don't think there is a warranty on it.

I know it's nice to be able to make payments on the truck but I think $1200 will serve you better elsewhere.

 

[Skin]

I was talking to him and the Solus is going away all together, I think last last update is next year for its current version. Thats the problem with these scan tools all together.

Snap-On use to be pretty good about it but over the last 5 years I think they've released or refreshed 8 different scan tools. A big reason I use to like and recommend them was that you could buy one and they'd simply improve it via software and firmware for 6-8 years. Now they're acting like they're selling Iphones.

 

[jimindm]

I sort of agree with skin. Used to be they put a tool out and supported it for many years. I guess though that as fast as technology advances, it would be sort of hard to predict what is needed very far out in the future.

I also think manufacturers are playing games to keep ahead of any aftermarket industry, including the ones that make tools to fix them. For a company like SO that is all make all models, they are sort of trying to keep up with all of them.

I would think for your needs now, that is not a bad deal. Just know that when you upgrade vehicles, the tool may not support it.

I have always thought about all of the advances of each upgrade as you buy them for a scan tool. Not saying that they do not throw in some good ones, but many are sort of the in the field tech notes.

I do get the idea of updating wrong or non existing information. I would also say though that after a few years most of that is about as current as it will ever be. Not sure they are still updating information on the 06 camry, other than tech notes.

I do not get the OBD1 bidirectional controls. Not sure I have ever seen that feature on any scan tool, including factory ones. I would make sure that it has the connectors for OBD1. Many times the equipment might support it, but it does not come with connecters. I would be surprised any unit today would include very many connectors, that would be vehicle specific. Considering those vehicles are over 20 years old now.

If new in the box, there would be some kind of warranty on it. Maybe not support, but functionality.

At that price, it likely is as good as anything else you might find. Being able to make payments is a plus, unless you have the cash to buy outright. You may find something as good, but if you can afford to pay cash for it, you may be able to negotiate even better on the solus.

 

[86k10]

I sort of agree with skin. Used to be they put a tool out and supported it for many years. I guess though that as fast as technology advances, it would be sort of hard to predict what is needed very far out in the future.

I also think manufacturers are playing games to keep ahead of any aftermarket industry, including the ones that make tools to fix them. For a company like SO that is all make all models, they are sort of trying to keep up with all of them.

I would think for your needs now, that is not a bad deal. Just know that when you upgrade vehicles, the tool may not support it.

I have always thought about all of the advances of each upgrade as you buy them for a scan tool. Not saying that they do not throw in some good ones, but many are sort of the in the field tech notes.

I do get the idea of updating wrong or non existing information. I would also say though that after a few years most of that is about as current as it will ever be. Not sure they are still updating information on the 06 camry, other than tech notes.

I do not get the OBD1 bidirectional controls. Not sure I have ever seen that feature on any scan tool, including factory ones. I would make sure that it has the connectors for OBD1. Many times the equipment might support it, but it does not come with connecters. I would be surprised any unit today would include very many connectors, that would be vehicle specific. Considering those vehicles are over 20 years old now.

If new in the box, there would be some kind of warranty on it. Maybe not support, but functionality.

At that price, it likely is as good as anything else you might find. Being able to make payments is a plus, unless you have the cash to buy outright. You may find something as good, but if you can afford to pay cash for it, you may be able to negotiate even better on the solus.

Mostly the ABS bleeding procedure is what I wanted it for as far as bidirectional. I just bleed it, worked the ABS on a dirt road and bleed it again. Would have been nicer to do it with a scanner.

I put a couple of Solus Pros on my EBay watch list. I'll be good if I get one that works on my 2 Chevy and my 04 Acura TSX , 12 Camry for cheap. V 13 and above.

 

[texasprd]

I do not get the OBD1 bidirectional controls. Not sure I have ever seen that feature on any scan tool, including factory ones.

Of course there are bidirectional controls on scan tools - aftermarket and factory! You especially find them on the "factory" scan tools because there are often some on those tools that aren't released to the aftermarket scan tool manufacturers (or may be released much later).

 

[86k10]

A little update, I ended up buying a Solus Ultra with 18.3 or 18.4, whatever was most recent. Has Euro on it. But only came with the obd2 cable, no Euro adapters. I don't work on Euro cars, last one was a timing belt/water pump in 1998.

$1000 carried on the truck.

 

[dsimatt]

I got a souls pro used a few years ago that was updated to 2016, paid $400 for it and has been helpful but it's updated out at this point.

 

[86k10]

I took it home for a week to see what I can do to my Camry and TSX and I can do a lot, I programmed keys to my 12 Camry with a co-workers Solus. I can do them on my TSX.

I hooked up to a 14 F450 with regen issues first with IDS. Later I hooked up my Solus just to see what I was limited on and was impressed with what I could do. Damn near everything IDS could.

A good buy, I got the OBD1 kit coming for it. I still like old junk. A coworker asked if I wanted to buy a paperclip from him instead of the OBD1 kit.

 

[Ramigojag]

I sort of agree with skin. Used to be they put a tool out and supported it for many years. I guess though that as fast as technology advances, it would be sort of hard to predict what is needed very far out in the future.

I also think manufacturers are playing games to keep ahead of any aftermarket industry, including the ones that make tools to fix them. For a company like SO that is all make all models, they are sort of trying to keep up with all of them.

SO diagnostic tools on average go for around 7 years between introduction and last update being available, they're still supported for several years after that with tech helpline and spare parts/repairs.

 

[plinker]

Snap-On use to be pretty good about it but over the last 5 years I think they've released or refreshed 8 different scan tools. A big reason I use to like and recommend them was that you could buy one and they'd simply improve it via software and firmware for 6-8 years. Now they're acting like they're selling Iphones.

The current Snap-on guy said something to the effect of they expect the latest/current tool to be good for about three years (updates and all) & then bring a new tool after that out due to advancements and stop supporting the old ones. Kind of silly if you ask me.

I'm not sure why they just dont use a laptop style setup and update programs as needed. It may be a bit more fragile, but that's what Mack/Volvo does.

 

[Skin]

Chrysler does the same with witech. It's around 3g a year with programming and support.

I was just reading about how Chrysler going to full scan tool authenticating by 2020 model years. Essentially if it's a device that hasn't received their stamp of approval they lock you out of bidirectional controls and programming. The entire industry will be this way in the next 10 years so this may be the beginning of the end for cheap scan tool options.

It will be interesting to see how launch and autel handle this especially the higher end models which are pushed by trucks and parts store brands. Going to be a major hit to independents if those two don't get certifications since their back hacking allows for so much capability that snap on and otc just don't bother with.

Might be a lot more 'i can't fix this because I can't afford 50grand/yr in oe coverage, you have to go to the dealer" coming.

 

[Ramigojag]

That's already around in FCA vehicles they use a SGW (Secure Gateway), they have from 2017 on some models and 2018 on all. Aftermarket tool suppliers can pay FCA to be an "approved tool", but the cost of this would either mean the whole cost of the tool would go up or they would have to maybe charge separate for some updates.