solus edge vs original Solus vs DRBII/III

[volaredon]

I am a fleet mechanic in the worst state in the US. We have a Genisys, only good to '14, as our shop scanner. They just sent us the Auto Enginuity which nobody seems to be able to use. I personally have an original SOLUS good to 14.4 which I have been told that for the original SOLUS that's as new as it gets. I also have the old standby MT2500 "Brick" which is out of date even for what it is.

Before I go any farther I will say at work our fleet is mostly Ford, some Chevy and a FEW older Y2K-ish Dodges still hanging on.
When I use my own SOLUS, if I try to auto ID a 2015 anything it thinks I am working on something from 1985, the VIN digit for year for the 80s is the same as it is for the 2010's. I have to "lie" to my scanner and do manual ID, tell it that I'm working on a '13 or a 14.

Personally, I own all Dodge products, newest being 2001, probably won't go much newer til I absolutely HAVE to. (hint; my most recent buy is a 1985 which I don't need no stinkin scanner for)
I have run into something on my 01 Durango for which I had to visit the dealer for, fortunately I have a few buddies there.... neither my original SOLUS or the Genisys would run the tests for the HVAC for the full open and full closed limit for the rear HVAC.... come to find out I had an issue (now fixed) and I have to re run the limit test again (tired of incessantly blinking AC light on dash, only way to get rid of it is to run this test and let ECM learn open/close limits)
My dealer buddies say that they are 2 diag systems past DRB, and many dealers don't have a DRB around any longer. of my 3 closest Dodge stealers, only this 1 still has a DRB, another where I have another connection, says they are "supposed to" have a DRB "simulation mode" but hasn't had to use it in his day to day work yet so he cant tell me if it can even do what I need.

I have a new SOLUS EDGE that I have on loan from the S/O guy that I am considering buying because of work (I could care less about Asian, European coverage, I don't want any of their cars in my driveway, I do all I can to avoid them)
Does the newest EDGE have capability to run the tests I need done at the moment, and in general, how much more capable is it vs the original SOLUS? I just got this EDGE earlier today, have not yet so much as turned it on.... battery is in and charged, that's it so far...…

I can buy the EGDE for less right now than I paid for the "brick" way back in 2003. I guess they just stopped making the SOLUS series totally, tool truck guy says to expect 6-7 years of support which will get me close to getting-out-of-the rat race" stage of my life. so the few of the SOLUS EDGE scanners left in the pipeline are on a "deal" right now. about 1/2 of what they were selling for not very long ago, fully warranteed, updateable as long as S/O is willing.


It took me a long time to outgrow the red Brick/ many more years beyond its newest capability. I bought the original SOLUS used just a couple of years ago, good for 13 years newer than the Brick. but in this short time, I have outgrown the 1st SOLUS I have and (again) it is not updateable any newer than it already is (which is "14.4")
I have been told that to update the EDGE will be $1k each time, I aint gonna be in a hurry to get the 1st one, for sure.

I have also noticed that (like has been said elsewhere in scanner topics) that I can do some things easier with the S/O scanner (especially Dodge as compared to Chevy stuff) the OTC I find the opposite to be true// and Ford stuff is "kinda in between"..... buying 1 of each of the "big 3" Dealer approved units is out of the question.... used DRB IIIs still show an asking $$ of $3k on EPay….
I do, do "some" side work from home, but not as often as what I used to


so all that said, if you have used a SOLUS EDGE, what do you think of it? I have a week to either buy it or turn it back in. (next time the S/O guy comes by) No, I shouldn't have to buy my own for work, (look above for where I work) but if it will help me do my job faster and more accurate with less trips to the office to check out Mitchell OnDemand, it will almost be worth it for that alone.

 

[volaredon]

also 2 weeks ago, I had an 07 Avalanche in the home garage for other things; while here I discovered it had the dead inst. cluster, doesn't display mileage. I know what has to be done to fix that already, but for "the moment" was another situation where my original SOLUS was no good.... I asked the boss at work, (used to be a GM dealer tech) and he said that I "should be able to" pick up the mileage on that Avalanche thru use of a scanner.... not with the old SOLUS anyways.... is the EDGE any better there?

 

[setfocus]

I've really only used 3 scanners

The old shop had a Solus Pro that was never updated, went to 2012 I believe. That got stolen and the shop wouldn't buy a new scanner. So the master tech, at the old shop, bought an Autel that I borrowed a few times. Think he paid less that $1k for it but I don't recall the model. I know that it had some bi-directional controls and did a full system code scan, but according to him, it won't command the canister vent valve on w-body GM's. I bought a little Launch millennium 90pro glorified code reader to get by

New shop has a Solus Edge. I don't do enough diagnostic work to know if it does things the old Solus doesn't but it's a nicer tool. Both touch screen and buttons, quicker boot time than the Autel, auto ID, full system code scan, it charges when plugged into the OBD port, so the batt never dies

 

[2ndGearRubber]

As far as I know, all snap on software is identical. A Zues or a verus or solus or whatever, if they have current software will have all the same tests and data. Sometimes features or tests will be added with updates.

I would spend the time to try auto enginuity since it's already supplied for free. An old wytech might be a decent investment if you do Chrysler.

 

[Fedwrench]

The Solus Edge was basically an updated brick to work on newer vehicles but, snap on stopped supporting it more than a few years ago.

If you have a mostly Ford fleet, you should take the pain and purchase an IDS. The IDS is lap top based and requires an annual subscription fee of around $650.

Any aftermarket scan tool is at best a compromise with what the OEM tooling offers. However, more important than having the right scan tool, is having the skills to use it effectively. Scan tools can be challenging if you can't navigate through its screens and interpret the PIDs and other information it provides you.

Lastly, we fix as many cars at my job through reflashing modules as we do with regular tools. I think reflashing will solve more concerns than traditional repairs soon.

 

[lugnut71]

You are correct, they have amazing pricing on the solus edge because there is new models above it, that being said, They are still supporting it, in fact they are re-releasing it. Gonna be called solus legend. Same scan tool , new name

 

[volaredon]

As far as I know, all snap on software is identical. A Zues or a verus or solus or whatever, if they have current software will have all the same tests and data. Sometimes features or tests will be added with updates.

I would spend the time to try auto enginuity since it's already supplied for free. An old wytech might be a decent investment if you do Chrysler.

never heard of wytech. This SOLUS EDGE is supposed to be the newest in the SOLUS line. it sounds like it is rather recent that S/O has dropped this scanner.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Sorry, it's witech. It's the OE chrysler tool.

https://oemtools.com/products/chrysler/

Some info above. You'll need a laptop to run it and a subscription. The DRBIII does pre-2007 stuff.

 

[lugnut71]

The solus edge has been out for few years now, they lowered the price and started promoting the apollo and the triton. But the solus legend just came out like last month, same as edge new look, new name.

 

[zkdiesel]

Have a drb3. It was a turd when it was new. It’s slow and abonoxious, not to mention now 15 years out dated with no support

I wouldn’t spend any $$ on a drb at this point in age unless you got a used one under $100

They were needed back in 2003 but now they are not

 

[zkdiesel]

The Solus Edge was basically an updated brick to work on newer vehicles but, snap on stopped supporting it more than a few years ago.

If you have a mostly Ford fleet, you should take the pain and purchase an IDS. The IDS is lap top based and requires an annual subscription fee of around $650.

Any aftermarket scan tool is at best a compromise with what the OEM tooling offers. However, more important than having the right scan tool, is having the skills to use it effectively. Scan tools can be challenging if you can't navigate through its screens and interpret the PIDs and other information it provides you.

Lastly, we fix as many cars at my job through reflashing modules as we do with regular tools. I think reflashing will solve more concerns than traditional repairs soon.

Ids is now $900 a year. If you don’t subscribe your tool turns into a boat anchor

That said I have two laptops with ids and two subscriptions it gets used so much

 

[volaredon]

Have a drb3. It was a turd when it was new. It’s slow and abonoxious, not to mention now 15 years out dated with no support

I wouldn’t spend any $$ on a drb at this point in age unless you got a used one under $100

They were needed back in 2003 but now they are not

I only see them upwards of $3k om Feebay, that's why I never bought one.... would mostly want one of "those" for my own personal fleet, newest of which is an 01 Durango/ personally all I have ever owned is Dodges, with a couple of Jeeps mixed in.

I plugged in this Solus EDGE to said Durango, and I can get more data from it than with my older Solus, but still can't do the 2 tests it needs with the Edge... both related to rear HVAC/ so I can STOP the incessant blinking defrost and AC "snowflake" lights.
I need to do a sweep/open/close limit test and a temp swing test (I forget the actual Mopar name for that one)


I went by the Mopar dealer closest to work asking for the "sweep" test and the lead tech insisted on doing the temp swing test... I went in with ONE blinking light, now I left there with 2. I discovered I had an actuator problem, one motor back there worked while the other one did not...
upon disassembly, I discovered a busted blend door within the plenum so I replaced both with aluminum, real nice parts.... (aftermarket company, forget who I got them from, not "Heater Treater") now all works back there (as verified by this new EDGE) I can activate both the temp and blend door but the "test" seeks out and determines limits of full open/full closed.


Anyways, it gave me another chance to play with the SOLUS EDGE, and it seems to combine the features of my original SOLUS and those of our OTC Genisys at work.... plus a thing or 3.
Still can't do "everything" on all makes and models, (and I aint buying GM,Ford,and MOPAR OEM dealer level scanners for as much as I'd use one... but seeing some of what I CAN do with the EDGE, I think I'm gonna go for it.... it I a PITA when first turned on, a 30 second "hold because the software isn't yet registered (cuz I haven't bought it yet) I gotta ask, if getting it "registered" if I do buy it, will that unlock any more capability than I have already experienced?

anyone wanna buy an original SOLUS updated to "14.4"? as it was when I bought it, it may be better than what you currently have.... I'll give you a better "good deal" than the guy on the tool truck would.... looking for a down payment on the new one so I can keep it "on the truck" rather than opening up a Snap on R/A, something I have not had in years..


the snap on guy wanted $1000 for a used solus Pro with no warranty, and another $800 for the flash to update it (today's current one is the last one able to be loaded on the "Pro") so compared to this one, it wasn't worth buying the used Pro.

 

[volaredon]

sold the old SOLUS have the new EDGE one... so far leaps and bounds more capability and fast? wow. sure I won't still be able to do "everything" but I can already do more than with the old SOLUS. and I do still have (2) MT2500 "red bricks"