2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
I made a thread a few weeks ago about buying another scan tool, which I ended up doing.
www.garagejournal.com
Overall, I like this tool. I have used the unit the last week at work, attempting to use it exclusively. A coworker even asked if I was going to end up selling my trusty Autel 906 since I always had the Phoenix Lite 2 in my hand. The tool includes topology, which was not advertised. Their website specifically says the Pheonix Lite 2 does not have topology. You can also use a regular list of modules. Mildly annoying, the topology of some cars is so large you need to scroll up and down on the screen. So sometimes you’ll be 70% or whatever through a scan, and not “see” what module is being checked on the screen. Because it’s out of view, you’d need to scroll. Not a big deal. For a price of $860 shipped via AESwave, with 2 years of included updates? That’s a serious value propisition. Based on menu layout, I believe Topdon and Thinktool are both running Launch software. Menu patterns, formatting, etc. I purchased a short OBDII extension lead to make the wireless dongle more obvious. The kit ended up including that, as well as some early OBDII adapters, power adapters, etc. When you exit the diagnostic function to return to the main menu, it reminds you remove the dongle, and the dongle beeps at you. This is a nice feature, but this is my first wireless tool so maybe they all do that. Compared to the snap on, the autel has more “chinglish”, topdon more so. ALL tools I’ve ever used will have typos, missing spaces/commas, or continuity errors.
As a GENERAL rule, I find snap on tools typically work. If they have a feature, it will work. Problem is they’re missing features, PIDs, Bi-directionals. Plus their update costs, and initial costs, are very high. I leaned heavily on my autel to suppliment these missing tests. Some things, like honda TPMS, the Autel is meciorce at and the Snap On is awesome. Then you go to do a bi-directional secondary air injection test on the Snap-on and the test isn’t even an option. IMO there is no one tool that will do it all, it simply isn’t possible. So we buy mulitple.
I have a Solus Legend (Paid $2250), an Autel 906 (paid $1150), and now this Topdon Pheonix Lite 2 (paid $860). Solus updates are $600, twice per year. You miss one? Gotta buy two to catch up, like a penalty or something. Snap on releases 2 updates per year, so if something is missing in update 1, you need to wait 6 months for the next one. Autel came with 1 year of updates, and subsequent updates were $500 for a year. Autel updates continously, so for a whole year you get updates whenever they are released. Which is often. Topdon uses the same system, except you get 2 years at the time of purchase. You need to register the tool upon initial startup, so none of the “wait 6 months then register so the 2 years up updates starts then” stuff. Poking around, I found no hard costs. Perhaps the tool is too new and everyone is still on the 2 years of free updates? So that’s a variable with no answer. Both Autel and Topdon have coverage for stuff they don’t sell in the US. I don’t update this stuff as it wastes space. The Autel I stuck an SD card in, I believe the Pheonix Lite 2 had no such provision.
Should I buy another scan tool? (Topdon)
Musings on buying a new scan tool - here's the situation. Recently I had a thread stating that one needs a current scan tool subscription to keep autoauth coverage in effect, and have a working bypass for a FCA gateway. Snap on is too expensive for me, Solus Legend is on 20.2 software, and...
www.garagejournal.com
Overall, I like this tool. I have used the unit the last week at work, attempting to use it exclusively. A coworker even asked if I was going to end up selling my trusty Autel 906 since I always had the Phoenix Lite 2 in my hand. The tool includes topology, which was not advertised. Their website specifically says the Pheonix Lite 2 does not have topology. You can also use a regular list of modules. Mildly annoying, the topology of some cars is so large you need to scroll up and down on the screen. So sometimes you’ll be 70% or whatever through a scan, and not “see” what module is being checked on the screen. Because it’s out of view, you’d need to scroll. Not a big deal. For a price of $860 shipped via AESwave, with 2 years of included updates? That’s a serious value propisition. Based on menu layout, I believe Topdon and Thinktool are both running Launch software. Menu patterns, formatting, etc. I purchased a short OBDII extension lead to make the wireless dongle more obvious. The kit ended up including that, as well as some early OBDII adapters, power adapters, etc. When you exit the diagnostic function to return to the main menu, it reminds you remove the dongle, and the dongle beeps at you. This is a nice feature, but this is my first wireless tool so maybe they all do that. Compared to the snap on, the autel has more “chinglish”, topdon more so. ALL tools I’ve ever used will have typos, missing spaces/commas, or continuity errors.
As a GENERAL rule, I find snap on tools typically work. If they have a feature, it will work. Problem is they’re missing features, PIDs, Bi-directionals. Plus their update costs, and initial costs, are very high. I leaned heavily on my autel to suppliment these missing tests. Some things, like honda TPMS, the Autel is meciorce at and the Snap On is awesome. Then you go to do a bi-directional secondary air injection test on the Snap-on and the test isn’t even an option. IMO there is no one tool that will do it all, it simply isn’t possible. So we buy mulitple.
I have a Solus Legend (Paid $2250), an Autel 906 (paid $1150), and now this Topdon Pheonix Lite 2 (paid $860). Solus updates are $600, twice per year. You miss one? Gotta buy two to catch up, like a penalty or something. Snap on releases 2 updates per year, so if something is missing in update 1, you need to wait 6 months for the next one. Autel came with 1 year of updates, and subsequent updates were $500 for a year. Autel updates continously, so for a whole year you get updates whenever they are released. Which is often. Topdon uses the same system, except you get 2 years at the time of purchase. You need to register the tool upon initial startup, so none of the “wait 6 months then register so the 2 years up updates starts then” stuff. Poking around, I found no hard costs. Perhaps the tool is too new and everyone is still on the 2 years of free updates? So that’s a variable with no answer. Both Autel and Topdon have coverage for stuff they don’t sell in the US. I don’t update this stuff as it wastes space. The Autel I stuck an SD card in, I believe the Pheonix Lite 2 had no such provision.
