Autel 808btpro

[tiger862]

I bought the Autel MX808BT PRO a year ago so this is my review. Short review is this scanner has been worked for extensive problems on 2012 Impala without a hiccup. Used it on Caravan and Saturn Ion as well as several Nissians. Love bidirectional. Now the cons. Tool will not work without subscription on my Caravan. Caravan is not on list for buying FCA subscription as it doesn't have gateway. I checked with my old thinkscan and I can read codes as well as live data with internet connection needed to be sent to Thinkscan. Thinkscan is limited in bidirectional and doesn't work on Caravan as it states not compatible. Now should i spend money on another scanner that would be in 500 to 700 range with 2 year update or pay 150 a year and use this one until it quits.

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

You will own nothing and you will be happy. Are you telling me that people drop a thousand bucks on a tool that bricks itself unless you pay a yearly extortion fee?

 

[tiger862]

You will own nothing and you will be happy. Are you telling me that people drop a thousand bucks on a tool that bricks itself unless you pay a yearly extortion fee?

Yes. Luckily the fee is 150 unless I wait on sale. It technically stills works on other vehicles that don't need internet connection to diagnose. With internet connection it connects to the server which you need subscription. I have 2 other scanners that don't need subscription fees however they are far from the Autel.

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

I am a little bit confused. What does this fee take away if you dont pay?

 

[tiger862]

It takes away the ability to scan or use bidirectional services for a vehicle that uses internet to diagnose. You can always use EOBD for codes and data stream however no bidirectional. If you need to turn fuel pump or off to diagnose you are out of luck.

 

[D60]

It takes away the ability to scan or use bidirectional services for a vehicle that uses internet to diagnose. You can always use EOBD for codes and data stream however no bidirectional. If you need to turn fuel pump or off to diagnose you are out of luck.

Hmm, why do you need internet to do bidirectional? Just to make sure you paid for the right to do so?

This stuff really makes me nervous because I'm just on cellular data. Once I've used all my "fast" data and am throttled a lot of things struggle or don't work (but Netflix is really good at adapting and buffering). In fact I don't even attempt to update my Xtool on "slow" data ‐‐ it takes FOREVER for a single manufacturer.

 

[tiger862]

Hmm, why do you need internet to do bidirectional? Just to make sure you paid for the right to do so?

This stuff really makes me nervous because I'm just on cellular data. Once I've used all my "fast" data and am throttled a lot of things struggle or don't work (but Netflix is really good at adapting and buffering). In fact I don't even attempt to update my Xtool on "slow" data ‐‐ it takes FOREVER for a single manufacturer.

Here is where they get you. Read my previous post. Since my van requires internet connection to connect it can't without subscription. Bidirectional will change depending on the vehicle. I am pretty sure if vehicle didn't have to connect with internet it would work. I did try my cheap 3 year old thinkscan and it had to connect to it's server as well. Thinkscan has lifetime free updates except for services and that is per service for 30.00. I would assume more vehicles will require internet access as they are complicated and your scanner will not have enough space to store programs.

 

[tiger862]

I just checked on a 12 Impala and 12 Camry and both were working properly with bidirectional working fine. Again as I stated if your vehicle requires internet the tool will only work in eobm with no bidirectional. I did find AlphaOBd for van for 49.00 if I need. So far can't see renewing for 150.00. If I wait until black friday then it's half price. I also have Thinkscan 4 and CarScanner app so I should be covered.

 

[The Critic]

Are you sure your Caravan doesn't have SGW? 2018+ FCA are usually SGW vehicles and require both an active subscription and the $50/yr AutoAuth subscription.

 

[tiger862]

Are you sure your Caravan doesn't have SGW? 2018+ FCA are usually SGW vehicles and require both an active subscription and the $50/yr AutoAuth subscription.

I never had to pay subscription for the first year of Autel and after subscription expired I no longer have access. What is tricky is that if I manually use 17 Caravan everything works. I can't find an article explaining why subscription is needed for the 2 different scan tools however Thinkscan bidirectional doesn't work on 18 and Thinkscan stated so. They say 18 is not supported and I get message that data could be wrong if I don't update Chrysler software which Thinkscan doesn't have. I can pay for alfaobd if needed however I am not sure if it will work either although they claim to. I did send message to Autel so I will see what they say.

 

[wtd]

I own three scanners that require yearly fees once the free update period is over. On two of them, I'm still in the free two-year period. The end of last year was my second time renewing my Thinktool Pros. I bought it new in 2021. I pay the renewal fee because I want my scanner to be as up to date as possible and I want everything to work. I'm not sure if I would lose some functionality on some vehicles if I didn't but I'm willing to pay the fee just in case. I get that a lot of people don't want to or don't deem it necessary. I don't do this for a living, but I do work on a lot of people's cars. I also signed up for AutoAuth and paid my $50.

I have heard various people mention that they have lost functionality on certain vehicles without a valid subscription but don't know which scanners or which vehicles it affects. I guess if you want to have full functionality for your van and can't find a cheaper route, I would just pay the fee. I do know some people just buy a new scanner every two or three years instead of paying for updates.

 

[D60]

I own three scanners that require yearly fees once the free update period is over. On two of them, I'm still in the free two-year period. The end of last year was my second time renewing my Thinktool Pros. I bought it new in 2021. I pay the renewal fee because I want my scanner to be as up to date as possible and I want everything to work. I'm not sure if I would lose some functionality on some vehicles if I didn't but I'm willing to pay the fee just in case. I get that a lot of people don't want to or don't deem it necessary. I don't do this for a living, but I do work on a lot of people's cars. I also signed up for AutoAuth and paid my $50.

I have heard various people mention that they have lost functionality on certain vehicles without a valid subscription but don't know which scanners or which vehicles it affects. I guess if you want to have full functionality for your van and can't find a cheaper route, I would just pay the fee. I do know some people just buy a new scanner every two or three years instead of paying for updates.

Nah, the scary version is the opposite: reports of Autel revoking features if you allow an update.

 

[wtd]

Nah, the scary version is the opposite: reports of Autel revoking features if you allow an update.

Yes, I have heard that. I think it has something to do with Snap On suing them for stealing information. The only Autel based scanner I have is the Otofix D1 and while it gives a lot of information, it is slow on both using it on vehicles and super slow to update. Updates also drain the battery pretty bad. I prefer my Launch based scanners anyway.

 

[tiger862]

After to much time looking into the subscription on scan tools, here is my observations. No matter the make after the subscription is over so is there service. All scanners that expire are only guarantee is provide you with EOBD. No bidirectional, coding, or other special functions. According to the OBD page manufacturers either have or will go connected route for diagnostics and Right To Repair is upheld with EOBD. What that means is the companies are selling you a subscription not a product. If you look at subscription cost it's generally 2/3 cost of scanner up to 100% on one I've seen. The lower cost scanners have slower memory and storage with basically same coverage. Essentially you are in a lease agreement however you can keep tablet if you don't pay subscription. This information is on all sights support pages in frequent asked questions. If you are lucky enough to have a vehicle that doesn't require internet connection you might get lucky and tablet works as it did before subscription ended. Hope this clears up the confusion out there.

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

I wonder if its possible to "jailbreak" these scanners to get bidrectional control?

 

[tiger862]

I wonder if its possible to "jailbreak" these scanners to get bidrectional control?

Some on YouTube states if you copy data before it expired you can do it, however I have doubts. All I did was put 17 Caravan instead of 18 Caravan then everything works. I even changed mileage in PCM today to match instrument panel just to see if special functions and maintenance would work. Was off by 100 miles. Just know if a vehicle uses internet to connect it won't without subscription.

 

[clinebarger]

FCA & AutoAuth via the SGW has nothing to do with the scan tool, You can buy SGW bypass cables.

 

[D60]

FCA & AutoAuth via the SGW has nothing to do with the scan tool, You can buy SGW bypass cables.

This is what I thought because this is how the Tazer and similar do what they do on the JLs