Best bidirectional scanner for Mazda

[timoboy]

As someone with exclusively Mazda and Toyota vehicles, what is the best scanner on the market for bidirectional control functions for these vehicles? Abs bleeds, evap purge valve control, etc.

If you have been around scanners for awhile, you quickly realized they are USA and Euro car biased. Many lack any real functionality for Japanese cars. Especially difficult are any that can talk to my Ford based Mazda vehicles of which I service several.

Has anyone had good luck with any in particular? I’m happy to spend $1-2k if it can actually talk to these vehicles bidirectionally. Especially Mazda.

I’ve reached out to a few of the big names but they basically said buy it and find out. Not super helpful, especially at $1500+ for a scanner that may be a paperweight. Hopefully someone has real world experience.

 

[Timmastertech]

On Mazda you are going to be disappointed. Mazda was not big on bidirectional controls until recently. I subscribe to the factory IDS scan tool for Mazda and compared to Ford vehicles of the same vintage the data pids and bidirectional controls just arent there, were never put into the vehicle software. Outside of IDS Forscan is about the best you will get for Mazda for non 7th gen vehicles.

 

[vwmaniaman]

I have an Ancel 610P that I bought on Amazon to do the ABS bleeds. It works great and does other tests too. It was about $110. Works really well on ABS.

 

[vwmaniaman]

To do the ABS bleed you must pump the pedal to get it as high as you can and hold pressure on it. Start the bleed by turning on the pump with it and you will feel the pedal drop while you are still holding pressure and then while the pump is running you will feel the pedal come back up. It works great.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Innova has a coverage checker to see what it can do for your cars

The 5610 does bi-directional

 

[mazdamonky]

I ended up buying an autel unit to assist with some german cars I have been working on. My 2018 mazda 3 really doesn't have many bidirectional tests like most american made vehicles but the autel seems to be able to perform quite a bit. I have used it even on my 2002 protege to do things like check fuel pump functionality, various relays, and diagnose a bad vics solenoid.

 

[Mainia]

Check out XTool scanners on Amazon - I have D7 that is 3.5 years old. Still no reason to buy up to a D8 or D7S. XTool has 3 years free updates.

 

[timoboy]

On Mazda you are going to be disappointed. Mazda was not big on bidirectional controls until recently. I subscribe to the factory IDS scan tool for Mazda and compared to Ford vehicles of the same vintage the data pids and bidirectional controls just arent there, were never put into the vehicle software. Outside of IDS Forscan is about the best you will get for Mazda for non 7th gen vehicles.

Thanks for your insight. This is just what I feared. So even if I got a used IDS/Laptop and paid for a short term license, IDS not perform an ABS bleed on my 2012 Mazda 3 for example? Wildly new vehicle to not be supported when its twin 2012 Focus would be. I'd go the dealer route but all they will do is hook up to a BG brake machine for $300 and call it good. No valve actuation. A fellow tech said his Matco scanner will bidirectional control these era Ford Mazda. No idea who really makes Matco's scanners.

Frustrating because every part on this car says FOMOCO even the ABS pump itself but nothing will talk to it.

 

[timoboy]

To do the ABS bleed you must pump the pedal to get it as high as you can and hold pressure on it. Start the bleed by turning on the pump with it and you will feel the pedal drop while you are still holding pressure and then while the pump is running you will feel the pedal come back up. It works great.

Does this require a scanner? How do you get the pump to run? The Mazda isn't like a Toyota where it cycles the pump every time you turn it on unfortunately.

 

[timoboy]

I ended up buying an autel unit to assist with some german cars I have been working on. My 2018 mazda 3 really doesn't have many bidirectional tests like most american made vehicles but the autel seems to be able to perform quite a bit. I have used it even on my 2002 protege to do things like check fuel pump functionality, various relays, and diagnose a bad vics solenoid.

For a 2018 Mazda made Mazda I'd expect good results. The issue is I deal with Ford era 2006-2013 Mazdas. Most all electronic parts are stamped Ford. I think they originally used Ford software at the dealer level but finding aftermarket scan tools that will talk to them is difficult.

 

[timoboy]

Innova has a coverage checker to see what it can do for your cars

The 5610 does bi-directional

Thanks! I emailed Innova and their tech line couldn't confirm nor deny what their scanner would do for my specific vehicles.

 

[repairman54]

I'm not a Mazda guy but check www.autoenginuity.com to see if they have what you want. It's PC based with bi directional controls, I've been using it with the enhanced GM package for years now. My fleet is all GM.
It's MAP test helped me a ton with an erratic sensor on my old Tahoe.
They have optional packages for a lot of brands.

 

[D60]

If you're brave enough to go Autoenginuity don't believe a word those guys say to you -- they're sketchy and don't really know what they're doing. Try to find users who can actually verify the software will do what they claim on your model and year.