Scanner suggestions - bi-directional, many systems

[Silver]

I've been casually looking for a couple years for a good scanner that will do most actions like crank relearn, ABS bleed, TB relearn, keyfob programming, TPMS, etc but honestly I'm just overwhelmed. It seems they all have some sort of catch or something important they won't do. Digging down to what they'll actually do is very tedious. It's like they all try to make you think they do more than they actually do. I don't want to spend $1,000+. Maybe up to $500 if it was justified? Just spitting that number out. For all I know I may need more than one less encompassing scanners.

I have two Fords, a Chevy and a Chrysler. 2002 - 2016. I will never own a 'new' vehicle but may buy used several years old.

Any suggestions welcome.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

The keyfob programming ones will be expensive and possibly TPMS tools are, too. Do you really need those particular functions?

Innova's site is very good and clearly lists what each scanner will do. Inout your year/make/model or even VIN and a list of scanners and their functions will pop up. And you can often find them used for much less money than a new one will cost. I got a nice Innova for $70 that would be $200 new.

You can often get a kit that has a TPMS tool and several sensors.

 

[FowVay]

I think I'm going to buy a Xtool D8. They have a $52 discount and free delivery from Amazon which makes it $688 delivered. You get 3 years of updates and afterwards the updates are $199. I was ready to buy an Autel MP808 because it's a impressive tool but the updates after 2 years are $350.

 

[Donald]

For the Ford vehicles you can use Forscan on a laptop and a inexpensive OBDII scanner.

Also look at Auto Enginuity.

 

[D60]

Forscan is great. Practically free, very powerful.

Avoid Auto Enginuity like the plague. I've got it with full GM package. Hate it. Expensive. Overpriced for what it is. User interface like 1995. Dongle is annoying. Just a really, really bad value.

The Xtool A30 Pro is almost as capable as their upper models and goes for ~$300.....and they claim free LT updates. I've got it but only used it a couple times for basic code reading so far. There's several YT vids on the A30 Pro (and all of their models because they're sending out free product like candy to anyone they hope can be an "influencer")

 

[repairman54]

I like my Auto Enginuity one. It's a non-dongle version with full GM package.
It's 2 MAP sensor tests picked up my erratic bad MAP sensor that didn't set any codes on my 5.3 that was killing my mpg's by 3 mpg and stopping the emissions monitors from running so I could pass state emissions.
Forscan was good back when I had Sables.

 

[wtd]

I have the Thinktool Pros and love it. It's around a $1K on sale but it does a ton of stuff. I recently programmed a new key fob for my daughter's Cobalt with it. I also have the Innova 5610 and its decent but there is a lot it doesn't do and a lot of info that is missing.

 

[Silver]

I have the Thinktool Pros and love it. It's around a $1K on sale but it does a ton of stuff. I recently programmed a new key fob for my daughter's Cobalt with it. I also have the Innova 5610 and its decent but there is a lot it doesn't do and a lot of info that is missing.

This looks very comprehensive and reviews are great.

Have you ran across something it CAN'T do that you wish it did?

 

[wtd]

This looks very comprehensive and reviews are great.

Have you ran across something it CAN'T do that you wish it did?

Not yet. I'm just a DIY'er so I will probably never use it's full capabilities. I just wanted something that had more capability than my Innova 5610 and had a lot of bi-directional capability. I needed something that could could read the cam retard offset on my two 98 chevy trucks and the 5610 can't do that. We also have a lot of newer vehicles in the family than what I own so I wanted something that would work well for those.

Pine Hollow Auto Diagnostics pretty much uses one of these exclusively on his Youtube channel. Go check it out and see the different things he does with his. No scan tool will do everything you may want and is why a lot of the professionals have multiple scanners to have the most coverage possible.

 

[Tundragod]

I vote for D8 or D7 for value.

 

[FowVay]

I vote for D8 or D7 for value.

I wrote to Xtool and asked if their D8 would read and clear the SRS light on a 2002 Hyundai Elantra and they said no. I have decided against buying that model. I have learned that the SRS systems operated on a completely different type of circuitry than the other systems so a machine has to be specifically adapted to scan SRS. This was all changed in 2014 so for older vehicles it's wise to verify what can be done.

 

[nthach]

I borrow an Autel MS906 off someone. For being reverse-engineered, it does the job well. If I had to buy my own, I’d get the MK808BT or MK808TS, which adds on TPMS functionality(but only does programming of their own MX Sensors, not the more commonly available Schrader or Dill “universal programmable” sensors.

 

[AA/FC]

I borrow an Autel MS906 off someone. For being reverse-engineered, it does the job well. If I had to buy my own, I’d get the MK808BT or MK808TS, which adds on TPMS functionality(but only does programming of their own MX Sensors, not the more commonly available Schrader or Dill “universal programmable” sensors.

I suspect if you are familiar with using the MS906, then you might not like the MK808BT. I can tell you from personal experience that tool doesn't really have much for bidirectional control or special functions. It's possible they have recently added more bidirectional functionality to that tool but it didn't do much a few years ago when I had it. Just a heads up...

 

[michaelluscher]

I suspect if you are familiar with using the MS906, then you might not like the MK808BT. I can tell you from personal experience that tool doesn't really have much for bidirectional control or special functions. It's possible they have recently added more bidirectional functionality to that tool but it didn't do much a few years ago when I had it. Just a heads up...

Things have changed,

 

[AA/FC]

Things have changed,

Yes, they have changed now. My original comment above was posted on April 15th, and it contained 100% correct information, at that time. From what I can tell, the big Autel updates came out on June 1st. It really doesn't matter though for used (older) MK808 scan tools with expired subscriptions. I can't imagine someone would spend (and this is a rough guess) around $500+ bucks for a one year subscription on an old scan tool when for an additional 1-2 hundred bucks (roughly, depending which model you buy) you can have a brand new scan tool with up to date software. JMO

 

[willbur]

The keyfob programming ones will be expensive and possibly TPMS tools are, too. Do you really need those particular functions?

Innova's site is very good and clearly lists what each scanner will do. Inout your year/make/model or even VIN and a list of scanners and their functions will pop up. And you can often find them used for much less money than a new one will cost. I got a nice Innova for $70 that would be $200 new.

You can often get a kit that has a TPMS tool and several sen

Forscan is great. Practically free, very powerful.

Avoid Auto Enginuity like the plague. I've got it with full GM package. Hate it. Expensive. Overpriced for what it is. User interface like 1995. Dongle is annoying. Just a really, really bad value.

The Xtool A30 Pro is almost as capable as their upper models and goes for ~$300.....and they claim free LT updates. I've got it but only used it a couple times for basic code reading so far. There's several YT vids on the A30 Pro (and all of their models because they're sending out free product like candy to anyone they hope can be an "influencer")

thanks- will check it out. Does it only work on Android devices?

 

[D60]

The Xtool A30 Pro is standalone but does appear to use an Android OS

I just used mine to command 4L60E solenoid operation and it worked. I was honestly afraid it wouldn't include transmission control for this '03 Silverado only because sometimes that seems to be a special subset separate from engine control commands, but it was right there in the menu(s).

I'm not contending it's a pro level tool but for ~$300 I'm not sure if there's anything more powerful? And I will say it seems kinda slow....something that would really matter to a pro tech where minutes are money

The ability to step up to bidirectional is a HUGE step for the "home gamer" or "prosumer" I'd say. And I do still kinda really enjoy having both physical buttons or touch screen.

Also just because I had good luck with an extremely common domestic application doesn’t mean it'll work well on "exotics" like Mercedes, Audi, whatever.......maybe it would, maybe not.....I couldn't say thus far

 

[michaelluscher]

thanks- will check it out. Does it only work on Android devices?

FORScan works on Windows PC and Android
The PC version is a little more full featured, and stable with an OBDLink EX, being wired and all

But I've repaired many a FLM product with my daily driver Pixel and an OBDLink MX

So cheap and easy, never leave home without it

 

[R18Civic]

Wrong thread.