|
|
Will someone give me an opinion on this diagnostic equipment?
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Alex Ethridge
User
Aug 9, 2011, 7:06 PM
Post #1 of 14
(1737 views)
|
Will someone give me an opinion on this diagnostic equipment?
|
|
|
I have a 2003 Toyota Sienna CE and the AutoEnginuity diagnostic hardware/software (link deleted again) looks very interesting. It looks like I would need the PC-based Scan Tool (for OBDII) and the Enhanced PC Toyota Expansion (total about $400). What will it not do that the shops with the high-dollar SnapOn equipment will do?
Is there a better brand in this price range?
Might this purchase have a built-in bite-me-in-the-ass that is going to make me wish I didn't waste my money?
I have done my own mechanic work all my life; but, with the advent of computerized-everything cars, it's getting more difficult so I'm now looking at getting into the 21st century. I like to tinker and solve my own problems.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Aug 10, 2011, 6:42 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
re-tired
Veteran
/ Moderator
Aug 9, 2011, 8:04 PM
Post #2 of 14
(1722 views)
|
|
Re: Will someone give me an opinion on this diagnostic equipment?
|
|
|
Any scan tool that can give meaningfull data on current cars will run into multi thousands of dollars. updates will be 1k or more . A lot of money to "tinker"
LIFE'S SHORT GO FISH
|
|
| |
|
|
Alex Ethridge
User
Aug 9, 2011, 8:28 PM
Post #3 of 14
(1718 views)
|
|
Re: Will someone give me an opinion on this diagnostic equipment?
|
|
|
Well, I guess that is an opinion but not exactly what I was looking for. Gross lack of detail.
"LIFE IS SHORT GO FISH"
When I was a kid, my mom and dad had me go stay on my granddads farm for about ten days. I got so bored with absolutely nothing to do that I actually went fishing.
I hope I never get that bored again.
|
|
| |
|
|
re-tired
Veteran
/ Moderator
Aug 9, 2011, 8:50 PM
Post #4 of 14
(1716 views)
|
|
Re: Will someone give me an opinion on this diagnostic equipment?
|
|
|
Sorry to have bored you. I thought my answered was short and to the point.THe fact is i am a 100% disabled vet whose life will prob be short and fishing is the only activity i can handle..Here is one more boring tip ,,,,,,,,,,google the web sites of the units and compare pros and conns of each .......
LIFE'S SHORT GO FISH
|
|
| |
|
|
Alex Ethridge
User
Aug 9, 2011, 9:09 PM
Post #5 of 14
(1712 views)
|
|
Re: Will someone give me an opinion on this diagnostic equipment?
|
|
|
"google the web sites of the units"
I've been doing that; but, I have a limitation that I don't understand most of what I read, not even the terms in most cases. I have another thread here where I am trying to solve a gas mileage problem; but, since links are not allowed I'll just give you a synopsis.
I like to solve my own problems; but, out of frustration yesterday, I took the car to a local shop that had what looked like to me to be some heavy-duty SnapOn diagnostic stuff. I told them I wanted a diagnostic report on the car and went to lunch. Two and a half hours later I came back and asked to see the report. I got dumb looks. I told them I wanted to see the print-out. I'm sure they ran diagnostics; but, all I got was 'it's in good shape' and 'we don't have no way of printing a report'.
I know damn well they do. I think they are used to using the equipment in the course of their work and not used to someone coming in and asking for a report (and nothing else).
|
|
| |
|
|
Sidom
Veteran
/ Moderator
Aug 9, 2011, 10:16 PM
Post #6 of 14
(1706 views)
|
|
Re: Will someone give me an opinion on this diagnostic equipment?
|
|
|
Scan tools are a must for working on todays vehicles but they are just that, a tool.
If you don't know how to use it or interpret the data then they are worthless.
I have some of the S/O diag equipment, none of it has an actual "report" they print. Back in the day of the "big box" engine analyzers some had a function where it would print the data and add some generic info off areas that were out of the parameters but that is long gone. If anything it was more of a selling tool for the writers...
They do save data stream info, snap shots & movies, where you can load it on the a comp and using a S/O program go thru & analyze it. It's very help if the failure requires a test drive. You can save the data and then look at it when you get back to the shop.....
Depending on if they saved any data & you had a flashdrive I'm sure they wouldn't have a problem giving you that. The S/O prog use to be $100 now it's a free d/l. The prog is called Shopstream Connect. But once again, unless you know what you're looking at, it would be meaning less. There is a saying " You have to know what good looks like before you'll know what bad is"
I honestly don't use the lower end stuff. I bought a cheapy $200 one just for quick reads & clears. It actually had some data info on it which surprised me. This was years ago. From what little I've seen they are adding more & more. Larger data streams, freeze frame data, etc.
For a novice with limited training I really wouldn't go above the $300 to $400 range. Without the proper training, the extra functions you would be getting for your money would be a waste....
When I was a kid I kinda had the same trip, it was the summer I was driving my mom nuts so they shipped me off to my grandparents place for 2 weeks!!!!!!! There was nothing up there, I was pissed & dreading the trip.... That was probably one of the best vacations I ever remember taking. My grandfather put together a photo album of it he gave me later for Xmas & I still look at it today......
(This post was edited by Sidom on Aug 9, 2011, 10:18 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Aug 10, 2011, 3:19 AM
Post #7 of 14
(1692 views)
|
|
Re: Will someone give me an opinion on this diagnostic equipment?
|
|
|
Sidom, you're wasting your typing with this guy. He is the same fool that just knew his ignition timing was wrong in his 03 Sienna because he had years of DIY experience. He's planning to order a scan tool and become a driveabilty tech overnight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
|
Alex Ethridge
User
Aug 10, 2011, 4:39 AM
Post #8 of 14
(1684 views)
|
|
Re: Will someone give me an opinion on this diagnostic equipment?
|
|
|
Hammer Time:
Saying I don't know is one thing. Saying I can't learn is another and is insulting. Calling me a fool is insulting and inflammatory. If you are a Moderator here, then I question the wisdom of the owners of this board. Perhaps they made a bad choice.
Butt out!
(This post was edited by Alex Ethridge on Aug 10, 2011, 4:40 AM)
|
|
| |
|
|
Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Aug 10, 2011, 5:01 AM
Post #9 of 14
(1682 views)
|
|
Re: Will someone give me an opinion on this diagnostic equipment?
|
|
|
If you want the most concise scan tool for your Toyota, you need the Vertronix Mastertech factory level scan tool.
Launch is an aftermarket scanner that covers a lot of the bases for the Asian and European vehicles.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
|
|
| |
|
| | |
|
|
Alex Ethridge
User
Aug 10, 2011, 8:01 AM
Post #11 of 14
(1663 views)
|
|
Re: Will someone give me an opinion on this diagnostic equipment?
|
|
|
Sidom,
Thanks for the comments.
"Scan tools are a must for working on todays vehicles but they are just that, a tool.
If you don't know how to use it or interpret the data then they are worthless."
That is what I am trying to learn now. With what I knew intuitively 48 years ago and the knowledge I gained working on cars over the years, I don't think it will be that difficult to integrate the computerized systems into that knowledge to help me solve my own problems.
"Depending on if they saved any data & you had a flashdrive I'm sure they wouldn't have a problem giving you that. The S/O prog use to be $100 now it's a free d/l. The prog is called Shopstream Connect. But once again, unless you know what you're looking at, it would be meaning less. There is a saying "You have to know what good looks like before you'll know what bad is""
So they could have put it on a USB flash drive? I wonder why they didn't offer that. I have letters on the side of my van ten inches high with the name of my computer service company. Seems like that would have given them a hint.
"For a novice with limited training I really wouldn't go above the $300 to $400 range. Without the proper training, the extra functions you would be getting for your money would be a waste...."
$400 is the cost of the AutoEnginuity diag equipment I am looking at.
"When I was a kid I kinda had the same trip, it was the summer I was driving my mom nuts so they shipped me off to my grandparents place for 2 weeks!!!!!!! There was nothing up there, I was pissed & dreading the trip.... That was probably one of the best vacations I ever remember taking. My grandfather put together a photo album of it he gave me later for Xmas & I still look at it today......"
My grandad was a good man; but, he just wasn't that much into passing time with kids so I was left to my own devices. I hung around the barn watching them milk cows, chased and rode the mule, knocked down wasp nests with corn cobs, ate watermelon from the garden; but, mostly it was boring and hot.
Discretesignals,
Thanks for the suggestion. I'm sure that equipment will do a better job; but, in checking prices, it looks like the Vetronix unit starts out near a thousand dollars and I'm not sure that even includes the necessary things specific for my Sienna so it is a bit out of my price range.
Hammer Time,
Your comments are inappropriate, unnecessary and inflammatory. I have violated no forum rules here, insulted no one and certainly haven't posted anything inflammatory. I've treated everyone with respect. You cannot say the same for yourself. If you doubt that, go back a read your post. And in the mean time, you can give me the contact information for the owner(s) of this board -- if you dare.
And before you think about 'covering your tracks, know that I have a PDF of this thread as it appears now.
|
|
| |
|
|
re-tired
Veteran
/ Moderator
Aug 10, 2011, 10:09 AM
Post #12 of 14
(1652 views)
|
|
Re: Will someone give me an opinion on this diagnostic equipment?
|
|
|
So Alex i dont even get a KMA ?You asked for an opinion and i gave you a honest one . A simiple thanks anyway would have been sufficant but you had to ridicule my sign off.Your statement " I don't think it will be that difficult to integrate the computerized systems into that knowledge to help me solve my own problems " is the equivalant, of me saying i once was a programmer for a IBM 360 computer system ( I was ,mid seventies ) so how hard could it be to troubleshoot a new computer , heck ive got a DOS based " fix it" program on floppies. . It can't be that different.Do you get my drift ? As for HT You have a PDF ,,,,,,and he has your IP address. Im not meaning any disrespect either. But you are not the first to disagree with him nor will you be the last. Your welcome.
LIFE'S SHORT GO FISH
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Aug 10, 2011, 10:17 AM
Post #13 of 14
(1645 views)
|
|
Re: Will someone give me an opinion on this diagnostic equipment?
|
|
|
I've had enough
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
|
re-tired
Veteran
/ Moderator
Aug 10, 2011, 10:39 AM
Post #14 of 14
(1633 views)
|
|
Re: Will someone give me an opinion on this diagnostic equipment?
|
|
|
 GASP! He done went and locked de door. And prob threw away the key..
LIFE'S SHORT GO FISH
|
|
| |
|
Auto Repair Home
SEARCH
WHO'S 
LOG 
2011 Dodge Nitro OBD scanner seems to drain battery in 10-20 minutes
Grounding Cable, 2017 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk
Howdy
