when you do diagnosis for a living, the collection grows. Mine isnt as comprehensive as his, but i have several. I have 2 Snap On solus (a plus and an ultra) and i use them nearly daily. My Solus Plus is the only one in the shop with secure gateway. So I unfortunately do the newer FCA diagnostic -stuff. For across the shop wireless monitoring nothing beats an Autel MAXISYS Elite. I use it to watch engine temp, oxygen sensors and fuel trims. I set alarms for out of bounds and keep the scanner close by.

In your experience, what would you recommend as the absolute cheapest tool a fella could get by with when only programming domestic brand smart keys? I don’t care if it is slow, needs half a dozen cords plugged into it, or requires soldering to eeproms. I just want something that will get the job done on the very rare occasions I need it and can pay for itself the few times I use it, before it becomes obsolete. Generating seed codes would be worth an extra couple of hundred or less, but I could get by fine with tokens.

@@athhud I'm more familiar with the high end of the spectrum do to the volume and type of cars we have in Boca Raton. In your situation I would suggest the Autel KM100. That is going to give you the best bang for the buck. It will do most domestics but . . . We have run into a few GM 2021 trucks that no programmer we have will do them. 2 expensive programmers say they can do them but I haven't seen any videos or reviews if they actually work. At the moment we have to send those to the dealer. Other than that the KM100 should be perfect for you. It's around $400 to $500. We have 2 of them and never used them yet but plenty of locksmiths are using them. I think they also have free updates which is huge. For ease of use my guys mainly use the Autel 508 and 608. There isn't any eeprom work on domestics for making keys at least. That's mainly on older Toyota's and some Euro trash.

@@scotts4125 KM

@@scotts4125 thanks! The KM100 was on my short list. The GMT800 are all over the place here and the KM100 would also be capable of mileage correction via eeprom (from my understanding) for those notorious instrument cluster swaps.

@@athhude

HMM, many of the US tools will allow full access. BUT I've talked to friends over there and your MUCH more restricted in what you can do than the US is.

Understand that concern in UK. The better business model moving forward, is that mechanic shops become "specialists" towards certain manufacturers. That way only purchasing those specific manufacturers software licensing. Besides... "specialists" get to charge more per hr anyway. haha

You can always buy a tool made for the US market but unless you use a VPN service you probably won't be able to upgrade it. You might not be able to buy it but you could have someone in the usa buy and ship it to you. But you would be better off trying to get the laws changed Like Americans did.

Dealer techs are generally incompetent. All they seem to be able to do is paint by number and they don't even get that right a good share of the time. Almost lost a tire on the freeway from a dealership. You'd think they would know how to do something simple like torquing down lugnuts.

​@@biz4twobiz463yes, I see the industry breaking into specialties as well. Other breakdowns will be ADAS specialties, electric and hybrid cars, battery rebuilders for said electric car, electrical nightmare specialist 😂 etc

I also recently purchased the launch x431 elite pro 2023. This morning I got my friend to let me give it a through go threw. I was originally trained on the Modus when it came out. So I may have unrealistic expectations?? The x431 cont to be slow in loading all the parameters, sensors and tests capable. And I am not impressed with how few actual tests it was able to perform. My question for you, an I do rusty and need to get used to it with patience or does it actually read, sense and test as much as y'all are bragging it up with?? Or, do I need to pay for upgraded software?

I was considering this one. Do you know if it will program keys? I mostly have older Cars under 2016.

You have to buy the immo blue tooth add on. This add on does the keys. On this same note, I recommend you get the VSP 600 inspection video scope and the BST 360. With these 3 add ons, this unit is a beast

That's my favorite pocket scanner as well

I bought the OTOFIX D1 lite this spring and for the DIY driveway mechanic, it is a great tool so far.

@@daviddelle774do you recomend otofix d1 lite i want to buy one maybe for my garage

How can you buy the D1 pro program?

@@momomohamed there is two sides of this diagnostic tool. There is two menus, IMMO and DIAGNOSTICS. Select diagnostics and pay for the D1 Pro. I think it was $140 for this. 👍🏼

@@graz-e.m.s okay thanks. Is it comparable with the autel im608 or 508? Thanks for your time

any chance to use it on Nissans newer models?

@@johnhill3644 honestly haven’t worked on any Nissans. But it’s quite capable on all other makes I’ve used it on.

Which of the XTool models? Thanks.

I've owned the D7, D8, and currently using the IK 618E @@abdul-kabiralegbe5660

is the xtool d9 a capable scanner work mostly on nissans. how will that stack up .can you gdt into can gateways. 2023 etc

@@johnhill3644 The D9 Pro tool is a great scan tool. Is any aftermarket tool 100% as capable as the factory scan tool?, No, but they are very close now. Never had to access a gateway module (except on one 2005 Dodge Magnum with 5.7 hemi), but was using a factory scan tool on that. The topology map is a big help too.

Which model did you buy?

I have the ArtiDiag 800 BT from Topdon There are no subscription fees And free lifetime updates Able to real just about all males and models 28 reset function Live data Wen browser Auto vin scan I’ve had it for two years and it works well It does not have bi directional capabilities but you can actually figure out a lot with the live data It costs about 375 on Amazon I got this because I’m not in the business and use it at home on several cars also friends and family. I like the Bluetooth because there are no cables Also it has Wi-Fi and can bring you to a web page when you are reading fault codes and want more information Downside is it’s only 16 gigs of memory but I deleted a whole bunch of Chinese models and other models that I will never use But if I do need them at a future date I can reinstall at no cost and at anytime.

This. I would like one, but just for my home fleet of cars, do these things become useless after a few years if you don't pay the fees?

No subscriptions or fees necessary...

@@gunnar1911 You can still use them. I get about 2-3 year out of one of these without paying for upgrades. Then sell them off for about 1/3 to 1/2 price and buy a new one.

When the free updates run out, you can still use everything that's already been downloaded into the scanner, as new cars continue to come out each year, that's where the need for ongoing updates comes in. And then you purchase the new subscription for new updates if you need them.

That’s why they have more dodge/chryslers sit in their lot while big popular brands have waiting lists to purchase new vehicles

@@davemc3650 I’ve already heard that Ford and Toyota are moving to secured access like FCA. They claim it’s for internet security so someone cannot hack into the vehicle. Just something else you have to pay for to work on vehicles.

CRP919EBT is not bad for home diy mehanics

What software do you use on the tablet?

?

Actually that way ends up being more expensive in the long run. It starts out cheaper but you have to reactivate every feature every year or lose it and for only one car brand. If you want other car brands you have to pay for each brand. That adds up quickly. That is very limiting and quickly the price adds up and becomes way more expensive than just buying the full tablet from the get go. Those fees per features and quickly add up and if you add them all up ends up being like 3 to 4 times more expensive and they often only last like a year then you have to pay again to reactivate those features again.

With your Thinktool, does the tool lockout of you don't download the updates?

What forced updates? I have the same tool as Ivan has and I don't get any forced updates. I also looked at how you can remove vehicles that you will never use as well. Since I'm very doubtful that I'll need GAZ, or SanPi or some of the others. I just select the updates I want and let them run.

I agree. I have a LAUNCH X431 V+ PRO 4.0 that the free updates has expired. They want $600 for a 1 year update. I can purchase a new unit for $912 with 2 years of "free" update. No brainier. I'm just a DYIer, so I don't plan on upgrading yet. My old unit is working just fine for now w/o them.

Same thing I do now. I buy a new tool use it until the free updates run out and then look at the vehicles I need it for. So say the free updates expire in 2023 but I don't see vehicles that are under warranty so I figure I'll start seeing 2023's in 2026-7 or so. So in 2025 I'll buy a new tool, get faster hardware, new software and that "new scanner smell"

@@steadyeddie7453 No. It will still function. You will not be able to do AutoAuth on Stellantis vehicles and SGW on some newer vehicles without up to date software.

I like my D8

Hey Keith! Hah those were the days 😄 I forget which model that was? I still have the wireless PADII I think 🤔

@@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics X431 Diagun

Would like to see the same video from Keith which diagnostic tool to buy😃

@@valleyautodiagnostics all of em! 😁

@@PineHollowAutoDiagnosticshey Ivan does that autel or launch crp919 do module programming if not can you recommend a good scanner that does thanks

Yeah I was literally going to order the Topdon Phoenix Elite this week, but now I am going to have to think twice about it. I've been watching Jake from Automotive Diag & Programming use his Topdon for awhile, and I've really liked the scanner overall.

@@jtjones4727 yeh it looks like a very nice scanner and a reasonable price but doing this for a living I simply cannot chance spending thousands on a tool and loosing access to Chrysler diagnostics

We've had a maximus 4.0 at our bodyshop that was on loan to us and it didn't work well for ADAS as our older Launch 431.

@@iam1smiley1 I haven’t run into any issues with mine but at a repair shop we don’t ever do anything with adas, everything I’ve needed from it has been a great upgrade from the max 3. I’m starting to get into using the oscilloscope and I can tell it’s definitely not top notch compared to something like a pico but it certainly does what I need it to do until I get better with a scope and am ready for a pico

Unfortunately, more and more stuff that SHOULD NOT be electronic is becoming electronic and need a scan tool. Parking brakes are now almost universally integrated as an electronic motor on the back of the caliper. There are ways to manually retract them, but on many makes and models, you should have a scan tool.

@@mmix224 I have a Launch CRP129E I think it is. Not sure if it has that capability. It might. Kind of wish I'd had opted for something different but it is what it is.

Same here, I do minor stuff on mine and a few other cars if I feel like it, and bought a cheapish scan tool by Foxwell. It does the job. It is bidirectional so does more than just scan codes. I also noted when looking some are a subscription service, so I especially looked for one that wasn't.

I am retired for the last 4 yrs. 27 yrs in the shops, 3 in my own shop. Decided I want to work on cars again. Everything has to be reset, calibrated, zeroed or cleared to get to the real underlying issues. I'm likely gonna keep it and enjoy charging $50 Everytime I have to use it.

have you chance to use it on newer cars 2022 -2023 with canfd. can you get into the can gateways and diagnose thanks

@@johnhill3644 I have not used it on anything that new yet. I assume that you’ll need to buy the Kingbolen Ediag Plus to do CAN FD with the K10, but I don’t know that for sure.

How is that k10 holding up , ? Main issues ?

@@Ptech878 my only complaint is that I can’t download 3rd party apps (which I knew going in). The only reason I care is that my stupid iPhone 7 is slowly being rendered obsolete (apps require a newer iOS than my phone is capable of downloading) and it would be nice if the K10 could fill that role. I certainly can’t knock the K10 for it, because it was never advertised to do that, but it is something that I now realize matters more to me than I thought. The only other 2 disappointments is that it won’t pull Chrysler immobilizer PIN codes and I can’t seem to keep the Chinese car company software deleted off of it. Either I am doing it wrong, or every time it runs an update (every day) they start getting added back. With all that said I am absolutely pleased with it, especially for what I paid for it. I absolutely recommend it to anyone for just diagnostic work. If you want to do keys, this ain’t the one, but for diag it is great. The battery seems to last FOREVER. I never turn it off.

Nothing can replace a factory scan tool. Anything aftermarket doesn't have all the features. If you work on specific brands, get the factory tool. Otherwise, its not really the scan tools that come up short. The more you know, the less you have to depend on one. Focus on learning OBD2 theory of operation and repair. For the most part, that's the same for every car. Scanners can point you in the right direction, but they can't fix a car. You need the fundamentals first. A really good DVOM and a quality set of test leads, a scope, and a service that provides factory wiring diagrams and workshop manuals. Those are the tools you need to have when you put the scanner down and do your real diag.

Do you have it network connected when you scan? Mine has only failed to auto detect on a few vehicles and those I knew had problems before I tried it.

@@Blazer02LS Yes. Confirmed working wifi and internet access. And I keep all the software up to date.

Hi Kip. I was about to send this video to you. Thanks for all you do for the PM community.

Hmm, strange.

Interesting information!

What does it cost to update, and does turn into a brick if you dont?

If you don't work on FCA new cars, The Kingbolen K10 works similar the Pros and pretty good price today.

@@kingbolen_official Will the Thinkcar scope work with the K10?

I saw an article saying that when you update, the interface changes to the same as kinbolen. Have you tried updating before your subscription ends?

@@leecoon1004 Yes, I updated the day before my subscription ended. The interface is the same as it always has been. I actually bought this scanner through Ediag on Amazon which is part of Kingbolen. I enquired about updating the scanner through them and they wanted me to send them the serial number to verify the scanner before I bought the update but I have not heard back from them since. Maybe tomorrow.