TeamSwift

as the title says- need a higher end diagnostic/ code reader. I need one that will do abs and transmission codes, as well as real time data logging....these newer trucks are getting more complicated to work on, many of the electronic systems tied together, and my current code reader is not up to the task, or upgradeable (its over ten years old)
money is not much of an option, it will be for the company I work for.
what brand are some of you techs using out there? what options? the fleet is a mix of ford and chevy trucks. the oldest is a 1979 c-70 water truck, the newest a 2013 f350, but mostly mid to late 2000 era trucks.

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89 1.0 turbo firefly
2"exhaust,no cats/resonator
3 tech 6*gear
3 tech turbo grind cam
3 tech cylinder head/w/port,polish,blend,oversized s/s valves
gti brake swap
89 white gti twincam....need I say more?
92 metro aka ''blue lump of coal''
92 white metro lsi vert
91 blue chevy sprint (gas sipper)

My 1974 Dodge Power Wagon 3/4 ton 4 speed 4x4 doesn't generate any codes so I don't know anything about code readers and that's the way I like it.

Matco tools has a good one.

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"If you think education is expensive, try ignorance." - Derek Bok


1990 geo metro 1.0 5 speed 3-door hatchback "herbie"
1990 geo metro 1.0 5 speed convertible "sportie"

I bought an OTC genesis setup through Mac tools. Napa sells the same one in a different color. Under $2000, has done everything I needed, they are a good unit, I think the best for the price. Can be updated but probably not worth it, costs nearly as much to update as to replace, typical! Easy to spend twice as much and not get much more in actual useful features.

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1995 Swift w/16V 4.39s, 3tech cam, Esteem t-body, Header, needs more.
1995 Gt Mustang "Boss Shinoda" package.
1999 F150 4x4 Supercharged
1967 Mustang 428 auto, never ending expensive project
1993 Civic si h22a, fell in my lap, couldn't resist!

I bought a Autel DS-708 from CarQuest it works great was about $1300.00.

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Cars and Harleys

Autel md802 elite

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98 swift 1.6 16v swap
03 cobra bolt ons
97 3000gt vr4 e85, high comp, bolt ons
too many others to list

I am currently demo'ing a Autel maxisys code reader/ diagnostic set-up. 9.7 inch touch screen.
ITS A BEAST! The possibilities are endless with this unit. almost $3,000 for the complete kit.
if I go with a smaller screen size (7.9 inch) it drops the price down to $1,900......
told my one boss I can read his bmw with it....he was very interested...
told his brother I could code read his audi r8
another guy in the office asked if it would read his Porsche....yes, it will...
oh, and it scans our work trucks as well

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89 1.0 turbo firefly
2"exhaust,no cats/resonator
3 tech 6*gear
3 tech turbo grind cam
3 tech cylinder head/w/port,polish,blend,oversized s/s valves
gti brake swap
89 white gti twincam....need I say more?
92 metro aka ''blue lump of coal''
92 white metro lsi vert
91 blue chevy sprint (gas sipper)

OTC is the most for the least, But check with your tool truck driver, or parts house outside sales rep. We have picked up a used 1 year-old unit from our Matco with full 2014 updates. for about half of a new one. I had been repo-d from a defunct new shop that bought all kinds of shiny State of the art equipment. But went bust within 6 months. Also, some offer a zero interest 1 year lease with a $1.00 Buyout. (Usually through a parts house) also every few months one appears on Craigslist from someone who has gotten sick, retired,or had to close up shop, There cash really talks, (I picked up a 5 y/o robinaire A/C machine that had been gently used by a small body shop for $1200.00 with both r-12,r-134 tanks nearly full) Good Luck.
Jonathan

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Current stable:
1987 Sprint Turbo (Porsche Guards Red) 75k 5sp,AC, w/cruise, Resto-Mod,owned since 1997) (looking for dash-pad)
1989 GTI (white)104k 5sp,AC (Resto-mod completed 1999). (looks great, But rusted out ,need clean southern body.)Help!?
1991 Vert (red) 129k 5sp,AC, Resto-Mod, 75% Done.(Clean SW car)
1993 GT(Teal) 103k 5sp,AC,w/PW (Resto-Mod,60% done.)(Clean SW car)
1994 Swift GS 4Dr sedan (Painted 2005 Ford Kona Blue) 95k 1.3 SOHC 5sp

Only good for domestics. And more or less gm's. But they are now getting into ford and dodge (I only own gm) but I use HP tunners. Basic one costs about $400 but it will read/control most engine sensors as well as body, abs, airbag, tcs. Then you can also tune the vehicle for more power without limitations. As for a good all around scaner I also have 2 OTC genesis that can be had for cheap used. Mine were free.


edit. I also know the snap-on ones are really popular in the shops. Every shop I have been in either have OTC or snap-on

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92 geo metro 1.0L 5 spd. 2 dr Soon to be my turbo swap car. (Dragonfly) sold
91 pontiac firefly, 1.0L 2dr auto. stock. (The crap can) sold
91 chevy sprint. 1.0L 5 spd. My first turbo swap. (Red rocket) now the purple nurple
95 geo metro. 1.3L auto parts car. (Scrap)
91 chevy sprint turbo, blueboy keeping it "stock"

I have a older otc, but the last time I tried an update on it, it would not take/accept the updates.
I have a sct programmer for one of the work trucks , but it only goes so far for diagnostics.
I have another option, I know a shop that has a older autel, runs a little slower, but has all the adaptors, and was updated this year.

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89 1.0 turbo firefly
2"exhaust,no cats/resonator
3 tech 6*gear
3 tech turbo grind cam
3 tech cylinder head/w/port,polish,blend,oversized s/s valves
gti brake swap
89 white gti twincam....need I say more?
92 metro aka ''blue lump of coal''
92 white metro lsi vert
91 blue chevy sprint (gas sipper)

i just bought a konnwei 808 scan tool on ebay and a special 38 pin to 16 pin obd2 adapter cable to read and reset engine codes on my mercedes slk230. $40 for the chinese scan tool and $40 for the us made cable. it only reads the k1 line/ engine codes, though. to read any of the other 7 systems on the car i have to go to my cousin's shop and use his $16,000 wireless/ bluetooth snap-on diagnostics work station.

when he traded in his 10" scanner they gave him something like a $1000 credit on a $3000 machine

if that autel unit uses a cable with a ring of circuit interface keys it will probably do the european cars and access all the systems on canbus lines. still, that price tag is a ball buster.

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1991 Blue Geo Metro Convertible highly modified 1.0L Turbo3 5 spd. - 1991 Red Geo Metro Convertible customized with a Twincam 5 spd.

My Turbo3 Project
My Cardomain Page -Ol' Blue
My YouTube Channel
My Photo Gallery
SAAB Sonett II

does not need anything extra to read any make or model....just plug and play
all the programming is in the unit, it does not use ''keys'' like some other models
wireless, Bluetooth, online and ''cloud'' access for tips and problem solving. built in camera and flashlight :huh

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Autel-MaxiSYS-MS ... 3f42f52533


used it on my employer's 2000 BMW M5.....came up with a few codes, all easily accessed by this scanner. played around with it a bit, it was neat how I could operate any system on the car from 50 feet away....moving the power seats, turning the wipers on and off, moving the mirrors....

I cleared the offending codes (none of them were major) and, naturally, I had to road test the car, ya know, to make sure the codes did not re-appear

all I can say is ''sport mode'' with the ''traction control'' turned off is fun
fuck does that car MOVE

_________________
89 1.0 turbo firefly
2"exhaust,no cats/resonator
3 tech 6*gear
3 tech turbo grind cam
3 tech cylinder head/w/port,polish,blend,oversized s/s valves
gti brake swap
89 white gti twincam....need I say more?
92 metro aka ''blue lump of coal''
92 white metro lsi vert
91 blue chevy sprint (gas sipper)

I've been looking at that one. If you still have it mind checking a few things for me if you get domestic cars in?

Power balance and relative compression on Ford.

Forced evap test on Chrysler.

Independent evap purge and vent control solenoid activation on Ford while monitoring ftp in a graph.

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98 swift 1.6 16v swap
03 cobra bolt ons
97 3000gt vr4 e85, high comp, bolt ons
too many others to list

I did power balance tests on two fords for fun. 2006 focus 2.0, the other a 2008 6.4 powerstroke.
as for the relative comp,i did not dig into that.
did a forced evap test on that focus, boy did that make it smoke!
as for the other options you asked about, I am sure it can. what years are you after? I have a few more ford trucks out in the yard that need post-work inspections, I was going to scan them for fun as well.
if you could find a dealer that would let you "test drive" one of these units, I am sure you wont be disappointed!

_________________
89 1.0 turbo firefly
2"exhaust,no cats/resonator
3 tech 6*gear
3 tech turbo grind cam
3 tech cylinder head/w/port,polish,blend,oversized s/s valves
gti brake swap
89 white gti twincam....need I say more?
92 metro aka ''blue lump of coal''
92 white metro lsi vert
91 blue chevy sprint (gas sipper)

Nobody here has autel in stock. Only order if sold. I spent years at Ford so I'm very comfortable with ids and wds so I'm looking for something along those capabilities. Relative injector flow test would be awesome too (at least on the frps equipped vehicles) but I would be absolutely shocked if it can do it.

Mostly interested in 2000+ vehicles.

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98 swift 1.6 16v swap
03 cobra bolt ons
97 3000gt vr4 e85, high comp, bolt ons
too many others to list

This is a great post, thanks for all the updates. Autel initially looked like a lower line unit to me, sold at princess auto, but thanks to this post, I can see its a contender. My OTC has been great and done whatever I needed so far, but I will consider an autel next time im considering updating.

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1995 Swift w/16V 4.39s, 3tech cam, Esteem t-body, Header, needs more.
1995 Gt Mustang "Boss Shinoda" package.
1999 F150 4x4 Supercharged
1967 Mustang 428 auto, never ending expensive project
1993 Civic si h22a, fell in my lap, couldn't resist!

UPDATE.....I bought a used autel maxidas 708, complete for $500....last update done in 2012.
this unit is a little slower, no wireless capabilities, but you can Wi-Fi it from the vehicle to your pc.
already used it to repair/ diagnose 3 vehicles, so its already paid for itself.

now if I could only get it to fix the sick 6.0 powerstroke (broken valve spring suspected) that would make life WAY easier!

_________________
89 1.0 turbo firefly
2"exhaust,no cats/resonator
3 tech 6*gear
3 tech turbo grind cam
3 tech cylinder head/w/port,polish,blend,oversized s/s valves
gti brake swap
89 white gti twincam....need I say more?
92 metro aka ''blue lump of coal''
92 white metro lsi vert
91 blue chevy sprint (gas sipper)