- Joined
- Nov 19, 2023
- Messages
- 980
if you plan to diagnosis only your own car, explore if there is a techstream type setup available. Bidirectional for tmc vehicles.
Plan to use on multiple vehicles, ranging from 2003-2012 model years. Honda, Toyota, Lexus, Hyundai.if you plan to diagnosis only your own car, explore if there is a techstream type setup available. Bidirectional for tmc vehicles.
Oh boy... I'm definitely more interested in more budget options. $100-$150 is the budget, for simple DIY stuff like CEL/ABS/SRS/etc. Not trying to run a repair shop here with dealership level of equipment. Even the $400 XTool D7 is too expensive for this thread.
Absolutely. Trans solenoids, evap solenoids, cooling fans, just to name a fewFor those with the full monty version, how often are you using the bi-directional on engine / transmission. Only thing I have needed it for (yet) was ABS. I can see airbag and SRS stuff. Is there much you can command on in Engine/transmission that is useful?
Yes. My daughter has a 2010 Chevy Cobalt which was throwing a transmission shift solenoid code. I was able to use the bi-directional feature of my Thinktool Pros scanner to activate the shift solenoids and found that the one that was showing a code would not activate while the other one would. I checked the wiring going to the transmission as well as the transmission connector and could not find any issues with the wiring or connector and tentatively diagnosed a bad shift solenoid.For those with the full monty version, how often are you using the bi-directional on engine / transmission. Only thing I have needed it for (yet) was ABS. I can see airbag and SRS stuff. Is there much you can command on in Engine/transmission that is useful?
XTool A30M is Bluetooth and Bi-directional. $239 and very capable. But Bluetooth connection will never be as fast as cable connection, so there is definitely more time spent looking at the screen while it says "Communicating..." Plus there is a question of the phone/tablet being used for this, and its operational speed.
Again, the A30 Pro is standalone. Although yes, I worry about battery life and if it can be serviced.I've been looking for a scantool myself as an upgrade. I currently have the Autel AL619, mainly got it to do clear airbags codes.
But the A30M is kinda high on my list being at $200ish. I need something to do battery coding on BMW and rear brake jobs for the ones with E-parking brakes.
If i'm reading correctly compared to the Xtool D7 which is like $400ish, its the same software just minus the tablet. You use your own phone/tablet with the A30m. Hence the $200 difference. One huge plus is that most of these tablets all scanners use are junk. Old Android OS, junk battery life and etc. So for the most part, the phones we have are way more modern and powerful.
Sadly the people on youtube doing reviews on A30M are not very in-depth with the scanner. Just show it reading a code and clearing it, nothing on functions and etc.
I guess it depends on the price range of scanner you buy. My Thinktool ProS scanner is a tablet style that runs Android 10 and has been flawless for over two years. The battery life is also very good even after two years.I've been looking for a scantool myself as an upgrade. I currently have the Autel AL619, mainly got it to do clear airbags codes.
But the A30M is kinda high on my list being at $200ish. I need something to do battery coding on BMW and rear brake jobs for the ones with E-parking brakes.
If i'm reading correctly compared to the Xtool D7 which is like $400ish, its the same software just minus the tablet. You use your own phone/tablet with the A30m. Hence the $200 difference. One huge plus is that most of these tablets all scanners use are junk. Old Android OS, junk battery life and etc. So for the most part, the phones we have are way more modern and powerful.
Sadly the people on youtube doing reviews on A30M are not very in-depth with the scanner. Just show it reading a code and clearing it, nothing on functions and etc.
Wow. Could you provide info on getting the D7 software only to load on a tablet?I've been looking for a scantool myself as an upgrade. I currently have the Autel AL619, mainly got it to do clear airbags codes.
But the A30M is kinda high on my list being at $200ish. I need something to do battery coding on BMW and rear brake jobs for the ones with E-parking brakes.
If i'm reading correctly compared to the Xtool D7 which is like $400ish, its the same software just minus the tablet. You use your own phone/tablet with the A30m. Hence the $200 difference. One huge plus is that most of these tablets all scanners use are junk. Old Android OS, junk battery life and etc. So for the most part, the phones we have are way more modern and powerful.
Sadly the people on youtube doing reviews on A30M are not very in-depth with the scanner. Just show it reading a code and clearing it, nothing on functions and etc.
Did that- no responseWhy not sent an Email to Xtools and ask any questions directly. The do answer them.
When you are buying the cheaper code readers or scan tools, that is what you are going to get. To get good support, you have to buy from a US distributor and if you want regular updates, you are going to have to have a scanner that has a yearly subscription. My Thinktool Pros has updates weekly. Most of the cheap scan tools don't even offer any updates.Most are Chinese junk. Pay your money and take your chances. Updates are horrible. Ancel fx1000 is what I bought for gm vehicles. It gets the job done but the menus are horrible. I haven’t seen an update in months. Auto vin scan has always locked it up.
I use BlueDriver most times. It’s ok. No bidirectional abilities. To be honest there hasn’t been any updates either for it.