scantoolnut

I have heard the Autologic is the best but expensive. Might be worth looking at.

I do not have it but I have heard it was the best European scanner if you can't afford OEM.

 

http://www.autologic-diagnostics.com/diagnos/pages/homeproducts

 

I tried out the Bosch KTS340 and it is a nice tool as well. Cost $5200

I liked it better than the Launch but it is more expensive.

Autologic is the only European tool that actually does everything (no kidding, check youtubes below). Otherwise, Autoland Scientech if you got the cash, or Carman Scan if you're broke. The Carman is not going to be much better than the Launch though.

To see an Autologic on real vehicles, check out this youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/ILoveAutologic

The money is made, however, when you promote reflashes, in other words; checking for vehicles that need updates as a routine service and looking for needed program updates when a car comes in with a driveablity, performance or emissions problem. It’s like anything else, if you invest the time, education and money to equip your shop with the ability for reflash cars and you let the tool sit in your tool box, it will never pay for itself.

What's your set up?

For example, we have a dedicated lap-top for reflashing. By the time you fire the thing up, remember the software, and etcetera, there's no way it is worth the time and effort unless you are doing a Mercedes/BMW service. Those are the only customers that would pay you for a preemptive reflash anyway.

For $800 you can get an ATS Escan that decodes mode 6, graphs , does volumetric efficiency, catalytic efficiency, etcetera.

Or, if you just want codes, drive to the nearest Auto Zone and the 16 year old twerp that works there can get a code for you for free.

I have the Auto Enginuity and really haven't been happy with it. It doesn't have the testing functions that I think it should. When you use that scanner for Ford it has all the output tests but Chevy it doesn't offer it? Either that or I don't know how to use it well enough and the info it came with is pretty much useless.

The AE is not user friendly at all. It hides bi directionals under the name "activation tests" that you need to side click on to get. For VW, it uses a totally different terminology and process to access the same thing. Real stupid.

But, the functionality is there and that's what I care about.

I am not a Snap-On fans. If you want a good overall scan tool that has scope and gas analyzer, the OTC Genesys is the most cost effective. We are also very happy with Auto Enginuity, which is the best Euro scan tool we used aside from the Autologic (which is the Bugatti of scan tools.) The Auto Enginuity is the best bang for your buck by far, it is very good on US and Euro, not as much on Asian (though it is just behind Launch or Carman Scan on Asian.)

On youtube there was a good scan tool shoot out on VW that gets into the real-world specifics of what these tools do. It goes along with what I know from real world experience.