Knowing your needs will help you find the right scan tool

Jan. 1, 2020
One of the most common questions asked on the iATN Tools and Equipment forum is "What is the best scan tool?" Unfortunately, there is no one answer to this question. The choices seem limitless, with numerous aftermarket offerings as well as those off
Many new scan tools offer translated Mode $06 data, saving you the time and trouble and making it more useful for diagnostics. (Courtesy Autoenginuity)

One of the most common questions asked on the iATN Tools and Equipment forum is "What is the best scan tool?" Unfortunately, there is no one answer to this question. The choices seem limitless, with numerous aftermarket offerings as well as those offered by the OEMs. Choosing the one right for you is dependent on several factors. By taking the time to ask yourself a few pointed questions and doing a little homework, you’ll end up with the tooling you need to take care of your needs as well as those of your customers. Here are a few topics to consider before investing your hard earned dollars.

Cost
Certainly one of the first considerations is the cost of the tool. Scan tools range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, all with unique features and limitations of their own. Is the tool for your personal use, or is this a shop purchase? What is your budget for tooling? What is the expected return on your scan tool investment? All of these questions, and then some, need to be answered to help narrow down your choices.

Don’t forget to consider the cost of updating the tool’s software and database when comparing offerings. Updates for the first year often are included in the original purchase, but can then get expensive, ranging from as low as $50 to more than $1,000 annually. In addition, if you decide to invest in an OEM scan tool system, check to see if the OEM requires any type of subscription to the factory service site.

Even though cost is the first topic I mention, you’ll have to weigh in several other factors when determining your real budget for your new tool.

OEM or Aftermarket?
Scan tools range in capability from simple “code readers” and to those limited to reading that information required by on-board diagnostics (OBDII) standards to OEM scan tools able to perform all the functions available to a dealer technician, including reprogramming of a vehicle’s onboard modules.

The higher-level aftermarket tools boast of accessibility near that of an OEM tool and often include features designed to aid the average technician in the repair of a variety of car lines. These features include Internet capability, access to service information at the fender, and “Quick Fix” databases that list common potential causes for pattern failures, just to name a few.

A basic, no frills, scan tool will handle many of the tasks you ask of it without all the bells and whistles. (Courtesy OTC Nemisys)

Owning an OEM scan tool is often considered a luxury by many independents. But factory tooling allows you to see everything the manufacturer has available, perform bidirectional control when the need arises during diagnosis, and many include manufacturer specific service bay tests for both diagnosis and repair verification. Some even have a built in Digital Storage Oscilloscope (DSO) and/or Graphing Multimeter (GMM). If the ability to reprogram powertrain and body modules is high on your list of “must haves,” the OEM level tool is arguably the best way to go. The drawback to OEM tooling is cost and limited use — that is, limited to the lines that use the same scan tool.

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Some drivability and most body electronics problems require a little more scan tool power. Higher end units even provide diagnostic tips for common problems, assisting less experienced techs in making a professional repair. (Courtesy Snap-on)

There are several aftermarket choices that offer near OE level access at a lower cost, and often include features aimed at helping the less experienced technician find and repair common problems. Yet even these tools vary in capability, with some better able to handle domestic, Asian or European makes. If your shop specializes in a particular genre, do your homework when comparing these capabilities.

The high-end aftermarket tools also offer additional features like DSO capability or the addition of an exhaust gas analyzer module. However, if you have use of either, compare the capabilities of these additions to standalone units before packaging it all into one tool.

A few offer reprogramming capability using a Pass Thru module; this is good for reprogramming some, but not all, OEM control modules. Again, if programming is a feature you are shopping for, be sure to do your homework and check the OEM sites (www.oem1stop.com has a complete listing of links to OEM sites) for information on Pass Thru devices that have been approved for use. Depending on the market you want to serve an OEM tool or separate Pass Thru station may be a better deal.

Many aftermarket PC-based systems are capable of nearly every task the OEM tooling performs, and at a lower cost. Just remember, no one scan tool is the best scan tool for all makes. (Courtesy Autoenginuity)

In addition to the high-end aftermarket tools are a variety of less featured, yet no less useful, aftermarket offerings. Often, these will provide sufficient information for diagnosing most powertrain related issues while still providing access to information of the more common accessory modules like antilock brakes (ABS), Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) or airbags, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and others, in what is commonly called enhanced mode. Some offer data access only, without the capability of bidirectional control and without the bells and whistles of ancillary diagnostic aids built in.

Of course, the fewer features the tool has, the lower its cost. As a personal observation, my shop invests in the high end tooling, leaving the individual tech free to choose what scan tools, if any; he may want to add to his personal toolbox.

PC or Handheld?
More and more OEMs are using PC-based scan tools, and there are several aftermarket PC-based systems also offered. The two newest additions to the aftermarket field — the Snap-On Verus® and the OTC Pegisys® — are both PC-based systems that are updateable via the Internet and housed in a handheld notebook PC. (The Pegisys® is also offered as a software/hardware package for use on your personal PC.)

Other aftermarket offerings include products like Autoenginuity® and the EASE® scan tool, just to name a few. Some of these aftermarket offerings are Global OBDII capable only, while others will work on OBDI and OBDII and/or offer enhanced, or manufacturer specific, coverage.

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OEM tooling, like this Tech2, allows access to all the vehicle’s systems and often includes special features particular to a given manufacturer’s line. The tool is also capable of programming any module on the car.

Both aftermarket and factory offerings are looking to make life a little easier for technicians on these platforms by including access to needed service information and illustrations, linked to the diagnosis being performed, and available at the technician’s fingertips. Some PC-based platforms offer wireless connection to the vehicle’s Data Link Connector (DLC), a nice feature that keeps you from tripping up on the cable while you’re working and allowing the PC itself to be kept in a safer location.

When considering your next scan tool investment, seriously consider adding a PC workstation to your shop. Even though many OEM tools are still handheld units, I sincerely believe that it is only a matter of time before all have made the move to PC-based tooling.

Need
Another large part of the equation is the intended use, and the need for, a particular scan tool. Take a hard look at the types of vehicles you service. Do you focus primarily on one genre (domestic, Asian or European)? Does your shop offer repair services only for powertrain related problems or do you offer repair of all the electronic systems on the cars you service? And if you don’t currently offer these services, are you capable of doing so if you had the correct tools (and training) and generate a profit sufficient to cover the investment?

Once you’ve answered these questions, you can start to narrow down your choices to those tools best fit to your situation. Ask your tool rep to let you try out the scan tools you have in mind, and/or pony up the small cost of iATN membership and prepare yourself to spend several hours learning about the pros and cons of the tools you have on your list. In the end I think you’ll find that there isn’t one tool that will meet your needs, so plan on a staged investment in owning more than one scan tool.

This PC-based aftermarket program has many of the same automated system testing capability and bidirectional control functions of its OE cousins. Other offerings are more specialized, aimed at one genre or one manufacturer. (Courtesy Autoenginuity)

For example, you may decide to go OEM for those manufacturers that make up the bulk of your business because that is the bulk of your business and complement that selection with a good mid level aftermarket tool to cover the rest. Another thought is to invest in a higher end aftermarket tool that covers the majority of your customer base and also provides your techs with the information database and accessory functions they need to fix today's cars. Yet a third option is to weigh your need to the cost of using a mobile diagnostic service, if one is offered in your area. Whatever direction you take, remember that a good scan tool is an investment and not a just an expense.

Many customers want one shop to handle all of their automotive needs, and referring them to a competitor is not always the smartest action you can take. You may not get them back. It is a fact that the various manufacturers want as many of their vehicle systems as possible to be electronic, controlled by computer, and while you may meet your customer’s needs today, without proper tooling and training, your customer base will surely begin to shrink as your competition stays current with the times.

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