OBD2 that reads detailed engine stats

Currently, I have a "stupid" OBD2 reader with its own display that only reads engine codes when the CEL comes on. I would like to get one that reads detailed stats like coolant temp, air flow rates, and many other engine parameters, kind of like in this video.

Any recommendations that won't break the bank?

 

Lots of good information in these links.

I have the OBD fusion and it provides lots of stats.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/obd-fusion-tips-and-tricks.590248/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/obd-fusion-dashboard-swappin-thread.683932/

 

Scangauge II. Note these scanners are only readers. If the data isn’t there it can’t read it.

 

Any obd scan tool that can read and graph data can do that, if you want something that can read manufacturer specific data and read and clear codes from all the modules on the truck you will need something higher end.
Enhanced scanners can range from around $100 to over $10,000 it just depends on the brand and what functions it has, typically your gona be in the $400-500 range for a decent standalone full function scanner with bidirectional support.

If you have a decent Android or Iphone the

$120 OBD2 Scanner Thinkdiag Bluetooth Full System Bidirectional Diagnostic Scan Tool OE Level Code Reader with ECU Coding 15+ Reset Service FCA AutoAuth All Software 1 Year Update Fits for iOS & Android

ThinkDiag bluetooth dongle is about the cheapest full function scan tool at ~$110 but it does cost around $70 a year for the enhanced functions, it comes with 1 year free and they run specials pretty often.

If you want something full featured that's standalone the

$384 Autel Scanner MaxiCOM MK808S: 2025 Bidirectional Tool as MK808BT Pro MX808S M808Z, Work as MaxiCheck MX900 MK900BT, 28+ Service, Active Test, All System Diagnose, Injector Coding, FCA Autoauth OS 11

Autel MK808S $479 supports all systems and has active test support.
If you don't need active test support but want all systems codes and data there's the Autel MD 808 Pro at $279
There are plenty of offerings from Autel, Launch, ThinkCar and others with prices all over the place just do your research before buying and make sure what your looking at has the functions you want.

Just a disclaimer I don't own the MK 808S or the MD 808 but I do have a MS 906BT and am happy with it, I also have the ThinkDiag and it seems to work good as well although it doesn't seem to like Chrysler stuff all that much.
I also have a SnapOn Verus Edge that is my daily but that one is a bit beyond the DIY budget.

 

Great Post!! Good information.

 

@Dm93 - I am getting ready to jump off & do a real scan tool purchase. Want fully bi-directional access to all possible systems on my 2014 Taco V6 MT. Immobilizer/key reprogramming, TPMS scan/clone/reprogram, ABS bleed, etc. etc. The Autel 906 series is specifically what I'm considering. I've watched a detailed walk-through of it on youtube, connected to a 2011 Tacoma.

My questions/concerns before dumping ~$1,000 + tax on it are:

1) Is this Autel® 906-series (and Autel units in general) going to continue to work forever without an regular internet "registration check-in"? I'm looking at this as a long-term investment for my "stable" of 2 trucks, a 1999 and a 2014 Tacoma. Their ECU firmware is fixed in stone and will work exactly the same in 10, 20, or 30 years, and I want my chosen scan-tool for them to likewise continue to operate normally, without needing to check in on the internet ever again once I have done the initial activation. Will I be good in this regard with an Autel? I'm pretty sure the answer is "Yes, it'll keep working forever without updates or license-server "re-activation" check-ins," but need to be absolutely sure before I drop the coin on it.

(For example, I almost bought an XTOOL® D7 or D9-- until I learned just before I was about to buy that these & all the other advanced XTOOL® units have to "phone home" over the internet to central servers to re-validate its software registration at least once per 30 days, or they stop working. At which point my jaw dropped and I began laughing spitefully. "Sure, yeah, let me hand you $700 so I can have scan-tool that may no longer function at all in 5 to 7 years when you stop supporting it, and almost certainly won't function at all if XTOOL, the company, goes out of business for whatever reason"...)

*I was strongly considering an Innova 5610 (the top of their current compact scanner line, bi-directional) but am leaning towards an Autel 906 for the larger screen & much better graphing capabilities, plus full TPMS & immobilizer support.

2) Would I be better-served to just buy a Tactrix interface and use Toyota TechStream on a personal laptop? I've never used the TS software. Will it let me do basically anything and everything (on Toyota vehicles only, of course) that an Autel 906 series will do?

 

For your first question yes it will continue to function after your initial subscription expires you just will not be able to update it anymore and also it will no longer work on any vehicle with a secure gateway (such as 2018+ Chrysler products) after the subscription expires. All other functions will continue to work though as far as I'm aware, mine hasn't been updated since 21 and everything still works except secure gateway stuff.

For your 2nd question I have no experience with the Toyota bootleg/clone tool and software, I'd imagine its like any other chinese clone stuff. It may work or it may not.

 

Just following up on this thread in case anyone comes across it later w/ similar questions about Autel & long-term usage.

TL;DR: On the topic of requiring internet access to keep functioning normally over the long haul.

• Autel®, GOOD. Does not require routine/recurring internet access.

• XTOOL®, VERY BAD. Does require recurring internet "check in" every 30 days to continue functioning normally. (For the D7 and D9 series, verfied with XTOOL tech support via email. But probably for any/all of XTOOL's advanced-level scan tools.)

-----

I called AUTEL's US tech support line, waited on hold for ~45 minutes, did finally get through to a tech who spoke clear English, was polite & didn't ask me for a serial number or any of that yadda yadda before answering my question.

I asked him whether Autel's tools require any kind of regular periodic internet check-in to continue functioning in the long run. He confirmed that no, their tools do not require periodic check-ins on the internet (the way, say XTOOL® units do) to keep functioning. The Autel units will keep working as-is over the long haul without being updated, re-registered, etc., for most pre-2018 vehicles.

Note: this "works forever without internet connection" guideline does not apply for certain newer vehicles equipped with "Secure Gateway" technology, like 2018-and-later Chryslers, possibly some other brands. These DO require active authentication over the internet on a recurring basis.

He also noted that many Autel tools are region-locked, i.e. US/north america vs. EU/Europe, and that this region-locking is done by internet location-tracking. So if you buy an Autel scan tool for the North American market, and then take it to Europe -- it will only continue to work in Europe as long as it is NOT ever connected to the internet. If a US-region-locked Autel scan tool is updated over the internet while in Europe there's a good chance that it will detect its location (via IP geolocation) and lock out due to region locking. So if you routinely travel internationally & need to take a scantool with you, or there's a good chance you might move from one major global region to another, it's advisable to research how Autel's region-locking works in much more detail before you buy. For example, I don't know if the region-locking can be "undone" by buying additional per-region licenses or registrations.. Personally not concerned about it as I have no plans to move out the USA any time in the next 3 to 5 decades.

 

Just to clarify for Secure Gateway access (at least for FCA vehicles) you must be connected to the internet, have current scan tool software, and be registered with AutoAuth ($50/year) and the scan tool manufacturer to access anything other than reading engine codes and data on the vehicle.

Other manufacturers from what I hear are going to be adding a similar security layer in the near future, I believe Ford has added it on 23 models although I don't know how it functions yet or what the requirements are for vehicle access.

 

Do you have to prove that you are an "actual" automotive technician and/or auto maintenance shop owner/employee to qualify for AutoAuth? Or can any private individual/DIY person sign up for an AutoAuth account & subscription? (I looked carefully through the AutoAuth website & this basic question did not seem to be answered anywhere, either directly or indirectly.)

 

I found a used snapon scanner for half price through my local rep. Its still pricey but I know I have support

 

No, all you need is your name, address, phone number, & the serial number of your scan tool. You can put any name in the shop field.
Once you are signed up with AutoAuth you have to create an account with your scan tool provider and link it to your AutoAuth account.

 

Look no further than my signature
10 bucks and an Android

 

Yea I bought both of my SnapOn scanners off Ebay, for about 1/3 of what they cost new.
IMO the Verus has the best UI but as far as functionality, aside from the built in scope it can't compete with many of the lower priced tools like Autel that have a ton more functional tests, basic programming, and output control options than the SnapOn.

 

That only does PCM codes & data, we are talking ones that can read codes & data and do functional tests all available modules on the vehicle.
It's a nice thing to have for basic engine diagnostics but anything beyond that is outside of it's scope.

 

I mean it does everything in the OP's video...

 

You're referring to a one-way scan tool. All it does is passively scan the ECU & report codes, or passively watch live-streaming OBDII sensor data. That can be very useful.

But --

Does it allow you to actively bleed the ABS system? How about active fuel pump testing? Can it activate (not just display the status of) individual fuel injectors? Can it reprogram chipped Toyota keys so they work with a particular vehicle? How about re-programming TPMS sensors, or registering aftermarket TPMS sensors? Can it display a visual of graph 4 different arbitrarily-chosen OBDII data streams at once, with at a rate of several updates per second? How about EVAP system valve active testing?

The next level is a bi-directional scan tool. In addition to doing all the one-way scan (read) functions, a bi-directional scan tool can also command the ECU to make various systems on the vehicle actually do stuff, which can be very useful indeed for diagnosing all kinds of problems. Decent-quality bi-directional tools cost a lot more.

 

No but I also have a 1st gen where 3/4 that doesn't apply

 

That's a good point. I'm looking into a mid-tier bi-directional scan tool so I can have pretty close to full access to my 2014 Taco's onboard systems.

I also have a 1999 2WD 2.4L 2RZ-FE 1st gen. If I get the scan tool it'll be interesting to see what, if any, bi-directional functionality it has with the 1st gen.

I cracked open the hood on that 1999 1st gen last night, it's a 175K-mile beater / backup truck but it was so relaxing to look at that simple, small 4-cyclinder hovering in the middle of what seems like a cavernous engine bay. Tons of room to work, and much less space-hogging extra emissions-control equipment.

(Compared to the 2014 Taco V6. Each half of the V6 in there seems almost as big as the entire 4-cyclinder in the old 1999 taco..)

 

Yea some of the new vehicles with electronic parking brakes you need a bi-directional scanner to replace the brake pads as you will destroy the calipers if you do not put them into service mode before pushing them in.
A basic scan tool that can read codes and data is an absolute must for engine diagnostics, having a bi-directional one that can do every module on the vehicle allows for so much more.

Nobody is arguing with you, if you found one that does what you need it to do for cheap great.
We were just discussing what's out there and the capabilities of them.