Car Diagnostic Software

JHS VIII

Hi, I am looking for diagnostic software for my laptop which i can use to plug into light vehicles.

I am a qualified mechanic and need this for work. I work in a garage that deals with a lot of diagnostic jobs.

I need to be able to plug into most cars, like japanese cars and european are the main ones.

I heard of several names of software(Autocom/Delphi, TOAD..) but i am looking for the best one if you could guide me in the right direction

Thanks.

bmstuff

JHS VIII wrote: »

Hi, I am looking for diagnostic software for my laptop which i can use to plug into light vehicles.

I am a qualified mechanic and need this for work. I work in a garage that deals with a lot of diagnostic jobs.

I need to be able to plug into most cars, like japanese cars and european are the main ones.

I heard of several names of software(Autocom/Delphi, TOAD..) but i am looking for the best one if you could guide me in the right direction

Thanks.

Launch X431 X-431 DIAGUN covers a good few brands

JHS VIII

bmstuff wrote: »

Launch X431 X-431 DIAGUN covers a good few brands

Is that a diagnostic tool or software? Software is what im after

bmstuff

JHS VIII wrote: »

Is that a diagnostic tool or software? Software is what im after

I seriously doubt there is any single Windows software that can handle several different brands. I stand corrected.

May software are from dealers or factories and would need to be installed on the PC. Many of those software are quiet hard to install and are not user friendly. Running a combination of dealers level software on a single PC will be very hard if not impossible due to the fact they have different software requirements. Plus some of them require at least 8GB of memory.

Now maybe there is an aftermarket one that can handle a few brands, but I never came across one.

discodavie

Autocom is the best job for what you want.

It has many if the same functions as the launch and runs on new laptops and links into autodata when you need it.

Depending on where you are I can show you what it's at.

But no single piece does everything for diagnostics.

I'm starting out and I have
Launch diagun
Autocom
Opcom
Vagcom
Renault clip
Volvo dice

And I still come accross things I can't do from time to time.

JHS VIII

bmstuff wrote: »

I seriously doubt there is any single Windows software that can handle several different brands. I stand corrected.

May software are from dealers or factories and would need to be installed on the PC. Many of those software are quiet hard to install and are not user friendly. Running a combination of dealers level software on a single PC will be very hard if not impossible due to the fact they have different software requirements. Plus some of them require at least 8GB of memory.

Now maybe there is an aftermarket one that can handle a few brands, but I never came across one.

Yes thats true from what i have looked at, thats its very hard to get a good all rounder.

JHS VIII

discodavie wrote: »

Autocom is the best job for what you want.

It has many if the same functions as the launch and runs on new laptops and links into autodata when you need it.

Depending on where you are I can show you what it's at.

But no single piece does everything for diagnostics.

I'm starting out and I have
Launch diagun
Autocom
Opcom
Vagcom
Renault clip
Volvo dice

And I still come accross things I can't do from time to time.

I see where your coming from. A mate of mine said autocomis not great for japanese cars, could you tell me if this would be true?

Thanks for your information

dieselbug

JHS VIII wrote: »

Hi, I am looking for diagnostic software for my laptop which i can use to plug into light vehicles.

I am a qualified mechanic and need this for work. I work in a garage that deals with a lot of diagnostic jobs.

I need to be able to plug into most cars, like japanese cars and european are the main ones.

I heard of several names of software(Autocom/Delphi, TOAD..) but i am looking for the best one if you could guide me in the right direction

Thanks.

Are you saying you work in a garage and are expected to supply your own diagnostic scanner!! Unusual I would have taught.

Autocom, Delphi, Wurth and Opus are all identical, running the same software. These are expensive, running several thousand euro, unless you are thinking cheap Chinese clones.

Autocom plan to soon go to cloud to beat the pirates and will be accessed through the net with a licence. I dont know how that will work on mobile testing etc but that's what is happening.


http://autocom.se/en/products/online-concept

bmstuff

dieselbug wrote: »

Autocom plan to soon go to cloud to beat the pirates and will be accessed through the net with a licence. I dont know how that will work on mobile testing etc but that's what is happening.


http://autocom.se/en/products/online-concept

Usually you need to have a WIFI hot spot in the garage and that's it you can go around with your PC and connect to different cars.
For diagnostic a wired connection is not necessary unlike programing operations.

dieselbug

bmstuff wrote: »

Usually you need to have a WIFI hot spot in the garage and that's it you can go around with your PC and connect to different cars.
For diagnostic a wired connection is not necessary unlike programing operations.

Yes, I understand that.

I was thinking about road testing. If you need to road test and watch live data how will that work once you move outside the reception area. Also mobile breakdowns. If you dont have reception, you dont have software.

JHS VIII

Do I need a separate interfaces also for the dealer softwares?

bmstuff

JHS VIII wrote: »

Do I need a separate interfaces also for the dealer softwares?

Most of the time you do indeed

And I am not even talking about installing parts.
For example with never BMW, when you replace parts, you also need to reflash the car completely. Which involves using a fibre optic interface.
Cost a few thousands just for this alone.

visual

Real rip off with each manufacturer having their own special tools and software.

visual

Real rip off with each manufacturer having their own special tools and software.

discodavie

visual wrote: »

Real rip off with each manufacturer having their own special tools and software.

Not really. When it comes to doing work like coding and reprogramming the computer makes it look simple but there is huge amounts going on I'm sure of that. It boils down to what are you going to use it for. If it for finding faults and clearing codes then ya don't need the big hammer.

dr.fuzzenstein

visual wrote: »

Real rip off with each manufacturer having their own special tools and software.

You can say that again!:cool:

visual

There should be a common connector running open source software on basic laptop. After all when you buy the car you own all the on board computers.

Allowing manufacturers have their own unique connectors and software exposes owner to a very restrictive practice by dealers.

How many get ripped off getting codes read.
If you think about it your just reading information stored on your cars memory.
Its a bit like being charged for your radio code, 4 digits stored on a data base cost €30.00 for someone to look up.


Lets get real there is more compter processing in a typical smart phone than all the body engine management computers in most cars.