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Important
for Europe:
Compatible ONLY with
ALL
European Cars 2001 and later
ALL
European Diesel Cars 2004 :)
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What is CAN?
CAN is short for Controller Area Network.
It will be the required electrical interface for all OBDII
compliant vehicles beginning in the model year of 2008. Some
manufacturers began using CAN exclusively in the model year
of 2004 (Ford, Jaguar, and Mazda). While other manufacturers
implemented it selectively in their vehicles beginning in
the 2004 model year (Mercedes, Nissan, Porsche, SAAB, and
Toyota).
The CAN option is a new daughter-board
that fits inside our existing OBDII connector design. You
can purchase your OBDII connector to be pre-built with CAN.
With the CAN option installed, you will
enjoy vehicle connectivity to all four standard electrical
interfaces.
Will I have to buy a separate version
of AutoEnginuity's ScanTool for each of the three standard
vehicle interfaces (Ford/GM/Asian and European)?
No. AutoEnginuity's ScanTool includes all
three vehicle interfaces in a single compact connector. This
is a cost savings of hundreds of dollars over the
competitors' units.
Will I have to buy updates every
year to keep the OBDII ScanTool current?
No. Our OBDII connector was designed on an
electrical interface standard that hasn't changed in years.
All our updates are implemented in software and field
updatible. The software is updated every quarter for any new
features that vehicle manufacturers implement and best of
all it's free (Contact Autoenginuity directly).
I’m not a professional mechanic,
even with AutoEnginuity's ScanTool, will I have to take my car
to an authorized service center for repairs?
That depends on your skill set and your
vehicle’s problem. The whole point of our product is to
help you figure out what service, if any, your vehicle
requires. Whether you are a skilled technician or a
Do-It-Yourselfer, AutoEnginuity’s ScanTool offers you
unparalleled access to your vehicle’s engine computer so
that you can examine system test results and live sensor
data. What’s more, our User Guide is packed with
information that will help you understand engine management
and how to use our tool to diagnose the problem. If you
don't have the tools or mechanical skills to perform the
work, then at least you'll be armed with the knowledge of
what the problem really is. In those cases where the
Check Engine/Service Engine Soon indicator is illuminated
for something as trivial as a loose gas cap, you can prevent
the costly and time-consuming trip to an authorized service
center without ever turning a wrench.
Is there enough information in the
generic OBDII interface to service my vehicle?
Yes. The generic OBDII interface supports
sensors that can tell you if something is wrong with your
vehicle. If your vehicle is equipped with OBDII, then the
emission-related sensors are directly affecting your
vehicle’s performance. If any of those sensors detect a
malfunction your vehicle will perform badly or can
breakdown. For the most part, the sensors used by the
generic OBDII interface are those that are required for even
the most complex servicing. If your vehicle supports an
OBDII enhanced interface (GM, Ford, etc.), then you can also
purchase the optional expansion modules, which support more
sensors and fault codes. The enhanced support gives you even
more information with which to diagnose your vehicle.
Why not buy a cheap tool to clear
the Check Engine/Service Engine Soon indicator or wait for it
to go away?
The Check Engine/Service Engine Soon
indicator is connected to the engine computer, which
constantly senses for faults. Even if you did reset the
Check Engine/Service Engine Soon indicator, or wait for the
computer to stop sensing the fault, something is wrong. It's
unwise to pretend that the fault didn't happen. A
potentially serious engine-related issue could strand you on
the side of the road and/or cost you a lot more money,
because you ignored it or waited until it was too late to
service the vehicle. You need the peace of mind that your
vehicle is in top operating condition. Even if the problem
is trivial, it could affect your vehicle’s
performance—and that’s costing you money.
What if my computer doesn't have an
RS-232 (9-pin) serial/COM port?
Not all newer computers have the
traditional 9-pin serial connector, instead they are being
equipped with USB. If your has USB only, then you will need
a USB-to-Serial adapter. A USB-to-Serial adapter simply
connects to your USB port and gives you a fully functional
traditional 9-pin serial connector. AutoEnginuity has
verified our product with IOGear's USB PDA/Serial Adapter
and USBGear's USB-to-Serial Cable (1.1). This adaptor can be
purchased separately from us.
I have an IBM ThinkPad with a
serial/COM port. Why doesn't the software connect to the
vehicle?
The IBM ThinkPad also has a IrDA port that
can collide with your serial/COM port. The best way to solve
this problem is to disable the IrDA port. This can be done
in the Device Manager (varies per operating system version).
While you're there, verify that the serial/COM port is
enabled. When asked, reboot the PC. This will re-enable the
serial/COM port. After the computer reboots, return to the
Device Manager and determine which port number the
serial/COM is now on. (This can change when you re-boot.)
Finally, restart the ScanTool and select the serial/COM
port.
I have an HP 19XX or a Dell Axim X3
Pocket PC. Why can't I find a serial cable?
The HP 19XX and Dell Axim X3 Pocket PCs
don't have a serial cable available for them. Our OBDII
connector will not work with these Pocket PC devices.
How do I know if my vehicle is OBDII
compliant?
If your passenger vehicle was manufactured
for sale in the U.S., with the model year of 1996 and newer
(and rarely some 1995 vehicles), you have the OBDII
interface. You can check in the engine compartment for an
emissions sticker that will verify your vehicle's
compliance.
Why does my vehicle only show a few
live vehicle sensors?
Some vehicles (Dodge Caravan, BMW M3
2001-2004, and some Volvos) only have a few live vehicle
sensors available through the OBDII vehicle interface. We
query the vehicle for the available sensors, and we
enumerate that list as is. In the case of the vehicles
listed above, the ScanTool will only be useful to retrieve
trouble codes and inspection/maintenance monitor results.
