Scanner survey

The most important criteria I would apply is the ability to add new functions. As far as I can tell, the ScanGauge is the only one that can do that, and there are some severe limitations at that. The scantool industry seems to have ignored all the configuration options on modern cars, such as the backup beeper setting on the 2010. Or adding TPMS for the spare tire (not even Techstream can do that, but it's just a 7 byte message).

 

Very timely Bob. I have just gotten a P3030 code on my 01 Prius and am in the market for a scanner so I can trouble shoot this problem myself versus paying the dealer the price of a scanner to tell me the problem requires a new traction battery. I will wait to see what you find before spending my money on something that won't give me the results.

Is there any PC based scanner programs that you have used with the OBD interface cable that can give you the monitors that you need?

 

I have tried the scangauge on the gen1 (03 non Can prius) and it cannot display any HVECU or BattECU parameters (SOC, BTV etc.) like it does on the gen2. It can however display regular generic parameters like MPG, ICE RPM, Vehicle Speed etc. on the gen1 (useless?).

Flash! I just received the Autoenginuity ver8.2 software, the Proline cable and the Toyota Enhanced Interface Option, but have not tested yet. I own both gen1 and gen2 Prius's so this should cover both. Read the manual once, and it looks like ALL HVECU, BattECU, EngECU, BodyECU etc. codes are covered as well as live data capture. Will install on a tablet pc running XPpro this weekend and scan my gen1 (03).

BTW the prices are: ver 8.2 w/Proline cable $249... and for the Toyota Enhanced Interface Option $150. Not bad if it does everything they say it will, considering the price of a comparable system. With this product you supply your own USB2.0 equipped pc of course. Will keep you posted on results.

 

Actually, freeze frame data is often invaluable to the diagnostic process.

You are looking at the wrong freeze frame data.

 

Which one?

 

I tried Autoenginuity's ver8.2 software and proline conn. and Toyota Enhanced Interface on the 03 prius yesterday and was able to log on to the system using the ISO9141-2 protocall, and OBDII compliant. It was able to query the system for any DTC's (I didn't have any recorded) and also was able to record some grid data like RPM, Vehicle Speed, Coolant Temp, Outside Temp, Mag Clutch Current, etc. Have not found anything about HVECU parameters or BTV, SOC etc. yet. Still learning the system here. The 03 is away now for a day or two, but today I will try it out on the 06. For this I will have to re-connect to the system with CAN enabled. More to came. Tom

 

Great Bob, always good to have another pair of eyes on this stuff. Yes I am new to this software and have yet to find the stuff I wanted, like BTV, SOC etc..on the 03. I'm sure it's in there somewhere, just haven't found it yet. But you know the scanguage did do the same thing (only displays generic things on 03) but it shows everything on the 06. Hey would you be willing to sell me a graham scanner for the 03? If so how much? Of course if we sell the 03 you can buy it back. Tom

 

Great idea on the miniscanners Bob, well yesterday I ran it on the 06 Prius and it works great. I also found where all the hybrid parameters are. Right after logging onto the system it will ask what make, model, and year, then at the bottom field of that window instead of enhanced drivetrain (default for Toyota Enhanced Interface) select HVecu and walla! all battery pair voltages and other good stuff is there and ready to be plotted. They break it down to systems because to display all of them would be overwhelming. Don't know yet if MG1 and 2 temps are in the same system as the hv battery stuff, it may be under Hybrid system or something, still too new for me to know where everything is. Also soon they will release ver. 8.2.1 and this version they highly suggest getting for the hybrid owners. Will find out what differences it has but this version (8.2) already is overwhelming how much data is available on the pc version. I will next try this again on the 03, but judging from the last experience (it was working good) it looks like a winner. Will try to get some screen shots soon too. Time is limited here lately, so stay tuned. Tom

 

Before jumping on the Autoenginuity scanner, why not finish testing the Sears scanner? You provided no specific information on it, only that it "had no Prius specific information". However, it was apparent from your post that you were looking in the wrong place.

How many modules does your vehicle have?

How many can be accessed by a competent scanner?

How many were the Sears scanner able to access?

Which modules, if any, did it fail to access?

How accurate was the Sears scan data?

What scanner are you using to verify that?

As these are only preliminary questions on a very rudimentary level, the answers should come pretty quickly. But if you don't know how the scanner works, and you don't have a robust methodology to test it with, you won't be able to post useful results.

 

Posting pictures does not equal meaningful experience. As I said before you posted the photograph, you are looking at the wrong freeze frame. Your photo confirms it.

And you can't really claim "hands-on experience" with the Sears scanner, or say that you made a fair assessment of it, if you don't know how scanners work.

I'd recommend reading up on OBD-II, freeze frames, datastreams, etc. before going any further.

 

Here's a couple screenshots running on the 06 prius. These are in no way correlated in time. Still learning ..