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Old Dec 17, 2015 | 11:02 AM
  #1  
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Laughing Gas
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BEST DIAGNOSTIC SOFTWARE

Hey folks!

I am beginning to start up a mechanic shop of sorts up in central(ish) Alberta, Canada and would like some advice on choosing diagnostic software.

I have been eyeing the market for some time now and it seems that one of the best ones is the Auto Enginuity but I would like to hear from the folks who have that, and also from those who have another brand.

I want it to work on the majority of automobiles and I want a thorough diagnostic tool!

I want to be able to plug it into a Duramax and shut off one injector at a time so I can tell which injector I need to change. I want to be able to do the same on a Cummins.

I also want to be able to compare things like commanded throttle actuator position versus actual throttle position.

Basically I want the best available. Of course, if there is one that does not quite so much but costs significantly less, I would definitely consider it.

So let's hear from the rest of you!
 
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Old Dec 26, 2015 | 09:18 PM
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Let's bump this to top of list and maybe someone can help. Good luck on your venture.
 
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Old Jan 30, 2016 | 03:14 PM
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I thought I might take the liberty to bump this one up again.

What do all the diesel experts around here use for their trucks?
 
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Old Jan 30, 2016 | 04:25 PM
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autoenginuity.

but there are a large group of people here with stupid phones that are moving over to some kind of dohicky they plug into the truck that sends the info to their phones and they read it with some other thingama whatever they then load into the phone.
 
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Old Jan 30, 2016 | 08:59 PM
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Originally Posted by tjc transport

but there are a large group of people here with stupid phones that are moving over to some kind of dohicky they plug into the truck that sends the info to their phones and they read it with some other thingama whatever they then load into the phone.


What torque pro? lol
 
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Old Jan 30, 2016 | 09:31 PM
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Autoenginuity best bang for the buck!
 
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Old Jan 30, 2016 | 11:21 PM
  #7  
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Laughing Gas
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BEST DIAGNOSTIC SOFTWARE

Thanks for the responses! I do have the stupid phone with the thingama whatever and the dohicky that you plug in I want something bigger and better.

Auto Enginuity is one I was considering, but I was also looking at some Autel units as well.

Seems like with the Auto Enginuity it gets pricey once you start adding all the different vehicle makes. The pro line almost covers it, but it doesn't include the VW and Audi support...and that's a big one for me.
 
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Old Feb 3, 2016 | 03:26 PM
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Well, as some of you suggested, I have also decided that the Auto Enginuity is the best software for what it includes. The down side being that you need to add your own laptop to the system. But, laptops these days are cheap so that's not a big issue to me.
 
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Old Feb 3, 2016 | 04:47 PM
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i picked up a new acer/gateway 19 inch screen laptop last spring with Win 8.1, 8 gig ram, and 100gig hard drive for $350 off evilbay.
 
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Old Feb 4, 2016 | 12:22 AM
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Oh hey thanks buddy. Hadn't even thought of checking there. I have seen them for very reasonable price at Walmart, Shopper's, and different places.

Anyway, I ordered the Auto Enginuity so now of course I'm very eager to have it arrive! But unfortunately it comes from Montreal so it'll probably take 3 to 4 days. But on the bright side, it does come from within the country so without the customs stuff it won't take 2 or 3 weeks!
 
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Old Feb 4, 2016 | 08:33 AM
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if you go to load it into a new computer you may have to call them to switch around something in the operating system.. but i would suspect since you are ordering new it should come to you already set up for use in the new computers.
i have a 2 year old version and they had to make a change in something to get it to work in new machine, but it was free and only had to download whatever they sent me to get it up and running.
 
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Old Feb 18, 2016 | 11:48 PM
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Well, due to a shipping error I still have not received the AE, but it should arrive tomorrow! I sure hope it does!

I'll probably be back in here asking you good folks for a little "technical support" for a while until I catch on to how it works!
 
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Old Feb 19, 2016 | 12:30 AM
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I hope it arrives too. I hate waiting. You should be fine. Mine came with a pretty well written manual and the program is user friendly. Good luck.
 
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Old Feb 19, 2016 | 07:57 AM
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agreed. very user friendly, and the manual is pretty easy to wade through
there is an AE thread with 100 posts in the 99 to 03 7.3 forum that explains how to do just about anything you could ever want to do with AE titled "AE, beginner-advanced".

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-advanced.html
 
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Old Feb 19, 2016 | 06:16 PM
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Found the thread you referred me to, transport. I'll definitely be spending time reading through all that!

So sure enough it arrived today. First of all connected it to an 05 6.6L Chevy (Wrong forum! Yup.) that I've been chasing a glow plug problem on. Sure enough it pulled up a code for glow plug system, which my torque app never could find.

Also did injector buzz test on my dad's 6.0L and would you know it, it passed! Stone cold engine (-10C). But one injector has some stiction going on when it's about half temperature. Guess I'll have a look at it sometime with engine running and watch those balance rates.

Hmm, can I program a key to my 2008 Super Duty? I'll have to try that as well because I don't like the idea of having only one key! But then, it has worked for the last year and half!
 
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