Harbor Freight OBD II Scan Tool for AHC

[HburgEagle]

Anyone had ay experience using the Harbor Freight scan tool for getting AHC data?

Deluxe OBDII Scan Tool

 

[PADDO]

Generic scanners don’t address the ECUs you want in this case unfortunately. I promise you if they did we wouldn’t F around trying to get pirated copies of Toyota’s proprietary software (Toyota Information Systems - Techstream) to work Try something like the icarsoft tyt II (Amazon $149) for Toyota/Lexus/Scion for an off the shelf solution. New member here just purchased one and I’m thinking I’ll give it a try, love that Amazon return policy if it comes up deficit. Other high end units like Snap Ons with the Toyota/Lexus add ons also work but they are way more than the icarsoft.

 

[HburgEagle]

10-4

I have a harbor freight local and was going to give this one a shot if anyone had any experience. It shows it reads “live data”.

ZR8 OBD2 Code Reader with Live Data

The icaresoft was my next on the list. I’ll probably order it. I’m like you, can’t beat Prime return policy.

 

[bamabrock]

This is what you need:
How-To: TechStream In 5 Minutes

 

[HburgEagle]

This is what you need:
How-To: TechStream In 5 Minutes

Read through it the other day. I use a Mac and don’t have a laptop. It appears the Mac users were having the most issues making it work so it would necessitate me buying a cheap Windows laptop just for this. I figured if I’m going to buy a machine dedicated for this use I figured I’d look for the best self contained options too. Haven’t fully decided what I’m going to do but the icarsoft seems to check all the boxes.

 

[HburgEagle]

Ordered this last night. Should be here Monday or Tuesday and I'll report back.

Untitled by Adam Roberts, on Flickr

 

[mmbirtcher]

Looking at these now, how did it work out for you?

 

[theophilus]

For what it's worth, I bought the OBDlink MX+ from Amazon that hooks to my iPhone via bluetooth and it comes with one free 'advanced' or 'extended' ECU that allows it to connect to the AHC (and the VGRS, ABS, VSC, Cruise Control ECUs). It allows me to read pressures and clear codes (have done it on the ABS and AHC ECUs already successfully), and it allows live reading (via a 'dashboard' or you can live plot the data (helpful for misfire catches). It just works so slick and quick that I always grab it first over Techstream (unless I have to use Techstream)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JFRFJG6/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Here's a couple screen shots from my phone in case folks are interested in the dashboard setup for live data watching.

Jamie

 

[HburgEagle]

Looking at these now, how did it work out for you?

So far I like the iCarsoft unit I bought. It has worked great and since it reads any OBD II codes I’ve been able to read codes for a few friends when they’ve had CELs.

For what it's worth, I bought the OBDlink MX+ from Amazon that hooks to my iPhone via bluetooth and it comes with one free 'advanced' or 'extended' ECU that allows it to connect to the AHC (and the VGRS, ABS, VSC, Cruise Control ECUs). It allows me to read pressures and clear codes (have done it on the ABS and AHC ECUs already successfully), and it allows live reading (via a 'dashboard' or you can live plot the data (helpful for misfire catches). It just works so slick and quick that I always grab it first over Techstream (unless I have to use Techstream)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JFRFJG6/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Here's a couple screen shots from my phone in case folks are interested in the dashboard setup for live data watching.
View attachment 1912323View attachment 1912324
Jamie

This looks awesome!! Wish I’d seen this I may have given it a try.

 

[Moridinbg]

Read through it the other day. I use a Mac and don’t have a laptop. It appears the Mac users were having the most issues making it work so it would necessitate me buying a cheap Windows laptop just for this. I figured if I’m going to buy a machine dedicated for this use I figured I’d look for the best self contained options too. Haven’t fully decided what I’m going to do but the icarsoft seems to check all the boxes.

The VirtualBox image works great with zero issues with multiple Macbooks and a random Aliexpress cable.
Techstream gives you so much more options than a generic reader.

 

[Leandro]

I tried the Harbor Freight scanner (the biggest one) and works great, awesome scanner, but doesn't read AHC.

 

[Lalalx470]

I just picked up on of these. Which "Enhanced Diagnostics" set did you use? The one for the 1999 doesn't seem to automatically have the AHC as part of it.

Thanks for your input!

For what it's worth, I bought the OBDlink MX+ from Amazon that hooks to my iPhone via bluetooth and it comes with one free 'advanced' or 'extended' ECU that allows it to connect to the AHC (and the VGRS, ABS, VSC, Cruise Control ECUs). It allows me to read pressures and clear codes (have done it on the ABS and AHC ECUs already successfully), and it allows live reading (via a 'dashboard' or you can live plot the data (helpful for misfire catches). It just works so slick and quick that I always grab it first over Techstream (unless I have to use Techstream)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JFRFJG6/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Here's a couple screen shots from my phone in case folks are interested in the dashboard setup for live data watching.
View attachment 1912323View attachment 1912324
Jamie

 

[Lalalx470]

OK, I'm an idiot, they're there, just didn't look hard enough...

I just picked up on of these. Which "Enhanced Diagnostics" set did you use? The one for the 1999 doesn't seem to automatically have the AHC as part of it.

Thanks for your input!