Hi all. Looking for some inputs on making the jump on possibly upgrading my scan tool/ labscope and was hoping a few out there have first hand experiences with the TopDon line up. I've seen a few of Paul's videos showing their different scanners and a friend of mine also has one of their models and it seems like it works well for him. After seeing a sema tool video of the TopDon booth I'm really interested in possibly jumping ship from my current set up. Both the Matco and Cornwell rep have been pushing the product hard and I see this month they're having some rebates and cash back on certain models.
My current set up is a Snap On Zeus. I've used this scanner mainly for the labscope when I worked at the last shop (powersports) and the first few years were great. I've invested a lot in different leads and attachments and have spent countless hours watching the snap on course's and Pual's videos on how to use the scanner and scope function, I feel I'm pretty good with it and as for the scope function it does pretty much everything I need it to. The short comings of this scanner has been the constant updates that seem to slow the thing down. The boss has a Verus and a Triton D10 and they both have slowed down and fail to hook up to vehicles all the time or fail to hook up to internet constantly. My biggest gripe is the zeus when I simply shut it off but leave shopstream open it won't auto connect to the dongle and if it does it fails to read the vehicle, I have to fully shut it down and power up again and some days it takes forever to load and operate. Another thing is the price that I'm paying to have it up to date while loosing effiecency at the same time so it's starting to become a lose lose situation. My fear with switching to a different brand and system will be getting used to the new set up and how it functions. When the snap on does work I love the dual PID list and being able to scroll each indiviudally. I also like being able to use the scope function at the same time as by directionally controlling circuits and also like the component testing where it gives ya a basic understanding of how a sensor or part works and where it is located and even better the connector view/wiring colors.
My biggest fear is I will loose a lot of the plus's I have with the Zeus that I truely enjoy having. With my current budget a TopDon Phoenix max is what I would like but I would more then likely have to trade the snappy in and I just don't know if that's a risk worth taking or not. Any and all input from you guys would be much appreciated!!!
Well our Cornwell guy showed up last thursday and I've been talking to him and Matco. Cornwell rep is kinda trying to steer me towards a Thinkcar scanner over the TopDon. He showed me their set up and though it is a bit spendier then the TopDon this scanner has the ability to connect to 2 dongles at the same time which would be nice as long as it doesn't slow it down. Model is Platinium 399. He stated he's had better luck with ThinkCar's customer service and he has the local reps personal number if there's ever issues. He also stated within the next couple weeks they're gonna be rolling out with a update that they have teamed up with Hanes manuals and they also have a ChatGPT type thing also built into their scanners for diag aid... So there's another option added to the mix there. Also curios on the Autel scanners too.
I've also had my eye on the TopDon Phoenix Max or Phoenix Smart for a couple years now. Looking for the right time to trade out my Autel Ultra. The TopDon lineup has some programming capability that the Autel is missing, and significantly cheaper to keep updated.
Learning your way around TopDon and/or Thinkcar when changing up from Snap-On will be some work, but far from impossible. I wouldn't let that deter you from making the change.
The only thing I'd suggest is NOT trading in the Zeus, if possible. I know, easy to say when it's not my money. But I find that, even with TopDon and Autel and Launch available to me, there's still cars that benefit from a Snap-On scanner. Nothing else does data recording and graphing like them. Sometimes that makes all the difference.
Also, how man pre-CAN Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep/Ram vehicles do you see? That's another thing that Snap-On got right, but everyone else struggles with.
Keep in mind that, if you intend to go with the TopDon scope, you'll also have to change up your scope accessories from banana to BNC.
Thank you guys for the inputs. I know with the TopDon I'll need different leads or to purchase adapters for my current ones. I can't find a whole lot on the ThinkCar scope so I'm not sure what that world is like, from my understanding is a lot of these newer scanners are android base and they're all set up very similarly?? That's what I've heard atleast. Maybe instead of going for another "big dog" scanner I'll look into one for general use maybe. programming would be nice along with Autoauth hook up or however you spell it. I'm coming up on my first year in the auto world after spending 9 years in the powersports world at a dealer so the whole OBD side of the scanner is sorta a new thing aside from working on my own vehicles. Maybe the Zeus will sit until the scope and such is needed or for older vehicles and I'll have a everyday carry type scanner for just general code scans and repairs. Any ideas on what to check out? Like I said programming would be nice, quick and easy to hook up and read and clear codes, relearns, bidirectional controls and good data pid set up that isn't gonna break the bank with inital purchase and updates of course.
Maybe the Zeus will sit until the scope and such is needed or for older vehicles and I'll have a everyday carry type scanner for just general code scans and repairs. Any ideas on what to check out? Like I said programming would be nice, quick and easy to hook up and read and clear codes, relearns, bidirectional controls and good data pid set up that isn't gonna break the bank with inital purchase and updates of course.
I've been a huge fan of the TopScan platform and can't recommend it enough. Very quickly became my go-to. Nowadays I don't even bother putting it in the tool box, just leave it in my pocket. All my other scanners now only get used for specific magic button pressing, programming or data capture/graphing as needed.
Recently upgraded to the TopScan Master and haven't been disappointed with the additional functionality over the Lite or Pro:
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