What are the good DIY diagnostic apps/software these days?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by bmparent, Mar 31, 2023.

  1. bmparent

    bmparent Member

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    Some years ago I was using the Toyota software, can't recall the name, when I had a computer running win7 I think it was. That computer and the software with it are long gone, and if I remember correctly it's not compatible with Win10 like I have now. I've heard there are new apps out there such as Dr. Prius so I'm wondering what I should get. Looking for all around code reading and not just battery specific stuff like Dr. Prius. Anything good for the ipad or windows 10? I've decided I just can't buy another Prius without doing that deep dive.
     
    #1 bmparent, Mar 31, 2023
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    #2 bisco, Mar 31, 2023
    bmparent, 3rd3rd and PriusCamper like this.
  3. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Wow, had no idea that forum existed... Thanks Bisco!
     
    #3 PriusCamper, Mar 31, 2023
  4. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    Here's a thread that reviews several scantool apps and OBD devices for smartphones.

    Some are limited in what they can do, while a couple are fairly close to the functionality of Toyota Techstream.

    https://priuschat.com/index.php?posts/3290690

    There are other handheld devices with similar spread of capabilities. It can be difficult to figure out what any one device can do based on adcopy.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #4 mr_guy_mann, Apr 1, 2023
  5. bmparent

    bmparent Member

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    #5 bmparent, Apr 2, 2023
  6. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    There is a 121.20.024 techstream packaged in a windowsXP image that runs in VirtualBox. Search and ye shall find. The advantage of going that route is that the questionable piece of software you will be using is walled off from the rest of your computer in its own virtual machine.
     
    #6 pasadena_commut, Apr 2, 2023
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i'm not a tech stream expert, and a lot of people have trouble getting it working. but if you are computer savvy, there are a lot of threads here that can help.
     
    #7 bisco, Apr 2, 2023
  8. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    What makes you say that?
     
    #8 dolj, Apr 3, 2023
  9. bmparent

    bmparent Member

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    I was thinking so because the descriptions of the products for sale that I read about online seem to indicate that the cables are different with different versions of the software. Or at least that the software and cables aren't available separately.
     
    #9 bmparent, Apr 4, 2023
  10. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    I don't think you can read anything into it based on that. The cables are available separately (if you're talking about Mini-VCI) but they mostly come with a free copy of Techstream.

    The cables themselves, so long as they comply with the J2534 standard, will work with any version of Techstream with the cable's VCI driver installed.

    If you were happy to pay a bit more, you could get a VXDIAG VCX Nano for Toyota for ~$90

    If you wanted a more reliable cable and were happy to pay a bit more again, you could get the US-made Tactrix Openport 2.0 for $169.00

    For a bit more you could get the Mongoose that is supported by Toyota for around $499.

    All of these are available separately and are J2534 compliant.

    I would not also note that there are counterfeits of all three of the above cables all over Amazon and fleabay, so I would encourage you to shop at the official websites for the respective products, especially if you want to support the US designed and made Tatrix cable.
     
    #10 dolj, Apr 4, 2023
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2023
  11. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    ALL of the cheap (bootleg) versions of Techstream have VCI cables that are clone-of-a-clone of the X-Horse cable (long out of business). There are different "versions" of these clones -mostly about how the factories can make them ever cheaper.

    Assuming your cable was-is functional, then it should "work" with most any version of Techstream... IF you have proper drivers for it.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #11 mr_guy_mann, Apr 4, 2023
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