There are a few individuals on Priuschat who regularly vouch for the Autel AP200 obd2 scanner. I have a different opinion to offer. Not based on the functionality because I didn't even try it. The problem is with the way the unit sits on the obd2 port on the Prius. I spent nearly 30 minutes struggling to get the device off the port and was afraid I was gonna break one or both. The pictures should tell you what the problem is. You will need to press the tab on the port pretty hard while pulling on the device to release it. It took me a while to do it. No way I am putting this device back in there again.
I had this same problem on a couple of different OBD2 dongles that I own. One of them was the Autel AP200. I needed to use a pick to lift up the tab on the dongle to release the dongle from the port the first time I used it. There are two different modifications that can be done on the Autel AP200 to fix the problem. 1. Break that captive tab off the dongle. 2. Use a file to make a taper on the inside of the tab on the dongle. I decided to try #2 first, and if that did not work, I was going to break off the tab. The taper worked for me. With the taper on the dongle tab, the dongle can be removed fairly easily from the OBD2 port. I tried to take a picture of my dongle showing the taper. The picture is not very clear because my phone would not focus at such a close distance. Try one of the two modifications on the dongle, then use the dongle to do a full scan of all the ECUs in the car so that you become familiar with the Autel app.
Interesting hacks. I may give it a shot though that will void the return policy. Another annoying thing I learned was that the serial number of the device is not printed on it. You have to actually connect it to the car and pair it with the app to even register the device. The creators are trying really hard to make sure no one other than the people who own their device use the app, and that those customers pay for annual subscription. At that point, I don't know if it makes sense to not just use Techstream.
FYI, you get one make of car free, for example, Toyota. There is no annual subscription for the first make of car that you pick. The annual subscription applies to the second make of car that you use the scanner for, but you are better off just buying a second Autel AP200 for the other make car, for example a Ford.
Just use Car scanner Pro, if your quality adapter can handle all ECUs... Otherwise, go for a clone VCI (20eu) and use techstream 18 cracked. I fail to see any value of paying for a third party instead of - in this case - cracked hardware. Unless you have other vehicles of other brands… but this is priuschat, They are both indirectly piracy…. Or what are Toyotas recommendation for anything beside TS?
Noncommercial scantool software that can access Toyota-specific PIDs or active tests (if there exist any that can do active tests) generally rely on reverse-engineered data (which, by this time, is surprisingly complete and accurate). The commercial scantools that have Toyota's PID and active-test support are surely getting that data from Toyota on agreed terms that they pay for, which shows up in the price you pay for the tool. Both approaches may be 'piracy' in an ideological sense that fits your worldview, but in a literal legal sense the second one is not. (Even the first one probably is not, provided the reverse-engineering was done in true clean-room fashion.)
Well, worldviews are like buttocks, split. This is fully in line with right to repair and only benefit dealerships. That is the entire logic behind defending this restriction of reading data and writing data. The general concept for cars and bidirectional data streams will likely soon be more in line with medicine patents. They are not allowed to be eternal and for the general public’s benefit, they nowadays expire after 10 years generally. So the opinion is, any car older than 15 years (I’m kind) should have it entire ECU / data streams forcefully freed/unlocked from certificate checks only sold by the manufacturer at huge expense, with the intent to prevent truly fair markets. It’s abandonware.
@ChapmanF How is you knowledge of The EU Data Act: A new era in data economy and open data integration | data.europa.eu ?
Sparse. Have I ever claimed otherwise? Has there been a time and/or jurisdiction where patents were allowed to be eternal? When/where was that?
Oh my.. read up. Likely only ever existed in the US, they have to require this, unless want to they stifle innovation?
Oh my.., Likely only in US, they just have to do this unless they stifle innovation? Is that not your ideal community? Only you have the correct sources…. Ideal - for your ego.
After you posted and were asked a simple followup you then made four more posts saying things like "Oh my.. read up" and not answering the simple question. Maybe a more-specific followup would help. When you write "will likely soon be more in line with medicine patents. They are not allowed to be eternal ...", are you saying that this "likely soon" situation would represent a change from current practice in any actual present-day jurisdiction? Are you, that is, claiming there is a present-day jurisdiction somewhere offering eternal patents? Do you think anyone on PriusChat lives in one?
@ChapmanF You are toxic to me and you are now ignored. It’s all about your privileged info ego coming in the way of any other objective input or empirical knowledge. You just have attack mode. That is not science. Also, you never appreciate or even like any others comments - and only accept your own analysis. Lithium soap based grease is the best! Anything else is soooo perverse. Enjoy.
