AutoTap scantool
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Kennewick, WA
AutoTap scantool
Has anyone heard when AutoTap will come out with the CAN software upgrade for AutoTaps' Scantool? Last time I heard they were still developing it. That was a while ago.
Stu
Stu
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Gainesville, Fl
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Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
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From: Virginia
Hi Stu,
It's still in development, so to speak, but there's more to it...........
The deal is, right now CAN is not required until the 2007 model year - so among the vehicles that currently already have CAN, many of them have different implementation of CAN - for example, the 2004/2005 F-150 has it's own specific CAN implementation that is non-standard, and is specific to the F-150. So most of the scan tool manufacturers are not trying to implement every different "version" of CAN due to the lack of standardization - we won't see standardization on this until CAN is actually *required* by law, starting in the 2007 model year. Kinda like what happened with 1994 & 1995 OBD-II vehicles like the GM LT1 Y & F body cars, where they were *very* non-standard until the 1996 model year, which is when OBD-II compliance was actually *required*.
Now AutoTap has included CAN capability in their *hardware* long ago, starting with version 2.0 - but it''s still not in their *software* - so what they have told us is that when they release CAN, it will be a simple software download to be compatible with existing 2.x AutoTap hardware.
Timeframe? Who knows - 16 months ago we were told it would be done by March 2004, but then they started finding all the different non-standard CAN implementations from Ford, Mazda, Toyota, etc., etc., and it's been driving them nuts - so quite understandably, they want it to shake out a bit so they can really support it properly and consistently.
For those who need F-150 CAN-capability diagnostics & datalogging right now, we do carry other such packages available today that do work correctly on the new F-150's.
Just FYI...................
It's still in development, so to speak, but there's more to it...........
The deal is, right now CAN is not required until the 2007 model year - so among the vehicles that currently already have CAN, many of them have different implementation of CAN - for example, the 2004/2005 F-150 has it's own specific CAN implementation that is non-standard, and is specific to the F-150. So most of the scan tool manufacturers are not trying to implement every different "version" of CAN due to the lack of standardization - we won't see standardization on this until CAN is actually *required* by law, starting in the 2007 model year. Kinda like what happened with 1994 & 1995 OBD-II vehicles like the GM LT1 Y & F body cars, where they were *very* non-standard until the 1996 model year, which is when OBD-II compliance was actually *required*.
Now AutoTap has included CAN capability in their *hardware* long ago, starting with version 2.0 - but it''s still not in their *software* - so what they have told us is that when they release CAN, it will be a simple software download to be compatible with existing 2.x AutoTap hardware.
Timeframe? Who knows - 16 months ago we were told it would be done by March 2004, but then they started finding all the different non-standard CAN implementations from Ford, Mazda, Toyota, etc., etc., and it's been driving them nuts - so quite understandably, they want it to shake out a bit so they can really support it properly and consistently.
For those who need F-150 CAN-capability diagnostics & datalogging right now, we do carry other such packages available today that do work correctly on the new F-150's.
Just FYI...................
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Kennewick, WA
Thats a lot more than I got from the AutoTap website. I really needed it so I could install the new electric fans I just bought from you. Turns out I found an infared gun I can borrow.
Im glad to hear there working on it. I was getting frustrated not being able to use it on my new truck. Thanks Mike
Stu
Im glad to hear there working on it. I was getting frustrated not being able to use it on my new truck. Thanks Mike
Stu
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi Stu,
I hear you - B&B electronics does so much, they're really a computer components company with excellent communications protocols expertise, that got into automotive diagnostics & datalogging almost by accident, kinda like a sideline almost - but they have a great product in AutoTap that is far more intuitive than most others out there, so we've been carrying & supporting it for years now. I'd be the first to say that their web site info in this regard has not been updated for some time, so we try to let anyone know who is is your situation what the scoop basically is.
Glad you got access to a laser-beam thermometer (what we loosely refer to as an "infrared point & shoot thermometer," but it also needs to have a visible laser beam so that you can actually see exactly where those temps are being sampled from), that will make the calibration much easier.
I hear you - B&B electronics does so much, they're really a computer components company with excellent communications protocols expertise, that got into automotive diagnostics & datalogging almost by accident, kinda like a sideline almost - but they have a great product in AutoTap that is far more intuitive than most others out there, so we've been carrying & supporting it for years now. I'd be the first to say that their web site info in this regard has not been updated for some time, so we try to let anyone know who is is your situation what the scoop basically is.
Glad you got access to a laser-beam thermometer (what we loosely refer to as an "infrared point & shoot thermometer," but it also needs to have a visible laser beam so that you can actually see exactly where those temps are being sampled from), that will make the calibration much easier.