What is the best scan tool for the LS? Looking for live stream capabilities for trans services as well as ABS control for brake fluid changes. Looking at mid range units $300 to $600. Anyone have any experience with this type of unit?

 

I have an Autel MK808BT, bought it from Amazon...it's a must have for our LS430,

 

What all does it allow you to do? Can you change personalization settings?

I was going to pick up a techstream lite, but they unfortunately went from like... $500, to over $1200 now! And the sketchy techstreams sold on Amazon look very suspect

 

Car Care Nut has this recommendation:

Very good DIY Scan Tool https://amzn.to/3zF7dvH

 

It all depends on what you want to spend. If you want to use techstream as toyota techs do the cheap ones with interface to pc on ebay or amazon work.

 

If you want to change vehicle setting, you may need to get the Techstream, I bought a USB to OBDII dongle thru eBay and it came with the Techstream software, it works as long as you don't do online update. I used my Autel scanner to gauge the transmission fluid temp to drain/fill ATF after I replaced my radiator. I did the brake bleeding with my Motive pressure bleeder, this is much more easier than using the Techstream bleeding method.

 

I got one of the $50 Techstream with USB dongle packages on Amazon and it worked fine. Note that it does not work on a Mac, even if you have Parallels installed. (Though it may work if you have an older Mac with an Intel chip.)

Are there any advantages to the scan tools over Techstream, apart from (sometimes) bluetooth functionality?

 

Do you mind sharing which one you bought? And also, what you had to do to get it working? Was it just plug and play?

 

I got this one:
You have to use the included CD ROM to install Techstream. There is a customer support email address if you have difficulties. I used customer support when I was trying to install it on an M1 Macbook Pro laptop and he was helpful but ultimately it appears that the drivers don't work for the M-series Macbooks. When I bought a cheap Windows laptop, I followed the instructions on the CD ROM and installed without any real difficulties. (I'm not a Windows guy so installations can be a little confusing for me in general.)

 

I just bought the Xtool D7. Hasn't arrived yet, but I'll post about my experience with it as it happens.

 

I got a VCI dongle for Techsteam on Aliexpress from China for $20. It came with two versions of Techstream on a CD. I installed version 16 on an old Windows XP laptop and it works great. Versions 17 and up will need Windows 10 because of a requirement for .NET libraries. So far I've only used it to set the custom dealer options.

They may look suspect but they work. I'm not concerned if there might be potential bad actor software/malware/viruses etc because the laptop I used is very old, was thoroughly wiped, and will only ever be used for the LS430. More importantly I will not connect it to my home network or any internet. A similar laptop can be picked up on ebay for well under 50 bucks shipped, or at a thrift store for 20ish.

If I didn't want to set the dealer options in the car, I would probably just get the scanner linked above that The Car Care Nut recommended, that guy is a legend. The handheld scanners just seem easier to work with. For what it's worth I also have a bluetooth obd2 scanner for standard engine codes. That and Techstream is my Lexus tool kit.

 

2nd Vote for Techstream. It's worth it , you can adjust so many settings on the LS430. For example, I turned off the auto tilt / telescope feature on the steering column. So many little things

 

Problem: VSC light stays on after rear parking sensor replacement. Attemped solution: Purchase a Xtool D7 scan tool. It was about $300 on eBay, new. It arrived in good shape, and after a few hours of update with a zillion files (looked like all changes were within the last couple months...there much be a significant upgrade volume) it turned on just as it should. It's very easy to operate. Plugged it into the car OBDII port, found that the auto scan wouldn't find my car VIN, so I had to manually enter that, which worked. Then using an auto scan function, and focusing on the ABS/VSC functions, I did find as I recall a C1335 error or such...but I could not reset it. I could test the VSC switch and see it go on and off, but when I would turn it off the light would go out but in a couple seconds come back on. I gave up after awhile and took it back to the body shop who replaced the parking sensor.

They used their scan tool, with similar results to what I found. Then they called a nearby repair shop and a mechanic came over with his scan tool, and found the problem was "Yaw sensor not calibrated" or such. He calibrated it, I suppose, but don't know how he did that specifically. I guess the problem I had was testing in the ABS/VSC section instead of doing a wider ranging test.

Anyway, that fixed the problem, and I will keep the scan tool for the next time a light comes on, or maybe if a friend has an issue.

 

That problem is very easy corrected with inexpensive interface and techstream.

 

I use a iCarsoft CR Pro+