With all this talk about dealers holding back information when it comes to software updates and after market scanners not be able to do what they once did etc I was thinking is it worth investing in pass thru software /hardware?. When we come across these type of jobs we out source it to another garage but it has always be something ive been interested it doing myself. Also alot of parts now have to be programmed to the car. is it worth looking into? or have i missed the boat!!
if its worth looking into any advice will be appreciated
Hello Tony, I had been looking into pass thru may times over the past years but have never really considered it to be very well suported/even very well received or wanted by the makers of vehicles for us in Europe.
Nothing like the way they operate in the USA.
So I had any coding and refashing etc done with the dealers (luckily I have a good rapport with them Or is it because they take my money ) plus if anything went wrong it wasn"t me having a puppy worring
So I have never taken the plunge and very glad I didn't, Especially Now with DOiP etc I personally would consider it as dead in the water.
So I think wait and see what the real way forward will be before spending money
Possibly another current issue to consider is the recent switch by Autologic from their old shady ways of handling programming & security work on the now largely defunct Blue Box.
The new Assist Plus package was heralded as a replacement for the Blue Box. Utilising a pass through device for Assist Plus owners to utilise to connect to the various manufacturers sites. With help in setting up the Pass Through capability with manufacturer sites from Autologic.
All good so far, sounded promising? It would appear that Autologic are now reversing out of this arrangement due to problems they've experienced with using pass through.
There are a few companies pushing their devices for pass through, Cardaq, AVDI, Bosch, Autologic, but for each of these manufacturers I know of problems experienced with failed flashes & various glitches, plus the issues with some manufacturers not playing ball & deliberatley placing hurdles in the way of this process for independents.
It may be advisable to leave it a while longer before committing funds to a process which at the moment is still muddied waters.
The decision for specialists is a little easier in respect that they only have one dealer tool to buy, set up, learn & use. Avoiding some of the issues pass through seems to present.
However even buying dealer tooling can land you with a half hearted platform with little support from the vehicle manufacturer when things go wrong.