Anyone use a Foxwell NT650 Scan Tool?

Thinking of buying an upgraded scan tool, as every vehicle I own is now 2002 or newer. Been dinged hard by the stealerships in the past, all because I didn’t have the right tool.

Anyone used the Foxwell NT650 on their 3rd Gen Taco (2018 specifically)? How well do you like it?

 

I have the BMW program on mine, It's alright

 

I am not sure why you'd pay that much for a handheld with a limited interface? I have an 6yr old, $15 BT adapter (ELM 327 clone) that has worked great for settings and such with Carista, OBD Fusion, and Torque Pro. I've used the Tactrix adapter for flashing the ECU on the Taco and settings on my daughter's Mazda (FORScan).

Cracked versions of TS V14 are out there. Lemme know if you want a link.

Just sayin'.

 

Well, this is the kind of things I’m looking for, thanks. Since I don’t have a laptop to use the tools you mentioned (and wouldn’t have any other need for one), having a dedicated device makes sense for me. Perhaps I’ll look at the NT680 model.

 

Ah! That does put a wrench in the works.

Just be sure to get a quality unit with a known track record if you intend to flash the ECU.

 

The only ECU flashing is from OVT at present. ODBII monitoring and changing values is a different story, and that’s what the OP seems to be after.

To the OP, if you don’t have a laptop, then you’re stuck with limited options, a generic ODBII to Bluetooth adapter and iPhone or Android software is probably your best option, (not the hand held stuff). They will tell you everything you need to know to diagnose problems, but you’ll never get the functionality of decent laptop software. The laptop software will let you reset airbag sensors and wheels size settings (depending of what the ECU supports) and stuff like that. The Carissa app seems to have decent (maybe best) functionality of the Bluetooth adapter variety, but fuck their monthly charges.
$500 on decent laptop software and adapter, or $20~$60 generic adapter designed for mobile device and free app would be my recommendation depending on what you’re after. You can also get Toyota’s laptop software for free (not legally) that will work with a genetic $15 adapter.

 

Not exactly true. There are the TSB tunes. There are also at least two other tuners for the 3rd Gen out there. I'm completely satisfied with OVT, but full disclosure and all that.

 

TSB you’ll need a dealer account and paid $$$ subscription. That’s not even available to us even if someone wanted to pay for it. But either way, OP wasn’t looking at ECU flashing that was the point.

 

Sorry, but that is 100% untrue:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/software-update-for-the-manual.562550/

I did this TSB update myself at home with a borrowed Tactrix adapter before I had OVT.

Like I said earlier, I have a link for TS V14 if folks want it. That is what I posted earlier, giving the OP a full set of options versus limited HH. Without a laptop, the OP is limited though.

 

I have been diving deep into threads related to maintenance so far (have a bunch of watched threads now) and just lately have been researching all things "mini-vci j2534".

It's a shame that Xhorse fell prey to the far east counterfeit market as so many good products that get sourced there often do. Like so many other cheap counterfeit clone products, I am left wondering whether I should even bother with anything on Amazon or eBay that costs from $20 to $80. Perhaps just going to Tactrix will save money and time in the long run: 5 x $40 clones that are flakey VS similar money spent getting something that "just works" and comes with access to "real" vendor support as part of the sale.

Primarily, I want a "Techstream" based or other device which will allow access to see "real-time" stats like RPMS, fluid temps (ATF for instance), etc. A bonus of using "Techstream" would be being able to get the taco to enter the ATF fluid fill "temp test mode" and monitor the temp while waiting for the "magic window" temperature range to appear.

Just about to search around for a bottle pump to set up for getting ATF transferred from quart containers into the fill port of the transmission. Would like to cobble together something that keeps the bottle stable (sitting on the ground and not tipping over) while the siphon is in the neck.


I just took posession of my taco, and have less than 200mi and I've benched it while I gather the bits and pieces I'll need to make sure I have the correct amount transmission fluid. Part of me is totally pissed that this is even a thing to worry about on a vehicle I've had less than 2 weeks. But I am putting it in perspective: I could be "in the dark" and at the mercy of my ignorance. Instead I have these forums to learn from everyone willing to share their experiences -- good and unfortunately bad sometimes. My own previous experiences with stealership service departments has me convinced that I better "learn and learn good" how to take care of as many things on my own as possible.

Back to the thread topic though: will the investment in a Tactrix adapter mean that I can use the *coughs* "free" versions of techstream that have found their way out into the hands of lowly Toyota drivers/fans? Or is there a better/best solution? I don't have unlimited money, but have been stung by clone electronica/etc on eBay/Amazon/etc before. (My ELM adapter and Torque Lite for instance was always a "hit and miss" proposition with getting repeatable results with respect to getting it to actually connect to the android tablet and car at the same time.)

Thanks.

 

I should have mentioned: I am also curious to know about users of the Foxwell standalone tool(s).

For quick and simple code reads / resets, it would be great to add a tool that doesn't require dealing with the vagaries of M$ Whinedoze OSes ("Please wait, installing updates"/"*BSOD*"/"*Boot Device Not Found*"/etc/etc). I work in IT, I could go on. NOT having to deal with IT (particularly M$ winbloze related) while I am swinging wrenches is actually therapeutic

Thanks again!

 

I have a

$50 foxwell nt201 OBD2 scanner code reader for cars and trucks check engine light, read and clear fault codes, live data diagnostic tool for all cars after 1996

foxwell nt201. It was $43. I've had it for about a year now. Works great. I would stay away from the Bluetooth ones. They are cool but the apps associated with them regularly turn up with malware.

You can also get free scans at your local autoparts place. They will even print off the codes for you.

 

Last year I tried to DL Techstream a few times and could never get it to work properly so I did some research and bought the Foxwell NT650. It wasn’t as good or updatable as advertised/reviewed and it couldn’t do the TPMS sensor ID swap on my 18 Taco so I returned it. I then bought a Launch CRP129E hand held and so far it works great for the part time-messing-around-in-the-shop that I need it for. Doubt I would have bought it if I was still in the trade and needed something for daily, money making use, but IMO, it was worth the $240 bucks and far superior to the 10+, non-subscription Bluetooth apps that I also tried.
**One of these days i’ll get around to upgrading my Windows laptop and I will try Techstream again; it’s ultimately what i’d like to have in the end...

 

can you get the transmission temp from this model?

 

i use launch x431.. works great. kinda pricey but it has everything

 

Not sure. Ill try.to remember tomorrow. If you don't hear back from me, send me a PM.

 

This was the only tool that allowed me to program my BMW fuel injectors.

I don't really understand why it is necessary, but I was able to save thousands of dollars using this.