ABOUT CHRYSLER SCAN TOOLS

The handheld scan tool, DRB 3 serviced all older non-can vehicles up to 2007. Starting in 2004, the Dodge Durango was the first vehicle to switch to CAN using a CAN communication system .In 2005, the Chrysler 300 and others joined the switch and by 2007, the only vehicles left still using the DRB3 were the minivans. The DRB 3 is a necessary tool. There are things it can reliably do that are not possible with other scan tools. speedometer programming in a changed module is but 1 of many necessary tasks.

Examples:

• Sprinter truck diagnosis from 2002 through 2006 is only possible through the DRB 3 scan tool. Sprinter requires a multiplexer cable and Sprinter software card to access all the systems.
• The Chrysler Crossfire requires the multiplexer and its own software card to access all systems. 2001 and newer Sebring and Stratus 2 door models require a special cable and software card to access all systems. Thank you, Mitsubishi.
• Diesel truck injector kill tests are reliably accomplished with a DRB 3.
• The DRB 3 can reliably reflash computers with a download from www.techauthority.com and a GPIB connection cable which I stock.

This tool was about $6000.00 new and was eventually discontinued. A refurbished DRB 3 can be acquired for about $3195.00, and we have some of them in stock. A DRB 3 is still a great tool to have and is really necessary for diesel diagnostics.DRB3s are checked out by the manufacturer to insure they are in good working order. There were some developments in the newer CAN system wiTECH software to add a DRB3 emulator, but copyright problems with the emulator creator forced it to be removed.

The creator of the DRB3 software emulator makes an interface called the vehicle box, but customers have found it to not function properly on everything. And at $2700.00, no, thank you. If you want results that you can trust, buy the DRB 3 that was the dealer’s scan tool for the age of non-CAN system vehicles that you are diagnosing. We also do repairs on DRB 3's with a limited stock of parts when Miller liquidated their repair service.

When Chrysler started switching to CAN systems, Chrysler came out with the Starscan handheld scan tool and the Starmobile Customer Flight Recorder interface. We say 'interface' because the Starmobile required a laptop as the user interface. But it was still standalone for codes. They both ran on software called Desktop Client, which was good, but a bit limited.

The Starscan was a great tool, but it was not upgradeable to run the newer wiTech CAN system software a few years later. `The Starmobile was able to be grandfathered in to use the wiTech software since it required a laptop anyways. Now it is obsolete, too.

Chrysler quickly put the kibosh on the Starscan, and it has been discontinued for over 5 years now. No newer software keeps it unable to reach above 2010 models and you cannot program newer software into any cars. We would advise not purchasing a Starscan unless you only work on older CAN vehicles.

However, there are plenty of sellers happy sell you one, because they 

can buy them cheap and get uninformed people to pay for them. If you want to test the ethics of a seller, see if they will sell you one of these without warning you that they don't work past 2010, and you cannot perform newer reflash updates to computers with them. And forget about ever getting them repaired. That ship sailed a long time ago.

wiTech is Chrysler’s newest scan tool system. It is laptop-based as the user interface. It is very easy to use and is extremely effective at displaying network diagnostics. wiTech shows which modules are actually supposed to be equipped and communicating, have codes, and are due for a reflash update of newer software.

The network 'tree' depicted on the laptop screen shows how each module is connected and saves time when one or more are not working. To get a better idea of wiTech , you can visit their informational knowledge base website at http://kb.dcctools.com/. This website has a lot of info about the wiTECH system. YouTube is also another great source for videos of the wiTECH system being used.

wiTECH used a vehicle interface called the VCI Pod, shaped like a black horseshoe with an antenna. wiTECH version 1 was a program installed on your computer. You would click on the icon to start wiTECH like any other program. The VCI pod only worked with this. It is now junk.

Later, when the Micropod 2 came out, the dealerships started using wiTECH version 2, which was cloud-based. Chrysler techs would log into the site through the internet, and the program would display on the laptop screen without any software program being used on the laptop.The new Micropod 2 is about the size of a short box of cigarettes and has a yellow flag hanging from it to remind you not to forget it in the car.

Since about the beginning of 2016, the Micropod was changed to enhance security and prevent vehicle hacking. This means all Micropods with a serial number lower than 31560 are only wiTECH 1 capable and are junk as of 2018. All secure Micropods above 31560 use only wiTECH 2.0. We sell the new Micropod 2 for $3350.00 with a one-year license to use the new wiTECH 2.0 software. Lifetime tech support is included for FREE. Our prices are less than what you might find elsewhere with lifetime support included.

Now, here is the really important part! This is an expensive scan tool to operate, and you need to have a strategy to make it pay for itself. The only way to do this is to sell updates to the computers on board. Chrysler has lots of updates on their vehicles to fix bugs and improve run ability.

Example: You have or buy a new Micropod 2 with a wiTECH license. Now, every car that comes in for a check engine light or check for summer driving, you connect wiTECH and let it search for any module updates automatically.

Any updates it finds are an opportunity for a sale to improve the operation of the vehicle. Most customers will understand the value of doing an update, since they already know how important they are for their PCs and cell phones. An update only costs you $30.00 and I have a special price under the $1800.00 per year retail.

If you sell 1 update a month, you have about paid for the Tech Authority subscription

If you sell 2 updates a month, you have about paid for the Witech 2 license. Now, the scan tool can start making you money!

Only one word of warning - if you see an update for something, take a minute and read the TSB at the right end of the line for the update before you sell or do it. 

Some updates require a part or updating of other modules to be performed. Example: Some 2012 and newer Grand Cherokees require you to update not just the engine, but the transmission, the hands-free module, and finally, the instrument cluster. Book time on this update is 2.2 hours. Obviously, you can't do it for the price of one update.

Or even worse, the update requires a part be added to the vehicle like a power steering sensor to prevent stalling when turning at idle. Without the special kit installed and wired to the pcm, you now have a hard code for no power steering sensor voltage. BIG oops.

Guess what you are doing for free.

You may see updates for the heater control or other odd updates. We don't look at them if We already have found updates for more important modules. If less important modules are all that are found, take a look at the TSB inside the module’s recommended update to see if it is something worth selling. Criuse control dropping out or intermittent remote unlock function just to name a few are easy sells.

Just 1 update is all you need to make this a money making tool you will be glad you had. Be proactive searching and selling updates, and you will have no problem paying for this tool. This is what the smart shops are currently doing. Be smart. You really can't afford not to.

Please don't use a booster pak to update. A dedicated maintainer of at least 55-70 amps is required to keep the system voltage above 13.5 volts so a module does not brown out from lack of power during the update. And making sure no A/C voltage is leaking into the car from a regular charger is a must. We sell a excellent quality 100 amp maintainer for $675.00.

We use what we sell so we know what works.

wiTECH software requires Windows 10 Professional 64 bit and a 6th generation processor.

We recommend a refurbished Dell 7470 laptop setup for GM with a 6th generation 2.4 GHZ I5 quad processor, 8 GIG of RAM and a 500 GIG NAND type hdd for speed and durability. Blazing fast with 15 second boot up time. They have a one-year warranty with a polyurethane cover for the backlit keyboard.  If something was to go wrong during or after the warranty, we can swap it very cheaply and quickly if needed.

wiTECH runs fine now with Ford IDS or GM MDI2 or any other scan tools.