ABOUT HONDA/ACURA DEALER SCAN TOOLS

The HIM (Honda Interface Module) shaped like a black horseshoe was the factory scan tool until about 2007. It was a laptop-based system. It was replaced by the blue GNA600, which was a Honda version of the red Ford IDS scan tool interface until 2011.

There was also a touchscreen handheld scan tool, which is now obsolete. There was even a small Pocket Tester hand-held scan tool (also obsolete).

Notice we mentioned the Ford IDS scan tool? That's because the GNA600 interface used similar laptop software and hardware to access the vehicle. Why we mention this is because they don't both work on the same laptop partition. The software programs overlap.

For this reason, we sell laptops with a triple boot hard drive so you can choose which partition to boot into with Ford, Honda, Mazda or GM's MDI scan tool. Even 1996 to current Jaguar/2005 to current Land Rover must be kept separate. (2004 and older Land Rover used a different scan tool called the Tmobile+) We carry the Tmobile+ too. Just ask. It sounds complicated, but as long as you know to keep them apart, you won't have any issues.

Now, the current interface for Honda is the MVCI (Multiple Vehicle Communication Interface). This tool is built to be around for a while. Honda is great in that the current software program also includes the latest reflash files for all Honda vehicles. The MVCI can flash all by itself directly to the vehicle because all the reflash files are stored on its internal memory card. Nice. Simply hang a booster pak, or be safer and use a battery maintainer (highly recommended, and we sell them for $295.00).

To check if a vehicle has an update, simply plug in the MVCI and boot it up. Scroll down the screen and choose CM Update (control module update). The MVCI will check which systems are capable of being reflashed and list them. Simply pick the system, and it will check if the vehicle’s module has a newer version of software. Now you can try to sell it to your customer. Or, if just doing a reflash, continue, and it will reflash the module and you are done. We sell the Honda MVCI for $2699.00.