ABOUT TOYOTA/LEXUS DEALER SCAN TOOLS

The current scan tool for Toyota and Lexus vehicles is the Techstream. When first introduced to Toyota dealerships, it was a laptop-based system with a very expensive interface to connect to the vehicle. It was not fully backward capable but otherwise, was the scan tool of choice for anyone serious about Toyota/Lexus.

A few years ago, Toyota released a much more affordable version called Techstream Lite. This system uses a very inexpensive dongle for the interface and the best dongle for the tool was known as the Mongoose for Toyoya made by Drew Tech.

Before I continue explaining the Drew Tech product, Autel makes a fantastic all-in-one scan tool with J2534 programming for the same vehicles Drew used to be the only choice for. Autel is a serious choice for Snap-on owners facing higher and higher upgrades of their platforms. Snap-on doesn't seem to build anything that lasts more than a few years before they try to upgrade you into a more expensive platform. Just not a good business choice, from what we keep seeing.

A lot of shops also express frustration with Snap-on as they decide to take a different direction where they get more for their money.

The Drew Tech Toyota Pro Mongoose is the latest version of Mongoose interfaces and supersedes the Toyota Mongoose. It has an average cost of approx $500.00. The Drew Tech all-in-one reflasher called the Cardaq Plus 2, or the Cardaq M, can also be used for the interface, though it costs about $1850.00. It is capable of being used as a J2534 reflashing tool for many different vehicle manufacturers.

It's confusing because Drew Tech sold the Cardaq J2534 flashers as the only strong competitor with even Snap-on reboxing their product and selling it. Now, they market their RAP remote programming box to shops to try to get more of the market, but this move is in direct conflict with all the people they sold J2534 flashers to. Maybe they should offer to take back the Flashers in exchange to sign up for the RAP program, but that doesn’t look likely. A yearly subscription of $1100.00 permits full diagnostics, reflashing, and free access to the TIS service information website. Otherwise, it's $55.00 per day.