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Alright people, let’s take it back to basics

We often talk about special functions and how extremely important they are, what new and latest features you can have, how great you can be if you buy the latest and greatest function we have developed. Trying to put you, our customer one step ahead of the competition and help you along the way. I trained a newcomer last week and after the training session we started talking about the basic AVDI and what it features. I then thought about it and came to the conclusion that there is way more to it than we care to explain to you guys. This is wrong! I feel that we are building a house with the blog section of the website by helping you move ahead but we are, sort of, forgetting the foundations on which this house is based.

There is just a lot to unpack with the basic AVDI which makes you a lot more competitive without realizing. I realize we look like we are hiding these features instead of advertising them which makes me really sad. So take a look below to see what you can start doing today without any extra cost for special function licenses.

I. Standard Diagnostics.
I know what you are going to say. Yes, standard diagnostics has not been our top priority in the past but with the introduction of the online software you can see that we have something very special on our hands. This is provided for all the brands we support in our basic package with the exception of BIKES because we know well that not everyone needs bike diagnostics and we aim not to charge our customers for something most of them would never use:

1. Detailed module identification.
We scan the car and we can see all the modules installed in it with their software and hardware versions, when they were built, when they were last updated, all the details about them, this helps because you can identify modules to their fullest and you can cross reference known issues with them, available online. You can know if the software version is known to be faulty or things related to that. You can have full description of what you are working with instead of going in blind.

2. Scanning for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC).
Using the basic AVDI you can scan the modules you have identified above for diagnostic trouble codes. Of course you can do that with a bluetooth dongle too but you need to know that they use nothing but generic OBD which rarely gives you more than a vague generic “P” code for the DTC your car has. We, on the other hand use manufacturer specific OBD codes. To explain this I would like to give you an example. Say you have a 12 cylinder car with a sporadic misfire and you plug any generic OBD “reader” as they are known. You are almost guaranteed to see “P0XXXX – Sporadic misfire” as a DTC and then you will be faced with either replacing 12 spark plugs, 12 coils, 12 lead and hope it goes away or you can use AVDI and it will tell you that you have a misfire on cylinder 7 for example, you will replace what is needed, clear the DTC and move on.

3. Clearing DTCs.
Of course we take for granted that after scanning the DTCs, analyzing them you should be able to clear them. Yes, that is very important, however there is more to it, you can distinguish temporary codes from permanent ones by doing that. Many modern cars have trouble codes which are raised when one of the sensors sees a value even remotely outside its pre-defined boundaries. For example if you have left your car sit for 2-3 days without starting it and the battery is low you will probably have 10 DTCs about low voltage and you need to be able to tell them apart from the real deal DTCs your car has – then you can clear them, go for a drive and scan again, then you will be left with the errors which really need your attention and you can, of course take care of them.

4. Live value monitoring.
Live value monitoring is often overlooked and experienced diagnosticians and tuners use them all the time to analyze the inputs from the sensors going to the control modules to monitor possible anomalies and discover issues with vehicles even before they occur. If one value is slightly out of spec the experienced specialist can tell what is going to go wrong with a vehicle. Tuners can monitor timing, boost, fuel and spark all at once to see if one is outside their boundaries because very few modern cars can display such values on their dashboard or infotainment screens.

5. Actuator testing.
Now this is one of those vital components of modern automotive diagnostics which is often overlooked. We have the ability to test the actuators of every possible electric component. I will give you a simple example – looking for why the driver’s door window would not go down or up.
If we did not have actuators we would lose time taking the door apart, powering the electric motor with an external power source and looking for issues with a multimeter when by just activating the window motor with one button of the software we can see if the window goes down and if it does we know the problem is with the button which operates it, the same applies to cooling issues, brakes, lights and hundreds, even thousands of electronic components in a vehicle.
An important note we have to make here is that AVDI and the Abrites diagnostic software is one of the very few tools to let you monitor live values while performing actuator tests. This is overlooked by many but in many cases simply monitoring a voltage drop while testing an actuator can tell you more about an issue and lead to a swift resolution of a problem that may otherwise take days with a multimeter and a screw driver.

6. Scan reports.
This is a tool which serves two very important and overlooked purposes:
a) on the one hand you can make a scan report for the customer entering your shop where you can show them the details of what errors the car came in with, the modules that were installed from the factory or other shops, relating to the identification above. This will build trust between you and your customer, you can then tell them what you have done to resolve the issue the car had and provide them with a scan report after your work which will demonstrate to the customer that you are a professional who cares about their job and is serious about how they go about resolving issues.
b) You can use the scan reports when you contact the support team for advice. We need to know the errors you have in the vehicle in order to assist you, I know, I am being a bit selfish but it is true.

7. Guided functions.
In many cases we have guided functions which guide you through solving issues in the basic package which allows you to be certain that you have completed a certain diagnostic procedure to its fullest. For example changing the rear brake pads on cars starts by opening the electronic parking brake motors often made by TRW, then once the pads are replaced you need to inform the car of that. I quoted TRW because I have personally broken one of them when I decided to change my rear pads without an AVDI and know that they are costly. My pain then was doubled because I knew this could all be avoided by clicking twice. This, however is no more than the tip of the iceberg and the example is off the top of my head.

This is not a bad start, I think but if you need more standard diagnostics AVDI provides that.

II. Passthru is included since 2013 in the base price of EVERY AVDI.
Here is the Wikipedia definition of what a passthru device is: A passthrough device is used in conjunction with a computer to reprogram vehicle control modules through the OBD-II/CANbus port. Each manufacturer has their own type, but SAE International standardized the J-2534 universal requirements in 2004, requiring all manufacturers to allow vehicles sold in the United States of America and Europe to accept powertrain reprogramming through specific universal parameters.
This may give you the parameters but it does not tell you the whole story. Based on the American right to repair act you should be able to repair your own car because it is yours and you cannot be forced to take it to a dealer or the manufacturer, we are all looking at you, Tesla…
With modern cars requiring input from diagnostic tools in order to be repaired manufacturers are required to allow the end users to use the manufacturer software with a third party OBD device with Passtrhru included in order to allow the end customer and independent workshops to work on their or their customers’ cars.
Manufacturers will do all they can to avoid that but this is another story. What is important to us is that in the BASIC AVDI for 888 euro you have the added benefit of one of the most important diagnostic tools, in this price you are provided the opportunity to use your AVDI instead of the OEM diagnostic interface. To put this into perspective, putting aside all the other features of AVDI the cheapest alternative for passthru which has been tested and confirmed to be working costs $495.00 and you have just passthru, nothing else. I am not sure how to stress this enough, it costs roughly half the price of the basic AVDI and ONLY gives you passthru.
I am absolutely convinced that this alone is a reason to choose AVDI over anything else but alas.
The OEM software applications we support are described HERE and HERE.

I am sorry if it all sounds a bit like an infomercial, but this is the truth and it hurts me when I am forced to discuss pricing with one of you. If you find where to download the original software, you can use AVDI as your personal passthru.

III. Other cool features. You get in your basic AVDI package.

1. Programming for VAG.
If you didn’t know this we have programming for all VAG cars in all modules just with the basic package. All you need to do is get the .FRF and .SGO DVD files from somewhere and you can reprogram all VAG cars. Read more HERE.

2. DPF off for EDC16 and EDC17 ECUs.
Yes, this is part of the basic software. You can do EDC16 by OBD and EDC17 by dump with your basic AVDI. Although the function is located in the VAG software I can tell you that it works for most ECUs of these two Bosch generations, for example I did a HONDA.

3. ISM and 7G tronic database for reprogramming FBS3 modules.
Yes, you and everyone else with just a basic AVDI can (and should) program ISMs and 7G tronic modules for Mercedes- Benz cars. As you may know these modules often lose their settings and cause problems. Abrites diagnostics for Mercedes uses the module’s EHS and serial number to select the correct file per the transmission or ISM module. This is only half the story. With a bit of research you can understand which file is an “upgrade” for a certain car and apply it to compliment an engine tune or upgrade a certain car in a certain way. Find the 7G tronic and ISM database on THIS page and download it to use the basic AVDI for this feature.

NB! Read a lot, read all the time, installing the incorrect flash may make the car you are working on operate incorrectly.

4. Clearing crash data.
There are tons of supported SRS modules supported for clearing the crash data and they are not related to any special function license which makes them available from the very start.

5. Mercedes coding and calibration.
Alright, this is one of the big ones. You have to have AMS for this one but it is so big we cannot move on without mentioning it.
a) What is SCN coding. If you look into the definition online you will see the following:

SCN Coding is a necessary requirement for modern vehicles that require electrical component renewal. It is also necessary for software updates. The process of SCN coding can only be carried out by authorized technicians who can access the Mercedes Benz Server.
Incomplete information.

SCN is an online based coding service for Mercedes Benz cars – true, but it is not limited to online Mercedes authorized technicians only – no, there are plenty of tools other than DAS XENTRY (which you can use via passthru) in order to perform coding, similar to the one available for BMW via ISTA – you can do retrofits, change parameters, Video in motion, seatbelt warnings, speed limiters and basically the sky is your limit if you choose to use it.
Just check the prices of other tools which allow this feature and you will see that you have to spend thousands of Euros, Dollars or Pounds to get this tool. No need. Using the basic AVDI package you have, here is the price of the cheapest one I could find: $1,317.33, this is a clone and not the original tool and this is just the start of it…
Yes, our function is included in the base price because it does not have 100% of the OEM tool’s functionality but with our tool you can save a backup of the copy of any module you are working on and at least if we cannot help you you can go back and write your backup file to restore the car to its original state.

I am sure I can ramble forever about the functions you get, radio codes for GM and Opel vehicles, saving BMWs with battery issues, start errors for MB cars but if I had to pick just two they would be PASSTHRU and Mercedes SCN coding. These two alone cost 3 times less than any alternative and are included in your 888 EURO.
Plus, AVDI is just like LEGO, once you get one set you can add more to it and they work together making it the most complete diagnostic interface in the world, at least the most versatile in terms of abilities.

b) Odometer calibration
Within the Offline diagnostics for Mercedes-Benz vehicles, you are able to access odometer calibration options. This means that the base package also provides you with the capability of calibrating mileage in all FBS3 models such as C-class w204, E class w212, ML class w164, etc.

One last thing before I leave you guys. If you choose to add PROTAG to your AVDI you will triple all these abilities as it has twice as many features included in the base price but this is a story for another time. Enjoy your week and have fun while working!

Alek