hello
I basically got scammed
Wanted to get rid of my old solus but didn't want to lose functionality.
Went with a modis ultra, 3 yrs of updates, shopkey, suretrack, Internet.
A few weeks later, still couldn't get on shopkey and nothing proving I had 3 years of updates.
Asked the dealer and he got back to me a few days later with, only the ethos has free updates, no scanner gets shopkey, Internet access is only to talk to suretrack, and, if you don't do the updates within 30 days of release - you lose suretrack forever.
So 5 grand in and now I have to pay over 2 more grand every year just to keep suretrack active.
I asked about returning it - scanner hasn't left the box yet except for touching my kitchen table for about an hour to play with it - hasn't even had the DLC cable plugged into it yet, dealer and his accomplices said it's impossible to return because it's already registered to me.
So I play with it on a few vehicles - pretty pathetic results
I play with the demo vehicle mode - 06 Tahoe or something - even more pathetic
I get a SO diag. Tools tech josh to go over it with me for a couple hours - most of his answers are "I don't know/you'll have to deal with it the way it is"
Scrolling the screens only moves one complete page at a time - can't move just a few lines down. Some of the words are cutoff at the right hand side of the screen like the formatting isn't meant for that size of screen. The tests and info are usually generic and not geared to the scanner it's being run on and also generic to a vehicle - such as if I select 2013 dura max - it gives me options on how to fix it if it was also a 98 Chevy with a 350 gas engine or an older carb engine, so what the **** is the pint of selecting the 2013 dura as I'm working on if it's gonna tell me stuff for 15 year older vehicles?
So it sits in its box in the back of my service truck for months because I'm disgusted with it. I get a check engine light yesterday, I scan it in the driveway, it gives me 5 codes. Does it tell me which ones are active? NOPE! Does it tell me how many times each code happened? NOPE! Does it tell me anything further about the code when I click it? NOPE. Does it do anything when I click the code? Yeah, it highlights that code, anything else? NOPE. BUT, it's raining outside and I drive the truck closer to the house and it starts picking up a small amount of wifi and it lets me click the suretrack wrench only to tell me what it told me on the code list page but in a slightly longer way until it loses wifi and goes blank again. I scroll to DLC failed since code clear - it says NONE have failed but there are 5 codes if I go back to the codes list. I take a screen shot of the codes and clear them, code gone, what caused it? Couldn't tell you
So, it's an old scanner in a new box with generic information meant for every scanner, and since the ethos gets 3 years of free updates using the EXACT same update number as the other scanners then why did I pay 5 grand for this hunk o junk when I can have more information on my hundred dollar Canadian tire OBD 1and2 code checker?
Tried to scan an older motor home with a EFI 454 on the side of a highway with no one around and no service, wouldn't connect, could I even get a shred of info about the wiring on this thing? So that I could maybe find the problem DLC wires and get it to talk, nope. I found the fuel pump was blowing the exam fuse, unplugged the pump, everything came back to life and the scanner connected but did the scanner have a fuel pump on/off test? Nope. Fuel pump wiring? Nope, anything helpful? I think it told me the idle speed was up adjustable and the timing is computer controlled, thanks a lot five thousand dollar piece of *** excrement. And apparently I got a wicked smoking deal on this thing, the only thing better is a verus for twice the price. And this is just a hobby scanner for me so I wasn't spending 10 large and then some on a scanner. Plus, he took my old solus which had info of the codes that it pulled up and troubleshooter on it in easy to get to format.
So beware, I was skeptical as heck about buying it and I want to punch every SO rep in the face with a truck because of this.
This is why I found this site to post this rant. So people researching it can be informed from someone who's not impressed just because it's red and black and costs 12 grand over 3 years, and then 2 grand plus every year after that.
I'm open to suggestions and questions.
I hope this helps some people to save their money. And get everything in writing before EVER signing their contract cuz it happens without you even touching your wallet - a trial is a sale to them! A sale bound by law and high priced lawyers.
Good luck
I basically got scammed
Wanted to get rid of my old solus but didn't want to lose functionality.
Went with a modis ultra, 3 yrs of updates, shopkey, suretrack, Internet.
A few weeks later, still couldn't get on shopkey and nothing proving I had 3 years of updates.
Asked the dealer and he got back to me a few days later with, only the ethos has free updates, no scanner gets shopkey, Internet access is only to talk to suretrack, and, if you don't do the updates within 30 days of release - you lose suretrack forever.
So 5 grand in and now I have to pay over 2 more grand every year just to keep suretrack active.
I asked about returning it - scanner hasn't left the box yet except for touching my kitchen table for about an hour to play with it - hasn't even had the DLC cable plugged into it yet, dealer and his accomplices said it's impossible to return because it's already registered to me.
So I play with it on a few vehicles - pretty pathetic results
I play with the demo vehicle mode - 06 Tahoe or something - even more pathetic
I get a SO diag. Tools tech josh to go over it with me for a couple hours - most of his answers are "I don't know/you'll have to deal with it the way it is"
Scrolling the screens only moves one complete page at a time - can't move just a few lines down. Some of the words are cutoff at the right hand side of the screen like the formatting isn't meant for that size of screen. The tests and info are usually generic and not geared to the scanner it's being run on and also generic to a vehicle - such as if I select 2013 dura max - it gives me options on how to fix it if it was also a 98 Chevy with a 350 gas engine or an older carb engine, so what the **** is the pint of selecting the 2013 dura as I'm working on if it's gonna tell me stuff for 15 year older vehicles?
So it sits in its box in the back of my service truck for months because I'm disgusted with it. I get a check engine light yesterday, I scan it in the driveway, it gives me 5 codes. Does it tell me which ones are active? NOPE! Does it tell me how many times each code happened? NOPE! Does it tell me anything further about the code when I click it? NOPE. Does it do anything when I click the code? Yeah, it highlights that code, anything else? NOPE. BUT, it's raining outside and I drive the truck closer to the house and it starts picking up a small amount of wifi and it lets me click the suretrack wrench only to tell me what it told me on the code list page but in a slightly longer way until it loses wifi and goes blank again. I scroll to DLC failed since code clear - it says NONE have failed but there are 5 codes if I go back to the codes list. I take a screen shot of the codes and clear them, code gone, what caused it? Couldn't tell you
So, it's an old scanner in a new box with generic information meant for every scanner, and since the ethos gets 3 years of free updates using the EXACT same update number as the other scanners then why did I pay 5 grand for this hunk o junk when I can have more information on my hundred dollar Canadian tire OBD 1and2 code checker?
Tried to scan an older motor home with a EFI 454 on the side of a highway with no one around and no service, wouldn't connect, could I even get a shred of info about the wiring on this thing? So that I could maybe find the problem DLC wires and get it to talk, nope. I found the fuel pump was blowing the exam fuse, unplugged the pump, everything came back to life and the scanner connected but did the scanner have a fuel pump on/off test? Nope. Fuel pump wiring? Nope, anything helpful? I think it told me the idle speed was up adjustable and the timing is computer controlled, thanks a lot five thousand dollar piece of *** excrement. And apparently I got a wicked smoking deal on this thing, the only thing better is a verus for twice the price. And this is just a hobby scanner for me so I wasn't spending 10 large and then some on a scanner. Plus, he took my old solus which had info of the codes that it pulled up and troubleshooter on it in easy to get to format.
So beware, I was skeptical as heck about buying it and I want to punch every SO rep in the face with a truck because of this.
This is why I found this site to post this rant. So people researching it can be informed from someone who's not impressed just because it's red and black and costs 12 grand over 3 years, and then 2 grand plus every year after that.
I'm open to suggestions and questions.
I hope this helps some people to save their money. And get everything in writing before EVER signing their contract cuz it happens without you even touching your wallet - a trial is a sale to them! A sale bound by law and high priced lawyers.
Good luck
Comment