What test or features would you like to see added to you Snap On Diagnostic tools

[greasybob]

I had a chance to see the new Apollo scanner on the Snap ON truck this week. While the speed is impressive I'm still disappointed that my previous concern with this platform was not addressed (I previously owned an Apollo D8). There doesn't appear to be any amplitude scales on the side of the bar graphs. While there are numbers stating the range it's not the same or nearly as useful as having a scale to compare the graph to. This is important not only for analog signals such as voltages, rpms and amperages but especially important for graphs that indicate changes in the state of a data pid or device such as open or closed loop which often now include open or closed with different default states. Or 4wd or transmission gear command, there are many other commanded state data pids that without a indicators on the side of the graph would be hard to interpret at a glance. Maybe I'm wrong about the missing scales and the tool wasn't set up properly, I only had a brief time with it. A graph without scales is just a wavy line.

[greasybob]

I recently had the same thing with a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica. I thought that this was just because it was A Hybrid but now I'm thinking that this is now a thing with all new Mopar products. If there is an airbag event the vehicle will go into shut down mode until a reset is done. With the Pacifica the function is called "Rest high voltage impact event". And again this function was not in the SnapOn software PXL_20260403_210832927.jpg

[greasybob]

I had 2023 Grand Cherokee today with a no crank, no start, and could not shift the transmission. I had no codes other than air bag codes due to a collision, Just ordinary codes for deployment. After a bit of investigation I found a hint to reset something called "Clear ECM Impact Detection EEPROM". This function was not in my Zeus but was available in my Autel. After performing this function the vehicle started and I was able to drive it into the shop PXL_20260604_190216003.MP.jpg PXL_20260604_190203056.MP (1).jpg

[GypsyR]

What version of software are you on?

This is why the ON Board Trouble Shooter was so valuable and set Snap on Diagnostic tools above others in the past.

Whatever version is the newest as I am paying for the subscription currently. I've mentioned the old Troubleshooting section to them in one of their "BUY this NEW Scanner" get togethers. Just got mumbled poor excuses. I allowed that the people I was talking to were just in sales and probably knew little of the feature since it has been gone for some years now. Also I supposed all those absolutely brilliant people who wrote that troubleshooting information had probably been long since retired or shuffled off to elsewhere in the company.

[SnapOnKid]

Minor thing. See these every rare once in a while. 2011 Silverado 3500 4wd with an Allison. Scanner reads P2771 as "refer to OEM info" at it can't ID the code. Amusingly enough when I go to "troubleshooting" not only did someone at Snap-On know wha tthe code was there is very well written and tought out thorough explanation of what it is and how it is set. "Four wheel drive switch circuit".

No big deal, I just figure if no one ever says anything such things never get fixed.

What version of software are you on?

This is why the ON Board Trouble Shooter was so valuable and set Snap on Diagnostic tools above others in the past.

[GypsyR]

Minor thing. See these every rare once in a while. 2011 Silverado 3500 4wd with an Allison. Scanner reads P2771 as "refer to OEM info" at it can't ID the code. Amusingly enough when I go to "troubleshooting" not only did someone at Snap-On know wha tthe code was there is very well written and tought out thorough explanation of what it is and how it is set. "Four wheel drive switch circuit".

No big deal, I just figure if no one ever says anything such things never get fixed.

[diesel71]

I always wanted to see a calculator/converter in all the scanners. like the one in shopkey pro. i use this often to convert kpa to psi and so on. be nice to have it while your viewing live data and need to convert kpa to psi or convert centigrade to fehrenheit.

[Steve6911]

That is a great idea Bob, but AI is just not there yet. At least not from what I've seen on Free versions of Co-pilot and Claude. I have been using both for basic information for a while now and MANY times both have given me wrong information. The other day I just wanted to see what it would do on a older vehicle, a 1986 Corvette I had in the shop. I asked co-pilot how to remove the high mount stop light to replace a burnt out bulb and what the bulb number was. Co-pilot told me to open the rear glass, remove the two small phillips screws, remove the light housing and install new 194 bulbs. When I had to open the rear glass, remove the two T27 screws to remove the housing from the glass. Then remove the two small phillips screws to open the light up and replace the 891 bulbs. This is an old car and information is available to find out how to do this. I have run into this on many other vehicles with much harder information to find. So again, great idea but in my opinion AI is just not there yet.

[greasybob]

Ok, so here is the big one, what I would like in my scanner is an A.I. agent. Not simply red flags that pop up randomly when parameters are not met. But an actual intelligence that can analyze and summarize data, and that you interact with. Ask questions, give opinions and explain data pids interactions. If not in the scanner itself an agent that can read my scanner data. I think that this would be next step in diagnostics. I know some people will dis this idea for fear of getting errant information, but at some point it's going to happen anyways, if Snap On doesn't do it I'm sure someone else will. The next big thing would be an A.I. estimator. No more scrolling through NAPA or Advanced parts lists and vehicle menus to find stuff. Just verbally ask the estimator what you're looking for and make me list of what's available in town or on line with prices and estimated delivery times. It should have access to all the suppliers I use instead of me or my service writer having to search through all the suppliers individually to find the best parts or best prices. Again this thing should be able to interact with me and have actual intelligence not just preprogrammed. I've been hearing ads on the radio lately for A.I. estimators for other industries, this could be my biggest time saver if done properly. It's high time that we bring A.I. into the shop to improve efficiency.

[GypsyR]

When the scanner (Zeus) auto recognizes it has been plugged into a new vehicle, proving it by showing the VIN, I would like for it NOT to then spend the next 90 tooth-grinding seconds "attempting to identify" the new vehicle. By....rereading the VIN? Or whatever it is doing when it is trying to identify the vehicle it just identified.

[greasybob]

A little further research and it seems the transmission looks like a ZF (plastic pan) but is made by Jatco and is a 9 speed. And there is a procedure for over riding the auto park without a scan tool, but it's like 18 steps long so the scanner method is much better.

[greasybob]

2020 Nissan Frontier Park Release

Had a 2020 Nissan Frontier today that I needed to get into neutral with out the vehicle running. This truck has what I believe to be A ZF 8 speed transmission similar to what Mopar's have despite it having a shifter instead of a dial. The shifter is electronic. Unlike the Mopar's however there is no park release cable. To put the vehicle in neutral and to get it to stay in neutral you have to use your scanner to access the Cancel Automatic Park Function. My Zeus 23.2 did not have this function, in fact it has no bi-direction controls for this transmission. My Autel does have this transmission control function as well as a few others. Vin number is in the photos.

[greasybob]

I have another one for you. A 2014 Ram Pro Master 2500 with a 3.6 has an engine/transmission code of P1C4F. This is an information code telling you that there is a code stored in the ESM (Electronic Shift Module) or shifter assembly. Problem is that none of my scanners including my up to date Zeus has an option for the ESM. I'm pretty sure that the code set because the ESM and the transmission range sensor did not agree with each other. The ESM is on the CAN network according to the schematics. Would be nice to know the code and see the data from this module. Maybe it should show up in the data list from another module ? I can PM you the VIN if you would like.

[Steve6911]

Bob

Please PM me year make model engine and vin. Also the tool you are using and the build number of the software so I can request this function be added.

THANKS!
Steve

[greasybob]

Ford bcm crash status reset

Recently had a Ford Transit Connect from the Body Shop that had an airbag event. After replacing the Air Bag Module I still had a code B1492 stored in the BCM. You can not clear this code with normal code clearing because it's more of a parameter reset. Currnetl Snap On does not offer this function. I found it on my Autel. It's in the airbag menu under functios and listed as BCM Crash Status Reset. I should mention that this code will occur after an airbag event in all similar models, Escape, Focus and Transit Connect 2011 through about 2020 and I have never been able to clear it with a Snap On scanner. Leaving this code in the module will disable some functions including a no start on some some models.