I purchased the Foxwell and then this ThinkDiag. I must say first that I absolutely love your videos. They have helped me immensely. I personally don't like the ThinkDiag for the following reasons: 1) as you mentioned, the car modules (e.g. Aston Martin) is $49 for a year. I never begrudge anyone who looks to make money, but when I can get the module from Foxwell for life vs. one year only for ThinkDiag, that's points in Foxwell's favor. 2) Every time you open the app, they're trying to sell you something. The app is 60% trying to sell you another one of their products and 40% doing what you actually pay for. Not excited about that. 3) Unless I'm missing something, there's nothing this unit will do (without additional purchases) that the Foxwell won't do. 4) It does allow for remote viewing of diagnostics, but is it really worth it? I think the biggest turn off for this unit for me is the constant and prevalence of their advertising.
Great video again Steve. I have to with Clark the advertising with the ThinkDiag is really irritating. It seems to have some more diagnostic tools than my NT530 but it didn’t seem to allow me to change the functionality of my car. In particular, my winter project was to get my satellite radio working. I went though all the steps checking power connections and even swapping out the unit (a clearly labeled Volvo part that is readily available on Ebay) and still no radio id. I was excited when I saw the SDAR functions on the menu when you were demonstrating the ThinkDiag. All the ThinkDiag does is confirm that SDAR is off in my car. I guess a trip to the dealer to have them switch on the SDAR via AMDS is in order. The one benefit the ThinkDiag has over my NT530 is that the menu is more intuitive. Cheers Guy
exactly. maybe someday foxwell will offer a bluetooth dongle. but until that day i'll have to look forward to possibly investing in a 10' OBDII extension cord... IDK.
Do you know if the Foxwell scan tools can bleed the clutch on Astons? I'd like to have a nice bidirectional scan tool that doesn't want a yearly subscription.
The Foxwell is a great bidirectional scanner. But the car has to be able to do this. I can’t tell you about the clutch (mine is automatic). But while the Foxwell will do brake bleeding, the Aston DB9 (at least my 09) will not. My guess would be the same with the clutch.
@@letsrolldiyauto1532 Thank you for responding. I have a 2008 V8 vantage with the automatic sport shift transmission. I was told I have to use the Aston Martin diagnostic software that was also shown in this video to start the clutch bleed procedure but it seems to sell for 20k. I may order a Foxwell since they have nice ones for roughly$200
Very good video. I'm a newbie using a OBD reader. This is the first video that actually took the time to explain the functions clearly. The others were just like your grandchild explaining a new I phone to his granddad. Thanks for doing good job.
I share the same opinion of many other pseudo DIY videos. They talk about it, but often don't show the actual details that are the real training. Glad you liked it.
Wow ! You found a used AMDS ! It’s like finding the Saint Graal for an Aston enthusiast!!! By the way, very useful video... I am a Foxwell user but very incline to buy this new Bluetooth OBD reader now...
The AMDS was a lucky find, but I had been looking for about 2 years before I tracked one down. The Foxwell is great, but if there if the extra features in the ThinkDiag would help you, certainly worth a try!
Yes, these gizmo's are pretty cool. Not the highest quality item you'll ever purchase, but certainly good enough to add to the shop. Thanks for watching!
@@Aston1936 is the annual subscription compulsory? What if I don't want to renew it next year, but renew it only the year after when I need to use it again. Is that possible or is it tied down to a credit card?
Very good info. thank you Steve. Santa brought me one for Christmas. I still need an Aston but it has been great on my Range Rover. Prices here in the UK seem much cheaper, mine was £125, that includes three years all makes subscription and all 15 special functions. As I work on four makes of car in the family that is great value.
My Thinkdiag is the best diagnostic tool for the money!$78.95 a year full car full system plus more things you can fathom. A must have Tool for the Certified Auto tech . I use in mercedes bmw audi ford gm and a hundred and fifteen other car manufactures .Keith I have one in my tool box good till 2024 .
sounds pretty much like a foxwell OBDII scanner with the aston martin software on it. the difference is that instead of having the orange bound handheld device with a small screen, clumsy interface and a cumbersome wire on it, there's a proprietary OBDII wireless dongle that plugs into the car and you communicate with it via bluetooth on your smartphone using a proprietary android or iphone app. all at a price of course. i suspect the serial number on the dongle that plugs into the car and all the registering complications are to prevent people from buying an inexpensive bluetooth dongle (can be had for 10-20 dollars on amazon) and sideloading the app onto their phone for practically nothing, probably copied from some pirating site on the web. of course i wouldn't know anything about that. i doubt if a bluetooth dongle if left in a port will drain the battery overnight. once a bluetooth dongle is unpaired, which will happen once the app is either shutdown or the smartphone is more than about 30' distant from the dongle the dongle will go into pairing mode (a very very low draw mode) looking for other bluetooth devices to pair with. i seriously doubt if left alone for even a week or two it would seriously draw down significant power from a fully charged battery. i leave an fmtuner bluetooth device in my car for weeks at a time without any issues. YMMV of course. too bad it demands a yearly subscription...
Hi Steve, I have just used the ThinkDiag+ special function to add Key Fob to my DB9 and it works! So on that part this little Dongle/App can do that AMDS special function which is fantastic.
I found though not as cost effective to be perfect for all my cars is the MaxiSys MS906BT. It is bluetooth and the device is very portable. First year software and updates allows for all makes and models. It also respond for related components like the Volvo srs system.
I like my Autel stuff too. I don't have a Maxisys though, but that sounds neat as well. Can it do any of the special functions noted beyond the Service Due Reset?
I see @ 22:27 in special functions it says ASM Clutch bleed. Do you have any idea if that would bleed the clutch on my V8 Vantage with automatic sportshift?
Thinkdiag will detect DTCs but will not clear them on my 2002 DB7 Vantage. I would be interested to know if you have any experience with the Thinkdiag on a DB7. Right now, it's useless.
Thanks for another great vid .... seems a bit of a no 'brainer' but that annual subscription leaves a lingering thought before i buy.. truth is it seems to do all the amds functions .. so might bite the bullit and get one, i hope i can get one here in the uk....was wondering how many Bluetooth devices can be connected? and is it possible there are only 4 devices in existence that can read the AM data set?
Excellent question. The only special feature I've spotted in my Foxwell NT510 is that it can do the Service Reset. Maybe something will come along in the future with a software update, but until then the ThinkDiag has a big advantage (other than cost).
Thanks Steve for the review. One question though. I thought your DB9 was the 1936th built but the new reader indicated that it was the 1906th. Is there an explanation for this? Thank you.
I was looking at the Foxwell, and was under the impression the Foxwell units could do far more than just read and reset codes. The only reason I hadn't pulled the trigger on one is that I was debating between 2 models (I've got 4 cars all of different makes) and there was conflicting info on their website about some capabilities. But I haven't been able to get them to respond to me (I've been trying since Dec). So, this new unit excited me. I have several reservations about it. First, I'm hesitant about the phone app model of doing things. What happens if I upgrade my phone and the software isn't compatible? What happens if they stop supporting the app? Looks like you need a login on their site, so that means there's server infrastructure that has to stay supported. What if my wife wants to scan her car? Can it be paired with her phone and work as well, or does it need to be on my phone/account? A standalone tool seems much more reliable for a lot of reasons. Then, of course, there's the yearly fee. Again, with the multiple vehicles I'd probably do the "all brands", but that's over $100 a year.
Excellent questions. You can have 2 phones linked up to it. If the app someday won't work on your phone, sure, the device is useless, but I think that's pretty fringe. Cost, well, I am with you there. I'm OK with the Foxwell model of paying them $40 once to get a manufacturer added, but every year irks me some. Maybe that will change. But, if the features can't be beat, so maybe give it a whirl for a year. Your risk is pretty small.
@@ckjlgp I admit I'm in a unique situation. My wife grew up the daughter of a trucker and built her first vehicle (1950 Ford pickup) at 15. She taught me how to do a brake job. She's the more old school mechanic and painter in the family, I'm the electronics and newer systems guy.
All these scan tools could just use a phone and a BT dongle. It' just software that does the work. They just sell them with a screen to try justfy the high price they sell them for to mechanics.
hey i had a quick question on a 2005 db9 would you drop the engine to re seal the timing cover and do the oil pan gasket or can it all be done in car on a lift? thanks
That was one I was hoping for, but they don't have. The AMDS brake bleed is very nice. I was hoping the ThinkDiag had it, but alas not yet. But, since the software is all in the App, and they can keep evolving that, maybe it will show up someday.
@@Aston1936 I'm considering buying it, was impressed with some of the other functions that it has. I have a V8VS 2011, not the guy that likes other people working on my machine like your self. Thank you for the video.
I noticed that too, but the codes for the earlier gaydon cars are the same as the newer cars. I think the website was really trying to show it also works with the newer cars. My car is a 2005 DB9, so proof that it does work with the earlier models. I'm pretty sure this would include the Vantage, DBS, Rapide, etc.
too bad they don't make a OBDII bluetooth encoder that plugs into the car and a bluetooth decoder that plugs into the cord end of a handheld device like a foxwell. then users could purchase any of the hundreds of available handheld, thinkpads and iphone or android apps that could, if one purchased it, aston martin specific software.
I do have to add another "boo-ThinkDiag" comment. When looking at engine misfires, the ThinkDiag does do this in real time. Great. But there is no legend for what the data means. There's the cylinder number (that is off because it names cylinder 1 as cylinder 0), then a Larger font for the misfires. Then two other smaller font numbers below (for the cylinder). Is one Type A and the other Type B misfire? Allowable misfires? Who knows? There is no legend or descriptors on the screen. And forget about a manual. There is a multi-language "manual", but it doesn't tell you anything other that the hook-up instructions. I'm thinking for a bluetooth scanner, the Autel may be the way to go. But the Autel won't do anything the Foxwell can't do. That being said, I keep the ThinkDiag in the boot. It's small and easy to keep in the car without taking up space. I used it yesterday to check misfires when I felt a little irregular idle. Now I need to hook it up to a real scanner, like the Foxwell to see the type of misfires. But I fear I'll be watching Steve's changing coil pack videos :( Again kudos for excellent and outstanding videos. You make owning a DB9 a joy.
I purchased the Foxwell and then this ThinkDiag. I must say first that I absolutely love your videos. They have helped me immensely. I personally don't like the ThinkDiag for the following reasons: 1) as you mentioned, the car modules (e.g. Aston Martin) is $49 for a year. I never begrudge anyone who looks to make money, but when I can get the module from Foxwell for life vs. one year only for ThinkDiag, that's points in Foxwell's favor. 2) Every time you open the app, they're trying to sell you something. The app is 60% trying to sell you another one of their products and 40% doing what you actually pay for. Not excited about that. 3) Unless I'm missing something, there's nothing this unit will do (without additional purchases) that the Foxwell won't do. 4) It does allow for remote viewing of diagnostics, but is it really worth it? I think the biggest turn off for this unit for me is the constant and prevalence of their advertising.
Great video again Steve. I have to with Clark the advertising with the ThinkDiag is really irritating. It seems to have some more diagnostic tools than my NT530 but it didn’t seem to allow me to change the functionality of my car. In particular, my winter project was to get my satellite radio working. I went though all the steps checking power connections and even swapping out the unit (a clearly labeled Volvo part that is readily available on Ebay) and still no radio id. I was excited when I saw the SDAR functions on the menu when you were demonstrating the ThinkDiag. All the ThinkDiag does is confirm that SDAR is off in my car. I guess a trip to the dealer to have them switch on the SDAR via AMDS is in order. The one benefit the ThinkDiag has over my NT530 is that the menu is more intuitive. Cheers Guy
exactly. maybe someday foxwell will offer a bluetooth dongle. but until that day i'll have to look forward to possibly investing in a 10' OBDII extension cord... IDK.
Do you know if the Foxwell scan tools can bleed the clutch on Astons? I'd like to have a nice bidirectional scan tool that doesn't want a yearly subscription.
The Foxwell is a great bidirectional scanner. But the car has to be able to do this. I can’t tell you about the clutch (mine is automatic). But while the Foxwell will do brake bleeding, the Aston DB9 (at least my 09) will not. My guess would be the same with the clutch.
@@letsrolldiyauto1532 Thank you for responding. I have a 2008 V8 vantage with the automatic sport shift transmission. I was told I have to use the Aston Martin diagnostic software that was also shown in this video to start the clutch bleed procedure but it seems to sell for 20k. I may order a Foxwell since they have nice ones for roughly$200
Very good video. I'm a newbie using a OBD reader. This is the first video that actually took the time to explain the functions clearly. The others were just like your grandchild explaining a new I phone to his granddad. Thanks for doing good job.
I share the same opinion of many other pseudo DIY videos. They talk about it, but often don't show the actual details that are the real training. Glad you liked it.
Thanks for the info, as a side note, an episode on the AMDS would be for sure interesting.
Lovely motor, older cars in the condition of yours must make you so proud to own it.
Wow ! You found a used AMDS ! It’s like finding the Saint Graal for an Aston enthusiast!!! By the way, very useful video... I am a Foxwell user but very incline to buy this new Bluetooth OBD reader now...
The AMDS was a lucky find, but I had been looking for about 2 years before I tracked one down. The Foxwell is great, but if there if the extra features in the ThinkDiag would help you, certainly worth a try!
Thank you, a lot of useful info. Was impressed with what this small device can do.
Yes, these gizmo's are pretty cool. Not the highest quality item you'll ever purchase, but certainly good enough to add to the shop. Thanks for watching!
@@Aston1936 is the annual subscription compulsory? What if I don't want to renew it next year, but renew it only the year after when I need to use it again. Is that possible or is it tied down to a credit card?
Very good info. thank you Steve. Santa brought me one for Christmas. I still need an Aston but it has been great on my Range Rover. Prices here in the UK seem much cheaper, mine was £125, that includes three years all makes subscription and all 15 special functions. As I work on four makes of car in the family that is great value.
Great gift! And awesome that the price is lower now and includes more stuff (which was the drawback when I got mine). Thanks for watching!
Thanks Steve! I just put my order in for one.
My Thinkdiag is the best diagnostic tool for the money!$78.95 a year full car full system plus more things you can fathom. A must have Tool for the Certified Auto tech . I use in mercedes bmw audi ford gm and a hundred and fifteen other car manufactures .Keith I have one in my tool box good till 2024
.
sounds pretty much like a foxwell OBDII scanner with the aston martin software on it. the difference is that instead of having the orange bound handheld device with a small screen, clumsy interface and a cumbersome wire on it, there's a proprietary OBDII wireless dongle that plugs into the car and you communicate with it via bluetooth on your smartphone using a proprietary android or iphone app. all at a price of course.
i suspect the serial number on the dongle that plugs into the car and all the registering complications are to prevent people from buying an inexpensive bluetooth dongle (can be had for 10-20 dollars on amazon) and sideloading the app onto their phone for practically nothing, probably copied from some pirating site on the web. of course i wouldn't know anything about that.
i doubt if a bluetooth dongle if left in a port will drain the battery overnight. once a bluetooth dongle is unpaired, which will happen once the app is either shutdown or the smartphone is more than about 30' distant from the dongle the dongle will go into pairing mode (a very very low draw mode) looking for other bluetooth devices to pair with. i seriously doubt if left alone for even a week or two it would seriously draw down significant power from a fully charged battery.
i leave an fmtuner bluetooth device in my car for weeks at a time without any issues. YMMV of course.
too bad it demands a yearly subscription...
Hi Steve, I have just used the ThinkDiag+ special function to add Key Fob to my DB9 and it works! So on that part this little Dongle/App can do that AMDS special function which is fantastic.
Great video Steven !
I found though not as cost effective to be perfect for all my cars is the MaxiSys MS906BT. It is bluetooth and the device is very portable. First year software and updates allows for all makes and models. It also respond for related components like the Volvo srs system.
I like my Autel stuff too. I don't have a Maxisys though, but that sounds neat as well. Can it do any of the special functions noted beyond the Service Due Reset?
Does the app have live data gauges you can pull up on your phone for display when your driving? Or does other apps work with it like DashCmd?
I see @ 22:27 in special functions it says ASM Clutch bleed. Do you have any idea if that would bleed the clutch on my V8 Vantage with automatic sportshift?
Thinkdiag will detect DTCs but will not clear them on my 2002 DB7 Vantage. I would be interested to know if you have any experience with the Thinkdiag on a DB7. Right now, it's useless.
Thanks for another great vid .... seems a bit of a no 'brainer' but that annual subscription leaves a lingering thought before i buy.. truth is it seems to do all the amds functions .. so might bite the bullit and get one, i hope i can get one here in the uk....was wondering how many Bluetooth devices can be connected? and is it possible there are only 4 devices in existence that can read the AM data set?
Do you have to have wifi to look at all them functions or just Biutooth
Another great video. I use the foxwell, but was wondering if the special features are software or hardware based. Could foxwell update their unit?
Excellent question. The only special feature I've spotted in my Foxwell NT510 is that it can do the Service Reset. Maybe something will come along in the future with a software update, but until then the ThinkDiag has a big advantage (other than cost).
Thanks Steve for the review. One question though. I thought your DB9 was the 1936th built but the new reader indicated that it was the 1906th. Is there an explanation for this? Thank you.
I'm 48 been working on cars sence I has 14 can't do everything but need a good scantool
Hi! Thanks for the Video! Do you know if any of those readers (apart of AMDS) allow me to disengage the electronic parking brake in Rapide?
I did an ecu swap with it. It wont connect to a mk v golf without an extention lead.
what if u already get rid of box how can u set it up ?
More videos on think product
Any chance you can check if it allows you to read and reset the clutch statistics on a Sport Shift I or II car?
Can the OBDII tool change the language of the error messages of the car computer?
I was looking at the Foxwell, and was under the impression the Foxwell units could do far more than just read and reset codes. The only reason I hadn't pulled the trigger on one is that I was debating between 2 models (I've got 4 cars all of different makes) and there was conflicting info on their website about some capabilities. But I haven't been able to get them to respond to me (I've been trying since Dec).
So, this new unit excited me. I have several reservations about it. First, I'm hesitant about the phone app model of doing things. What happens if I upgrade my phone and the software isn't compatible? What happens if they stop supporting the app? Looks like you need a login on their site, so that means there's server infrastructure that has to stay supported. What if my wife wants to scan her car? Can it be paired with her phone and work as well, or does it need to be on my phone/account? A standalone tool seems much more reliable for a lot of reasons. Then, of course, there's the yearly fee. Again, with the multiple vehicles I'd probably do the "all brands", but that's over $100 a year.
Excellent questions. You can have 2 phones linked up to it. If the app someday won't work on your phone, sure, the device is useless, but I think that's pretty fringe. Cost, well, I am with you there. I'm OK with the Foxwell model of paying them $40 once to get a manufacturer added, but every year irks me some. Maybe that will change. But, if the features can't be beat, so maybe give it a whirl for a year. Your risk is pretty small.
I love this bit “What if my wife wants to scan her car” !!! I wish my wife would just put petrol in her car and wash it occasionally 😂😂
@@ckjlgp I admit I'm in a unique situation. My wife grew up the daughter of a trucker and built her first vehicle (1950 Ford pickup) at 15. She taught me how to do a brake job. She's the more old school mechanic and painter in the family, I'm the electronics and newer systems guy.
All these scan tools could just use a phone and a BT dongle. It' just software that does the work. They just sell them with a screen to try justfy the high price they sell them for to mechanics.
hey i had a quick question on a 2005 db9 would you drop the engine to re seal the timing cover and do the oil pan gasket or can it all be done in car on a lift? thanks
It was well beyond my skill level. I had that done on my car at a dealer. It was 15 hours work and done in car.
Are these only avaliable in the US and Canada?
I thought this wasn’t going to be an unboxing video lol
I have Thinkdiag plus VIP software 2.8.4
I like it... It does ASM bleed too. I did't see brake bleed.
That was one I was hoping for, but they don't have. The AMDS brake bleed is very nice. I was hoping the ThinkDiag had it, but alas not yet. But, since the software is all in the App, and they can keep evolving that, maybe it will show up someday.
@@Aston1936 I'm considering buying it, was impressed with some of the other functions that it has. I have a V8VS 2011, not the guy that likes other people working on my machine like your self. Thank you for the video.
@@HarryESwan Do you know if it can read clutch statistics on the ASM? Perhaps even reset them after a clutch job?
@@tdottme Mmmm... Not sure, maybe direct the question to Aston1936, he has probably played with it a lot.
Will it work with the DB7 ( i )6 ?
I'm just a DIYER looking for a good scan tool
Reminds me of Audi and Bentleys vas5052
MyThinkCar support page lists only 2011 and newer Aston Martin
I noticed that too, but the codes for the earlier gaydon cars are the same as the newer cars. I think the website was really trying to show it also works with the newer cars. My car is a 2005 DB9, so proof that it does work with the earlier models. I'm pretty sure this would include the Vantage, DBS, Rapide, etc.
too bad they don't make a OBDII bluetooth encoder that plugs into the car and a bluetooth decoder that plugs into the cord end of a handheld device like a foxwell. then users could purchase any of the hundreds of available handheld, thinkpads and iphone or android apps that could, if one purchased it, aston martin specific software.
je viens de acheter thinkdiag, ce pas mal
I do have to add another "boo-ThinkDiag" comment. When looking at engine misfires, the ThinkDiag does do this in real time. Great. But there is no legend for what the data means. There's the cylinder number (that is off because it names cylinder 1 as cylinder 0), then a Larger font for the misfires. Then two other smaller font numbers below (for the cylinder). Is one Type A and the other Type B misfire? Allowable misfires? Who knows? There is no legend or descriptors on the screen. And forget about a manual. There is a multi-language "manual", but it doesn't tell you anything other that the hook-up instructions. I'm thinking for a bluetooth scanner, the Autel may be the way to go. But the Autel won't do anything the Foxwell can't do. That being said, I keep the ThinkDiag in the boot. It's small and easy to keep in the car without taking up space. I used it yesterday to check misfires when I felt a little irregular idle. Now I need to hook it up to a real scanner, like the Foxwell to see the type of misfires. But I fear I'll be watching Steve's changing coil pack videos :( Again kudos for excellent and outstanding videos. You make owning a DB9 a joy.
Nice but only good for a year must pay to use there after great for the guy in the shop but will sit in the box for your average Tom Dick & Harry
Rmmm