So which scan tool is the knock off

[dannyboy950]

My employer has been looking for a better scan tool, one capable of reprogramming and testing equal to that from the dealer. We have a fleet of over 200 superduty pick ups, and towing for 5 or 6 trucks that need a flash to cure a no start problem can get kinda costly.
Any ways to start we looked at the tool used by Ford. The Rotunda company now markets the ford tool. $2618.00 a little steep seeing as how it is only an interface to work off of a lap top computer. While at the Rotunda site I noticed a section about counterfit tools and the danger of using them. So I did a little checking around which brings use finally to the subject of the post. LOL

Rotunda as far as I know has been a rebranding type company, they sell other peoples products under their brand name. All legal they contract with others to do so. I don’t know if they make anything themselves, they just market.

I found a Chinease company that manufactuers and sells a tool that looks just like the Rotunda but sells for $580.00. So is this company selling a counterfit or is it the original that Rotunda buys from and they just decided to sell it on their own as well.
The chinease company appears to have been produceing their product longer than Rotunda has been selling theirs. So which is the Chicken and which is the Egg.

Now I noticed that Rotundas warnings are very carefully worded that the counterfit may do this or that and makes no actual claim that it doesn’t work as advertised. So are they just trying to discourage people from using the cheaper product and protecting their market share or do you think there is a real danger from using the product.
Your thoughts on this please.

[dalton1]

theres no way a $580 dollar tool dose what the rotunda tool dose.

[dannyboy950]

Sorry but price don't mean squat. I have a Geneyses 3 with all the goodies and latest cards and it is darn near useless for the 6.0 or any other diesel for that matter. It doesn't even have a code library for the diesel specific codes. It was $3000.00

[WEWILLE]

Buy the ids. We purchased the ids last year and it has been a great investment. We are 30 days behind dealers when they get new calibration updates. Just buy the ids you wont look back. The chinese tool may be cheaper but whos gonna support you when theres a problem??? The chinese tool company or salespeople will not.

We have had great luck with CAS of new england they sent a salesman who actually knows his stuff to our shop in wisconsin and showed us how to use it. He said we can call him whenever we have a problem with the tool. One time i diagnosed a ficm on a 2006 powerstroke and the ids was acting goofy when i went to reprogram it, so i hooked our computer to the internet and he took control of the ids over the internet and fixed whatevr was wrong with the laptop so i could finish reprogramming the truck and send it out the door. Its a great company to deal with and has great support!!! We will be buying all of our factory tools from that company! In fact we will never buy a generic scan tool ever again, just manufacturer specific from here on out. You can waste tons of money to make a generic tool do the stuff a factory tool can and it never will work as good. The only non oe tool i like is the vag com for volkswagon. We may pay more but it is definitly worth it. Dont waste your time with anything other than the best when it comes to the tools and equipment you need to make money.


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OEM TOOLS

[Robsr]

IDS for sure, watch out for the china knock off's, could get you into serious dutch with ford, lol. I've actually seen the china knock off, it works, um i mean i know a guy who seen a china knock off. if you're going to work on a lot of 6.0's, you will want ids. both vcm and vmm. there are some specific test which will make your life much more happy!
you will definitly need ids if any 6.4's come through the door.

Ps. I would say the 580 buck tool is the knock off, just a guess though, lol. go back to motorcraft.com, they show the differences, Pps, I know, um, I "hear" you can do re-flash with the china knock off, hehe. Ppps, the rotunda tool is made by Snap On , UK LTD. the knock off is made by sum yung dood, lol

[WEWILLE]

Originally Posted by Robsr

IDS for sure, watch out for the china knock off's, could get you into serious dutch with ford, lol. I've actually seen the china knock off, it works, um i mean i know a guy who seen a china knock off. if you're going to work on a lot of 6.0's, you will want ids. both vcm and vmm. there are some specific test which will make your life much more happy!
you will definitly need ids if any 6.4's come through the door.

Ps. I would say the 580 buck tool is the knock off, just a guess though, lol. go back to motorcraft.com, they show the differences, Pps, I know, um, I "hear" you can do re-flash with the china knock off, hehe. Ppps, the rotunda tool is made by Snap On , UK LTD. the knock off is made by sum yung dood, lol

I dont think you need the vmm, its a big price for not much in return. But thats my opinion. I would recomend getting a pico scope if you want oscilliscope capability.

To the original poster: Get the IDS and vcm you can reflash and do everything you need!

[Robsr]

Originally Posted by WEWILLE

I dont think you need the vmm, its a big price for not much in return. But thats my opinion. I would recomend getting a pico scope if you want oscilliscope capability.

To the original poster: Get the IDS and vcm you can reflash and do everything you need!

I personally like the VMM. like the power balance test's J tool for flashing and AE scan tool would suffice for most tech's though

[WEWILLE]

Are the power balance tests enhanced or something different about them with the ids and vmm? Because i can do power balance and a manual power balance with the ids and vcm. So im wondering what the difference is?? And i agree with you a jtool and a ae or other generic will work for many vehicles or pull codes at the least.

[C-Power]

Originally Posted by dannyboy950

Sorry but price don't mean squat. I have a Geneyses 3 with all the goodies and latest cards and it is darn near useless for the 6.0 or any other diesel for that matter. It doesn't even have a code library for the diesel specific codes. It was $3000.00

thats wierd b/c our OTC Genisys was $6k+ and can do anything.... its great with every vehicle we hook to..... im not sure what model we have but must be different then yours..... im gonna get a snap on scanner....seem great with diesel tunes......

[Robsr]

Originally Posted by WEWILLE

Are the power balance tests enhanced or something different about them with the ids and vmm? Because i can do power balance and a manual power balance with the ids and vcm. So im wondering what the difference is?? And i agree with you a jtool and a ae or other generic will work for many vehicles or pull codes at the least.

I'm bitter because I spent the money on VMM, already had a modis and vanatge pro. just love tools