There are endless automotive scan tools on the market. One of the most popular tools is the Snap-On diagnostic line. But there is one problem: Programming. Most of the customers I sell the Autel to already have the current Snap-On scanner. Now they are looking for something more.
Pre-1996 vehicle diagnostics was the wild-wild west. Car makers developed their own systems and interfaces for monitoring vehicle functions. Finally in the mid-1990s, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) came up with a standard connector to be used by all vehicles sold in the United States. Both OTC and Snap-On tried to keep up with the myriad of interfaces, but now there was one.
Higher emissions standards required more sensors, more monitoring, and more trouble codes. The world was changing and tool manufacturers developed standard scanners that would work with most cars. They read codes but provided little more information.
Although on-board computer controllers were first introduced in 1968 by Volkswagen, they can now be found in all makes and models. Like any electronic device, these control modules can fail due to heat, shorts, old age, and other problems.
In 2004 the SAE came up with a new standard for a pass-through device used to reprogram / flash vehicle control modules through the OBDII/CANbus port.
The Autel 908P (or 908 Pro) comes with the J2534 pass-through-device. Each manufacture provides their own software. Access to that software is not completely free. BMW, General Motors, Audi, Honda, Toyota, Ford all charge a fee. They will either charge by a 24 or 48-hour period or by a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). For specialty shops they also offer yearly fees.
The 908 Pro can also be used to program keys on some cars. Some cars require a different procedure. The 908 will work on anything newer than the DO70S8, including Honda, Acura, GM, Ford, Chrysler, Nissan, Infiniti.
Here is a chart of the 2016 fees:
| Manufacturer | Short Term | Monthly | Yearly | Transaction Fee | |
| Acura | $10.00 (72 hour) | $50.00 | $350.00 | $15.00 (per transaction) | |
| Acura SIS (Dealer version) | $20.00 (72 hour) | $100.00 | $1,000.00 | Key & immobilizer only | |
| Audi | $35.00 (24 hour) | $250.00 | $2,000.00 | Security Access requires the use of “ODIS Service” diagnostics and reprogramming software $100.00 one-time registration fee plus $500.00 subscription fee per year. | |
| Bentley | $35.00 (24 hour) | $250.00 | $2,000.00 | $29.95 per transaction | |
| BMW | $30.00 (24 hour) | $250.00 | $2,500.00 | Calif only. Download a pdf of the instruction manual | |
| Chrysler and Fiat | $35 (3 days) | $250.00 | $1,800.00 | $25 per transaction | |
| $70 (7 days) | |||||
| Ferrari | $100.00 (24 hour) | $350.00 | $3,000.00 | ||
| Ford | $21.95 (72 hour) | $324.95 | $2,699.95 | $19.95 per VIN | |
| GM | $24.95 per VIN | ||||
| Service Information | $20.00 (72 hour) | $150.00 | $1,200.00 | ||
| Programming | $55.00 (48 hours) | $275 (3 months) | $1,395 with Tech 2 software; $995 for vehicle calibration software only | ||
| Diagnostic Software | N/A | N/A | $750.00 | ||
| Global Diagnostic System (GDS 2) | $55.00 (72 hours) | $225.00 | $550.00 | ||
| Honda1ServiceExpress (Same info as SIS) | $10.00 (72 hour) | $50.00 | $350.00 | $15.00 (per transaction) | |
| Honda SIS (Dealer version w/ advanced search) | $20.00 (72 hour) | $100.00 | $1,000.00 | Key & immobilizer only | |
| Hyundai | $20 (1 week) Service Info | $60 (1 month) Service | $300 (1 year) Service Info | $12.00 per VIN | |
| $75 J-2534 programming file (per download) | $75 J-2534 programming file (per download) | $75 J-2534 programming file (per download) | |||
| Infiniti | $19.99 (24 hour) | $75.00 | $225.00 (3 months) | $10.00 Key OR Immobilizer | |
| $720.00 (year) | $15.00 Key AND Immobilizer | ||||
| $300.00 (1 year) | |||||
| Isuzu | $20.00 (24 hour) | $150.00 | $1,650.00 | Unknown | |
| Jaguar | *1 Yr/M/M: $16 (1 hr), $23 (1 day), $39 (1 wk) | *1 Yr/M/M: $108 | *1 Yr/M/M: $433 | Unknown | |
| *All Yrs, 1 M/M: $24 (1 hr), $36 (1 day), $79 (1 wk) | *All Yrs, 1 M/M: $180 | *All Yrs, 1 M/M: $885 | |||
| *All yrs, all models, Jag & LR: $40 (1 hr), $70 (1 day), $150 (1 wk) | *All yrs, all models, Jag & LR: $400 | *All yrs, all models, Jag & LR: $2,400 | |||
| $72.23 (1 day), $361.50 (1 wk) – module programming except security | $541.88 – module programming except security | $1,550 – module programming except security | |||
| Kia | $19 (72 hours) | $150 | $1,500 | $14 per VIN | |
| Land Rover | *1 Yr/M/M: $16 (1 hr), $23 (1 day), $39 (1 wk) | *1 Yr/M/M: $108 | *1 Yr/M/M: $433 | Unknown | |
| *All documents | *All Yrs, 1 M/M: $24 (1 hr), $36 (1 day), $79 (1 wk) | *All Yrs, 1 M/M: $180 | *All Yrs, 1 M/M: $885 | ||
| *All yrs, all models, Jag & LR: $40 (1 hr), $70 (1 day), $150 (1 wk) | *All yrs, all models, Jag & LR: $400 | *All yrs, all models, Jag & LR: $2,400 | |||
| $72.23 (1 day), $361.50 (1 wk) – module programming except security | $541.88 – module programming except security | $1,550 – module programming except security | |||
| Lexus7 (Standard) | $15.00 (48 hour) | $75.00 | $400.00 | $55.00 (48 hours) | |
| Professional Diagnostic | $55.00 (48 hour) | N/A | $1,095.00 | $1,095.00 (1 year) | |
| Maserati | $100 (24 hour) | $350.00 | $3,000.00 | ||
| Mazda | Service Info: $19.95 (24 hour) | $199.95 | Service Info: $1,500.00 | $10.00 Vehicle Key code | |
| Programming: $29.95 (72 hr) | Programming: $59.95 | Programming: $599.95 | $10.00 Passive Antitheft System Code | ||
| $10.00 Immobilizer code | |||||
| McLaren | $37.50 (1 hour) | $1,400.43 | $5,037.50 (365 days) | Unknown | |
| $172.83 (1 day) | |||||
| $556.11 (7 days) | |||||
| Mercedes Benz8 | $60 (24 hour) | $289.00 | $3,098.00 | Unknown | |
| $160.00 (week) | *Programming subscription annual only $925 | ||||
| Mini | $30.00 (24 hour) | $250.00 | $2,500.00 | ||
| Mitsubishi | $19.95 (24 hour) | $249.99 | $999.99 (6 months) | $19.95 (daily subscription) | |
| $99.95 (7 day) | $1,499.95 (year) | ||||
| Nissan | $19.99 (24 hour) | $75.00 | $225.00 (3 months) | $10.00 Key OR Immobilizer | |
| $720.00 (year) | $15.00 Key AND Immobilizer | ||||
| $300.00 (1 year) | |||||
| Porsche | $100 | $500 | $5,000.00 | Unknown | |
| Saab | * | * | * | Unknown | |
| Smart | $7.95 (1 Day) | $55.00 | $450.00 (year) | ||
| Subaru | $34.95 (72 hour) | $299.95 | $2499.95 | $9.95 Single Code | |
| $25.95 (24 hour) | |||||
| Suzuki | $25 (24 hour) | $125 | $550 | $19.99 per transaction | |
| $1,750 (incl diag tool software) | |||||
| Tesla | $300 | $3,000/12 months | Unknown | ||
| (Massachusetts only) | $30 (1 hour) | ||||
| *Collision subscriptions free to all global Tesla Certified Shops. | $100 (24 hour) | ||||
| Toyota/Scion7 (Standard) | $15.00 (48 hour) | $75.00 | $400.00 | $55.00 (48 hour) | |
| Professional Diagnostic | $55.00 (48 hour) | N/A | $1,095.00 | $1,095.00 | |
| Volkswagen | $35.00 (24 hour) | $250.00 | $1,500.00 | Security Access requires the use of “ODIS Service” diagnostics and reprogramming software $100.00 one-time registration fee plus $500.00 subscription fee per year | |
| Volvo VIDA 2015 | $2.50-$82.33 (72 hr) by item or bundle | $17.50-$718.54 by item or bundle | $110-$7,888.28 by item or bundle | VIDA is not needed for older non-immo paired keys but is needed for new immo paired key fobs. | |
