Maserati/Ferrari Scan tool by Auto Enginuity

[CraigWaterman11]

Okay guys I wanted to just give you guys some updates. As you know I asked this question before and Voicey suggested Auto Enginuity to me. That question was "is there an aftermarket scan tool that will do the majority of what we would like for our cars, including PIS/Clutch configuration.

At first, I looked into Texa.....Voicey was using this scan tool but he suggested because I am in the U.S. I should go after Auto Enginuity's scan tool. So I did a little research on it and purchased it. Basically it's $4000. That's with the enhancements for Maserati and Ferrari. Aston Martin is apart of it as well since you basically have to buy all of their enhancements to get the Maserati/Ferrari enhancements.

I'm pretty happy with not only the tool but I talk to the software engineer on a weekly basis. So the tech support is really good. At first they didn't have a specific platform for the 4200/GS cars. But they did for the F360 so I was accessing the settings through that. Additionally they didn't have a way to write the PIS or clutch configuration. I just got the second update today. The first was the 15th of this month. I now have 4200/GS platform specific to our cars. Additionally, I have my PIS set so that it feels just like I'm releasing the clutch as soon as I press the gas pedal. The car drives as it should of. I get clutch engagement right at 1000-1100 rpms.

All of that is great but you guys know I wanted to purchase it to help another older gentleman in New Hampshire. My wife and I are going to drive up to see him for New Year's to scan his car and lay some foundation work for the clutch job.

So I want to thank Voicey on this. I'm really happy with some of the tools features. First this tool can scan every car you can think of. Here are some screen shots of all the makes included on the tool. So it's not just for Mas. or F cars.

Additionally it has the ability of overlaying graphing data like this:

These are the gear box enhancements you can overlay in graphing. It has enhanced engine diagnostics in another setting.

This does have the ability to self learn and shift individual gears. I can access the ASR system. The only two areas they are working on, is the Capote (the Leonardo system also has this issue) and the Air bag settings but I am pretty sure they will have them figured out soon.

I am going over to the Aston Martin dealer who originally set up my PIS with the scan tool the 1st or Second week of the year. He became a really good friend to me. He's interested to see side by side what the scan tool can do and whether he's going to purchase it for his shop and stop using the Leonardo system.

I am also seeing what I can do to begin to get these over to you guys. It's a great all around tool. I've scanned Mercedes systems, Ford Turbo Diesels, Chevrolet Duramax Diesels. I've reset the ESP and TPMS modules in my C55 and a C300. I turned off ABS lights in the Duramax and reset Transmission modules in the Ford Transmission so the tow light would stop blinking.

I'm pretty happy with it and thought I would relay that information for people who contributed to the last post when I asked about it.

 

[conaero]

Very nice. Can you access the ABS unit? Voicey's couldn't nor the Airbag you have already highlighted.

When they get this sorted I may consider getting one for the forum members to use.

 

[Steve GS]

Very nice. Can you access the ABS unit? Voicey's couldn't nor the Airbag you have already highlighted.

When they get this sorted I may consider getting one for the forum members to use.

I wouldn't mind donating towards this would be very helpful to is all.

 

[conaero]

The only downside I can see is that Voicey's system was really well laid out, polished, with quality graphics, the system above looks like it has been designed by a programmer, sure it works effectively enough, just could do with a little polishing.

That said, for £2.5k I am not complaining!

 

[conaero]

I wouldn't mind donating towards this would be very helpful to is all.

We will see what we can do, when or if Craig tips me the wink that it covers everything we need, ill look into it, all donations gratefully received.

 

[Steve GS]

I've not seen another system in use. It's a shame voicey's didn't read your abs unit.

 

[Steve GS]

Get a link set up for scanner donation will donate in the new year

 

[CatmanV2]

We will see what we can do, when or if Craig tips me the wink that it covers everything we need, ill look into it, all donations gratefully received.

Also happy to chip in. Either on a purchase level, or as a 'hire a tool' thing.
My clutch will need changing eventually, although the man says it's still got about 50% on it

C

 

[conaero]

I've not seen another system in use. It's a shame voicey's didn't read your abs unit.

Yes, this is the limitation of these aftermarket systems. They do 90% but an 'off Ebay' system for $20 can do 60% of the errors so your only gaining 30% extra functionality for a much greater outlay.

What I like about Craig's system is that the software engineers seem to be proactive to get the 10% sorted which is the big selling point for me.

Craig, is there an annual license or is it a one shot deal?

 

[Steve GS]

Yes, this is the limitation of these aftermarket systems. They do 90% but an 'off Ebay' system for $20 can do 60% of the errors so your only gaining 30% extra functionality for a much greater outlay.

What I like about Craig's system is that the software engineers seem to be proactive to get the 10% sorted which is the big selling point for me.

Craig, is there an annual license or is it a one shot deal?

So just another way of the big company's screwing you over. Or is this just the maserati way. (Fiat).

 

[CatmanV2]

Yes, this is the limitation of these aftermarket systems. They do 90% but an 'off Ebay' system for $20 can do 60% of the errors

What ebay unit can get more than the ECU, Matt?

C

 

[CatmanV2]

So just another way of the big company's screwing you over. Or is this just the maserati way. (Fiat).

It's the same for all of them. Why should they spend millions developing their CAN-BUS and associated ECU set ups then let anyone take revenue from their dealers?

I recall Feli telling me the Alfa kit was something *like* £17k but that could be well off the mark.
C

 

[conaero]

So just another way of the big company's screwing you over. Or is this just the maserati way. (Fiat).

The Italians have been doing it for years, it won't change, you just have to screw them back (Brake discs group buys, clutch remanufactures, alternate parts, wishbones on the list etc....)

Maserati make a huge revenue from parts as they hold their owners to ransom, its this forums primary goal to make that not so (as well as having fun).

 

[CraigWaterman11]

It can access the ABS/ ASR modules. It sometimes takes a try or two to do so but it will do it. I've had it plugged in just to see it trigger the ABS, ASR, ECS, lights on the dashboard when it blinks them to put it in diagnostic setting.
To be honest I have these expensive Google glasses I never wear but purchased for the sole purpose of recording videos for DIYers. I should record a video so that you can see what I can see.
It's also true about the graphics, but you can put better graphics on something after it works kind of pointless to do it if it doesn't. I would say that's going to be the easy part of this software.

 

[conaero]

So Craig, can you list exactly what it does not do and let us know if the engineers are going to fix it, let them know if they do there are buyers in the UK waiting....that should be a good carrot to dangle!

What is the Capote system, Roof???

 

[CraigWaterman11]

Yes, sorry, it's the soft top on the Spyders. It's that and the air bags, it's the only two systems I cannot communicate with right now. But no need to dangle carrots. When I first bought the scanner I worked with the engineer first to put our cars on the scanner under its own model name instead of going through Ferrari. Then to make sure it wrote the clutch configuration data as well as the PIS. I've owned it a total of three weeks and have already gotten those two updates. The software top is an issue the Leo system hasn't accessed yet. I spoke to the Service manager at Aston Martin yesterday, that and I believe he said the ABS it cannot get into. I'm going over the first week of the New Year so we can plug into all of his cars. He wants to see if he wants it for his shop. He became a good friend after helping me initially with my car.

 

[CraigWaterman11]

The engineer is currently working on getting into those last two systems, again the air bags and Capote are the only ones I haven't accessed yet.

 

[CraigWaterman11]

I went back and read some of the posts because I thought I posted in the wrong area! So much had happened while I was typing on the phone. Okay so the only thing you pay for yearly is the updates. First year is included in the system price. But that is normal because they are constantly adding each new year car into system updates or reaching backwards like for our cars which initially when I first purchased it they didn't have a desire to do because He only saw newer model Maseratis where he was at. Not once had he seen the older 4200s.

Catman is correct as well about generic ecu drive train codes. I'm not sure if you guys follow Snap On or Mac tools scanners. A/E is giving a lot of enhanced diagnostic ability for the price. I told my wife today there's no way as they rival such systems as Leonardo that the price point will not go up as well. When I was personally talking to the Engineer on the phone he laughed at Texa, and balked at the price of the Leonardo. Texa is a small company with close to no tech support and Leonardo has always been way over its price point was his words. I think they have sold 80,000 units to date. My thing is it's great he thinks that about Leo and Texa but most of us know a little about business. His partners are looking at profit margins as well. How long before they're deciding they have a better system, better tech support and need more profit from it?

I've got the scanner now, once I've received the updates I want for the cars I access I really don't need to pay for anymore if I don't want to. Then in a year or two if I decide I want another year of updates I can purchase just the updates. There's no need to purchase everything all over again.

I have tons of screen shots I will upload to show you the data I'm accessing.

 

[CraigWaterman11]

Conaero, I wanted to post this as soon as I had an opportunity. I went to New Hampshire this week to scan the guy's car we plan to do a clutch job in. He was getting an intermittent no start. Codes came up for the Brake switch, and a few others. I need to post about that brake switch because it was quite interesting. Either way, the more important thing is I stated I could get into the ASR/ABS modules of our cars. I don't think that's totally accurate information. Let me share this.

So I continued to try to interface with a 2003 4200 coupe's ABS/ASR system. It's the Bosch 5.3 the same modules in the F 360. However, I could not get into it. Then I was really confused and though I must be going crazy. I know I briefly interfaced with mine. I didn't really look at anything there but I did access it. Coming back home I hooked into mine and the first thing it stated was this:

​

However, if there's no communication it will tell you so, and it will not allow you to view live data like this:

​

The above screen shot is just going on to the live data page, which again shouldn't of been allowed then I received these various readings though I was sitting in neutral key on, car off:

​

I have even cleared codes on this ABS system albeit small ones, if they were ones at all. But the long and short of this is, I can no longer say for sure that this scan tool can access the ABS system because the readings aren't accurate. You can clearly see two of the wheel speed sensors were saying I was doing 150 mph while I was sitting still.

So to date I can not access the ABS, Airbags or the soft top for convertibles. I will keep this updated as I receive more updates from the engineer when these are fixed.