Tech Stream Lite

[DrewTech]

Yesterday at SEMA, Toyota announced Drew Tech's Mongoose MFC is part of Toyota's new diagnostic solution. The diagnostic tool, called Techstream Lite, is the same software technicians run at the dealersip now available to anyone! Checkout toyota"dot"techinfo"dot"com for more info.
(sorry can't post URLs yet)

[spiderman]

Originally Posted by DrewTech

Yesterday at SEMA, Toyota announced Drew Tech's Mongoose MFC is part of Toyota's new diagnostic solution. The diagnostic tool, called Techstream Lite, is the same software technicians run at the dealersip now available to anyone! Checkout toyota"dot"techinfo"dot"com for more info.
(sorry can't post URLs yet)

https://techinfo.toyota.com/techInfo...ite&_nfpb=true

[jayman]

Outstanding, it will also work with my FJ

[TheForce]

I would like to know what exactly it wont do compared to the expensive one.

I seen where it wont do the old cars but what cant it do for the Prius?

[RobH]

Originally Posted by TheForce

I would like to know what exactly it wont do compared to the expensive one.

I seen where it wont do the old cars but what cant it do for the Prius?

I think it's exactly the same software as the dealers use. The licensing is tied to a professional TIS subscription, which costs a minimum of $55 for 2 days. Plus you have to purchase an adapter to connect a PC to the car (the DrewTech Mongoose lists at about $495).

The thing with the older cars is that they use a different connector. I suspect that an adapter cable that connects between the Mongoose and a DLC-1 or DLC-2 connector would be adequate to support the older cars. Maybe DrewTech could comment on this idea.

There seem to be three grades of capability with TechStream. The first is obviously dealer usage. The next is security professional, which I guess allows a no-keys reset of the locking system. And then there's the rest of us, who aren't provided with the means to reset the locking system without a key. I suspect that dealers also have access to add-on modules for things like reading the black box data after a crash. And the factory people have the ability to initialize the odometer to any mileage (to allow replacement of a bad odometer with another set to the same value).

[jayman]

I was under the impression that for $1,400, you also had a one year subscription to TIS

[RobH]

There are a number of ways to get TechStream Lite. The $1400 package from Toyota is an attractive way to get it with a full year's subscription to TIS. The cheapest way would seem to be to buy a Mongoose MFC interface on eBay (hopefully less than $495), and then subscribe to TIS as needed (minimum of $55 for 2 days). DrewTech sells the interface directly, and there are a number of other vendors.

[dogfriend]

Originally Posted by RobH

There are a number of ways to get TechStream Lite. The $1400 package from Toyota is an attractive way to get it with a full year's subscription to TIS. The cheapest way would seem to be to buy a Mongoose MFC interface on eBay (hopefully less than $495), and then subscribe to TIS as needed (minimum of $55 for 2 days). DrewTech sells the interface directly, and there are a number of other vendors.

If you buy the interface and do the minimum subscription, does that give you access to the software to run the routines? (e.g. the routine to bleed the brake system) Is the software only usable when linked to TIS?

At $1400, its still a little too rich for DIY, but a couple of hundred might be doable if I ever find gainful employment again.

[spiderman]

Originally Posted by dogfriend

If you buy the interface and do the minimum subscription, does that give you access to the software to run the routines? (e.g. the routine to bleed the brake system) Is the software only usable when linked to TIS?

From what I read on the TIS site, yes. You get the subscription and then download the software and install. So doing it this was would be a much cheaper route.

[hotbrass]

Is this system really geared to the DIY consumer, or small auto repair shops?

I think from a consumer standpoint it is still a lot to pay for routine maintenance. Maybe if you had a big expensive job to do it would be worth the price.