Diagnostics 46 Laura Hall, Managing Director at Maverick Diagnostics, explains why increasingly complex vehicles mean independent workshops may need to look beyond a single diagnostic platform and how combining aftermarket, OEM and pass-thru tools can help garages keep more work in-house. Modern aftermarket diagnostic tools are more capable than ever. A good multi-brand platform can provide extensive vehicle coverage, fast system scans, service functions, live data, actuator tests and, in some cases, coding and programming. However, no single diagnostic tool covers every manufacturer, model and function to the same depth. For workshops facing an increasingly complex vehicle parc, the question is no longer simply, “Which tool should we buy?” It is, “Which combination of tools will allow us to complete the work we want to keep in-house?” Coverage does not always mean capability A vehicle appearing on a tool’s coverage list does not necessarily mean that every function is available. One platform might communicate with all the control modules on a vehicle but offer limited coding or programming. Another might provide excellent component testing but struggle with a manufacturer’s secure gateway. Even coverage can vary between different models, model years and powertrains from the same manufacturer. Workshops therefore need to look beyond the number of manufacturers shown in the brochure. The more useful questions are: O Can it access the systems we regularly work on? O Does it support bidirectional controls and component activation? O Can it perform the adaptations, calibrations and resets we need? O Does it provide secure gateway access? O Can it carry out coding, programming and security-related functions? O What happens when the tool cannot complete a particular job? The phrase “dealer-level” is also used widely within the diagnostic market, but it does not always mean full manufacturer-level functionality. It may refer to the depth of general diagnostics available rather than providing access to every guided test, programming process or online function offered by the manufacturer’s own system. Aftermarket tools provide breadth For most independent garages, a capable multi-make aftermarket tool remains the most practical starting point. It lets technicians work across a wide range of vehicles without buying separate hardware and software for every brand. This makes it ideal for everyday diagnostics, servicing, faultcode reading, live data, testing and common repair procedures. Different platforms have different strengths. Some offer particularly good European coverage or secure gateway access, while others perform well with Asian vehicles, topology mapping, EV systems, component testing or advanced programming functions. This is why there is no universal “best” aftermarket tool. Autocom, XTOOL, Zenith, Topdon, Autel and other platforms can all be strong choices, but their suitability depends on the workshop’s vehicle mix and the work it When one diagnostic tool isn’t enough
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