Re: Autel AP200 screen shots
Well, i finally had a chance to really test the AP200's BENZ-SPRINTER package on my 2005.
I'm not impressed.
If i told it to read my VIN (for model selection), it claimed UNSUPPORTED
If i told it i had a WD*** , some pieces worked, some didn't
((unlike the DAD, it even tests the radio ... i was surprised when it turned on and said DIAGNOSE on the display.))
It couldn't get any useful data from the transmission (didn't recognize the type???)
it'll take me a while to assemble the screen shots.
added: it's going to take a while longer... the app put the PDF captures into a folder that my phone's default file manager can't access. A 3rd party manager can see they're there, but can't export them. Windows (via a USB cable) can't even see the app's storage folder on my SD card. Jeesh...
a bit later: no, they weren't so unreachable (almost). It's a quirk of Android that it creates directories on the extra SD card for many apps ... even if they don't use them. The PDF files were in:
/sdcard/Android/data/com.autel.maxiap200/files/MaxiApScan/Data/PDF
... even though "/sdcard" is the internal memory, not the extra SD card (called /storage )
--dick
Edit: Instead of selecting "WD*** try selecting 901.6
When it asks to read your VIN there are two options. They are "Automatic Selection" and "Manual Selection". These terms are a bit misleading because naturally most of our minds think "transmission" when seeing the two choices of Automatic and Manual. The iCarsoft MBII does the same thing. But what they are asking for here is how you want the scanner to read your VIN. When selecting Automatic I had the same issues you did--it claimed it didn't recognize the VIN. When I selected Manual, it asks a few questions(similar to the iCarsoft MBII)--Sprinter, Vaneo, Viano, etc...once Sprinter is selected it takes a few seconds to read the VIN...next prompt is 901.6, 906, 909, WD***, etc...US, Europe, etc...OBDII or 14 Pin. Once I go through all of those choices(which only takes a few seconds and I have to do each time I use it) I've able to get all of the data that I've looked at(unless it's an option my van doesn't have, obviously). My selections are Sprinter, 901.6, USA/Canada, OBDII. Have you tried going through the manual selections?
Another thing I noticed today while playing some more with it--if I scan for fault codes with the van running I get a handful of faults(specifically transmission faults and as far as I'm concerned my transmission is fine) that I do not get when the key sets the ignition to on(two clicks) but without starting the engine.
FWIW the user manual states "Turn the vehicle ignition to key on, engine off position".
The user manual definitely leaves something to be desired as that is about the extent of their instruction for scanner operation. As was discussed elsewhere, the manual states that "damage to the ECM may occur if communication is disrupted." One other member has already reported his van acting up after using the AP200, although it has not been confirmed that the AP200 was the cause.
Keeping all of the above in mind, this is what I have been using as a best practice when using the AP200(with my iPhone 6s):
1. Turn on phone bluetooth.
2. Plug AP200 into OBDII port.
**if this is your first time using the AP200 you will need to plug scanner in first and then connect your phone via bluetooth. After that, it will automatically recognize the scanner(at least on my phone).
3. Once plugged in, the AP200 will send a prompt to my phone after a few seconds asking if it's okay to send information to my phone. I say yes.
4. The generic AP200 app automatically opens. I now "Turn the vehicle ignition to key on, engine off position". I wait a few seconds.
5. I select Benz_Sprinter. The Benz_Sprinter app now opens.
5. Go through the above process of "manual" VIN entry.
6. I now have two choices: Auto Scan or Control unit.
Auto Scan scans everything, takes about 2 minutes. When I want live data--I select Control Unit and then navigate to what I specifically would like to monitor.
As noted above, I've gotten some odd fault codes when using the Auto Scan with the engine running that I don't get with it not running. However, for monitoring live data while driving I do the same as above with the exception of starting the engine instead of simply setting the ignition to on. From there I select Control Unit when I get that far, and I can do things like monitor Transmission Temp in real time. When you want to scan I would do that with the engine off, per the instruction manual.
For shutting it all down:
On every screen as you go through the process there is an ESC option at the bottom of the screen. This button take you back to the previous screen/selection. To close everything out in an attempt to avoid causing ECU problems as the manual states may occur, I simply hit the ESC button on every screen, moving backwards through selection choices, until the app asks me "are you sure you want to exit?". I say yes. I then close both the AP200 app and the Benz_Sprinter App. I remove the key from the ignition. I remove the dongle from the OBDII port.
Hope this helps.
vic
vic