I made a loaner laptop with techstream preloaded and ready to go.
I need a $400 deposit, and you pay shipping from zip code 31405. Deposit is promptly refunded when the laptop arrives back home (or at the next users house). So your total cost is usually about $20.
As a former toyota technician I can attest that having techstream is worth its weight in gold! Especially for its ability to diagnose any functions that a generic scan tool won’t be of any use for. Thank you for making this available to us @cyclehead you are a great asset to our community.
I don’t think there’s any risk with the cable itself. I’ve read the software that’s provided on the disc can be loaded with spyware, however I downloaded my copy of techstream directly from Toyota’s website.
The software provided flashes only with dealer credential. If you have dealer credential, you are probably not using this knock-off cable. Besides, as I have discussed at length previously, the Spyder generation of ECU cannot be reflashed - not by the dealer, not by anyone at Toyota, not by anyone on planet Earth. For a flashable ECU you have to wait until MY2003 ECU's that have J2534 compliance, that were never used on the ZZw30 platform - but they were used in Corollas and Matrix and other 1zz vehicles.
With that said it would not be impossible for someone to inject malicious code onto the chipset of these cables, and while it would not affect the Spyder ECU, it could affect other vechicle ECU's or the host system.
The software provided flashes only with dealer credential. If you have dealer credential, you are probably not using this knock-off cable. Besides, as I have discussed at length previously, the Spyder generation of ECU cannot be reflashed - not by the dealer, not by anyone at Toyota, not by anyone on planet Earth. For a flashable ECU you have to wait until MY2003 ECU's that have J2534 compliance, that were never used on the ZZw30 platform - but they were used in Corollas and Matrix and other 1zz vehicles.
With that said it would not be impossible for someone to inject malicious code onto the chipset of these cables, and while it would not affect the Spyder ECU, it could affect other vechicle ECU's or the host system.
Oh I see, I noticed my cheaper techstream rep cable the cluster throws xmas tree of lights, but my expensive cable does not and has less errors in functions in general
We had some of those aftermarket cables on laptops back when I worked at the Toyota dealership and never had any issues with them. Reflashed hundreds of cars with new calibrations and no issues with the cable or techstream software. Also, Iirc the factory ecu in the Spyder is from the era of before the calibration file could be updated.
If you use techstream with a cheaper cable, lights like ABS seem to flash and there seem to be some errors for functions sometimes, whereas expensive cable doesn't, more expensive cable such as ecutek or tactrix
I get a flashing ABS light while the cable is connected. I’ve used the cheap cables on all 5 of my SMT spyders, 2 Lexus sedans, and 2 Sienna vans. I’ve never noticed any false or erroneous codes.
Ah maybe its my techstream then, I'm using windows XP version too, but for some reason with my more expensive cables, no ABS lights, and everything just works
Mine is an XP laptop. Cheapish cable. No lights. Just works. I've used it on my Tundra, FRS & many Spyders.
What is consider a cheap vs. expensive cable?