iCarsoft CR MAX – The Best Automotive Diagnostics Tool Around?

I think it’s safe for us to say that the OBD reader is a blessing for the automotive industry. It’s made the art of diagnosis so much easier, without getting grease all over your hands. A plug, cable, and a good OBD-compatible diagnostics tool is all one needs to understand the wellbeing of their cars.

More importantly, could it stand out in a market of already excellent products? Well, for £379.00, it’s not the cheapest option out there. But given its breadth of ability and ease of use, it may be more than worth it. As a multi-brand OBD reader, the CR MAX can scan through vehicles made across over 40 different marques. So, what makes this 7-inch slab of glass any special?

Could it stand out in a market that already has a bunch of excellent OBD diagnostic tools? If we….error codes.

As iCarsoft’s latest multi-brand diagnostics tool with a 7-inch LCD capacitive touchscreen & 1024 x 600 quality displays, it can scan through vehicles made across over 40 different marques, from sports cars, vans to pickup trucks. For £379.00, that sounds like a great deal, no? Well, let’s take a peek and see what else can make this device any special…

The Basics Of OBDs

Let’s start with the basics. The iCarsoft CR MAX follows the OBDII standard, meaning it can work with vehicles from as far back as 20 years ago. In that case, you’ll be easily familiar with its functions just like other OBD readers out there. However, the CR MAX has a few unique specialities that you’ll be hard-pressed to find.

For example, it has something called the ‘Freeze Frame’ tool. Here, you can take snapshots of the vehicle’s operating parameters and conditions when the emissions control fails. This should make it easier for you to point your finger at the exact cause. On top of that, the CR MAX uppercuts most of its competition with over-the-air (OTA) functionality.

Now, instead of plugging into your computer to update its resource library, all the latest data and error codes could be updated on the fly. The operating system of the CR MAX is fundamentally an Android device. Therefore, it’s no harder to use than your phone. Just a swipe or tap here and there could take you deep into the car’s vehicle-specific directories and subsystems.

• I/M Readiness – A tool to check if the car’s emissions systems are working properly.
• O2 Sensor and Evap System – There are tests and diagnostics for each.
• Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) – You can relearn the throttle control valve values.
• ABS Bleeding – It can release air from the ABS braking system to restore performance.
• Injector Coding – Relearns the injector control parameters.
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) – Reprogramming for testing or replacement.
• AFS Head Lamp Reset – Rotate, recalibrate, or keep your adaptive headlights in place.
• Air Suspension – You can reset or recalibrate the electronic air-ride suspension.
• Steering Angle Sensor (SAS) – Recalibrate or relearn.
• Oil Warning Light and Check Engine Light – Reset, as well as resetting the service mileage.
• Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) – You can activate or deactivate them for servicing.
• Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) – Regeneration control to clear away any soot.
• Battery Management System (BMS) – Register a new battery.
• Gearbox Reset – Relearn the ECU and TCU on how to better monitor your driving style.
• A/C Service – Recalibrate the air-conditioning control systems, such as the mass airflow sensors.
• Air Filter – Tools for relearning the filtration system after a service or replacement.
• Fuel Pump – Activation function for when you get a new one.

More Special Service Functions

Plus, there are detailed OBD relearn coverages for each vehicle stored in the CR MAX. This includes detailed on-screen relearn procedures to help expedite the process. Here are just a few examples:

• ‘Gearbox Reset’ to reset transmission adaptive learning DIY, get ECU & TCU worked together by monitoring your driving pattern.
• ‘A/C Service’ for recalibrating the air-conditioning control units, such as the mass airflow system.
• ‘Air Filter’ servicing to relearn the filtration system following a replacement.
• ‘Fuel Pump’ activation function to relearn it when you get a new unit , bleeding of high-pressure fuel circuit ,check Fuel quantity
• ‘Electronic Throttle Control (ETC)’ to relearn the throttle control valve values .
• ‘ABS Bleeding’ to release air from the ABS braking system to restore performance.
• ‘Injector Coding’ to relearn the injector control parameters.
• ‘Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)’ programming for testing and inputting TPMS sensor replacement .
• ‘Head Lamp Reset’ to rotate or recalibrate the adaptive headlights, or to keep them in place.
• ‘Air Suspension’ relearn for the systems to reset electronic air-ride suspensions.
• ‘Steering Angle Sensor (SAS)’ calibration and relearn.
• ‘Oil Warning Light’ or ‘Check Engine Light’ reset, or reset the service mileage.
• ‘Electronic Parking Brake (EPB)’ deactivation and reactivation for servicing.
• ‘Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)’ regeneration control to clear soot.
• ‘Battery Management System (BMS)’ to register a new battery.
• Engine adaption (ECM) for routine maintenance of engine modules like reset or delete the adaptation values, calculate fuel consumption.
• Transmission adaption (TCM): for routine transmission maintenance like reset adaptation values, adjust the oil level.
•  Body Stability (BSC) for routine maintenance, reset or delete the adaptation values, start-up the unit.

Making Jargon Easy To Read

Reading and clearing out codes is a core feature of every OBD reader. But not all such diagnostics tools make this gibberish easy to read. With that in mind, the CR MAX enables you the choice of how you’d like data to be presented. Would you prefer a simple analogue output, graphs, or plain old text? You get to choose, as the information is streamed lived back to you.

There’s a built-in recording tool as well, to record the live diagnostics being pulled in from the car. On top of all this, it could pull in a particular vehicle’s MOT or service history. This would allow you a better understanding of how it was cared for. Or, use the VIN reader to see how the car was made. All of this data syncs automatically, ensuring that record-keeping is a breeze for later review.

As the iCarsoft CR MAX could plug into so many different vehicles at once, the variety of individual component tests and diagnostics are endless. Additionally, you’ll get comprehensive OBD relearn coverage stored on the device, including detailed on-screen relearn instructions to help you.

The only thing the iCarsoft CR MAX can’t feasibly do is fix your car for you. Otherwise, it excels in its ability as a diagnostics tool just as how you’d expect it to be. Then, it sprinkled in some extra nice-to-haves, just to make your life easier.