The ThinkCar ThinkScan 609 is huge and heavy, but it has one of the largest displays for a handheld device when it comes to OBD automobile data. On the downside, you’ll have to teach yourself how to use it.
The scanner not only has an extra-long cable or a flash storage card for exploring difficulties with the scanner in hand and preserving the results but also has an extra-long cable as well as a flash storage card for researching issues with the scanner in hand & saving the results. The ThinkScan 609 may be on the pricey side at $190, but it comes equipped to figure out what was going on within your automobile.
What you will see here?
Pricing and availability
The ThinkCar ThinkScan 609, which costs $190, comes with a slew of professional features for figuring out what’s wrong with your automobile. While the yellow ThinkScan 600 model costs $60 and also can monitor anti-lock brakes, oil, and tire pressure sensors, the blue 601 model costs $110 and gives you access to the car’s suspension and steering (SAS) components. The red 609 version I examined also works with a vehicle’s fuel system.
Design
Don’t be fooled by its own ping pong paddle design; the ThinkScan 609 is comfortable to hold it has one of the widest screens available in a vertically oriented OBD scanner. The 8.1 x 4.4 x 1.2-inch item, on the other hand, can be cumbersome to handle. However, its bright red cover will ensure that it does not go misplaced in a toolbox.
The ThinkScan 609 is 16 percent wider than that of the SeekOne SK860, already among the largest handheld scanners available, weighing 12.7 ounces versus 11.2 ounces for the SK860.
The benefit would be that the ThinkScan 609 does have a 3.5-inch display. This is 20% larger than the SeekOne SK860’s 2.8-inch screen. As a result, the data is presented in a more compact format, with outstanding graphics. This is especially noticeable when graphing live data ranging from coolant temperature to vehicle speed.
The ThinkScan 609’s 10 buttons produce a pleasant click when triggered, instead of soft keys that need intentional pressing. There are controls for performing the I/M Readiness pre-inspection series of tests. As well as checking up on problem codes and wiping emissions diagnostic data. Power, impending fault codes, no fault codes, and permanent fault codes all have their lights.
Performance
When the ThinkCar ThinkScan 609 was attached to Audi A4 Allroad, it displayed the vehicle’s important data as well as the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). With items for OBD, Service, Scan, Lookup, Review, Help, and Settings, the main menu is more complex than other scanners, but it’s straightforward to figure out.
The ThinkScan 609’s 54-inch cord was exactly long sufficient for me to operate in the engine area while holding the scanner. It can monitor airbags, oil pressure, anti-lock brakes, suspension, and steering component as well as the engine and transmission control computers, making it as near to a complete consumer scanner as possible. On diesel engines, it can even reveal issues with the fuel injectors or particulate filter.
After you unplug the oil temperature sensor, the device displayed the vehicle’s VIN and promptly identified the introduced defect. You can disable the Check Engine light. An automobile health report can be printed with the ThinkScan 609.
ThinkCar ThinkScan 609: Setup
The ThinkScan 609’s screen came to life a few seconds after attaching the wire to the 2014 Audi A4 Allroad, displaying the interface.
The ThinkScan 609 comes with a 16GB microSD card, a USB cable, and a USB card reader, so you can get right to work. Its documentation consists of a single fold-out sheet that explains how to upgrade the device’s firmware. Because there is no manual, it may not be suitable for individuals who are fresh to OBD scanners. However, there are some audience tutorials on how to utilize it.
The scanner comes with a one-year guarantee. This includes lifetime software upgrades and a little bit of support, including a FAQ site. Unfortunately, there is no handbook or user guide available online. If you email the support team, they’ll send you a brief setup instruction. But it’s nothing compared to the Innova 6100P’s 100-page manual. You can also use the website’s support chat window, however, calling ThinkCar will cost you a toll call to Canada.
Conclusion
The ThinkCar ThinkScan 609 3.5-inch display sets it apart from a swarm of vertical handheld OBD scanners, despite its size and bulk. It not only has a larger display and a 16GB flash card for transferring data and storing the data but also has superb graphics that make it simple to view what’s going on underneath the hood. The ThinkScan 609, on either hand, is devoid of documentation. It’s excellent for what it does, but it’s not for individuals who aren’t familiar with OBD scanners.
