Tool Review: TOPDON Phoenix Max Scan Tool

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Q: How did the tool/equipment function as far as saving you time? 

A: I love the scan-all-modules function up front that identifies modules communicating and which ones have codes.  Jumping from that screen directly into the module is also a powerful feature that saves time.  Most other scanners also have the scan-all-modules function, but few have the graphical interface available on this scanner.  

Q: What kind of setup was involved before using the product? 

A: There is some setup required and the instruction book is not very good. I had to get help from product support to get the tool in operation.  The scope setup was instantaneous; I plugged it in, and it opened the scope app automatically.   

Q: How easy was it to use? 

A: I am an experienced scan tool user, having used a wide variety of factory and aftermarket scanners. I’d have to put this one somewhere in the middle as far as ease of use. I did have to make a few phone calls to tech support when I found the tool failed to record several long data captures I made, but they resolved the issue.

Q: How was its packaging? Did it come with any accessories? 

A: It came in a GIANT carrying case which in my opinion will probably not get used much, it is so big.  It does hold every connector and adapter available with the tool which is quite a lot of accessories. It has a docking station as well as the four-channel labscope and scan tool connectors for data link connectors that I have never seen. 

Q: What features did you like? 

A: The PID search function is flat-out amazing.  On a late model Ford vehicle where you can search every PID on the engine module and there are over 250 PIDs, the search window is invaluable.  That feature alone is enough to influence me to use this tool over others for a Ford product. It also has an option for ALL PIDS on a Nissan, something that other scan tools do not offer, so you cannot always combine the PIDs you want in a single data list, whereas this one will let you do that. 

Q: Is there any way you could think to improve or add to this tool? 

A: Open up a proactive pipeline with techs working with the tool so missing PIDs or functions are very easy to report and make sure that they get fixed quickly. Make it easy to export files from the tool to a laptop computer and if possible, make an export feature that will allow conversion to a CSV file.  If that were possible, the recordings could be uploaded to scanshare.io and I could use them much more effectively.  As of now, the recordings have to be replayed on the tool and recorded to an MP4 file with the screen recording utility. Also, the tablet is heavy and not very portable at all. 

Q: What types of jobs/repairs did you use this tool for? Please provide a few specific examples. 

A: I used the tool on multiple diagnostic jobs for vehicles with the MIL on. These included a 2014 Prius C with the master warning lamp on, a 2015 Nissan Versa Note with a P0304 and a P0300 that was melting ignition coils, a 2018 Honda Accord with a warning lamp for an ADAS system (brake light relay malfunction, various ADAS systems disabled), a 1998 Chrysler Sebring with an inoperative AC compressor relay, and multiple other vehicles.  In each of these cases, the tool was capable of giving me the needed information to diagnose the fault. 

Q: On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate this tool overall? Why? 

A: I give it an eight for having the search function and the network topology smart scan. It would be great if the network topology could help identify a module that was supposed to be on the car that was not communicating. I don't think any aftermarket scan tool has this functionality at the moment.