Autel Intelligent Tech MAXISYSULTRA18 Users Manual

FCC-ID:WQ8MAXISYSULTRA18

Trademarks

Autel®, MaxiSys®, MaxiDAS®, MaxiScan®, MaxiTPMS®, MaxiRecorder®, and MaxiCheck®
are trademarks of Autel Intelligent Technology Corp., Ltd., registered in China, the United
States and other countries. All other marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of
their respective holders.

Copyright Information

No part of this manual may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in
any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise
without the prior written permission of Autel.

Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liabilities

All information, specifications and illustrations in this manual are based on the latest
information available at the time of printing.

Autel reserves the right to make changes at any time without notice. While information of
this manual has been carefully checked for accuracy, no guarantee is given for the
completeness and correctness of the contents, including but not limited to the product
specifications, functions, and illustrations.

Autel will not be liable for any direct, special, incidental, indirect damages or any economic
consequential damages (including lost profits).

IMPORTANT

Before operating or maintaining this unit, please read this manual carefully, paying extra
attention to the safety warnings and precautions.

For Services and Support:

pro.autel.com
www.autel.com

1-855-288-3587/1-855-AUTELUS (North America)
0086-755-86147779 (China)

[e-mail]

For details, please refer to the Service Procedures in this manual.

i

Safety Information

For your own safety and the safety of others, and to prevent damage to the device and
vehicles upon which it is used, it is important that the safety instructions presented
throughout this manual be read and understood by all persons operating or coming into
contact with the device.

There are various procedures, techniques, tools, and parts for servicing vehicles, as
well as in the skill of the person doing the work. Because of the vast number of test
applications and variations in the products that can be tested with this equipment, we
cannot possibly anticipate or provide advice or safety messages to cover every
circumstance. It is the automotive technician’s responsibility to be knowledgeable of the
system being tested. It is crucial to use proper service methods and test procedures. It
is essential to perform tests in an appropriate and acceptable manner that does not
endanger your safety, the safety of others in the work area, the device being used, or
the vehicle being tested.

Before using the device, always refer to and follow the safety messages and applicable
test procedures provided by the manufacturer of the vehicle or equipment being tested.
Use the device only as described in this manual. Read, understand, and follow all
safety messages and instructions in this manual.

Safety Messages

Safety messages are provided to help prevent personal injury and equipment damage.
All safety messages are introduced by a signal word indicating the hazard level.

DANGER

Indicates an imminently hazardous situation which, if not avoided, will result in death or
serious injury to the operator or to bystanders.

WARNING

Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in death or
serious injury to the operator or to bystanders.

Safety Instructions

The safety messages herein cover situations Autel is aware of. Autel cannot know,
evaluate or advise you as to all of the possible hazards. You must be certain that any
condition or service procedure encountered does not jeopardize your personal safety.

DANGER

When an engine is operating, keep the service area WELL VENTILATED or attach a
building exhaust removal system to the engine exhaust system. Engines produce

ii

carbon monoxide, an odorless, poisonous gas that causes slower reaction time and
can lead to serious personal injury or loss of life.

Do Not Turn the Volume Up Too Loud When Using Headphones

Listening at high volumes that over-stimulate the ear for long periods of time may result
in loss of hearing.

Safety Warnings

 Always perform automotive testing in a safe environment.
 Wear safety eye protection that meets ANSI standards.
 Keep clothing, hair, hands, tools, test equipment, etc. away from all moving or hot

engine parts.

 Operate the vehicle in a well-ventilated work area, for exhaust gases are

poisonous.

 Put the transmission in PARK (for automatic transmission) or NEUTRAL (for

manual transmission) and make sure the parking brake is engaged.

 Put blocks in front of the drive wheels and never leave the vehicle unattended

while testing.

 Be extra cautious when working around the ignition coil, distributor cap, ignition

wires and spark plugs. These components create hazardous voltages when the
engine is running.

 Keep a fire extinguisher suitable for gasoline, chemical, and electrical fires nearby.
 Do not connect or disconnect any test equipment while the ignition is on or the

engine is running.

 Keep the test equipment dry, clean, free from oil, water or grease. Use a mild

detergent on a clean cloth to clean the outside of the equipment as necessary.

 Do not drive the vehicle and operate the test equipment at the same time. Any

distraction may cause an accident.

 Refer to the service manual for the vehicle being serviced and adhere to all

diagnostic procedures and precautions. Failure to do so may result in personal
injury or damage to the test equipment.

 To avoid damaging the test equipment or generating false data, make sure the

vehicle battery is fully charged and the connection to the vehicle DLC is clean and
secure.

 Do not place the test equipment on the distributor of the vehicle. Strong

electro-magnetic interference can damage the equipment.

iii

CONTENTS

SAFETY INFORMATION ........................................................................................................ II

SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS....................................................................................................... II

1 USING THIS MANUAL ................................................................................................... 1

1.1 CONVENTIONS ............................................................................................................. 1

2 GENERAL INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................... 3

2.1 MAXISYS DISPLAY TABLET ............................................................................................ 3

2.2 MAXIFLASH VCMI – VEHICLE COMMUNICATION AND MEASUREMENT INTERFACE................ 8

2.3 ACCESSORIES KIT ...................................................................................................... 12

3 GETTING STARTED ................................................................................................ .... 14

3.1 POWER UP ................................................................................................................ 14

3.2 POWER DOWN ........................................................................................................... 17

3.3 INSTALLING COMPUTER SOFTWARE ............................................................................. 18

4 DIAGNOSTICS OPERATION ....................................................................................... 20

4.1 ESTABLISH VEHICLE COMMUNICATION AND SELECTION .................................................. 20

4.2 DIAGNOSTICS SCREEN LAYOUT ................................................................................... 30

4.3 AUTO SCAN ............................................................................................................... 38

4.4 READ AND ERASE CODES ........................................................................................... 42

4.5 LIVE DATA ................................................................................................................. 43

4.6 ACTIVE TEST ............................................................................................................. 49

4.7 ECU INFORMATION .................................................................................................... 50

4.8 SPECIAL FUNCTIONS .................................................................................................. 51

4.9 PROGRAMMING AND CODING ....................................................................................... 52

4.10 GENERIC OBD II OPERATIONS .................................................................................. 56

4.11 DIAGNOSTIC REPORT ............................................................................................... 60

4.12 EXIT DIAGNOSTICS ................................................................................................... 64

5 REPAIR ASSIST ........................................................................................................... 65

5.1 ACCESS THE SYSTEM ................................................................................................. 65

5.2 CODE RESULTS DROPDOWN MENU ............................................................................. 67

5.3 REPAIR CASE SCREEN LAYOUT ................................................................................... 67

5.4 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (OEM INFORMATION) .................................................... 69

5.5 FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE .................................................................................... 69

5.6 TROUBLESHOOTING.................................................................................................... 70

5.7 REAL FIXES ............................................................................................................... 71

5.8 RELEVANT REPAIR INFORMATION ................................................................................. 72

iv

5.9 RELEVANT CASES ...................................................................................................... 73

6 SERVICE OPERATION ................................................................................................ 74

6.1 OIL RESET SERVICE ................................................................................................... 74

6.2 ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE (EPB) SERVICE ................................................................. 75

6.3 TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) SERVICE .............................................. 75

6.4 BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (BMS) SERVICE ................................ ........................ 76

6.5 DIESEL PARTICLE FILTER (DPF) SERVICE .................................................................... 76

6.6 IMMOBILIZER (IMMO) SERVICE ................................................................................... 77

6.7 STEERING ANGLE SENSOR (SAS) SERVICE .................................................................. 78

7 REMOTE PROGRAMMING OPERATION .................................................................... 79

7.1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................ 79

7.2 GETTING STARTED ..................................................................................................... 80

7.3 OPERATION ............................................................................................................... 81

8 MAXIFIX ....................................................................................................................... 88

8.1 GETTING STARTED ..................................................................................................... 88

8.2 NAVIGATION .............................................................................................................. 88

8.3 OPERATIONS ............................................................................................................. 90

9 MEASUREMENT OPERATION .................................................................................. 103

9.1 OSCILLOSCOPE OPERATION ...................................................................................... 103

9.2 MULTIMETER OPERATION ......................................................................................... 166

9.3 SIGNAL GENERATOR OPERATION .............................................................................. 190

9.4 OBD COMMUNICATION LINE INSPECTION OPERATION .................................................. 218

10 DATA MANAGER OPERATION ................................................................................. 246

10.1 VEHICLE HISTORY .................................................................................................. 247

10.2 WORKSHOP INFORMATION ...................................................................................... 249

10.3 CUSTOMER MANAGER ............................................................................................ 250

10.4 IMAGE ................................................................................................................... 251

10.5 PDF FILES ............................................................................................................ 252

10.6 REVIEW DATA ........................................................................................................ 252

10.7 APPS UNINSTALL ................................................................................................... 253

10.8 DATA LOGGING ...................................................................................................... 254

11 SETTINGS .................................................................................................................. 255

11.1 OPERATIONS ......................................................................................................... 255

12 UPDATE ..................................................................................................................... 260

13 VCMI MANAGER ........................................................................................................ 262

v

13.1 WI-FI CONNECTION ................................................................................................ 263

13.2 BT PAIRING ........................................................................................................... 264

13.3 UPDATE ................................ ................................................................................ 266

14 ADAS .......................................................................................................................... 267

15 SUPPORT OPERATION ............................................................................................ 268

15.1 PRODUCT REGISTRATION ....................................................................................... 268

15.2 SUPPORT SCREEN LAYOUT ..................................................................................... 269

15.3 MY ACCOUNT ........................................................................................................ 269

15.4 USER COMPLAINT .................................................................................................. 270

15.5 DATA LOGGING ...................................................................................................... 271

15.6 TRAINING CHANNELS .............................................................................................. 272

15.7 FAQ DATABASE .................................................................................................... 272

16 REMOTE DESK OPERATION .................................................................................... 273

16.1 OPERATIONS ......................................................................................................... 273

17 QUICK LINK OPERATION ......................................................................................... 275

18 MAXIVIEWER OPERATION ....................................................................................... 276

19 MAXIVIDEO OPERATION .......................................................................................... 278

19.1 ADDITIONAL ACCESSORIES ..................................................................................... 279

19.2 OPERATIONS ......................................................................................................... 282

20 MAXIMALL OPERATION ............................................................................................ 285

20.1 OPERATIONS ......................................................................................................... 285

21 MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE ................................................................................ 291

21.1 MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS ................................................................................. 291

21.2 TROUBLESHOOTING CHECKLIST ............................................................................... 291

21.3 ABOUT BATTERY USAGE ......................................................................................... 292

21.4 SERVICE PROCEDURES .......................................................................................... 293

22 COMPLIANCE INFORMATION .................................................................................. 296

23 WARRANTY ............................................................................................................... 298

23.1 12-MONTH LIMITED WARRANTY .............................................................................. 298

vi

1 Using This Manual

This manual contains device usage instructions.
Some illustrations shown in this manual may contain modules and optional equipment

that are not included in your system.

1.1 Conventions

The following conventions are used.

1.1.1 Bold Text

Bold text is used to highlight selectable items such as buttons and menu options.
Example:

 Tap OK.

1.1.2 Notes and Important Messages

Notes

A NOTE provides helpful information such as additional explanations, tips, and
comments.

Example:

NOTE

New batteries reach full capacity after approximately 3 to 5 charging and discharging
cycles.

Important

IMPORTANT indicates a situation which, if not avoided, may result in damage to the
tablet or vehicle.

Example:

IMPORTANT

Keep the cable away from heat, oil, sharp edges and moving parts. Replace damaged
cables immediately.

1

1.1.3 Hyperlink

Hyperlinks or links that take you to other related articles, procedures, and illustrations
are available in electronic documents. Blue italic text indicates a selectable hyperlink
and blue underlined text indicates a website link or an email address link.

1.1.4 Illustrations

Illustrations used in this manual are samples, and the actual testing screen may vary for
each vehicle being tested. Observe the menu titles and on-screen instructions to make
correct option selection.

1.1.5 Procedures

An arrow icon indicates a procedure.
Example:
 To use the camera:

1. Tap the Camera button. The camera screen opens.

2. Focus the image to be captured in the view finder.

3. Tap the inner blue circle. The view finder now shows the captured picture
and auto-saves the taken photo.

4. Tap the thumbnail image on the top right corner of the screen to view the
stored image.

5. Tap the Back or Home button to exit the camera application.

2

2 General Introduction

The MaxiSys Ultra provides full functions and on-line repair information needed when
diagnosing vehicles, identifying faults and researching repairs. It features a powerful
octa-core processor and 12.9 inch TFT-LCD capacitive touch screen for swift diagnosis
and optimum viewing. As an intelligent diagnostic and information system, MaxiSys
Ultra not only displays the relevant repairs gathered from experienced industry experts,
but provides step-by-step guidance to ensure the repair is done correctly and efficiently.

There are three main components to the MaxiSys system:

 MaxiSys Display Tablet – the central processor and monitor for the system.
 MaxiFlash VCMI - Vehicle Communication and Measurement Interface

This manual describes the construction and operation of these devices and how they
work together to deliver diagnostic solutions.

2.1 MaxiSys Display Tablet

2.1.1 Functional Description

Figure 2-1 MaxiSys Tablet Front View

1. 12.9” TFT-LCD Capacitive Touch Screen

2. Ambient Light Sensor – detects ambient brightness.

3. Power LED - refer to Table 2-1 Power LED Description for details.

4. Front Camera

5. Built-in Microphone
3

LED

Color

Description

Power

Green

 Lights green when the Display Tablet is charging and

the battery level is above 90%.

 Lights green when the Display Tablet is powered on

and the battery level is above 15%

Yellow

Lights yellow when the Display Tablet is charging and the
battery level is below 90%.

Red

Lights red when the Display Tablet is powered on and the
battery level is below 15%

Table 2-1 Power LED Description

Figure 2-2 MaxiSys Tablet Back View

6. Docking Station Port

7. Collapsible Stand – extends from the back to allow hands-free viewing of the tablet

8. Speaker

9. Rear Camera

10. Camera Flash

11. Mini USB Port - cannot be used with the USB Port simultaneously

Figure 2-3 MaxiSys Tablet Top Side

4

12. USB Port

13. USB Port

14. Mini SD Card Slot

15. HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) Port

16. Head Phone Jack

17. DC Power Supply Input Port

18. Lock/Power Button – long press to turn on and off the Display Tablet, or short press

to lock the screen.

Figure 2-4 Docking Station

1. DC Power Port – connects to the AC/DC adapter for power supply

2. Charging Dock – holds the MaxiSys tablet while providing optimum visibility and

convenient charging

3. Status Indicator Light

The Indicator Light displays differently in response to the tablet status described below:
A. Green light – battery power of the tablet is sufficient (≥90%);
B. Yellow light – battery level is above 14% but below 90%;
C. Red light – battery level is below 14%;

NOTE

Please make sure no small metal or other conductive parts are around the Charging
Dock to avoid short circuit damage to the device.

2.1.2 Power Sources

The tablet can receive power from any of the following sources:

 Internal Battery Pack
 AC/DC Power Supply

5

Item

Description

Operating System

Android 7.0

Processor

Samsung Exynos8895V 8-core Processor (2.3GHz
Quad-core Mongoose + 1.7GHz Quad-core A53)

Memory

4GB RAM & 256GB On-board Memory

Display

12.9 inch TFT-LCD with 2732 x 2048 resolution &
capacitive touch screen

Connectivity

 WiFix2 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2x2 MIMO)
 BT v.2.1 + EDR
 GPS
 USB 2.0 (TWO USB HOST Type A, ONE USB

mini device)

 SD Card (Support up to 64GB)
 HDMI 2.0

Camera

 Rear: 16 Megapixel, Autofocus with Flashlight
 Front: 5.0 Megapixel

 Vehicle Power

IMPORTANT

Please charge the battery with the ambient temperature between 0°C and 45°C. If
charge the battery when the temperature is out of range, the battery may catch on fire.

Internal Battery Pack

The tablet can be powered with the internal rechargeable battery, which if fully charged
can provide sufficient power for about 8 hours of continuous operation.

AC/DC Power Supply – using power adapter or docking station

The tablet can be powered from a wall socket using the AC/DC power adapter or the
docking station. The AC/DC power supply also charges the internal battery pack.

Vehicle Power

The tablet can be powered from the cigarette lighter or other suitable power port on the
test vehicle through a direct cable connection. The vehicle power cable connects to the
DC power supply port on the top side of the display unit.

2.1.3 Technical Specifications

Table 2-2 Tablet Specifications

6

Item

Description

Sensors

Gravity Accelerometer, Ambient Light Sensor (ALS)

Audio
Input / Output

 Microphone
 Dual Speakers
 3-Band 3.5 mm stereo/standard headset jack

Power and Battery

 18000mAH 3.8 V lithium-polymer battery
 Charging via 12 V AC/DC power supply with

the temperature between 0°C and 45°C

Input Voltage

12V/3A Adapter

Operating Temp.

0 to 50°C (32 to 122°F)

Storage Temp.

-20 to 60°C (-4 to 140°F)

Dimensions (WxHxD)

366.5 mm (14.43”) x 280.9 mm (11.06”) x 34 mm
(1.34”)

Weight

2.18kg (4.81 lb.)

Protocols

DoIP, PLC J2497, ISO-15765, SAE-J1939,
ISO-14229 UDS, SAE-J2411 Single Wire
Can(GMLAN), ISO-11898-2, ISO-11898-3,
SAE-J2819 (TP20), TP16, ISO-9141, ISO-14230,
SAE-J2610 (Chysler SCI), UART Echo Byte,
SAE-J2809 (Honda Diag-H), SAE-J2740 (GM
ALDL), SAE-J1567 (CCD BUS), Ford UBP, Nissan
DDL UART with Clock, BMW DS2, BMW DS1, SAE
J2819 (VAG KW81), KW82, SAE J1708, SAE-J1850
PWM (Ford SCP), SAE-J1850 VPW (GM Class2)

Item

Description

Input Voltage

DC/12V/3A

Operating Temperature

-10°C to +55°C (ambient)

Storage Temperature

-40°C to +85°C (ambient)

Dimensions (L x W x H)

396 x 136 x 54 (mm)

Weight

0.98kg (2.1605lb.)

Table 2-3 Docking Station Specifications

7

2.2 MaxiFlash VCMI – Vehicle Communication and
Measurement Interface

2.2.1 Functional Description

Figure 2-5 VCMI Top View

1. Multimeter Jacks

2. USB Port

3. Hook

4. DC Power Supply Input Port

5. Power Button

Figure 2-6 VCMI Front View

6. Power LED – refer to Table 2-4 Power LED Description for details

7. Battery LED - refer to Table 2-5 Battery LED Description for details

8. Signal Generator LED - lights green when operating in the signal generator mode

9. Multimeter LED - lights green when operating in the multimeter mode

10. Oscilloscope LED - lights green when operating in the oscilloscope mode and

flashes green when communicating

11. Vehicle LED - refer to Table 2-6 Vehicle LED Description for details
8

LED

Color

Description

Power

Yellow

Lights yellow automatically at power up when VCMI is

self-testing.

Green

Lights solid green when powered on.

Red

 Lights solid red when system failure occurs.
 Flashes red when VCMI is upgrading.

LED

Color

Description

Battery
Green

 Flashes green when VCMI is charging.
 Lights solid green when fully charged or the battery

level is above 75%.

Yellow

Lights yellow when the battery level is above 25% but

below 75%.

IMPORTANT

Do not disconnect the programming device while the vehicle LED status light is on! If
the flash programming procedure is interrupted while the vehicle’s ECU is blank or only
partially programmed, the module may be unrecoverable.

Figure 2-7 VCMI Bottom View

12. Ethernet Port

13. Vehicle Data Connector (DB26-Pin)

14. Input Channel A

15. Input Channel B

16. Input Channel C

17. Input Channel D

Table 2-4 Power LED Description

Table 2-5 Battery LED Description

9

LED

Color

Description

Red

 Lights red when the battery level is above 10% but

below 25%.

 Flashes red when the battery level is below 10%.

LED

Color

Description

Vehicle

Green

Lights solid green when connected via USB cable.
Flashes green when communicating.

Blue

Lights solid blue when connected via BT. Flashes blue

when communicating.

Cyan

(Blue/Green)

Lights solid cyan when connected via Wi-Fi. Flashes

cyan (blue/green) when communicating.

Magenta
(Blue/Red)

Lights solid magenta when connected via Internet cable.
Flashes magenta (blue/red) when communicating.

Communication Capability

Table 2-6 Vehicle LED Description

The Vehicle Communication and Measurement Interface supports BT, Wi-Fi and USB
communications. It can transmit vehicle data to the tablet with or without a physical
connection. In open areas, the working range of the transmitter through BT
communication is up to 328 feet (100 m). The working range of 2.4G Wi-Fi
communication is up to 328 feet (100 m) while 5G Wi-Fi is up to 164 feet (50 m). A
signal lost due to moving out of range automatically restores itself when the tablet unit
is brought closer to the VCMI unit.

Measurement Capability

The VCMI device is designed with the functions of multimeter, oscilloscope, signal
generator and OBD communication line inspection. The parameters such as voltage,
resistance, current, signal frequency, and voltage-time characteristic of the signal can
be measured and the results are displayed on the Display Tablet.

Programming Capability

The VCMI device is a D-PDU, SAE J2534-1 & RP1210 compliant PassThru
programming interface device. Using the updated OEM software, it is capable of
replacing the existing software/firmware in the Electronic Control Units (ECU),
programming new ECUs and fixing software-controlled drivability issues and emission
issues.

10

Item

Description

Communications

 BT V2.1 + EDR
 USB 2.0
 Wi-Fi 2.4G/5G
 Ethernet

Wireless Frequency

2.4GHz/5GHz

Power and Battery

 3750 mAh lithium-polymer battery
 Charging via 12 V DC power supply

Operating Temp.

0°C to 50°C

Storage Temp.

-20°C to 60°C

Dimensions (L x W x H)

214 mm (8.43”) x 192 mm (7.56”) x 39 mm
(1.54”)

Weight

g ( lb.)

2.2.2 Power Sources

The VCMI device can receive power from the following sources:

 Vehicle Power
 AC/DC Power Supply
 Built-in Battery Pack

Vehicle Power

The VCMI device operates on 12/24 Volt vehicle power, which it receives through the
vehicle data connection port. The device powers on whenever it is connected to an
OBD II/EOBD compliant data link connector (DLC). For non OBD II/EOBD compliant
vehicles, the device can be powered from a cigarette lighter or other suitable power port
on the test vehicle using the auxiliary power cable.

AC/DC Power Supply

The VCMI device can be powered from a wall socket using the AC/DC power adapter.

Built-in Battery Pack

The VCMI device can also be powered with its built-in 3750mAh battery pack.

2.2.3 Technical Specifications

Table 2-7 VCMI Specifications

NOTE

11

Benz-14

Chrysler-16

BMW-20

Nissan-14

Mitsubishi/Hyun

dai-12+16

Fiat-3

PSA-2

Mazda-17

VW/Audi-2+2

Benz-38

For additional information, please refer to the accompanied user manual for the VCMI
device.

2.3 Accessories Kit

2.3.1 Main Cable

The VCMI device can be powered through the Main Cable when connected to an OBD
II/EOBD compliant vehicle. The Main Cable connects the VCMI device to the vehicle’s
data link connector (DLC), through which the VCMI device can transmit vehicle data to
the tablet.

Figure 2-9 Main Cable – 1.5 m in length

2.3.2 OBD I Adapters

The OBD I adapters are for Non-OBD II vehicles. The adapter used depends on the
type of vehicle being tested. The most common adapters are shown (Some adapters
are optional, please contact your distributor for details).

12

Docking Station

Provides power to the tablet.

Standard 2.0 USB Cable

Connects the tablet to the VCMI unit.

AC/DC External Power Adapter

Connects the tablet to the external DC power port for
power supply.

Cigarette Lighter

Provides power to the tablet or the VCMI device
through connection to the vehicle’s cigarette lighter
receptacle, as some non-OBD II vehicles cannot
provide power via the DLC connection.

Clipper Cable

Provides power to the tablet or the VCMI device
through connection to the vehicle’s battery.

Lighter Fuse x2

A safety device for the cigarette lighter.

2.3.3 Other Accessories

13

3 Getting Started

Make sure the tablet has sufficient power or is connected to the external power supply
(see Power Sources on page 5).

3.1 Power Up

Long press the Lock/Power button on the top right side of the tablet to switch the unit on.
The system boots up and displays the MaxiSys Job Menu.

Figure 3-1 Sample MaxiSys Job Menu

1. Application Buttons

2. Locator and Navigation Buttons

3. Status Icons

NOTE

The screen is locked by default upon startup. It is recommended to lock the screen
when not in use to protect information in the system and conserve the power.

Almost all operations on the tablet are controlled through the touch screen. The touch
screen navigation is menu driven, which allows you to quickly locate the test procedure,
or data that you need, through a series of choices and questions. Detailed descriptions
of the menu structures are found in the chapters for each application.

14

Name

Button

Description

Diagnostics

Accesses the unit’s diagnostics functions. See

Diagnostics on page 20.

Service

Accesses special functions menu. See Service
on page 74.

Remote
Programming

Accesses remote programming request menu.
See Remote Programming on page 79.

MaxiFix

Provides the most compatible and abundant
repair techniques and diagnostics database. See

MaxiFix on page 88.

Measurement

Measures the parameters such as voltage,
resistance, current, and monitor signal activities.
See Measurement on page 103.

Data Manager

Accesses the organization system for saved data
files and to store workshop, consumer
information and vehicle test history. See Data

Manager on page 246.

Settings

Accesses the system settings menu and general
tablet menu. See Settings on page 255.

Update

Accesses system software update menu. See

Update on page 260.

VCMI
Manager

Accesses VCMI connection menu. See VCMI

Manager on page 262.

ADAS

Accesses ADAS introduction menu. See ADAS
on page 267.

Support

Synchronizes Autel’s online service base station
with the MaxiSys tablet. See Support on page

268.

Remote Desk

Configures your unit to receive remote support
using the TeamViewer application. See Remote

Desk on page 273.

3.1.1 Application Buttons

The table below briefly describes each of the applications in the MaxiSys system.

Table 3-1 Applications

15

Name

Button

Description

Quick Link

Provides associated website bookmarks to allow
quick access to product update, service, support
and other information. See Quick Link on page

275.

MaxiViewer

Provides a quick search for supported functions
and/or vehicles. See MaxiViewer on page 276.

MaxiVideo

Configures the unit to operate as a video scope
device by connecting to an Imager head cable for
close vehicle inspections. See MaxiVideo on
page 278.

MaxiMall

Repurchases the software that has expired. See

MaxiMall on page 285.

Name

Button

Description

Locator

Indicates the location of the screen. Swipe the
screen left or right to view the previous or next
screen.

Back

Returns to the previous screen.

Android Home

Returns to Android System’s Home screen.

Recent Apps

Displays a list of applications that are currently
working. Tap an app icon to launch. Remove an
app by swiping it to the right.

Browser

Launches the Chrome Internet browser.

Camera

Opens the camera with short press; takes and
saves screenshot image with long press. The
saved files are auto-stored in the Data Manager
application for later reviews. See Data Manager
on page 246.

3.1.2 Locator and Navigation Buttons

Operations of the Navigation buttons at the bottom of the screen are described in the
table below:

Table 3-2 Locator and Navigation Buttons

16

Name

Button

Description

Display &
Sound

Adjusts the brightness of the screen and the
volume of the audio output.

MaxiSys Home

Returns to MaxiSys Job Menu.

VCMI

Opens the VCMI Manager application. A green
icon at the bottom right corner indicates the
VCMI device has communicated successfully, a
red cross icon will display if connection fails. The
battery status icon indicates how much power
the VCMI device remains.

MaxiSys
Shortcut

Returns to the Diagnostics screen.

Service

Returns to the Service screen.

 To use the camera:

1. Tap the Camera button. The camera screen opens.

2. Focus the image to be captured in the view finder.

3. Tap the inner blue circle. The view finder now shows the captured picture and
auto-saves the taken photo.

4. Tap the thumbnail image on the top right corner of the screen to view the
stored image.

5. Tap the Back or Home button to exit the camera application.

Refer to Android documentation for additional information.

3.1.3 System Status Icons

These are the standard status icons of the Android operating system. Your MaxiSys
display tablet is a fully functional Android Pad. Refer to Android documentation for
additional information.

3.2 Power Down

All vehicle communications must be terminated before shutting down the tablet. A
warning message displays if a shutdown is attempted while the tablet is communicating
with the vehicle. Forcing a shut down while the tablet is communicating may lead to
ECM problems on some vehicles. Please exit the Diagnostics application before
shutting off the tablet.

 To power down the MaxiSys tablet:

17

1. Long press the Lock/Power Button.

2. Tap Power off option.

3. Tap OK.

3.2.1 Reboot System

In case of system crash, long press the Lock/Power button and tap Restart to reboot
the system.

3.3 Installing Computer Software

The MaxiSys Diagnostic Platform allows you to realize some of its functions on a
computer to enhance capabilities and improve user experience. To realize these
functions on a computer, you need to install certain software.

 To install the MaxiSys Printer driver program:

1. Download the Maxi PC Suite from www.autel.com > Support & Updates >
Firmware & Downloads > Update Client, and install to your windows-based
computer.

2. Follow the pop-up instructions to install the Maxi PC Suit to your PC.

3. After the Maxi PC Suite installation, the printer driver program will be installed into
your PC automatically, which is call PC Link.

4. Click on Finish to complete the whole installation procedure.

3.3.1 Printing Operation

This section describes how to receive files from the MaxiSys Tablet and perform
printing through the windows-based computer:

 To perform printing through the computer

1. Make sure the Display Tablet is connected to the computer network, either via
WiFi or LAN, before printing, See Printing Setting on page 256 for more
information.

2. Run the PC Link on the computer to open up the printer interface.

3. Click Test Print to make sure the printer is working successfully.

4. Tap the Print button on the toolbar displayed in various applications of the
MaxiSys system. A temporary file will be created and sent to the computer for
printing.

18

5. The MaxiSys Printer will print the received file automatically when the Auto Print
option is checked.

If you need to print the document later, click the Open PDF file and select the
document, and double click the Print on the MaxiSys Printer interface to start the
printing.

NOTE

Make sure the computer installed with the Printing Services program is connected
to a printer.

19

4 Diagnostics

The Diagnostics application can access the electronic control module of various vehicle
control systems, such as engine, transmission, antilock brake system (ABS), airbag
system (SRS) and more.

4.1 Establish Vehicle Communication and Selection

4.1.1 Establish Vehicle Communication

The Diagnostics operations require connecting the MaxiSys Ultra Diagnostic Platform
to the test vehicle through the VCMI device using the Main Cable and test adapters (for
non-OBD II vehicles). To establish proper vehicle communication to the tablet, you
need to perform the following steps:

1. Connect the VCMI device to the vehicle’s DLC for both communication and power

source.

2. Connect the VCMI device to the tablet via BT pairing, Wi-Fi or USB connection.

3. When the above steps are completed, check the VCMI navigation button at the

bottom bar on the screen, if a green BT, Wi-Fi or USB icon displays at the lower
right corner, the MaxiSys Ultra Diagnostic Platform is ready to start vehicle
diagnosis.

4.1.1.1 Vehicle Connection

The method used to connect the VCMI device to a vehicle’s DLC depends on the
vehicle’s configuration as follows:

 A vehicle equipped with an On-board Diagnostics Two (OBD II) management

system supplies both communication and 12-volt power through a standardized
J-1962 DLC.

 A vehicle not equipped with an OBD II management system supplies

communication through a DLC connection, and in some cases supplies 12-volt
power through the cigarette lighter receptacle or a connection to the vehicle
battery.

OBD II Vehicle Connection

This type of connection only requires the main cable without any additional adapter.
 To connect to an OBD II vehicle

20

1. Connect the main cable’s female adapter to the Vehicle Data Connector on the
VCMI device, and tighten the captive screws.

2. Connect the cable’s 16-pin male adapter to the vehicle’s DLC, which is
generally located under the vehicle dash.

NOTE

The vehicle’s DLC is not always located under the dash; refer to the user manual of the
test vehicle for additional connection information.

Non-OBD II Vehicle Connection

This type of connection requires both the main cable and a required OBD I adapter for
the specific vehicle being serviced.

There are three possible conditions for Non-OBD II vehicle connection:

 DLC connection supplies both communication and power.
 DLC connection supplies communication and power is to be supplied via the

cigarette lighter connection.

 DLC connection supplies communication and power is to be supplied via

connection to the vehicle battery.

 To connect to a Non-OBD II Vehicle

1. Connect the main cable’s female adapter to the Vehicle Data Connector on the
VCMI device, and tighten the captive screws.

2. Locate the required OBD I adapter and connect its 9-pin jack to the main
cable’s male adapter.

3. Connect the attached OBD I adapter to the vehicle’s DLC.

NOTE

Some adapters may have more than one adapter or may have test leads instead of an
adapter. Whatever the case, make the proper connection to the vehicle’s DLC as
required.

 To connect the cigarette lighter

1. Plug the DC power connector of the cigarette lighter into the DC power supply
input port on the device.

2. Connect the male connector of the cigarette lighter into the vehicle’s cigarette
lighter receptacle.

 To connect the clipper cable

1. Connect the tubular plug of the clipper cable to the male connector of the
cigarette lighter.

21

Figure 4-1 Connection between Cigarette Lighter and Clipper Cable

2. Plug the DC power connector of the cigarette lighter into the DC power supply
input port of the VCMI device.

3. Connect the clipper cable to the vehicle’s battery.

NOTE

After the VCMI device is successfully connected to the vehicle, the Power LED on the
device illuminates, and a brief beep sound will be heard.

4.1.1.2 VCMI Connection

After the VCMI device is properly connected to the vehicle, the Power LED on the VCMI
device illuminates solid green, and is ready to establish communication with the tablet.

Coming with the MaxiSys Ultra tool kit, the VCMI device supports 3 communication
methods with the tablet: BT, Wi-Fi and USB.

Pairing Up via BT

In open areas, the working range for BT communication is about 328 feet (100 m); this
means you can perform vehicle diagnosis freely around the workshop with greater
convenience.

If you use more than one VCMI device to connect to the test vehicles when customers
are many, you can perform vehicle diagnosis on various vehicles conveniently, by
pairing the tablet separately to each of the VCMI devices connected to the different test
vehicles, via BT, without the need to repeat the plugging and unplugging procedure,
which is unavoidable through traditional wired connection, thus saves you more time
and provides more efficiency.

 To pair up the tablet with the VCMI device via BT

1. If not already done, power up the tablet.

2. Select the VCMI Manager application from the MaxiSys Job Menu.

3. When the VCMI Manager application is opened, the device automatically
starts scanning for available VCMI devices around for BT pairing. The found
devices are listed in the Setting section on the right side of the screen.

22

NOTE

If no VCMI device is found, this may indicate that the signal strength of the transmitter is
too weak to be detected. In this case try to get closer to the device, or reposition the
VCMI device, and remove all possible objects that may cause signal interference.
When done, tap the Scan button at the top right corner to start searching again.

4. Depending on the VCMI type you use, the device name may display as Maxi
suffixed with a serial number. Select the required device for pairing.

5. When pairing is successfully done, the connection status displayed to the right
of the device name is shown as Connected.

6. Wait for a few seconds, and the VCMI button on the system Navigation bar at
the bottom of the screen shall display a green circle BT icon, indicating the
tablet is connected to the VCMI device, and is ready to perform vehicle
diagnosis.

Refer to BT Pairing on page 264 for additional information.

Wi-Fi Connection

The VCMI device supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi connection. Please choose

2.4GHz or 5GHz Wi-Fi connection according to specific situations. In open areas, the
working range of 2.4G Wi-Fi communication is up to 328 feet (100 m) while 5G Wi-Fi is
up to 164 feet (50 m).

 To pair up the tablet with the VCMI device via Wi-Fi

1. If not already done, power up the tablet.

2. Select the VCMI Manager application from the MaxiSys Job Menu.

3. When the VCMI Manager application is opened, the device automatically

starts scanning for available VCMI devices around for Wi-Fi connection. The
numbers of found VCMI devices are listed in the Setting section on the right
side of the screen.

4. Depending on the VCMI type you use, the device name may display as Maxi

suffixed with a serial number. Select the required device for connection.

5. When pairing is successfully done, the connection status is shown as

Connected.

6. Wait for a few seconds, and the VCMI button on the system Navigation bar at

the bottom of the screen shall display a green circle Wi-Fi icon, indicating the
tablet is connected to the VCMI device, and is ready to perform vehicle
diagnosis.

Refer to Wi-Fi Connection on page 263 for additional information.

USB Cable Connection

23

The USB cable connection is a simple and quick way to establish communication
between the tablet and the VCMI device. After properly connecting the USB cable from
the tablet to the VCMI device, the VCMI navigation button at the bottom bar of the
screen shows a green tick icon in a few seconds, and the USB LED on the VCMI device
illuminates solid green light, indicating the connection between the devices is
successful.

The MaxiSys diagnostic platform is now ready to perform vehicle diagnosis.

NOTE

Since the USB connection provides the most stable and fastest communication, it is
highly recommended to apply this communication method when operating ECU
programming or coding. When all the two communication methods are applied at the
same time, the MaxiSys system will use the USB communication as the default priority.

4.1.1.3 No Communication Message

A. If the tablet is not connected to the VCMI device, an “Error” message displays. An

“Error” message indicates the tablet is not communicating with the VCMI device,

and so cannot gain access to the vehicle control module. In this case, you need to
do the following check-ups:

 Check if the VCMI device is powered on.
 In case of wireless connection, check if the network is configured correctly, or

if the right device has been paired.

 If during the diagnosis process, communication is suddenly interrupted due to

the loss of signal, check if there are any objects that causes signal
interruption.

 Check if the VCMI device is properly positioned. It is recommended to put the

VCMI device with the front side up.

 Try standing closer to the VCMI device to obtain more stable signals, and

faster communication speed. In case of wired connection, check the cable
connection between the tablet and the VCMI device.

 Check if the green LED on the VCMI device is illuminated for BT, Wi-Fi or

USB.

B. If the VCMI device is unable to establish a communication link, a prompt message

displays with check instructions. The following conditions are the possible causes
for this massage to display:

 The VCMI device is unable to establish a communication link with the vehicle.
 You’ve selected a system for testing that the vehicle is not equipped with.
 There is a loose connection.
 There is a blown vehicle fuse.
 There is a wiring fault on the vehicle, or the data cable or adapter.

24