Didn't find anything when I did a search so I figured I'd ask here.

Does anyone know of a place that you can "rent" a Win-Star machine? Does that even exist?

I was thinking that if some people were interested, a few of us could pool our resources to buy a system and then rent it to other HHR forum owners/members? Of course we'd take a credit card number and a deposit in addition to rental. Deposit would be returned after win-star system was received in its entirety.

Good idea, bad idea?

 

What is it?

 

JediAce, Win Star is a diagnostic system that works for all kinds of vehichles. It lets you read codes, remove them, reprogram the car's computer, enable settings, etc. Its basically a set of cables, a laptop and the diagnostic system installed on a laptop. There are also touchscreen, handheld models.

Most GM shops (and all dealerships) use the Tech II system but that is only for GM vehchles. I imagine that some people on this forum do not own just an HHR. As such, a Win Star DAS would make more sense.

 

Not a bad idea....depending on the validity and accuracy of the system. But I for-see a problem in shipping time from one end of the country.....next day air or even second day air would "eat" the difference of a dealer visit and a do-it-yourself. Also with the unit repair issues.......You know many people only THINK they know how to use certain tools.

Also, probably would be obsolete in a year or 2 for GM vehicles. I understand GM will be going to a proprietary web based system and render the Tech II useless.

 

2010 Camaro and Equinox do not use the Tech II. They use a tool called the MDI and programming is done through GDS (Global Diagnostic System) on the web.




Post #4000

 

I imagine most manufacturers will probably move to a web based system. Seems silly because it would be kind of trivial to grab that data as it goes across the web.

However, it is probably better that way as updates and such are much more easy to "push out" to repair shops and especially dealerships. No longer will. Until such time that these is the norm, I still think Win Star systems (and the manufacturer systems such as MB Star for Mercedes Benz) will continue to be viable for a few years.