How are all these Car tools developed?

[zubin3333]

Hi,

I am very impressed by the number of automotive tools there exist. From diagnostic tools and scanners like Launch Tech, Delphi, Autel... to Key programming tools, to Odometer correction software. Some of these tools/software have 1000s of car models from many different manufacturers. And I am wondering how these companies managed to make these fantastic tools.

Do car manufacturers help these companies develop their tools?
Do these companies try to find engineers at car manufacturers to make these tools?
Do these companies buy all the different models of cars that their tools work with to reverse engineer them (would they really buy thousands of cars)?
Or how else do they make these tools?

If anyone works for these companies or knows what happens at them I would really appreciate it since it fascinates how these very professional tools get released without the support from the car companies.

Thanks!

[wissamshaat]

reverse engineering...

[zubin3333]

Any idea how one company gets access to 1000s of cars to reverse engineer?

[smokey08]

I would guess they get hold of original tool and reverse engineer that.


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[tomvleeuwen]

Judging from the similarities in the descriptions, I'd say many vendors just reverse engineer the file format that the original tool use internally, and then just copy these files over.
But it's only based on the observation that the Autel has _exactly_ the same instructions in the service function as DIS and ISTA/D.
ISTA/D is the current official BMW tool, DIS is it's predecessor. In ISTA/D you can still observe some references to DIS, like the instructions "click right allow" while it has been replaced by a "next" button in ISTA/D. However, the same mistake is also present in Autel, so it seems that nobody at Autel even read the instructions.

[zubin3333]

That is really interesting! You know it makes me wonder wether these companies also copy stuff from each other and then build on from that. I'd imagine as a new player this might be the most cost effective method of creating one of these tools.

[Kic]

I think there is also a degree of copying each others work between 3rd party tool manufactures.
Some are specialist for a particular brand and RnD a lot of their own solutions and after release of their tool/sw you soon see other offering solutions for the same make/model.

[green1]

Autel took GM to court regarding locking down their own cars diagnostically , & won, so that may tell you something about development, about Autel at least. But in essence , yes, the diag tool makers copy the dealer tool functions.