Review of the ATEQ TPM Quickset Tool
Preamble:
EDIT/UPDATE: The tool now supports numerous makes and models of vehicles including Acura, Infinity, Mitsibushi, Kia, Hyundai, Honda, Lexus, Nissan, Scion .....
Let me begin by giving some background. I recently purchased a 09 Highlander. Prior to doing so, I did a great deal of reading and research about TPMS sensors for the set of winter wheels I had picked out. I learned that my HL, like many vehicles, will not automatically reset the ECU to new TPMS sensors when swapping between winter and summer wheels, or after rotations.
Resetting the ECU means a trip to the dealer, and costs vary: $80 - $100 for the first programming of the 2nd set of wheels; $40-$60 for each subsequent swap. Some dealers do it for free, but often will do so if you go in and pay for their regularly schedule maintenance, where they make a killing anyway. I have the dealer do the essential maintenance (brake maintenance, cooling flush, oil), but I don’t need to pay them to check my air filter and fluids and other stuff that I know is fine.
So in my search for TPMS sensors for my winter wheels, I came across Revolution Supply, where after receiving some excellent support and answers to my questions, I learned that they were working with a company to have a tool developed that would allow the average car owner program the ECU without going to the dealer.
Well, after many weeks of anticipation, Revolution Supply asked me to beta test the tool, and so I did, and thus the reason for this post....to introduce the tool to those who may be interested, and give my frank feedback on its usefulness.
How To:
Let me beginning with a step by step of the install and use of the tool.
As per the picture below, the package arrived with the tool, USB cable and a CD. The retail version will also come with an OSBD extension cable.....will get to that later.
Connect the tool to the PC using the USB provided. Load your CD and double click on the TPMS Quickset icon.....it takes about 15 seconds to complete the install.
Once complete, the software should load automatically. If not, the ATEQ Quickset icon will be on your desktop, so click to load and the following message appears..click OK given your tool should already be connected.
After doing above, the software will automatically connect to the internet to check for the latest version of the software and download if applicable.
The beta version I tried looked like the following, but future versions will likely change based on my feedback.
Click on Select a Car. The window will change requesting you to select a make, then will change again requesting you select a model. NOTE: the beta version did not accommodate Hybrid Highlanders, but I have been told that the the software will be updated so it will
Then the following screen appears, requesting you unplug the tool from the PC, go to your vehicle, turn the ignition to the ON position without starting the engine, and press either the summer or winter button until the green LED on the tool remains solid. This process reads the TPMS sensor IDs from your ECU.
NOTE: you will notice from the picture that the tool’s buttons are facing the firewall when plugged in, making it difficult to use. I raised this with the manufacturer, and as a result, they are including an OSBD extension cable with the tool.
Then take the tool back to the PC, connect and click CLICK HERE. A yellow pop-up window ask you to assign the TPMS Ids you just read from your ECU either summer or winter. Click the appropriate one.
The next screen will display all the codes. At this point, write down the code for your spare tire and put aside....you will need it later.
Click CONFIRM to store the codes and go back to the main page.
To toggle between Summer and Winter, you simply click on Summer or Winter at the top of the page. Click to enter your TPMS Ids for your other set of wheels.
NOTE: The tool WILL NOT read TPMS sensor Ids that have not been programmed into the ECU. So, if you have bought, or plan to buy sensors for your 2nd set of wheels, take note of the sensor Ids and better yet, take a picture of each sensor.
To enter the 2nd set of Ids into the software, you simply click on the appropriate mode (winter or summer), then click on the appropriate wheel of the diagram on the home page. A small window appears to enter your code. When the code is entered, hit ENTER to store the code. Do this for all wheels. Remember the code you wrote down for the spare tire? Well enter it as your code for your 2nd set of wheels (unless you’re changing your spare as well!)
NOTE: the software will only accept 8 digit codes. My sensor Ids were only 7. I simply added a zero to the front and it worked fine.
Then, if you click on TPM Quickset button, a page will appear displaying the Ids for both summer and winter wheels. Note, your spare should be the same for both.
Now, at this point, you can either go back to do nothing, or if you want to program your 2nd set of wheels into the ECU, click on CONFIRM. I swapped my tires out from my stock 19" wheels to my winters to test both my sensors and the software.
The next window appears instructing you to take the tool the car, turn the ignition to the ON position without starting, plugging in the tool, pressing the appropriate mode button on the tool until the tpms warning light begins to blink on the dash, then unplug. Turn the car off, then start and drive. I literally pulled into my driveway and got about 400 yards down the road and the light turned off. Awesome!!
When you’re done, click “CLICK HERE” and it takes you back to the home page.
YOU’RE DONE!!
There is also a function to allow you to rotate your tires, and in the Load Old Set panel, you can scroll through the details of previous changes.
My Thoughts:
The tool itself is very easy to use. Two buttons: winter designated by snowflake, and summer designated by the sun. That’s it.
The software is where most of the work takes place. For a beta version, it was pretty darn good. As you saw above, the software is rather easy to use, but there were a few glitches I picked up on, as well as few recommendations to make it more user friendly, such as adding simple instructions in boxes (such as click on tires to enter codes), and to use a slightly modified colour scheme to differentiate between clickable and non-clickable buttons. Also, the tire swap function had no option for swapping back to front on the same side.....required if you have directional tires. The manufacturer said they would rectify these issues for the next software version..
The software is rather easy to use. I had some basic instructions that were still in draft form, and I still got through it rather painlessly. Some functions were not as intuitive as I would have liked, but with proper instructions, there should not be an issue.
For now, it works on PC only. They are working on a MAC version, but no ETA is available.
In the TPM Quickset panel, you can can save your tire set and give it a name. That way, if you want to return to that set and tpms positioning on the vehicle, you simply have to go to Load Old Set, click on the set.
At the moment, the tool will only allow the management of one vehicle, however, a software release, expected shortly, will allow for management of up to 4 vehicles. :thumbsup:
The COST: $149.99 from Revolution Supply (contact Russ)
So do I recommend this tool? Well, if your dealer is going to reprogram your ECU for free each time you swap or rotate your tires, then not sure it makes a whole lot of sense to dish out $150, unless you truly desire the convenience of reprogramming yourself.
However, if your dealer IS going to charge each time, or you simply want the convenience of swapping wheels or rotating on your own, then ABSOLUTELY!!! :thumbsup:
Think about it....my dealer wants $80 for initial program of sensors into ECU, then $40 for each swap. So, initial program + 2 swaps and the tool has paid for itself and no more hassle of having to take the vehicle to the dealer.
If you have any questions, please ask, and I will do my best to answer.
Cheers!