Autel MaxiSys MS908SP User manual

i
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)
[email protected]
For details, please refer to the Service Procedures in this manual.

ii
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

iii
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.

iv
CONTENTS
1USING THIS MANUAL ...................................................................................................1
CONVENTIONS...................................................................................................................1
2GENERAL INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................3
MAXISYS DISPLAY TABLET .................................................................................................3
VCI –J2534 ECUPROGRAMMING DEVICE..........................................................................7
ACCESSORIES KIT .............................................................................................................9
3GETTING STARTED....................................................................................................12
POWER UP.....................................................................................................................12
POWER DOWN.................................................................................................................15
4DIAGNOSTICS.............................................................................................................17
ESTABLISH VEHICLE COMMUNICATION ...............................................................................17
GETTING STARTED ..........................................................................................................21
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION ..................................................................................................23
NAVIGATION....................................................................................................................26
MAIN MENU ....................................................................................................................29
DIAGNOSIS......................................................................................................................30
PROGRAMMING AND CODING ............................................................................................42
GENERIC OBD II OPERATIONS..........................................................................................45
EXIT DIAGNOSTICS ..........................................................................................................48
5SERVICE......................................................................................................................50
OIL RESET SERVICE ........................................................................................................50
ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE (EPB) SERVICE .......................................................................51
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) SERVICE ...................................................51
BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (BMS) SERVICE..............................................................52
STEERING ANGLE SENSOR (SAS) SERVICE .......................................................................52
DIESEL PARTICLE FILTER (DPF) SERVICE..........................................................................53
IMMOBILIZER (IMMO) SERVICE.........................................................................................54
6MAXIFIX .......................................................................................................................55
NAVIGATION....................................................................................................................55
OPERATIONS...................................................................................................................58
7SHOP MANAGER ........................................................................................................63
VEHICLE HISTORY............................................................................................................64
WORKSHOP INFORMATION................................................................................................66
CUSTOMER MANAGER......................................................................................................66

v
8DATA MANAGER.........................................................................................................70
OPERATIONS...................................................................................................................70
9SETTINGS....................................................................................................................74
OPERATIONS...................................................................................................................74
10 UPDATE.......................................................................................................................79
11 VCI MANAGER.............................................................................................................81
BTPAIRING ....................................................................................................................82
12 REMOTE DESK............................................................................................................83
OPERATIONS...................................................................................................................83
13 SUPPORT ....................................................................................................................85
PRODUCT REGISTRATION .................................................................................................85
SUPPORT SCREEN LAYOUT...............................................................................................85
MY ACCOUNT..................................................................................................................86
USER COMPLAINT............................................................................................................87
DATA LOGGING................................................................................................................89
COMMUNITIES .................................................................................................................89
TRAINING CHANNELS .......................................................................................................91
FAQDATABASE ..............................................................................................................91
14 ACADEMY....................................................................................................................93
15 QUICK LINK .................................................................................................................94
16 MAXISCOPE ................................................................................................................95
17 DIGITAL INSPECTION.................................................................................................96
ADDITIONAL ACCESSORIES ...............................................................................................97
OPERATIONS.................................................................................................................100
18 MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE ................................................................................102
MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS.........................................................................................102
TROUBLESHOOTING CHECKLIST ......................................................................................102
ABOUT BATTERY USAGE ................................................................................................103
SERVICE PROCEDURES ..................................................................................................104
19 COMPLIANCE INFORMATION..................................................................................107
20 WARRANTY...............................................................................................................109
12-MONTH LIMITED WARRANTY......................................................................................109

1
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.
Conventions
The following conventions are used.
Bold Text
Bold text is used to highlight selectable items such as buttons and menu options.
Example:
⚫Tap OK.
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.

2
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.
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.
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 blue circle. The view finder now shows the captured picture and
auto-saves the taken photo.

3
2 General Introduction
The MaxiSys®MS908S Pro Diagnostic Platform is an evolutionary smart solution for
specialized automotive diagnosis. Utilizing the powerful Cortex A7+A15 six-core
processor, and a 9.7 inch LED capacitive touch screen, combined with the best
possible coverage of OE-level diagnostics, and based on the revolutionary
multitask-capable Android Operating system, the MaxiSys organizes information with
test instrumentation to help you diagnose symptoms, codes, and customer complaints
easily, quickly and efficiently.
There are two main components to the MaxiSys system:
⚫MaxiSys Display Tablet –the central processor and monitor for the system.
⚫Vehicle Communication Interface (VCI) –the device for accessing vehicle data.
This manual describes the construction and operation of these devices and how they
work together to deliver diagnostic solutions.
MaxiSys Display Tablet
Functional Description
Figure 2-1 MaxiSys Tablet Front View
1. 9.7”LED Capacitive Touch Screen
2. Ambient Light Sensor –detects ambient brightness.
3. Microphone

4
Figure 2-2 MaxiSys Tablet Back View
1. Audio Speaker
2. Collapsible Stand – extends from the back to allow hands-free viewing of the tablet
at a 30 degree angle.
3. Camera Lens
4. Camera Flash
Figure 2-3 MaxiSys Tablet Left Side
1. Mini SD (Secure Digital) Card Slot
2. Mini USB (Universal Serial Bus) Port (it cannot be used at the same time with the
No. 4 USB Port in Figure 2-4 MaxiSys Tablet Top View)
3. Head Phone Jack

5
Figure 2-4 MaxiSys Tablet Top View
1. DC Power Supply Input Port
2. HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) Port
3. USB Port
4. USB Port (it cannot be used at the same time with the Mini USB Port in Figure 2-3
MaxiSys Tablet Left Side)
5. Lock/Power Button – long press to turn on and off MaxiSys, or short press to lock
the screen.
Power Sources
The tablet can receive power from any of the following sources:
⚫Internal Battery Pack
⚫AC/DC Power Supply
⚫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 7.5 hours of continuous operation.
AC/DC Power Supply
The tablet can be powered from a wall socket using the AC/DC power adapter. 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.

6
Technical Specifications
Table 2-1 Tablet Specifications
Item
Description
Operating System
AndroidTM 4.4.2, KitKat
Processor
Samsung Exynos Six-core Processor (1.3GHz
Quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 + 1.7GHz Dual-core
ARM Cortex-A15)
Memory
2GB RAM & 64GB On-board Memory
Display
9.7 inch LED capacitive touch screen with 1024x768
resolution
Connectivity
Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac)
USB: 2.0
BT v.2.1 + EDR
SD Card (Support up to 32GB)
HDMI
Camera (rear)
8.0 Megapixel, AF with Flashlight
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
11000 mAh 3.7 V lithium-polymer battery
Charging via 12 V AC/DC power supply with the
temperature between 0°C and 45°C
Input Voltage
12 V (9-24 V)
Power
Consumption
6.5 W
Operating Temp.
0 to 50°C(32 to 122°F)
Storage Temp.
-20 to 60°C (-4 to 140°F)
Dimensions (WxHxD)
300 mm (11.81”) x 220 mm (8.66”) x 50 mm (1.97”)
Weight
NW: 1.42 kg (3.13 lb.)
GW: 8.052 kg (17.75 lb.)

7
Item
Description
Protocols
ISO 9142-2, ISO 14230-2, ISO 15765-4, K/L-Line,
Flashing Code, SAE-J1850 VPW, SAE-J1850 PWM,
CAN ISO 11898, Highspeed, Middlespeed,
Lowspeed and Singlewire CAN, GM UART, UART
Echo Byte Protocol, Honda Diag-H Protocol, TP 2.0,
TP 1.6, SAE J1939, SAE J1708, Fault-Tolerant CAN
VCI –J2534 ECU Programming Device
Functional Description
Figure 2-5 J2534 ECU Programming Device
1. DC Power Supply Input Port
2. Vehicle Data Connector
3. Vehicle LED
⚫Flashes green when the device is communicating with the vehicle’s system
IMPORTANT
Do not disconnect the programming device while this 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.
4. Connection LED
⚫Lights solid green when the device is properly connected with the tablet via the
USB cable
⚫Lights solid blue when the device is connected with the tablet via wireless (BT)
connection
5. Power LED
⚫Lights solid green when the device is powered on
⚫Blinks red when system failure occurs

8
⚫Lights amber automatically at power up when the device is self-testing
6. USB Port
J2534 Programming Capability
The J2534 ECU Programming Device is a SAE J2534-1 & -2 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.
Communication
The J2534 ECU programming device supports BT and USB communications. It can
transmit vehicle data to the tablet with or without a physical connection. The working
range of the transmitter through BT communication is 210 feet (about 70 m). A signal
lost due to moving out of range automatically restores itself when the tablet unit is
brought closer to the VCI unit.
Power Sources
The J2534 programming device can receive power from both of the following sources:
⚫Vehicle Power
⚫AC/DC Power Supply
Vehicle Power
The J2534 programming device operates on 12-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 J2534 programming device can be powered from a wall socket using the AC/DC
power adapter.
Technical Specifications
Table 2-2 J2534 ECU Programming Device Specifications
Item
Description
Communications
Wireless BT V2.1 + EDR
USB 2.0

9
Item
Description
Wireless Frequency
Wireless BT V2.1+EDR, 2.4GHz
Input Voltage Range
12 VDC to 24 VDC
Supply Current
170 mA @ 12 VDC
100 mA @ 24 VDC
Operating Temp.
0°C to 60°C (ambient)
Storage Temp.
-65°C to 100°C (ambient)
Dimensions (L x W x H)
149 mm (5.87”) x 86 mm (3.38”) x 35 mm (1.28”)
Weight
290 g (0.64 lb.)
NOTE
For additional information, please refer to the accompanied user manual for the J2534
ECU Programming Device.
Accessories Kit
Main Cable
The VCI device can be powered through the Main Cable when connected to an OBD
II/EOBD compliant vehicle. The Main Cable connects the VCI device to the vehicle’s
data link connector (DLC), through which the VCI device can transmit vehicle data to
the tablet.
Figure 2-6 Main Cable – 1.5 m in length
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).

10
Benz-14
(EU Only)
Chrysler-16
(America Only)
BMW-20
Kia-20
Nissan-14
GM/Daewoo-12
Honda-3
Mitsubishi/Hyund
ai-12+16
BMW Ethernet
Cable
Benz-38
VW/Audi-2+2
Other Accessories
Standard 2.0 USB Cable
Connects the tablet to the VCI unit.
Mini USB Cable
Connects the tablet to the Windows-based PC.
AC/DC External Power Adapter
Connects the tablet to the external DC power port for
power supply.
Ethernet Serial Cable
Connects the tablet to the VCI unit.
Cigarette Lighter
Provides power to the tablet or the J2534
programming device through connection to the
vehicle’s cigarette lighter receptacle, as some

11
non-OBD II vehicles cannot provide power via the
DLC connection.
Clipper Cable
Provides power to the tablet or the J2534
programming device through connection to the
vehicle’s battery.
Lighter Fuse x2
A safety device for the cigarette lighter.
USB Ethernet Adapter
Connects the device to an Ethernet network.

12
3 Getting Started
Make sure the tablet has sufficient power or is connected to the external power supply
(see Power Sources on page 5).
Power Up
Long press the Lock/Power button on the top right side of the tablet to switch the unit on.
The power LED will illuminate green. The system boots up and displays the lock screen.
Press and drag the inner ring to the edge of the circle to unlock the screen; the MaxiSys
Job Menu is shown.
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.

13
Application Buttons
The table below briefly describes each of the applications in the MaxiSys system.
Table 3-1 Applications
Name
Button
Description
Diagnostics
Accesses the unit’s diagnostics functions. See
Diagnostics on page 17.
Service
Accesses special functions menu. See Service on
page 50 for details.
MaxiFix
Launches the MaxiFix platform that provides the
most compatible and abundant repair techniques
and diagnostics database. See MaxiFix on page 55.
Shop
Manager
Accesses Shop Manager database to store
workshop, consumer information and vehicle test
history. See Shop Manager on page 63.
Data
Manager
Accesses the organization system for saved data
files. See Data Manager on page 70.
Settings
Accesses the system settings menu and general
tablet menu. See Settings on page 74.
Update
Accesses system software update menu. See
Update on page 79.
VCI
Manager
Accesses VCI connection menu. See VCI Manager
on page 81.
Support
Launches the Support platform that synchronizes
Autel’s online service base station with the MaxiSys
tablet. See Support on page 85.
Academy
Accesses technical tutorials and training articles
about the device or vehicle diagnostic techniques.
See Academy on page 93 for details.
Remote
Desk
Configures your unit to receive remote support using
the TeamViewer application. See Remote Desk on
page 83.
Quick Link
Provides associated website bookmarks to allow
quick access to product update, service, support
and other information. See Quick Link on page 94.

14
Name
Button
Description
MaxiScope
Configures the unit to operate as an automotive
oscilloscope to perform electrical and electronic
circuit tests and monitor signal activities. See
MaxiScope on page 95.
Digital
Inspection
Configures the unit to operate as a video scope
device by connecting to an Imager head cable for
close vehicle inspections. See Digital Inspection on
page 96.
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
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. To remove
an app, swipe 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 70.
Display &
Sound
Allows you to adjust the brightness of the screen
and the volume of the audio output.
MaxiSys Home
Returns to MaxiSys Job Menu.

15
Name
Button
Description
VCI
Opens the VCI Manager application. The check
at the bottom right corner indicates the tablet is
communicating with the VCI, an X will display if
the tablet is not connected to VCI.
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.
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.
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:
1. Long press the Lock/Power Button.
2. Tap Power off option.
3. Tap OK.