Autel MaxiSys MS908S User manual

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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.

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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

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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 damagethe equipment.

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CONTENTS
1USING THIS MANUAL...............................................................................................1
CONVENTIONS .............................................................................................................1
2GENERAL INTRODUCTION......................................................................................3
MAXISYS DISPLAY TABLET.............................................................................................3
VCI –WIRELESS DIAGNOSTIC INTERFACE ........................................................................7
VCI –J2534ECUPROGRAMMING DEVICE ......................................................................8
ACCESSORIES KIT ......................................................................................................10
3GETTING STARTED ...............................................................................................13
POWER UP................................................................................................................13
POWER DOWN ...........................................................................................................16
4DIAGNOSTICS........................................................................................................18
ESTABLISH VEHICLE COMMUNICATION............................................................................18
GETTING STARTED .....................................................................................................22
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION..............................................................................................24
NAVIGATION...............................................................................................................27
MAIN MENU...............................................................................................................30
DIAGNOSIS ................................................................................................................31
PROGRAMMING AND CODING ........................................................................................43
GENERIC OBDII OPERATIONS .....................................................................................46
EXITING DIAGNOSTICS.................................................................................................50
5SERVICE ................................................................................................................51
OIL RESET SERVICE....................................................................................................51
ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE (EPB) SERVICE....................................................................52
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) SERVICE.................................................52
BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (BMS) SERVICE...........................................................53
STEERING ANGLE SENSOR (SAS) SERVICE ....................................................................53
DIESEL PARTICLE FILTER (DPF) SERVICE ......................................................................54
IMMOBILIZER (IMMO) SERVICE.....................................................................................55
6MAXIFIX..................................................................................................................56
NAVIGATION...............................................................................................................56
OPERATIONS .............................................................................................................59
7SHOP MANAGER....................................................................................................64
VEHICLE HISTORY.......................................................................................................65
WORKSHOP INFORMATION ...........................................................................................67

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CUSTOMER MANAGER .................................................................................................67
8DATA MANAGER....................................................................................................71
OPERATIONS .............................................................................................................71
9SETTINGS ..............................................................................................................75
OPERATIONS .............................................................................................................75
10 UPDATE..................................................................................................................80
11 VCI MANAGER........................................................................................................82
BT PAIRING...............................................................................................................83
12 REMOTE DESK.......................................................................................................84
OPERATIONS .............................................................................................................84
13 SUPPORT...............................................................................................................86
PRODUCT REGISTRATION.............................................................................................86
SUPPORT SCREEN LAYOUT ..........................................................................................87
MY ACCOUNT ............................................................................................................87
USER COMPLAINT.......................................................................................................88
DATA LOGGING ..........................................................................................................90
COMMUNITIES ............................................................................................................91
TRAINING CHANNELS...................................................................................................92
FAQ DATABASE.........................................................................................................93
14 ACADEMY...............................................................................................................94
15 QUICK LINK............................................................................................................95
16 MAXISCOPE...........................................................................................................96
SAFETY INFORMATION .................................................................................................96
GLOSSARY ................................................................................................................98
MAXISCOPE MODULE................................................................................................100
SCREEN LAYOUT AND OPERATIONS .............................................................................103
TROUBLESHOOTING ..................................................................................................109
MAXISCOPE FIRMWARE UPDATE.................................................................................110
17 DIGITAL INSPECTION ..........................................................................................111
ADDITIONAL ACCESSORIES.........................................................................................112
OPERATIONS ...........................................................................................................115
18 MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE.............................................................................117
MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS.....................................................................................117
TROUBLESHOOTING CHECKLIST ..................................................................................117
ABOUT BATTERY USAGE............................................................................................118

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SERVICE PROCEDURES .............................................................................................119
19 COMPLIANCE INFORMATION..............................................................................122
20 WARRANTY..........................................................................................................124
12-MONTH LIMITED WARRANTY..................................................................................124

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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.

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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.

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2 General Introduction
The MaxiSys® MS908S/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.
NOTE
Autel provides two optional VCI devices for your choice. One is the Wireless Diagnostic
Interface; the other is the J2534 Programming Device, both will be introduced in this
chapter.
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

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1. 9.7”LED Capacitive Touch Screen
2. Ambient Light Sensor –detects ambient brightness.
3. Microphone
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
Labelling Place

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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.

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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 WiFi (802.11 a/b/g/n)
USB: 2.0
BT v.2.1 + EDR
SD Card (Support up to 32GB)
HDMI
Camera (rear)
8.0 Megapixel, AF with Flashlight
Sensors GravityAccelerometer, Ambient Light Sensor (ALS)
Audio
Input/Output Microphone Dual Speakers
4-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.)
MaxiSys MS908S GW: 8.655 kg (19.08 lb.)

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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 –Wireless Diagnostic Interface
Functional Description
Figure 2-5 Wireless Diagnostic Interface –for MaxiSys MS908S
1. Vehicle Data Connector (DB15-Pin)
2. Power LED –lights solid green when the device is powered on.
3. Vehicle LED –blinks green when the device is communicating with the vehicle’s
network.
4. Error LED –lights solid red when serious hardware failure occurs; also blinks red
when the device is updating software/firmware.
5. BT LED –lights solid green when the device is connected with the tablet through
BT communication.
6. USB LED –lights solid green when the device is properly connected and
communicating with the tablet via the USB cable.
7. USB Port
Communication
The Wireless Diagnostic Interface supports both BT and USB communication. It can
transmit vehicle data to the tablet with or without a physical connection. The working
range of the transmitter through BT communication is about 755 feet (about 230 m). A

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signal lost due to moving out of range automatically restores itself when the display unit
is brought closer to the VCI unit.
Technical Specifications
Table 2-2 Wireless Diagnostic Interface Specifications
Item
Description
Communications
BT V.2.1 + EDR; USB 2.0
Wireless Frequency
2.4 GHz
Input Voltage Range
12 VDC
Supply Current
200 mA @ 12 VDC
Operating Temp.
0°C to 50°C (ambient)
Storage Temp.
-20°C to 70°C (ambient)
Dimensions (LxWxH)
147.5 mm (5.80”) x 85.5 mm (3.37”) x 29.0 mm
(1.14”)
Weight
215 g (0.473 lb.)
Power Sources
The Wireless Diagnostic Interface operates on 12-volt vehicle power, which it receives
through the vehicle data connection port. The unit powers on whenever it is connected
to an OBD II/EOBD compliant data link connector (DLC).
VCI –J2534 ECU Programming Device
Functional Description
Figure 2-6 J2534 ECU Programming Device –for MaxiSys MS908S Pro

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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
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

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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 bepowered 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 2-3 J2534 ECU Programming Device Specifications
Item
Description
Communications
Wireless BT V2.1 + EDR
USB 2.0
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

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data link connector (DLC), through which the VCI device can transmit vehicle data to
the tablet.
Figure 2-7 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 below (Adapters
PSA-2 and Fiat-3 are available for MaxiSys MS908S Pro only).
Benz-14
(EU Only)
Chrysler-16
(America Only)
BMW-20
Kia-20
Nissan-14
GM/Daewoo-12
Honda-3
Fiat-3
PSA-2
Benz-38
VW/Audi-2+2
Mitsubishi/Hyund
ai-12+16
Other Accessories
Standard 2.0 USB Cable
Connects the tablet to the VCI unit.

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Mini USB Cable
Connects the tablet to the 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 (for MaxiSys
MS908S Pro only).
Cigarette Lighter
Provides power to the tablet or the J2534
programming 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 J2534
programming device through connection to the
vehicle’s battery (for MaxiSys MS908S Pro only).
Lighter Fuse x2
A safety device for the cigarette lighter.

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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 thetablet to switch the unit on.
The power LED will illuminate green. The system boots up and displays the lock screen.
Press and drag theinner 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 quicklylocate 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.

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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 18.
Service
Accesses special functions menu. See Service on
page 51 for details.
MaxiFix
Launches the MaxiFix platform that provides the
most compatible and abundant repair techniques
and diagnostics database. See MaxiFix on page 56.
Shop
Manager
Accesses Shop Manager database to store
workshop, consumer information and vehicle test
history. See Shop Manager on page 64.
Data
Manager
Accesses the organization system for saved data
files. See Data Manager on page 71.
Settings
Accesses the system settings menu and general
tablet menu. See Settings on page 75.
Update
Accesses system software update menu. See
Update on page 80.
VCI
Manager
Accesses VCI connection menu. See VCI Manager
on page 82.
Support
Launches the Support platform that synchronizes
Autel’s on-line service base station with the MaxiSys
tablet. See Support on page 86.
Academy
Accesses technical tutorials and training articles
about the device or vehicle diagnostic techniques.
See Academy on page 94 for details.
Remote
Desk
Configures your unit to receive remote support using
the TeamViewer application. See Remote Desk on
page 84.
Quick Link
Provides associated website bookmarks to allow
quick access to product update, service, support
and other information. See Quick Link on page 95.