Autel Autolink AL319 Review – A Fancier Evolution. Still Just A Code Reader.

Look and Feel

This is a small and compact device. It can be easily cupped in one hand and is light enough to be held all day long (though, hopefully, you will not need to).

The screen is small, but it gives you all the information that you need. This is not a complicated device, and as such, there are few buttons.

This makes the unit easy to use, and you will be able to get started without even having to look at the menu.

Connection

The connection is through a cable. There will be an initial setup when you do connect which can last up to 20 seconds.

One complaint about the connection is that the cord is too short.

Functionality

There are four main functions which you can perform with this device.

You can check the engine light, perform a smog test, change the scanner settings, and check the scanner information.

When you check the engine codes, you can check permanent and pending codes.

You can read the manufacturer codes, and check other codes like the airbag system and ABS codes (which cheaper scanners cannot usually do.

This scanner can read codes on all models of car from 1996 to the present, as long as they use CAN bus or OBD2 technology, which is still supported and shovel be for many years to come.

There are LEDs on the unit and speakers. Both combine to tell you when the system is ready for readiness verification.

The lights will blink, and a sound will be heard. This ensures that you are not wasting any time with your diagnostics.

This scanner is extremely easy to use. When you pick up the device, you will be able to work out how to use the basic functions of the device without needing to read the user guide.

Benefits

This is a cheap device which will check the codes for you and give you a general diagnosis.

This is not necessarily a device which is going to help you to diagnose a problem precisely, but it will tell you if a problem needs to be fixed immediately or if you can leave the fix until you are home from a trip or a drive.

The device will save you money if you are on a vacation or a long road trip. You do not need to stop at a mechanic shop to have your vehicle checked, only to find out that it can wait.

This device gives you a constant stream of detailed information.

While the functionality is not designed to provide you with an extremely detailed diagnosis of your vehicle, there is still enough there to interest newbies and pros alike.

The live feed will give you a lot of information, especially when you are performing a smog test.

Cons

Updates are no longer supported with this device. If a vehicle is not compatible, then it is never going to be.

You also need to have a CD drive to install the software on your home computer, so this may make it incompatible with some Macs and other laptops.

​In colder weather, the device can begin to slow down. The scanner is rated for temperatures down to as low as 32° F, but some users have reported that the screen will begin to refresh at a slower rate as you begin to approach that number.

​Image Credit : ebay.com

​​Image Credit : ebay.com

​​Image Credit : ebay.com