Question: Heavy Duty /Truck tuning tools – which one is better: Flex, Kess3, or Autotuner?
Here is the clue.
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Tool
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Heavy-Duty Truck Protocols
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Supported Brands/Models (Examples)
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Modes
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Strengths
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Limitations
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Flex (FLS0.15 License)
200+ (32+ new per major update, e.g., v7.21.0.0 added 10+ Cummins variants); full cloning, checksum, and repair for ECMs/TCMs/CPCs) |
DAF (Delphi ETC3), Scania, Mercedes Trucks (Continental CPC3EVO), Freightliner (Continental CPC4), Iveco, Dodge, Kenworth, Cummins (CM2220C, CM2880), JCB, Agrale
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OBD, OBD Full, Bench, Boot
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Broadest global truck coverage; excels in repair/cloning for damaged units; unified license for trucks/buses/agri/industrial
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Higher cost for master version; subscription-based updates
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|
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(Truck/Agriculture Activation) 150+ (~5–10 new per update, e.g., SID908 for International, SID605 for Faw Jiefang); thousands of vehicles via Truck/Tractor activation) |
International (Continental SID908), Faw Jiefang (SID605), Hino/Ashok Leyland (Denso 275700-8203/4501), Scania (Motorola EMS10, EEC3 ACM), Freightliner (Cascadia), Paccar (CM1881 ACM), JCB (Delphi DCM7.24), DAF/Peterbilt/Kenworth
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OBD, Bench, Boot
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Versatile for mixed fleets (trucks + agri/marine); fast OBD reads; cloning support
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Separate paid activation for trucks (~$1,300/year incl. updates); less emphasis on TCU repair
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|
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Limited (few modules; focused on light-duty or specific Asian trucks)
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JCB (4.4L/4.8L TD, DCM7.24), Dongfeng/Yuchai (2.4L TD, DCM7.1AP), Great Wall/Haval (2.0L TD, DCM6.2/7.1AP), Foton/Vanche (2.4L TD, DCM7.24), Jiangling/Isuzu (2.8L/3.0L TD, DCM7.1AP); some general trucks (DCM6.24)
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Primarily OBD/Bench; limited Boot
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Affordable, no subscription; fast for supported models
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Narrow scope (mostly post-2014 Asian/light trucks); poor for European/US heavy-duty; no strong TCU or cloning focus
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Flex is good for Mercedes euro6 trucks, you can do obd full read.
For trucks you’ll always need more tools. Dfox genuis or Transdata are also good for heavy duty protocols.
Among KESS3 (Alientech), Flex (MagicMotorsport), and Autotuner, KESS3 offers strong, broad coverage but requires separate activations for truck/tractor protocols.
Flex also the most comprehensive support for heavy-duty truck protocols. This is based on its dedicated heavy-duty software license (FLS0.15), which unifies OBD, Bench, Boot, and OBD Full modes for a wide array of truck ECUs, TCUs, and DCUs across global brands.
Autotuner lags significantly, with minimal truck support focused on newer Asian and light-duty models rather than full heavy-duty fleets.
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