Launch Creader OBD2: Unlocking Hidden Toyota Features – A User Experience

Delving into the capabilities of OBD2 scanners can often reveal a hidden world of vehicle customization. Recently, I had the opportunity to explore the Launch Creader Obd2 tool with a 2024 Toyota 4Runner and a 2023 RAV4. My goal was to access and modify customizable settings like window operation and alarm features. While the Launch Creader OBD2 proved capable, the journey wasn’t exactly straightforward. Navigating the menus felt less intuitive than expected, and it became apparent that different access methods, even with the same tool, could lead to varying menu structures.

Here’s a breakdown of my experience in accessing these features using the Launch Creader OBD2 on these Toyota models:

Accessing Toyota Custom Settings via the ‘Toyota’ Button on Launch Creader OBD2

This method involves manually selecting your vehicle’s manufacturer within the Launch Creader OBD2 interface.

1. Begin by connecting your Launch Creader OBD2 scanner to your vehicle’s OBD port and turning the ignition to the ‘ON’ position (engine not running).
2. From the Launch Creader OBD2 home screen, select “Diagnostics”.
3. Instead of relying on auto-detection, manually choose the ‘Toyota’ button. This selection path initiates a specific menu sequence.
4. On the subsequent screen, select ’16 pin DLC’.
5. The Launch Creader OBD2 will then scan the vehicle, display vehicle information, and prompt you to hit ‘OK’.
6. This leads to a primary menu presenting options such as ‘Health Report’, ‘System Selection’, ‘Service Function’, ‘Customize Setting’, and ‘Vehicle Info’.
7. To access programmable features, navigate to ‘Customize setting’. From there, you can explore sub-menus to adjust settings for windows, interior lighting, seat warming, and other customizable options.

Accessing Toyota Custom Settings via VIN Autodetect on Launch Creader OBD2

Alternatively, the Launch Creader OBD2 offers a VIN autodetect function, which changes the access pathway slightly.

1. As before, connect the Launch Creader OBD2 to the OBD port and turn the ignition ‘ON’.
2. Initiate the VIN autodetect function from the “Diagnostics” menu.
3. The scanner will automatically begin with a health report, scanning for any diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). This process bypasses the menu presented in step #6 of the ‘Toyota’ button method.
4. Once the health report scan is complete, exit the report by selecting the back arrow, typically located in the upper left corner of the screen.
5. This action will bring you to the DTC code screen, displaying all scanned modules. Here, selecting the ‘>’ symbol next to a green checkmark for a module reveals a new menu. This menu includes options like ‘Read Fault Code’, ‘Clear fault memory’, ‘Read freeze frame’, ‘Read data stream’, ‘Actuation test’, and importantly, ‘special function’. The ‘special function’ option seems accessible from various modules, though not all were tested.
6. Choosing ‘special function’ leads to another menu, presenting ‘initialization’ and ‘customize setting’ options.
7. Selecting ‘customize setting’ here will finally take you to the same feature programming menu, allowing adjustments to windows, doors, warnings, and other vehicle settings.

While these methods allowed me to successfully modify settings on both the 4Runner and RAV4 using the Launch Creader OBD2, it’s worth noting that the process wasn’t immediately obvious. The vendor I contacted initially suggested that these programming features weren’t available with this particular Launch Creader OBD2 model, which my experience proves incorrect. It appears that support for these features might be limited, especially from US-based branches of Launch, as these tools may be sold through overseas affiliates.

In conclusion, the Launch Creader OBD2 appears to be a capable tool for accessing customization settings on Toyota vehicles. However, the user interface could be more intuitive, and better documentation outlining these hidden menus and access methods would significantly enhance user experience. For now, understanding these alternative access paths can unlock the full potential of your Launch Creader OBD2 for Toyota vehicle customization.