Unlocking Toyota Customization: A User’s Guide to Creader OBD2 Scanners

As a car enthusiast and DIY mechanic, I recently had the opportunity to test out a Creader Obd2 Scanner on a couple of Toyota vehicles – a 2024 4Runner and a 2023 RAV4. My goal was to explore the customization options, specifically features like window programming and alarm settings. While the Creader OBD2 scanner proved capable, the journey to access these features wasn’t exactly straightforward. Navigating the menus felt less intuitive than expected, and it became apparent that different access methods, triggered by VIN scanning or manual vehicle selection, lead to distinct menu pathways.

Here’s a breakdown of my experience in accessing the customization settings on these Toyota models using the Creader OBD2 scanner:

Accessing Customization Settings via the ‘Toyota’ Button

This method involves manually selecting the vehicle brand before scanning. Here’s how it went:

1. Start by connecting the Creader OBD2 scanner to your vehicle’s OBD port and turning on the ignition (no need to start the engine).
2. From the scanner’s home screen, select “Diagnostics”.
3. Instead of using the auto-detect VIN feature, tap the ‘Toyota’ button.
4. On the subsequent screen, choose ’16 pin DLC’.
5. The scanner will initiate a scan, retrieve vehicle information, and prompt you to hit ‘OK’.
6. This will lead you to a main menu presenting options like “Health Report,” “System Selection,” “Service Function,” “Customize Setting,” and “Vehicle Info.”
7. To access programmable features, select “Customize setting” and delve into the sub-menus to adjust settings for windows, interior lighting, seat warming, and more.

Accessing Customization Settings via VIN Autodetect

Alternatively, you can utilize the VIN autodetect function for a quicker vehicle identification process. However, this route presents a slightly different menu structure:

1. Plug in the Creader OBD2 scanner, turn on the ignition.
2. From “Diagnostics,” initiate the VIN autodetect scan.
3. The scanner will automatically jump to the “Health Report,” performing a scan for any existing diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). This process bypasses the main menu described in step #6 of the previous method.
4. Once the health report scan is complete, exit back to the previous screen using the upper left arrow or back button.
5. You’ll arrive at the DTC code screen, displaying all scanned modules, each marked with a green check if no codes are found. Clicking on the ‘>’ symbol next to a module reveals a new menu with options like “Read Fault Code,” “Clear fault memory,” “Read freeze frame,” “Read data stream,” “Actuation test,” and crucially, “special function.”
6. The “special function” option appears to be accessible from various modules, though I didn’t explore every single one.
7. Selecting “special function” leads to another menu containing “initialization and customize setting.”
8. Finally, “customize setting” will take you to the desired menu where you can program features related to windows, doors, warnings, and other customizable vehicle settings.

While these were the pathways I discovered to access customization menus, there might be alternative routes. Unfortunately, the user manual provides minimal guidance, and specific information or videos for late-model 4Runners or similar Toyotas are scarce.

Interestingly, when I contacted the vendor about programming features, they initially claimed they were unavailable with this Creader OBD2 scanner. This proved to be incorrect, as I successfully modified settings on both test vehicles. It seems these Creader scanners are distributed by an overseas affiliate of Launch, which may explain the lack of support from the US-based company. When I inquired about a supported model from the US branch, I was simply directed to their website for further research.

In conclusion, the Creader OBD2 scanner appears to be a valuable tool capable of accessing and modifying vehicle customization settings. However, the user interface is not particularly intuitive, and the lack of comprehensive instructions can make navigation challenging. Despite these drawbacks, with some exploration and trial-and-error, users can unlock hidden customization features within their Toyota vehicles using a Creader OBD2 scanner. For users seeking deeper customization and diagnostic capabilities, the Creader OBD2 scanner presents a viable, albeit somewhat cryptic, option.