Newbie to Lexus - what’s a Tech Stream?

[Guest]

Hi guys, having just bought a 2nd hand rx450 and joined the club, what’s a ‘techstream’ please?

cheers

Dave 

[sorcerer]

1 hour ago, 56Doc said:

Hi guys, having just bought a 2nd hand rx450 and joined the club, what’s a ‘techstream’ please?

cheers

Dave 

Techstream is the diagnostic software that Toyota/Lexus technicians use in their workshops. You can legitimately download it free of charge from the Lexus website (or is it the Toyota website, can't remember) and pay to use it, but you will also need to buy a miniVCI cable to connect your laptop to the car.

Although we can't be seen to condone the use of pirated software, most (if not all) miniVCI cables on eBay cost around £20 and will come with a copy of Techstream on the driver disc and I suppose it's a matter for your own conscience whether you use it or not. Like I said above though, you will need the cable to connect the computer to the car, irrespective of how you get the software.

There are also lots of videos on Youtube of how to use it too.

[ColinBarber]

It is Toyota's diagnostic tool. Goes beyond a basic OBDII tool because they can only read standards based engine error codes, whereas Techstream will be able to read proprietary error codes for hybrid system, aircon etc. etc. It will also allow you to change customisation settings that aren't possibly just be using the menu system within the vehicle.

It is an expensive tool, really only for professionals. There are plenty of ways to obtain it but these are hacked copies that bypass the security licensing system and are therefore illegal, and some have been known to contain virus and spyware.