OTOFIX D1 Car Diagnostic Scanner Review and Performance Test

Modern cars are made up of complex computerized systems that send and receive information from each other in other to remain functional as designed. If one system fails, the corresponding system that receives data from the failed system might begin to malfunction too, thus, displaying warning lights on the dashboard.

To troubleshoot and fix common car systems’ issues, most vehicle owners resolved to get the most basic OBD II automotive scanners. But then, super basic OBD II scanning devices do not offer much; hence, the need to opt for a high-end bi-directional auto scanner (such as OTOFIX D1 Car Diagnostic Scanner).

Here, I’ll be sharing a straightforward OTOFIX D1 Lite Auto Diagnostic Scanner Review, highlighting the features, capabilities, and how best to use this tool for car troubleshooting and sundry tasks. But first, I’ll start by unboxing the device, showing you what to expect with a new purchase:

What’s In The Box?

Although we got a small Loacker Minis Napolitaner biscuit placed on the outer box packing of ours, what you’ll normally get with a new purchase of the OTOFIX D1 Lite Auto Diagnostic Scanner are the items listed below:

1. The main unit (OTOFIX D1 Lite Tablet)
2. OTOFIX V1 (The Vehicle Communication Interface)
3. A USB Type-C cable (can be used to connect the V1 to the Otofix tablet instead of Bluetooth)
4. A UK 3-pin power adapter
5. USB-to-Ethernet adapter (with 3 USB ports)
6. The user guide
7. The Packing list
8. A carrying case

OTOFIX D1 Lite Autoscanner Overview

The OTOFIX D1 Lite is a pretty good auto-diagnostic tool with lots of functions and features. It can be termed a one-stop tool for diagnosing and fixing basic car problems on the go. This gadget pairs with the OTOFIX cloud-based subscription app that lets you access the full features of the tablet scanner.

The OTOFIX D1 Lite is the entry-level gadget, while Otofix D1 Pro and Plus are mid-rangers. The apex Otofix bi-directional auto-diagnostic scanners are the Otofix D1 Max and the EvoScan Ultra tablets. My today’s review is centered around the lite version (OTOFIX D1 Lite).

As a smart and advanced OBD II autoscanning device, the OTOFIX D1 Lite can “communicate” with your vehicle’s system. This means that it does not only read information from your car computer, but it can also instruct your car’s computer on what to do. Well, that’s why it is a “bi-directional” device.

Thanks to the cloud connection support, you can view diagnostics test results from your mobile device. OTOFIX D1 Lite has a 7-inch LED display screen that supports 1080p HD resolution for a crystal clear display of results. The battery capacity is massive; a whopping 5800 mAh 3.85V lithium polymer battery. It also packs a 64GB ROM paired with a 2GB RAM chip. Hereunder are the full specifications for your reference:

OTOFIX D1 Lite Tablet Specifications in Full

• 2GB DDR RAM
• 64GB primary storage
• 5,800mAh battery
• 4x ARM Cortex-A35 (1.5GHz)
• Android 9.0 operating system
• WiFi 5
• Bluetooth connectivity
• MicroSD card slot
• Ambient sensor
• Microphone
• USB type-c charging and data communication support

Features and Functions of OTOFIX D1 Lite Bi-Directional Auto Scanner

From the design and functionality side of this scanner, we can say – it’s intuitive with lots of handy features. You will keep discovering new features as you continue to use it for your automotive diagnostics needs. But then, here are the most prominent features of this car diagnostic scanner.

1. 7-inch HD Touchscreen

The OTOFIX D1 Lite comes with a  clear LCD touchscreen from where you get to access every feature and function it has to offer. This LCD touchscreen supports 1280x800p resolution – decent enough.

2. Over 38 Maintenance Service Functions

On the “service” section, you will find 30+ available services represented with their corresponding icons. So, you can just click on the icon of the service you want to run and follow up with the on-screen prompts. Swipe sideways to view more services. Available services include oil reset, TPMS, SAS, Immo keys, and more.

3. Built-In Web Browser

Yeah, there’s a built-in web browser that lets you open any website. If you’re running a DIY and need to follow a YouTube tutorial, you can open YouTube on this browser or any other website that provides you with the guide.

4. Rear Camera With LED Flash

OTOFIX D1 Lite flaunts an 8MP camera sensor at the rear side and it sits with an LED flash sensor. This camera can be used for scanning QR codes or taking pictures of car components you need to show someone or get more clarification on. Well, you can use the camera for other purposes.

5. Supports DoIP and CAN FD Protocols

OTOFIX D1 Lite interestingly includes support for both CAN FD and DoIP protocols. It can run diagnostics tests quite faster than some other OBD II scanners. The DoIP support is there to smoothen higher bandwidth data transfers at a faster data rate.

6. OE Level Full System Diagnostics

This bi-directional scanner can run full system diagnostics at the OE level. You get to select your vehicle’s OEM and model to run a test and get accurate results. Also, this scanner uses AutoVIN technology, supports ECU information, and can read/erase codes, and live data.

7. Cloud-Based Report Management

Your OTOFIX D1 Lite can connect to the OTOFIX app so you can easily access test and diagnostics results from your mobile device. The cloud connection also allows data synchronization across your devices.

How To Use The OTOFIX D1 Lite Auto Scanner

It’s pretty intuitive, but then, everyone won’t use this tool for the same type of tests. There are many tests you can run with this device, and here’s how to go about the most common ones.

Step One: Connect the V1 Device

When you purchase the OTOFIX D1 Lite, inside the box is an OTOFIX V1 device, which is the unit you will connect to your car’s OBD II port. Connect the V1 to your car’s OBDII port and then power on the OTOFIX D1 Lite Tablet.

Step Two: Pair the Devices

Automatically, the V1 and D1 Lite are meant to pair and synchronize upon powering up. But just in case the devices don’t connect automatically, you have to do that manually by going to the Bluetooth menu on your D1 Lite tab.

Step Three: Run Your Choice Diagnostics

To confirm that your D1 Lite tablet is connected to the V1 device, the VCI icon on the bottom bar will show a green BT icon. Once you see this, you can proceed to run any test you want to try out. Now, this is where it gets personal; the scan you want to run may differ from what another car owner would want to run.

Nevertheless, all available services are clearly shown on the “Services” page. Here’s a general step to run a diagnostics using this tool:

• Click on the “Services” icon on the bottom bar (it is the last button on the row with a mechanic icon).
• Select the service you want to perform: read live data, oil reset, engine check, transmission test, or anyone at all.
• Identify your vehicle brand, OEM, and model (although the device will try to automatically pull your car’s information).
• Run the diagnostics. You can perform a full system diagnostics scan if you want to check the status of every system in your vehicle.

Step Four: Read and Clear Data

When the diagnostics scan is complete, you will be able to see information about faulty systems in your vehicle. Interestingly, this device allows “one-click” access to “Service Manuals” that could guide you to fix a detected DTC. Also, you can “Erase” some DTCs or turn inactive sensors to “Active” using this tool. Your subsequent action depends on the DTCs from your scan result.

My OTOFIX D1 Lite Review and Verdict

One thing that stood out for me was the ability to save or print scanned results via wireless printing devices. That I can also revisit my scans from the previous days is somewhat interesting. It makes it super easy to collaborate on the detected faults with your client or the technician handling your vehicle fixes/maintenance.

Overall, the OTOFIX D1 Lite Autoscanner (though an entry-level car diagnostic OBD scanner) is a super intuitive device and good for the price it’s sold, owing to the multiple features and functions it’s loaded with. It is a mini-tablet that contains lots of tools you’d need to troubleshoot or fix up your car professionally.

The system scan worked seamlessly – scanning, detecting, and showing the detected error codes without any manual input from my end. But a majority of the functions in the “services” menu will require one to select the Vehicle make, model, ECU type, etc. before getting the required result. This can be very inconvenient to an average car user who isn’t familiar with these technical terms.

It is a big upgrade from some of the basic OBD scanners we’ve used in the past, and will easily upgrade the tools box of any auto mechanic. It has support for old and new vehicles with an OBD 11 port. The addition of a USB type-c communication cable is another feature that makes it stand out from similar automobile scanners within this price range.

All in all, the scanner worked fine for the features I tested within the few days it has been with me. Hence, I will easily recommend it to car enthusiasts, DIY auto repair technicians, and regular car owners alike.

What More?

When you buy the OTOFIX D1 Lite from Amazon or any of their official stores, you’ll get up to 2 years of “free updates” from the manufacturer.

As a bi-directional 2nd-gen On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) tool, the OTOFIX D1 Lite can read, erase, and fix common car problems, including turning off most of the warning lights that show up on your car’s dashboard. Might seem a bit pricey, but measures up in performance.