Building your First Professional Toolbox with TOPDON Tools

Starting a new career as a technician can be an exciting beginning. But as you sit on the career launch pad watching the clock tick down to your first day at the shop, you probably have lots of questions and may be feeling a little anxiety.

One significant consideration is which tools you’ll need to be successful. To get off to a good start there are several factors to consider:

·       Which tools are absolutely necessary?

·       How much can you afford within your budget?

·       How do you get the most value for your investment?

For all those factors, TOPDON has the right selection of tools to get you repairing like a pro in no time.

Any automotive technician on a beginner’s budget will find value in a TopScan Pro. For around $100, this handy pocket-size diagnostic tool is ideal for diagnosing and clearing fault codes. It connects to the vehicle’s OBD2 port and teams with the TopScan App (Android) or TopGuru App (iOS) on your phone to access a wide range of features. It comes with 13 of the most common maintenance services, such as being able to put the rear brakes into service mode to replace them. The TopScan Pro offers full system diagnosis for 70+ brands, DTC Repair Guide, a Repair Data Library, AutoVIN, AutoScan and Bi-Directional control, which determines the integrity of the system or parts, allowing accurate analysis and fault location (Check out this TOPDON video on the importance of Bi-Directional control).

For additional versatility that any new technician will appreciate, the ArtiDiag Pro hits the sweet spot at an affordable price. The 7-inch display delivers good readability, and with up to 14 hours of battery life plus 2 years of free software updates, the ArtiDiag Pro has you covered for long days at the shop. It offers 31 maintenance services + Special Functions and has full system diagnostics for 100+ makes. With the ArtiDiag Pro you can generate and print diagnostic reports and detect and clear fault codes in all systems with one click.

“Love the price and all the abilities I can now do because of this tool,” reported Lenny W. in his review of his new ArtiDiag Pro. “If you’re looking for a great tool to help with diagnostics, but don’t want to break the bank, buy this tool.”

If you anticipate specializing in diagnostics but still need to work within a beginner’s budget, the Phoenix Lite 3 is the go-to tool. It delivers OE-level all-system diagnostics, with features including Bi-Directional controls, CAN-FD Protocol, online coding, and precision topology mapping functions. The Phoenix Lite 3 includes coverage for 168+ vehicle makes and 35 maintenance functions. It has an 8-inch display and comes with a Phoenix MDCI VCI and includes 2 years of free software updates.

Every toolbox needs a good battery tester, and the BT300P is a great option for new technicians. For around $100, the BT300P is a durable, easy-to-use tester for 12V lead-acid batteries. It has a color LCD display and is capable of testing 100 to 2000 Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) batteries. It has a built-in printer so you can print test results within seconds.

The ability to diagnose a repair issue using a thermal imager is a huge advantage for any technician, and here again TOPDON has the right tool for new technicians assembling their first toolbox. The TC001 (Android) and TC002 (iOS) thermal imaging cameras connect to phones, tablets, and other devices and capture images with unparalleled clarity. These imagers are built for mobility, can image a wide temperature range, and deliver long battery life to carry you through the day.

Tool buying will be an ongoing process as your career evolves. But with a little planning, your first pro toolbox will provide a firm foundation for whatever job comes your way and will have you fixing like a pro for years to come.