The FCAR F7SN Truck TabPro is a wireless all-in-one truck diagnostic solution, covering most light duty, medium duty and heavy duty trucks and off road equipment. Features include all software preloaded and working independently, diagnostic functions, testing functions (cylinder cutoff and DPF regeneration) and reset bidirectional functions, featuring fast scan, remote print and customized data export.
[Editor’s Note: For this review PTEN checked in with a fleet director of a city agency in New York. He requested we not use his name for the review. His line of work includes fixing fire trucks with Cummins Allison engines. In addition to this, he manages 17 on-the-road technicians who work on a variety of fleet equipment, including heavy duty trucks and sprinter vans.]
The reviewer has worked with FCAR’s F7SN Truck TabPro for the last eight months to help fix fire trucks with heavy duty apparatus. He says the Truck TabPro is a time-saver.
“The [technicians] are making repairs and getting trucks back in service, so I have to say it’s a useful tool in our toolbox,” he says.
The team uses the diagnostic tool frequently for check engine lights and engine diagnoses. They also use it to perform regens on smaller vehicles.
“The mechanics who work on the road work on a variety of all kinds of equipment in our fleet,” the public safety fleet manager explains. “[The Truck TabPro] works on the sprinter vans, it works on the Fords, Dodges, Chevy and it also does the heavy duty truck. It’s sort of a one-tool that’s very broad that we can use on all of our equipment, which is very helpful.”
“All in all, our guys have been using it and having good luck,” he adds.
He says the FCAR F7SN is a good supplement to OEM software, but because it also includes lesser-used OEM subscriptions, it saves him some money, too.
Before using the Truck TabPro, this manager and his team were using OEM software to help diagnose fleet vehicles. He says where this tool really came in handy was to address some of their more “oddball stuff,” especially as OEM software can be cost prohibitive and they may not use it every day.
“For example, Detroit, International and Mack we don’t use every day, but we need it,” he says. “Why spend that type of money when we can use this and we still get the Ford and GM? For the price, it’s really a well-packaged tool.”
The fleet director purchased one tool for each location he works with to supplement their OEM tools.
After his technicians piloted the FCAR F7SN Truck TabPro, he says everyone was on board.
“It’s intuitive, and [the technicians] find it easy to use,” he says.
If any of the technicians had a question, he’d pass along FCAR's 1-800 number.
“The company is very receptive; we had an issue where we broke a screen and they took care of us right away,” he says. “They are reliable.”
The New York fleet director says setup for the F7SN Truck TabPro is pretty easy – connect to the internet and activate. “From there it does some updates and you’re good to go,” he says.
It arrived to his shop(s) in a nice case, with the tablet protected all the way around. It includes a manual and all the adapters.
In summary, he was pleased with this diagnostic workhorse which help keeps his big trucks on in service.
“I recommended it to my guys, and those guys have recommended it to their guys because of the reliability,” he says.
