Many auto mechanics consider investing in additional subscriptions to enhance their diagnostic scan tools. One such option for Verus scan tool users is SureTrack. However, based on practical experience, the value of SureTrack can be questionable, especially when compared to the often-overlooked built-in features of the Verus and similar scan tools.
After updating my Verus scanner to version 18.4, I, like many others, was offered a trial period with SureTrack. Version 18.4 itself didn’t particularly impress me, and neither did SureTrack. What I consistently find far more beneficial is the integrated “troubleshooting” section available within the Verus software for each module, such as the PCM. Our shop’s main scanner has a SureTrack subscription, allowing for direct comparison. In numerous instances, the on-board troubleshooting guides prove to be significantly more helpful than SureTrack. The key advantage is that this valuable troubleshooting information is already included with the scanner, eliminating the need for extra subscription fees.
One minor inconvenience with the built-in troubleshooting is that you need to manually record or jot down the fault codes, unlike SureTrack which (attempts to) link directly to the code. However, this small step is easily manageable. More importantly, for a significant number of uncommon and complex fault codes, SureTrack simply doesn’t offer any specific guidance anyway. This has been my experience over two years of regularly using the “diagnose” button on a Zeus scanner, where SureTrack provided genuinely useful information only about three times – and even then, the same information could have been found through other readily available resources.
The strength truly lies within the troubleshooting sections already present in scan tools. Even my decade-old Modis scanner contains a wealth of helpful built-in diagnostic information. Therefore, before considering paying for a SureTrack subscription for your Verus, it’s wise to thoroughly explore the capabilities already at your fingertips. You might find, as I have, that the best diagnostic resources are already integrated into your scan tool, making additional subscriptions like SureTrack for a Verus scan tool a less compelling investment.
