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Autel Maxitpms TS501

Autel TS501 Affordable TPMS OBD2 Review and Buying Guide

What I love most about Autel tools is that they are durably constructed and very reliable in performance. On top of that, Autel always offers a warranty and free updates, which is a good sign of their belief in their products.
The Autel TS501 service tire pressure car tool is no exception. This is a durable and reliable tool that provides accurate results. It is designed to activate any known OEM/Universal TPMS sensors, turn off warning lights, and reprogram the vehicle’s ECU. The tool allows the user to diagnose TPMS problems wirelessly. Also, the scan tool price is far lower than Autel MaxiTPMS TS601 and Autel TS608 diagnostic tools.  Read this Autel TS501 review to know more about this tire pressure car tool.

Related: Best TPMS Tool Review [Most Popular Relearn Reset Tools list]

Autel TS501 Pros and Cons:

Pros Cons
  • Durable and compact design
  • The screen makes reading results to be easy
  • It can check the key fob for transmissions
  • Multilingual menu for easy usage
  • It runs on a rechargeable Li-polymer battery
  • Extensive vehicle coverage
  • One-year limited warranty
  • It is quite on the high side when compared to other TPMS units on the market, such as Autel TS401.
  • The unit only tells you how to perform the relearning, but it doesn’t perform it

Top Service Functions:

  • Check Key FOB
  • Program MX-Sensor
  • Read TPMS live data
  • Tire Type/Pressure selection
  • Sensor Battery
  • 4 programming options
  • Print TPMS sensor data via PC
  • Internet updateable
  • TPMS relearn
  • OEM
  • TPMS diagnose
  • Read/clear TPMS DTCs

Autel MaxiTPMS TS501 Service Tire Pressure Car Tool Review

Since it features more than just the basic functions and covers car makes and models, this is a nice TPMS tool for car repair shop owners and professional mechanics. Here is our feature review.

Technical Specifications:

Display: TFT color display (320 x 240 dpi)
Power: 3.7V Li-polymer battery
Operating Temperature: 0 to 50°C (32 to 122 °F)
Storage Temperature: -20 to 70°C (-4 to 158 °F)
Software Update: Free update on the internet via USB port
Warranty: One-Year Limited Warranty
Price: Check Today’s Price

Page Contents

Hard Plastic Construction

Made of durable hard plastic housing, the Autel TS501 tool is very strong and can withstand tricky garage floor conditions. It is also ergonomically designed for easy handling, and the rubber cover provides the user with a firm grip for proper handling.

Intuitive User Interface

One of the features that make this TPMS tool stand out from the rest is its easy-to-use interface. It has an At-a-glance TPMS status screen that is well organized for easy reading of results. For instance, it easily displays the location of which the sensor battery is low and requires to be changed.

Related: Autel TS501 VS TS508 Comparison Chart

Functions & Programming Methods

This is a versatile tool as it performs both basic and advanced functions. First and foremost, the tool performs all TPMS functions as it provides 4 programming methods which are reading tire pressure, reprogramming sensors, cloning sensors, and viewing sensor ID. Besides, this unit checks the remote keyless entry for transmissions. Other functions include reading & writing sensor IDs from vehicle ECU, reading & clearing codes of TPMS system and reset malfunction indicator light, and programming vehicle ECU to learn sensor IDs and positions.

The TS501 TPMS tool utilizes 125 kHz regulated or continuous wave signals to activate sensors. It can receive both 433 MHz and 315 MHz signals. But the device is not as fast and advanced as the Autel TS508K TPMS tool.

Compatibility

Another vital thing to find out when looking for a quality TPMS tool is whether or not it is compatible with your vehicle. When it comes to the Autel TS501, this shouldn’t be a problem as it is compatible with many vehicles, including domestic and foreign vehicles. But if your car is AUDI, then you should check this OBD2 Diagnostic Tool list for Audi. Furthermore, it works with some big automobiles, including trucks with 35 to 37-inch tires.

3 Multilingual menu

If you don’t understand English very well, you’ve nothing to worry about, as this is a multilingual device that allows you to use two other languages. The languages are Spanish and French, but English is the default language.

Free software updates up to 1 year

When you buy a new or latest vehicle model, you don’t have to worry about getting a new device, as you can update this one for free. You can update this unit on the internet through a USB to have the latest software. The updates last for a year, and after that, you will have to update them for a small fee.

Related: Comparison Autel TS401 VS TS501 VS TS601

Runs on a Li-polymer battery

Running on a 3.7V Li-polymer battery, you should expect these batteries to last a little bit. This is a rechargeable battery and has a shut-off function to prolong the battery’s life.
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Additional accessories

Apart from the amazing features that we’ve looked at, this TPMS service tool also comes with other exceptional accessories, which include-

  • SD card
  • Carry case
  • OBD 2 cable
  • CD
  • Charger
  • Magnet
  • User’s manual

Comparison Table: Autel TS501 vs TS401 vs TS408 OBD2 Scanner

Features Autel TS401   Autel TS408 Autel TS501
Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.09 x 1.48 inch 8.46 x 4.13 x 1.46 inch 7.96 x 4.20 x 1.48 inch
Weight: 0.82 lb 0.84 lb 0.88 lb
Battery: 1820 mAh 3200 mAh 2400mAh
Internet Updatable: USB USB SD Card
Activate TPMS Sensors: Yes Yes Yes
Quick Mode & Advance Mode: No No No
Read/Clear TPMS DTCs: No No Yes
Read Sensor Data: Yes Yes Yes
Check Key FOB: Yes Yes Yes

2 Alternative Of Autel TS501 OBD2 Scanner:

Autel MaxiTPMS TS508 OBD2 Scanner

  • Dimensions: 8.46 x 4.13 x 1.46 inches
  • Weight: 0.86 lb
  • Connectivity: Mini USB 2.0 x 1
  • Display: TFT color display (320 x 240 dpi)
  • Power: 3.7 V Li-polymer battery; 3200 mAh
  • Operating Temp: 0°C to 50°C (32°F to 122°F)
  • Storage Temp: -20°C to 70°C (-4°F to 158°F)
  • Warranty: 1 year
  • Software Update: Free
  • Quick Mode & Advance Mode: Yes
  • Activate TPMS Sensors: Yes
  • Read Sensor Data: Yes
  • Check Key FOB: Yes
  • Read/clear TPMS DTCs: Yes
  • Internet Updatable: USB

Autel MaxiTPMS TS601 OBD2 Scanner

  • Dimension: 7.96 x 4.20 x 1.48 inches
  • Weight: 0.88lb
  • Display: TFT color display (320 x 240 dpi)
  • Power: 3.7V Li-polymer battery
  • Operating Temperature: 0 to 50°C (32 to 122 °F)
  • Storage Temperature: -20 to 70°C (-4 to 158 °F)
  • Quick Mode & Advance Mode: No
  • Activate TPMS Sensors: Yes
  • Read Sensor Data: Yes
  • TPMS Diagnose: Yes
  • Read/clear TPMS DTCs: Yes
  • Internet updatable: SD Card
  • Check Key FOB: Yes

Summary

The Autel TS501 TPMS service tool is a wonderful mid-range TPMS tool that is ideal for car repair shop owners and professional mechanics. This is because it performs both basic and advanced functions, and at the same time, it covers a wide range of vehicles. Other features like the multilingual menu, At-a-glance screen, rechargeable Li-polymer battery, and ergonomic design make it easy and fun to use.

So, if you’ve been looking for a great mid-range TPMS tool from Autel, this is a good investment due to its durability and ease of use.

FAQs

Question: Can this TPMS service tool activate OE and aftermarket sensors or just Autel sensors?
Answer: No, it won’t. The ts501 TPMS tool only activates Autel sensors and not other types of sensors on the market. But if you need an active test OE-level diagnostic tool, you should buy Autel MP808.

Question: Can I use this tool to perform TPMS relearn after a tire rotation has been performed on a 2015 Silverdo?
Answer: Yes, you can. This tool shows relearn procedures for every vehicle and can perform OBD 2 relearn for different vehicles that need TPMS sensors to be relearned directly to the TPMS module.

Resources:

What is TMPS?https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tire-pressure_monitoring_system

How to Fix TPMShttps://www.thedrive.com/maintenance-repair/36753/tpms-light

How to use the Autel TS501- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ov3GFErhUg

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