hi Mike!

once I purchase a flip-chip from a 2000 F.150. Will I still be able to rechreve trouble codes from the vecheiles computer with the chip in place?
Can you recommend a good OBDII scanner?


From,Tony

 

Hi Tony,

This is an interesting question as the answer actually varies depending on the type of scanner used!

Let's say you go into a Ford dealership - they'll want to use their WDS system to scan for error codes - with *any* performance chip installed, regardless of brand, the WDS system will not be able to scan for *anything*, as it can't pull up the VIN# correctly with any chip installed on the J3 connector - the F-150 usually comes up as a 3.0 V6 Ranger on WDS when a chip is installed!

Now if they use what all Ford dealerships *also* have, which is the New Generation Star Tester (referred to as an "NGS"), then they can get any data, no problem. Also, if they use the last generation of Ford's diagnostic gear, which is the vaunted & well-liked SBDS (Service Bay Diagnostic System), there too they can get all the data they want with a chip installed.

So it really depends on the type of scan tool used - some will need to pull up the VIN to be able to do their job, and some don't - the ones that *do* need to pull up the VIN to be able to connect to the vehicle, like WDS, won't be able to read any of the data, so the chip would need to be removed with those types of scan tools.

Now what we generally recommend is to remove the chip (this goes for *any* brand of chip) prior to going in for service, so it's simply not possible to be an issue with *any* scan tool. However, if you need to be able to scan with the ship present (and we have to do this all the time), just use a scan tool that does *not* require the VIN number to be retrieved before it can proceed.

There are some tools that will try to pull up the VIN and if it can't because a chip is present, will then still go ahead and connect to the vehicle without it's VIN# and retrieve any OBD-II codes & data, like AutoTap - we use AutoTap a lot - it's got good data-logging capabilities, etc., and is a very affordable tool. If we need manufacturer-specific data with a chip in place, then we use the NGS instead.

I hope that info helps,

 

Hi Mike'

I read your reply. I have a 2000 Ford F150. 5.4L 4x4.
I am looking to purchased sucha scanner. Do you have one?
If not can you point me in the right direction.

 

Hi Tony,

What we sell is AutoTap, which is a hardware and software package that requires having a PC to connect it to - we use it with a laptop, so we can go down the road & log data, etc. Now with *that* setup, you can read just about anything, including manufacturer-specific data, not just generic OPBD-II codes & PID's.

We don't sell stand-alone higher end scanners, simply because they are so darned expensive, thousands of dollars in most cases, and out market really isn't in diagnostic tools, it's more in performance parts - so we could never sell enough of the high-end diagnostic tools to ever be able to discount them enough to make them "affordable" to most people, like you & me.

What I would suggest is to give us a call when you can, so I can go over this is proper detail with you - that way we can both determine if what we offer is going to match up well with exactly what you want to be able to do, etc.

In the meantime, you can drop by the manufacturer's web site at www.autotap.com & read up on the basics of it, if you like.

Talk to you soon!