Code Scanner!!!
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,295
Likes: 125
From: St. Louis (Out in the woods)
Code scanners are available from any auto parts supplier. Make certain it is an OBD-II scanner.
Prices range from $40 from Harbor Freight for a bare minimun device and up.
A typical scanner will run around $130 -150. You can also buy software that runs on a computer with a cable for under $125.
The best description of the codes will be on the Service CD for your specific truck.
Steve
Prices range from $40 from Harbor Freight for a bare minimun device and up.
A typical scanner will run around $130 -150. You can also buy software that runs on a computer with a cable for under $125.
The best description of the codes will be on the Service CD for your specific truck.
Steve
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: Eau Claire / Milwaukee, WI; USA
FYI
I'd suggest that you make sure that any scanner you buy has the capability to read Manufacture Specific Codes.
All of them will read the Standard Engine Codes that relate to emisions, but there will be times when you may need to read information on your Transmission other electrical systems. And many scanners and scanner software won't read thoughs "extended" codes.
I learned this from experience.
I'm still searching for some software that will let me do that with my ELM scanner.
Doug
I'd suggest that you make sure that any scanner you buy has the capability to read Manufacture Specific Codes.
All of them will read the Standard Engine Codes that relate to emisions, but there will be times when you may need to read information on your Transmission other electrical systems. And many scanners and scanner software won't read thoughs "extended" codes.
I learned this from experience.
I'm still searching for some software that will let me do that with my ELM scanner.
Doug
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,200
Likes: 39
From: Easton, Pa.
I have the unit from Harbor freight and is a very nice unit for the price.
It can be used for the following:
All the v6,v8, diesels and alternate fuel Ford engines as well as 4 cylinders.
It will read OBDII for GM, PWM, VPW and Asian ISO 9-141-2 systems. Not for Chrysler.
The plug is set up for all these systems.
There are no buttons. Once you look at the codes and let it go through 4 complete readout cycles, it will clear the codes.
Understand that this unit cannot be used on the new CAN systems from 05 on.
The book gives more than 850 codes that include transmission and of system codes where equipped.
Not all codes are applicable to Ford hence all the other systems it will read.
Not all the codes are listed in the book, that are specific to the vehichle.
The best place to get an education on Ford processors is the MotorCraft website on OBDII for 97 to 05. A lot of reading if you can understand what is being explained.
Hope this helps you.
.
Note: If you want deeper troubleshooting capability, a test head and software is needed. This will usually cost nearly $300 round figures unless you have a hand held display unit, then it's a matter of buying the software and cable for about $100 +/-, loading it on your computer then downloading to the hand unit..
It can be used for the following:
All the v6,v8, diesels and alternate fuel Ford engines as well as 4 cylinders.
It will read OBDII for GM, PWM, VPW and Asian ISO 9-141-2 systems. Not for Chrysler.
The plug is set up for all these systems.
There are no buttons. Once you look at the codes and let it go through 4 complete readout cycles, it will clear the codes.
Understand that this unit cannot be used on the new CAN systems from 05 on.
The book gives more than 850 codes that include transmission and of system codes where equipped.
Not all codes are applicable to Ford hence all the other systems it will read.
Not all the codes are listed in the book, that are specific to the vehichle.
The best place to get an education on Ford processors is the MotorCraft website on OBDII for 97 to 05. A lot of reading if you can understand what is being explained.
Hope this helps you.
.
Note: If you want deeper troubleshooting capability, a test head and software is needed. This will usually cost nearly $300 round figures unless you have a hand held display unit, then it's a matter of buying the software and cable for about $100 +/-, loading it on your computer then downloading to the hand unit..
Last edited by Bluegrass; Mar 7, 2005 at 09:31 PM.
