Is there software that will read my 96 Ford F250 Diesel Non-OBD-II truck AND work with the new OBDLink MX Bluetooth Scan Tool I bought (www.ScanTool.net)?

Oddly enough, my truck is not OBD-II complaint. Even though it's a 96, it is a diesel and over the 8500 pound weight limit originally set for OBD (however the gas engines for 96 F250s are OBD-II). I guess the diesels use a Ford proprietary protocol to communicate with the on board sensors from the com port (that is shaped exactly like an OBD port).

I found that Auto Enginuity (AutoEnginuity) has a scan tool & software that can read my codes (read summarized text from the AE user manual), but I really like the MX Scan Tool, and don't want to have to buy another setup just for the truck. I prefer to just buy some software that will allow the MX to work on my truck.

All help appreciated. Thanks!

 

I would be calling the company you bought your scan tool from

 

Some early powerstrokes were not OBD-II compliant for whatever reason despite having the port. However, I believe a 96 PSD should be able to pull codes via the OBD-II port. Verify that all your fuses are good. Otherwise, I believe some people have had luck taking their truck to a dealer, and having the computer flashed with a new update.

 

Well I am just closing up loose ends now.
The final resolution here is that I returned the other scanner, and bought the AutoEnginuity scanner. It works great, although sometimes it looses the data connection with the truck for some reason... but this occurs infrequently.
In conclusion, I believe it is a real waste of time to search hard for another option because of the particularities of the 1996 PSD. It is wired like it is OBD-II as it has the OBD-II data port and all; BUT it ain't OBD-II! Don't believe ANYONE who tells you that the 1996 PSD is OBD-II. AutoEnginuity seems to have the only "CONSUMER GRADE" scanner that will work for these beasts.

 

Not quite. This is extensively covered in the OBS PSD section here on FTE. The other options are:
* Hand-held scanner format - Snap-On MT2500 with the proper cabling and K2a key
* Dash gauge format - AeroForce Interceptor gauge
* Android device format - bluetooth connector and Torque Pro / CarGauge Pro

But yes, choices for the OBS PSD are limited.

 

actually your choices for any diesel scan tool are limited.
you need a good scan tool to read diesels. cheap ones don't work on diesels most of the time