With my constant problems on my 08 6.4 throwing the engine oil overfilled code P252F, I want to buy a scan tool to keep in my truck so that I dont get stuck 300 miles from home and can only drive 50 mph the whole way. I get dirty looks on the highway, it takes forever and is unsafe. I don't want to spend a lot of $ but want to buy one that will read and clear my trouble codes. Harbor freight, Oreilly, auto zone, amazon?

 

I can't speak for any of the code readers because I don't have one. However, I use the app TorquePro on my smartphone. It will do the basics of reading and clearing codes and can also be used as a monitor. Of course, you would need a smartphone and an OBDII bluetooth adaptor. I bought a cheap one off amazon for $10 and it worked fine for a couple of years. However, it quit working with my Expedition so I spent a little more money and got a better on. There are also other apps such as DashCommand where you can purchase the enhanced Ford PID code set.

 

Thanks, I just saw that on amazon and was wondering how the bluetooth adapter worked compared to other handheld ones

 

Running the same setup. Works great. You can also use Forscan which is available for free, is PC based and specific to Ford.

 

I downloaded FORscan a couple of days ago, but have not hooked it up to a vehicle. From the reviews I read, it sounds pretty nice. Being able to read ABS codes would be a huge plus. I had a wheel speed sensor go out on my Expedition. I drove around for 6 months with an ABS light on until I found an app (Car Gauge Pro) that could read ABS codes. However, I don't recommend Car Gauge Pro. I spent hours sitting in my truck trying to get it to pair with my bluetooth adaptor. Once it would pair, it would crash. Finally, the stars and moon aligned just right and it connected and actually read the code (left front). All the time I spend sitting in the truck messing with the app I could have changed both the left and right sensors and been done with it.

 

I used both Torque Pro and Car Gauge Pro to troubleshoot a no start problem on my 99-7.3.
Torque let me read and log all the data you need using a very friendly user interface but you cannot set things in the PCM, like doing a buzz test. I used CGP to do the buzz test and it worked with some reservations. The UI is horrible, it takes 14 steps to get to the buzz test. Once there it runs the test with no problems but it might leave your PCM in a confused state or as in my case error codes from a previous run were not cleared out.

 

I use an AutoEnginuity with the Ford add-on. $360. It runs on a laptop, unfortunately, so it's not as convenient as those that run on a phone or tablet.

It will read and access far more Ford-specific codes than most off-the-shelf units, it'll let you program spare keys if you only have 1 original key, and it'll let you run diagnostics on the truck. I even used it to diagnose which specific blend door was misbehaving and making continuous but intermittent ticking noises to prove it to the dealer since they could not duplicate it while I was still under warranty.

 

Scan Gauge II $150 works great.

 

Update, I bought a Bluetooth scanner from Amazon for $25 and downloaded the torque app for my android phone for $5. I've used it to clear 20 plus codes and it works great. I would highly recommend it and it also does 0-60, and other things. All for $30 and has saved me hundreds to thousands of dollars so far.

 

ScanGauge II for permanent installation in the truck to monitor such important parameters as DPF temp to determine when you are in regen and when the temp has returned to <700F and it's safe to shutdown, as well as coolant and oil temps to ensure they aren't more than 10F apart once the engine has warmed up. It also has basic code reader functionality.

AutoEnginuity for advanced diagnostics like live data graphs, and to record baseline engine data for later comparisons. I'm not aware of anything more advanced than AutoEnginuity that isn't 10X the price.

 

Ever try Torque? Sounds pretty similar and it's $4.99. Can set alarms, performance monitoring, plus any gauge you can imagine.

 

Dose autozone or another part store sell one that will work? I'd also like one to work on my gas trucks also

 

Equus Inova makes a scan tool that can check engine, transmission, & ABS codes and clear the codes. I have seen them for $200-$250 online at toolsource.com and similar sites. I've also seen the basic ones at Walmart. I think Sears may also carry them. Equus seems to offer more features for the $ than the ones at Autozone, Advance, or O'Rielly.