OK, I have been having some issues with my truck for a while now with a ticking/tapping noise & lately I notice a slight fluctuation in the idle.. kind of like a pulsing surge.. I went to get a CCT & buzz test a few weeks ago & $38 later.. all I know is that it passed both tests (warm) I've been thinking of pulling the trigger on the AE.. but have been hesitant to spend that kind of money because I'm not sure I will be able to put the info to good use. I am by no means a mechanic, but if I am steered the right direction.. I can usually figure stuff out.

I guess my questions are..

A: Is it user friendly enough that I can do the tests/diagnostics & easily put that information to use if finding a problem?

B: What all can I do with it that would justify an average everyday guy to spend the $$ for it? I have my truck, but my wife has a VW jetta.. so I'm assuming it will be useless for her car unless I buy a different package? My dad has a ford explorer & my sister a ford escape.. so I'm sure I can get some use that way too.. But my big concern is.. will this be a wise investment for me overall..

Thanks in advance for any tips & insight

 

It is pretty easy to navigate through the software. If you have a basic understanding of what various sensors do and how to interpret / troubleshoot their output you will be fine.

For use on our trucks you need to buy the "enhanced Ford bundle", so basically you'd be covered for use on pretty much any Ford product.

It can do generic OBD stuff out of the box too, so you'll have limited functionality against all kinds of vehicles (Jetta included).

 

Anyone close to you have the software? Check it out and see what you think. I don't regret the purchase. I purchased the domestic bundle so I could check out many other vehicles.

 

I'm in the same position as the OP, thanks for posting. I was going to start a thread myself. I have an ABS light and need to narrow down which sensor it is. Not to mention just being able to test everything else and clear codes.

 

Gregg, get the AE and come ask on here what you don't understand. The instruction that come with it is not very informative.

 

Thanks Rick.. Thats what I am worried about.. I don't want to feel like a backyard physician looking at an MRI... I'd hate to look at something & perform a lobotomy when all the problem was is an ingrown toenail

I just don't want to get this & not be able to put the info to good use.. I'm just wondering if I will be able to decipher it all.. like look at the results & know I have a bad injector, or weak HPOP or low fuel pressure.. or whatever... This is even assuming the AE will be able to tell me all this?? Thats my other question I guess.. will it be able to provide me with pretty much everything I need in diagnosing issues with my truck now & in future problems??

 

Like said, the AE is only a tool. It will give you the info and it will be up to you to understand what it is saying. The more you play with it the more you will understand what it is trying to tell you. We can help you with understanding what you get from the test. I am happy with mine, and helped a few people figure out a problem.

 

AE will allow you to gather quite a bit of good information without lifting the hood. Most of this information is vital in troubleshooting lots of problems. Now if you are looking for a tick or an odd sound it may not be useful at all. Lots of times people post things like "it feels different" or "no-start" If you have AE you can run the software and post actual data. Understanding the data and which sensors or parameters to read is about important as anything else.

I always try to tell folks that it isn't going to run and tell you to change the ICP sensor. It may give you a good code where to look, but like Rick said, "We can help you with understanding what you get from the test." This site has plenty of users that can decipher the data and help with a diagnosis.

I have had mine almost two years, I knew nothing about it other than everybody said it was "the cat's meow" I got it from Clay at Riff Raff Diesel and haven't regretted it yet neither has any of my friends!!!!!!

There are plenty of help files out there, Do yourself a big favor and pick up a Powertrain Diagnostic manual for your truck off of ebay. They are usually available on there for around $40 or less.

I would be more than willing to walk you through it over the phone when you get it. I could have mine fired up and you will see how easy it really can be after 20-30 minutes.

 

I agree completely with these guys about getting AE with the enhanced Ford bundle. I think you'll be surprised at how easy it is to use.

The biggest pluses for having AE are: it will allow you to monitor the overall health of your drivetrain, keep you from throwing $ after guesses and allow you to communicate a lot of issues that may arise with hard data. It makes diagnosis so much easier. About the only thing I don't like (and this isn't the fault of AE), is that there is no way to ascertain your fuel pressure since the PCM doesn't have a sensor for it.

Also, using AE has given me a much better idea of how all the sensors and actuators work together on the 7.3. It's actually a pretty simple engine, but you'll see what I mean when you've used it a while. I've had mine about 6 months.

The Roadside Help Network has a bunch of articles on using AE (but it seems to be down at the moment). In any case, I and a bunch of smarter folks are certainly willing to help.

 

Yeah, I have been thinking about it also....hard to justify with Xmas around the corner....maybe tax time... Since I have 2 7.3's and a ford tracer...sure it would pay for itself in a couple of months for sure...curious about how much to run one to the Ford place and put her on the scanner there...

 

Ford will usually charge around $100 - $125 for a basic diagnostic. Not a bad deal if they hit it on the head the first time. Usually they do ok, but if you take it into them and ask for the codes, you will only get that! The codes only tell a part of the story. If they know they are not doing the work, the information they will provide will most likely be worthless.

Having AE is just as important as having basic sockets ans wrenches if you plan on doing your own work. Guessing costs money, and that is often more than the price of the tool. Always buy tools when you do not need them, you will never have enough money to buy them when something breaks!

 

Guessing costs money, and that is often more than the price of the tool. Always buy tools when you do not need them, you will never have enough money to buy them when something breaks![/quote]

Man there's something almost religious about that statement!!!!! gonna scrape up the money tomorrow!!!! wifey be DAM@#D!!!! LOL

 

I used AE just a couple of days ago. I get in the truck and turn the key. Lots of clicking under the dash, dim lights, gauge sweep, the whole nine yards. I jump start the truck and use AE to check the system voltage. 14.1 volts. WTF? Connections are clean and tight. Why are the batts dead? Turns out I left the inverter plugged in for about 3 days.

AE is worth it's weight in gold.