Not sure if this is rhe right place for this question, but here goes....I am interested in buying a scan tool that I can get a data stream from, to read OBD II codes and ABS codes. At this time I own a 2010 Focus and a 2005 Expedition which we are interested in upgrading to a 2008+ Expedition. Several membersof my family have later model Fords as well (post 2000) so it would come in handy with their vehicles. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

AutoEnginuity with the Ford Enhancement license. RiffRaff Diesel, site sponsor, has that setup for sale on their website. I would highly suggest that. Best bang for your buck for the shade tree DIY guys like us.

 

Thank you for the suggestion. Unfortunately it is a little more than i would like to spend. I will certainly keep it in mind if nothing else catches my eye.

 

Unfortunately, the ones with a lower price point don't have the same functionality as this does.

I don't know about the dealerships there, but around here they charge $120 per computer hookup. That's just to read codes. Just 3 times of that would pay for itself for me. You have two vehicles that are Ford and you say that you have several family members that run late model Fords. Should easily be able to recoup costs just on code reading along.

Cheaper scan tools won't be able to pull codes from all models either. It's going to cost you more in the long run to cheap out on this then it would be to get something that does it all and reasonably priced.

 

$120......rather expensive for sure. Luckily about 2 miles from my house is an Autozone that will scan for free. While I understand that some of the more expensive Actrons and Equus ones won't have as much capability as what you recommend, I am not sure that those wouldn't be sufficient for my needs.

I have found the biggest problem I have experienced with troubleshooting is actually having access to a scan tool when the problem was actually occurring, or at least before the vehicle was shut down. If a code isn't resident after shut down, a huge diagnostic resource is lost. On a recent vacation I experienced driveability issues with my 05 Expediton, actually a re-occurrence of a long-standing problem. It finally threw a code. Great!! Now I can diagnose it!! By the time I had access to a scanner, at a friendly auto parts store in the town I was vacationing in, the code was gone. It took a few trips back to that store to finally nail down 2 bad COPs, two trips because the second one didn't show a problem until after the first was fixed. If I had my own.....

 

AE does have the ability to pick up those codes. They are still in the system, but not all readers have access to that part, they aren't "hard codes".

I can recommed a portable device that would read codes and monitor temps, pressures etc, but it doesn't have the capacity of what AE can do with running tests on various systems and unfortunately it costs more then AE. Portability is its biggest advantage though.

 

I have gone the AutoZone route many times, the problem with this method is if my OD light or ABS light comes on AutoZone has no way to pull those codes.

Even though I have not bought my own scanner yet I have plans (gotta save a few bucks) to get one. I have been looking around and I agree with Tex, AE is about the most capable for the price. AE is more than just a code scanner though, it can scan all the systems, not just engine, and it can log live data which is more valuable than just a code reader when trying to diagnose a problem.

A generic code reader is worthless imo, if I want a generic code reader I can save my money and go to AutoZone to have them do it for free.
If you still really want a generic code reader you can pick them up for around $25, and it probably won't really matter what kind you get they are all about the same. If you want a diagnostic tool get the AE.

 

Equus Innova 3140 CanOBD2® Professional OBD2&1 Scan Tool
i have this one..i dont think i quite understand what you guys are talking about because this one seems to work fine for me maybe you could make me understand a lil better thanks

 

Not all code reading devices are the same. Some just look at the Generic Powertrain Module, while others can see all the modules (9 in the case of my 6.0).

AutoZone code readers are notoriously bad for not picking up the rest of the modules especially if the vehicle is a diesel.

You might have gotten one of the better ones, I have no experience and with a cursory google search, I didn't come up with much on specifics, but I didn't look all that hard.

 

The Equus looks like a nice scanner, I like that it supports EEC-IV. The problem with most scanners is not so much the scanner as the vehicle. The government mandated OBD-II starting in 1996 because of emissions. The SES light will only trip when there is an emissions related code. OBD-II typically only covers the powertrain as far as emissions are concerned. Many manufacturers added much, much more beyond the basic OBD-II standard. *Most* code readers are just reading the standard OBD-II codes not seeing beyond that into the vehicle specific sensors and modules. And very few code scanners will read live sensor data.

Here is a quote from the AE site:
"Although Ford does implement the largest subset of the OBDII standard, the typical vehicle only supports 20 - 40 sensors and is limited to emissions powertrain. Using the enhanced Ford interface, a typical Ford vehicle will support 200 - 300 sensors within half a dozen systems; that's essential systems such as ABS, airbags, GEM, ICM, etc."

So it is saying that the majority of the sensors on a Ford vehicle cannot be read without a Ford specific scanner.

Here is the link to the AE AutoEnginuity® - OBD2 Scan Tool - Professional PC and PDA Diagnostics
And Riffraff Riffraff Diesel: AutoEnginuity Total Ford Enhanced Bundle



I had to show this image because I didn't even know until I saw this you could read from the AE if the seat belt is buckled or not


I hope that makes sense, it is kind of hard to get across in a forum post.

 

if i am understanding correctly most scanners are fine to read more simple valve train hard codes a ford specific scanner will look more in depth into the pcm and tell you everything you need to know? and as for my scanner it is still generic where it falls under the same lines as reading and able to read some soft codes just not as in depth of what a ford only scanner would am i correct at what you were explaining? or did i get lost somewhere lol

 

The generic powertrain codes are more or less your emissions type of codes. Not ones that will really give you a good idea of the problem. They might give you a broad grasp of where to do your search, but the Ford specific codes will really narrow down the search.

Bare in mind though that codes in of itself aren't the end all be all. Depending on how minor the problem is, it might not even set off a code deeper in the system. It just depends on if the issue crossed the threshold of tolerance in the programming of the vehicle. Say if the issue is causing a reading of 3, but it takes a reading of 5 or more to set a code. That type of thing.

 

I agree with the Innova, I don't have the one you have, I have the 3160b and I have read the codes, both generic and enhanced. Seems to work well, and it's very portable.

 

Thanks for this thread. I've been looking at AE for a couple of months and was trying to decide between it and Scantools.net.

Also, I saw the RiffRaff deal but wasn't sure if it was legit ($359 vs $399 on AE's site), but if they're an FTE sponsor, I'm good.

AE +Ford will be ordered manana!