2006 F350 diesel 6.0 First time I've had the engine light come on. Everything seems to run fine. It would probably cost me as much to take it into the shop as to buy a code reader. Could anyone recommend the one to get? Thanks.

 

Get you a DashBoss

DashBoss | A Brain Scan for your Vehicle


it will read DTC and Show you live Data

the Live Data is where you will find most problem if you have one Plus you can see any problems coming once you learn how to read it and compare numbers

DTC have certain requirments to set so its a wrench in the gears sometimes cause it usually has to Fail first before it turns on

I use a Scan GaugeII it sucks at reading codes but with all the Live data it get we do OK with it I have fixed my truck every time it acts up with it the SGII has saved me 1000's easy
www.scangauge.com they also sell at Auto Zone but it sucks as a DTC reader

Once you can see live data and know good numbers from bad you will just watch it and if it throw a DTC then that's just Icing on the Cake

Theres a GOOD Chancw you will get the code pulled from it then you will need to see Live data on whatever system is throwing DTC


For Now run to AutoZone or Oreillys they will check DTC for FREE

 

Either one and we should be able to figure that truck out

 

How about this one: The Equus Innova 3160 or 3150?

 

If you have a smart phone, Dash Boss or Torque Pro depending on whether you have MAC or Android, IIRC. Those are your best options before getting into more expensive code readers. I know nothing about those two Innova's but I know the two I listed will be very beneficial to you.

 

Auto Enginuity with the Ford Enhanced Bundle!!

 

Second the AE with the Ford bundle.

 

Dashboss works good and the data logging is nice if you have ios. I also use Forscan on Widows 8.1 to get soft codes. Its Free! Just need to buy the obd elm327.

 

Any parts store will pull codes for free.

As suggested better to focus on a product that provides live data like DashBoss for iOS Torque for Android, or stand alone like Scangauge 2 or Edge CTS

Josh

 

How about this one???



Lol. Ok I'm just bragging!!!! I've got all of them,, torque, sg2, AE, n Ids. The order I feel is this,, (and each jump completely doubles in functionality) sg2,, then torque, then ae,, then Ids. Each jump is no comparison to the previous one. After having Ids for a bit,, AE is like rolling on square wheels. I would say if you plan on doing multiple vehicles,, or at least having ability to scan multiple makes,, go ahead n do AE. It's 400 with the ford bundle. I actually pulled out the AE a couple days ago on a friends jeep grand Cherokee cause torque wouldn't reset the cel. AE made quick work of it.

 

Hey if you have the Money Anthony^^^^^ got the Best one but something tells me your NOT Looking to spend a few Grand on a Scanner LOL

Well I have an Innova DTC Reader to IIRC 3120 with OBDI & II and I can tell you that's NOT WHAT YOU WANT FOR A 6.0L

But you need more then just Code readers

I know some those Innovas has Live Data too but not enough of us use them to know if they pick up enough live data to actually work in the REAL WORLD when you do have a breakdown


What we are setting you up with is a Scan Tool that will Read DTC/Codes and Also see Live Sensor Data

Because NOT ALL BREAKDOWNS Will Set a DTC/CODE theres certain criteria's for some to set a HARD DTC/Code the will turn the CEL/SES Lights On So this is why we are SUGGESTING these scanners that read Live Data Too

Plus once you can see live data you can Conduct certain tests like to see Oil Cooler Health or High Pressure Oil Health or FICM Health. When you can see Live data we will give you a List of sensor values and some specifics on how to conduct tests Provided from our Techs on here from Ford.

Once you can see Live data you can usually catch a Breakdown before your stuck on the side of the road waiting for a Tow truck.

AE With Ford Enhanced Data is the Best for a DIYer does Live data and DTC and it will also Take control of certain Valves and controllers to Conduct More advance Testing

then DashBoss all the DTC and Live data plus you can add sensors like Fuel Pressure and EGT and Trans fluid press and LPO

Scan GaugeII is Great for Live data but not the Best at Reading codes But again the Live data is what your going to resort to regaurdless. ALOT Of us here run this SGII cause it was on of the first out that was around 150 bucks and SGII Has fixed MANY MANY Trucks here cause it reads ALL Engine Live data and some trans

Edge does pretty good to they are just missing a couple gauges for Live data or else I would have listed above SGII


Torq APP does Good for Cheap like 30-40 bucks

I made this list with what I would rank at the Top being the best to the Bottom least amount of info it would provide for a 6.0L

If I was you I would research all the brands Listed HERE^^^ decide your price range and go from there


I have used my SGII to figure my truck and a fair amount of other 6.0L out when they are not acting right


DONT get the Innova Like I said I have one and I don't use it on my 6.0L it wont tell me anywhere the amount of info that my ScanGaugeII Will!!! Every time someone gets a CEL/SES Light and get the Innova they Pull the Code then get on here and Post the DTC they have and then the Next thing they must do is get the Live Data for the System that Threw the DTC to determine what exactly failed what you cant normally see from a DTC so then they end up taking the Innova Back to get one of the others listed in this thread

 

You know that i have a contact with one of the Chinese sellers
of the CLONE VCMs. I can get them for less than the Ebay people.

Playing with a demo unit as we speak. I can also get a
Panasonic Tough Book CF-29 for not a bad price if nay
wants to talk about it.

Sean