Im looking for a 104 pin breakout box.

What should I look for?

 

Not sure what you mean by, "what should I look for?"

 

Manufacturer, adaptors? I don't know to much about them other than there purpose.
I have seen two brands. Any info would be good.

 

OTC has a good reputation. If you Google "OTC EEC-V breakout box" you'll see several places that sell them new between about 450 and 600 bucks. Once in a while I see them on craigslist, too.

EDIT: It looks like the OTC part number is 3235 if you want to search for that one specifically.

 

Ensure the one you get is for your particular vehicle. There are CA Models as well as 49 States Models. Be cautious of ebay unless the seller has a stellar reputation. I have seen them advertised and looked the part numbers up and they were for Gassers.

Check and research prior to buying.

You could always get two used harnesses, one for the PCM and the other for the Field Circuit and just use the pin # as reference for the testing. You'll have to extend wires for + and - respectively with alligator clips for power. I've made several for other vehicles. My buddy got a project box from Radio Shack and made one for his motorcycle which looks OEM. I haven't the patients for that involved of a experiment.

 

Wait a second. Jmudweiser, are you talking about a 104 pin breakout box for the PCM, or just an injector breakout box?

 

It's for the PCM, and thanks for all the info.

 

What is a breakout box used for

 

??Please explain??

How is a "CA Model" breakout box different than a "49 States Model" breakout box?

Pin 104 to Pin 104. Pin 103 to Pin 103. Pin 102 to Pin 102. ...(n)... Pin 1 to Pin 1.

My CA diesel truck's PCM has been connected to the breakout box used to develop a 49 state gasoline platform vehicle for the last half a year, with no issues. It appears to me to be just copper wires connected to each other, that don't care what the signal or voltage that travels through them is for.

 

I removed my comment because it was not appropriate for this forum. Larry

 

A man who has obviously learned from previous mistakes!! Hats off to you!!

 

Way to exponentiate the intrigue Pete!

Before, I was barely curious as to what Larry had said.

Now... I can't sleep at night.

 

Well, that's a good question. And, one I can't answer as I've never come across an issue directly related to this.

From reviewing the Workshop Manual and testing matrix, it appears there are more tests accomplished with the CA Models for GPL. I would assume it relates to emission requirements as most of the tests listed I see are Emissions related. I would think there were more tests on the field side on the circuits.

Although I cannot find either model numbers in the ford OEM tools section (Rotunda). They do offer "OTC" models listed for both CA and 49 State Models for use with the New Generation Star (NGS) Tester 007-00500

From the Ford Workshop Manual (1999): "104-Pin Breakout Box 014-00950 or equivalent for use with the New Generation Star (NGS) Tester 007-00500 for the non-CA. The 104-Pin Breakout Box 014-00950-CA or equivalent is required with the New Generation Star (NGS) Tester 007-00500 for CA models 1997 on."

Possibly something to do with the New Generation Star (NGS) Tester 007-00500 Software and its interface with the Breakout Box?

 

Now that I consider this more, I wonder why anyone would use a breakout box with todays technology?

Back pinning and a quality graphing multi-meter provides much more accuracy today than the best tools a decade ago. The OHM Meter is more of a Bench Tool than a field tester with todays technology in sampling rates and auto ranging circuits (excluding some necessity testing where removing the part is more of a pain than testing it like glow plugs). Not to mention the end user software available today like AE which is affordable to just about anyone.

I bet you could find all the Breakout Box's one could ever want in just about any dealership covered in dust (if they haven't been "acquired" and listed on sites like ebay or craigslist).

On the other hand, with the introduction of the CAN Bus System I can see where a Breakout Box would be a time saver in some instances as the number of reporting processes literally can be in the thousands and the modules are literally everywhere throughout the vehicle making access difficult and time consuming.

By simplicity we are blessed with our trucks (7.3 and prior). Easy access to just about every component in the system. No VGT, CAN, etc. At worst we face Anti-Lock Brake System Diagnosis, and that itself is easy by todays comparison.

 

Tom...

1. Back pinning a PCM is not easy to do while driving on a road test.

2. No matter how advanced the bus technology is, if the wire isn't carrying the voltage or the signal, then that physical circuit needs to be diagnosed.

3. Whether the diagnostics tool is an NGS, a WDS, a Mach II, an IDS, a VCM, a VCMII, a Snap On Solus, a Genysis, an AE enhanced software package, or diagnostics device that NASA has developed in the AMES Research Center, there still needs to be a way to conveniently and safely intercept and monitor the signals and voltages entering into and exiting the PCM, not just within the PCM, but in between the PCM and other nodes on the vehicle's network.

4. No Ford 7.3L equipped vehicle uses the CAN bus.

5. California Emissions equipped 7.3L pickup trucks (not chassis cabs) have a glow plug relay control module, instead of a simple glow plug relay. While this distinction is one reason for the difference in PCM calibrations, it has absolutely no bearing whatsoever on what breakout box to use. There is no "special" breakout box needed because one vehicle has a different calibration, or different equipment that requires a different calibration, than another. The box is literally just a dumb box, that breaks out 104 individual circuits so that they can be intercepted and monitored.