Hi,

I'm TOTALLY new to the Ford diesel world. Just got my first truck and I'm trying to learn about the mysterious (to me) world of the PSD. I have a 2005 6.0 and was wondering what code scanner hardware or software you guys would recommend for these trucks? I have seen some recommendations on other threads but usually these are several years old and I know how fast technology can change and go obsolete. So I'm wondering what the current consensus is which one is best. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

Day to day use, either Torque Pro for Android or DashBoss for Apple prodcuts. Heavy duty diagnostics would be AutoEngenuity or an IDS clone, but I wouldn't drop the money on that yet since you're just getting started. Despite the ten million people about to say ScanGauge, it's outdated and worthless and a scanner. Buying Torque app, a blutooth dongle, and a dedicated 7" android tablet is just about cheaper than buying a Scan Gauge, and significantly more useful.

I use DashBoss as my daily, since it runs off my iPhone which I pop into a Ram mount on the windshield. I used to use an Edge Insight CTS; it was $400, died in a couple years, got no support from Edge, and somehow this device still lacks basic PIDs like fan speed/clutch lockup. I had a ScanGauge, it disappeared into a tool bag never to be seen again along with my Ti-83 calculator and a BetaMax cassette, it's an ugly outdated pixelated POS that only shows four PIDs and basically can't pull codes. My CD deck is slowly failing, so I've been toying with the idea of an Android double-DIN head unit that can run Torque app, I need to order a bluetooth dongle to get it working on my tablet anyways.

A lot of options push the "expandibility" angle of being able to add sending units. Fuel pressure wise just do the blue spring, I have a permanently installed fuel pressure gauge and for something like 80k miles it's sat right where it's supposed to with the blue spring installed. IMO the only thing you really need to see full time is an EGT gauge, so I put an Isspro EV2 gauge on my steering column so that it's there regardless of whether or not I feel like plugging one of the digital boxes in or not. Which I don't constantly, I feel like it's an unhealthy neurotic tendency to watch a ton of data points on every trip to the gas station. I'll use my gauges a day a week or so just to make sure everything is tracking, or when I'm towing. Other than that, just drive the thing

 

Thanks for the reply! Wow! Quite a price differential there between Dash Boss and Torque Pro! I have mostly Apple stuff but hate the way Apple builds in obsolescence so all the hardware becomes useless after a future iOS update. I think you're right about the value using Android, Texas. I can almost get a BT OBD interface, the app and an Android tablet for less than the Dash Boss app/hardware!
So both of those setups will show codes for troubleshooting problems with the truck? I had a mysterious no-start recently and have no idea where to begin so I thought I would start with seeing what the truck itself could tell me.
I would have to leave the tablet at home, because I too tend to be hypervigilant and would be watching the app every time I drive it!

 

I ended up getting the ELM327 mini for $8.99 on Amazon and the Torque Pro app. Amazing stuff! Works great except I get non-communication with the ECU from time to time. I unplug the dongle and plug it back in and then it talks to the ECU again.
I added some custom gauges with the help of Diesel Tech Ron and was able to figure out what was going on with my truck (you don't want to know) Thanks for all the help and suggestions here!