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Code Reader Says V6 but it's a V8. Defective or user error?

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Old Jul 20, 2017 | 07:30 PM
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Code Reader Says V6 but it's a V8. Defective or user error?

I'm trying to decide whether I should return the Inova code reader I bought for my '95 F250. Pretty sure I followed all the instructions. But the code reader said 6 cylinders when the motor is clearly a 351w V8. I did warm the truck up first. Anything I might have done wrong? Thanks.
 
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Old Jul 20, 2017 | 07:40 PM
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could also be the wrong PCM, someone who switched engines may not have switched the brain.

or your reader is bad
 
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Old Jul 21, 2017 | 06:09 AM
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When I look up the VIN a V8 is indicated so I guess I've got a bad reader! ;(
 
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Old Jul 21, 2017 | 06:44 AM
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Originally Posted by ChRoNo16
could also be the wrong PCM, someone who switched engines may not have switched the brain.

or your reader is bad
Switched engines from what? They never put a V6 in these trucks.
 
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Old Jul 21, 2017 | 08:24 AM
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^^^^^ Well, the thread title says V6, but the OP's first post just says the reader said "6 cylinder". I doubt any code reader could tell the difference.
 
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Old Jul 21, 2017 | 09:38 AM
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Clean the pins in the data link connector then re-run the KOER tests. If it still reads out the truck has a 6 cylinder engine then remove the computer, open it up and look for signs of leaking capacitors.

Also note the part numbers on the computer case. We can help decode what it was designed for. Perhaps someone swapped in a 6 cylinder PCM for some odd reason.
 
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Old Jul 21, 2017 | 07:07 PM
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thats what I mean, it shows as a 6 cylinder instead of an 8, OP look at the engine, how many plug wires are on the driver side of the motor? if theres 4 u know the code reader is messed up, if theres 3 your truck has had an engine swap.

Also how did u decode the VIN? I have found some sites before that mess it up
 
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Old Jul 21, 2017 | 08:16 PM
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Originally Posted by ChRoNo16
thats what I mean, it shows as a 6 cylinder instead of an 8, OP look at the engine, how many plug wires are on the driver side of the motor? if theres 4 u know the code reader is messed up, if theres 3 your truck has had an engine swap.

Also how did u decode the VIN? I have found some sites before that mess it up
Pretty sure he knows he's physically got a 351.. Anyway, if the truck did have a 6-cyl. It would be the 300 inline, so you'd be looking for 6 plugs all in a row.
 
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Old Jul 22, 2017 | 06:35 PM
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Ok, here's an update. I sprayed some electrical contact cleaner on everything and re-ran the tests. Now it tells me I have 8 cylinders. Something must have been dirty or not connected tightly because I get more trouble codes now than I did last time too. Thanks, guys.

Sorry for the confusion about the V6. The code reader doesn't say "V". It just gives a number of cylinders and I just stuck a V in front of it because I have V on the brain...V-8 truck, V-twin Harley...all I have are V's!
 
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