Differance Between Generic and Ford Specific Codes?
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Differance Between Generic and Ford Specific Codes?
I wish to buy a code reader.
I think I have a "light-load" miss. I had one a year ago, it did not cause the "check engine" light to come on. I took it to Ford, and thier machine identified the miss at the number X cylinder.
So, do I understand this right about code readers? If the "check engine" light comes on, any cheap code reader will give a code for the problem? These are called "generic" codes?
But, since the "check engine" light is not on, I have to buy a more expensive code reader, that can scan Ford specific codes?
Thanks alot. Jim
I think I have a "light-load" miss. I had one a year ago, it did not cause the "check engine" light to come on. I took it to Ford, and thier machine identified the miss at the number X cylinder.
So, do I understand this right about code readers? If the "check engine" light comes on, any cheap code reader will give a code for the problem? These are called "generic" codes?
But, since the "check engine" light is not on, I have to buy a more expensive code reader, that can scan Ford specific codes?
Thanks alot. Jim
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From: Baltimore
You have it sort of right. All cars and light trucks built after 1996 (?) must be OBDII compliant. OBDII specifies a particular set of codes that must be supported. Ford and GM have both enhanced that set of codes. To read the enhanced codes, you need a code reader which will support the individual manufacturers OBDII enhancements. The standard OBDII readers will only read the OBDII specified code set.
Hotshot
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From: BC, Canada
If the check engine light hasn't been on then there shouldn't be any codes set, either generic or Ford specific.
Most scan tools won't find a misfire unless the PCM has stored a misfire code and if it has then the check engine light should be on.
Your dealer probably used their WDS scan tool to find the miss. It has the capability to do a cylinder power balance test. Normal scan tools wont do that.
Most scan tools won't find a misfire unless the PCM has stored a misfire code and if it has then the check engine light should be on.
Your dealer probably used their WDS scan tool to find the miss. It has the capability to do a cylinder power balance test. Normal scan tools wont do that.
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I have a 2002 Ford E150 with the 5.4 L motor in it. It intermittently will miss during startup in wet weather. Even though the Check Engine light isn't lit, there is a code recorded in the computer and my Autotap scanner will read it. I forget the code number but it indicates that a misfire occured during the first X number of crank revolutions after startup. The computer can indeed set codes without turning on the light. A filtering algorithm is used to monitor the recorded codes and the light will come on only when that algorithm has determined that a "hard" failure is occurring.
Hotshot
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From: BC, Canada
What they taught us at Ford tech school was that anytime there is a code stored it should trip the light. I do know that isn't always the case which is why I said "should".
Misfires are kinda iffy.....usually they will turn the light on but not always. It depends on how often the miss occurs.
Misfires are kinda iffy.....usually they will turn the light on but not always. It depends on how often the miss occurs.
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both, a Ford mechanic that took it for a test ride with me before it went into the shop, and the service writer after putting the truck on the "computer," called it a light load miss.
Calling it that makes sense to me ........ the engine feels ever so slightly rough all the time, but at gentle acceleration it gets much worse. If I accelerate hard, or remove my foot from the accelerator alltogether, it calms down.
Thanks for your info guys. I think I want to buy a good scanner what ever the case, maybe one where you can buy accessories to read the old codes (OBDI-?), and the new ones coming (CAN-?).
I hate not knowing what is going on with my cars and trucks. Cars these days seem to be more electronics, than mechanics. Does anyone remember setting the dwell on the points with a matchbook cover, and driving off just fine? lol
Jim
2002 F250 5.4
Calling it that makes sense to me ........ the engine feels ever so slightly rough all the time, but at gentle acceleration it gets much worse. If I accelerate hard, or remove my foot from the accelerator alltogether, it calms down.
Thanks for your info guys. I think I want to buy a good scanner what ever the case, maybe one where you can buy accessories to read the old codes (OBDI-?), and the new ones coming (CAN-?).
I hate not knowing what is going on with my cars and trucks. Cars these days seem to be more electronics, than mechanics. Does anyone remember setting the dwell on the points with a matchbook cover, and driving off just fine? lol
Jim
2002 F250 5.4
Last edited by Jim59; Oct 21, 2005 at 09:47 AM.
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Originally Posted by Jim59
Cars these days seem to be more electronics, than mechanics. Does anyone remember setting the dwell on the points with a matchbook cover, and driving off just fine? lol
Lots of times, I've personally seen codes that do NOT light the check-engine light - primary fuel pump circuit voltage low, misfires, lots of things.
Why the heck the check engine light wouldn't come on when it sees "primary fuel pump circuit voltage low" is beyong me ...
Anyway, misfire counters are not "codes", they are values in the computer's memory (counters). Most of the time, the misfire isn't enough to generate a "code", but you can go in there and read the misfire counters and see which cylinder is giving you the problem.
A generic code reader is just that - a CODE reader - not a value/counter reader.
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Only one other thing to add about misfires.
Misfires will set a code only after the counters reach the threshold level set in the pcm.
But to throw a new wrinkle in this area,Ford has now changed how they monitor misfires,you can have light detected misfires or hard detected misfires.
There is a counter for both for all cylinders. It ties in the crank position sensor also
to measure speed of the piston.Don't ask me how cause I'm still learning how there doing it by reading.My son is in college learning this directly from Ford.
He has brought me some literature on it.
Rich
Misfires will set a code only after the counters reach the threshold level set in the pcm.
But to throw a new wrinkle in this area,Ford has now changed how they monitor misfires,you can have light detected misfires or hard detected misfires.
There is a counter for both for all cylinders. It ties in the crank position sensor also
to measure speed of the piston.Don't ask me how cause I'm still learning how there doing it by reading.My son is in college learning this directly from Ford.
He has brought me some literature on it.
Rich
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OK, guys, I see what you are talking about now. I was doing some reading at the Actron website ....
Even though Actron builds scanners that can read the OEM specific (Enhanced) codes, they say on their web site that the OEM specific codes (P1) are often sent to their generic-code-only readers, as well.
Does anyone know any examples of a OEM specific enhanced P1 code?
I think I know which one to buy now.
BTW ..... Amazon has great prices on Actron scanners (1/3 of list). but i really want to get this truck done this weekend....can't wait.
Jim
Jim
What are Pending Codes?
OBD II Pending Codes are also referred to as “continuous monitor” and “maturing codes”. An intermittent fault will cause the computer to store a pending code in memory. If the fault does not recur within 40 warm-up cycles, the code will be cleared from memory. If the fault recurs a specific number of times, the code will then mature into a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) and the MIL or “check engine” light will turn on.
OBD II Pending Codes are also referred to as “continuous monitor” and “maturing codes”. An intermittent fault will cause the computer to store a pending code in memory. If the fault does not recur within 40 warm-up cycles, the code will be cleared from memory. If the fault recurs a specific number of times, the code will then mature into a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) and the MIL or “check engine” light will turn on.
Does anyone know any examples of a OEM specific enhanced P1 code?
I think I know which one to buy now.
BTW ..... Amazon has great prices on Actron scanners (1/3 of list). but i really want to get this truck done this weekend....can't wait.
Jim
Jim
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