Pulling Codes - readers vs scanners
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Pulling Codes - readers vs scanners
The check engine light came on, so I took my Escape to Advanced auto parts to have the codes pulled which showed a P0304 (cylinder 4 misfire).
My question is: Will their code reader show all of the codes? Or will it be necessary to take the car to a mechanic or the dealer to have the vehicle checked w a scanner?
The cylinder 4 misfire could be any number of things, so I was wondering if having the vehicle scanned would pinpoint the problem. Thanks.
My question is: Will their code reader show all of the codes? Or will it be necessary to take the car to a mechanic or the dealer to have the vehicle checked w a scanner?
The cylinder 4 misfire could be any number of things, so I was wondering if having the vehicle scanned would pinpoint the problem. Thanks.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Boston, MA
The check engine light came on, so I took my Escape to Advanced auto parts to have the codes pulled which showed a P0304 (cylinder 4 misfire).
My question is: Will their code reader show all of the codes? Or will it be necessary to take the car to a mechanic or the dealer to have the vehicle checked w a scanner?
The cylinder 4 misfire could be any number of things, so I was wondering if having the vehicle scanned would pinpoint the problem. Thanks.
My question is: Will their code reader show all of the codes? Or will it be necessary to take the car to a mechanic or the dealer to have the vehicle checked w a scanner?
The cylinder 4 misfire could be any number of things, so I was wondering if having the vehicle scanned would pinpoint the problem. Thanks.
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Joined: Feb 2003
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Did they look for "Pending Codes"? These are not active enough to trip the CEL but will sit in the ECM till cleared by going through the reader and they sometimes self clear when the error does not reoccur at a specific point in normal operation. A pending code could lead you to an underlying cause to the misfire if there is one.
In addition to Powersmoked's recommendations you could also swap the COP (providing you have COPs on your engine) with another cylinder and see how that affects the next code reading.
In addition to Powersmoked's recommendations you could also swap the COP (providing you have COPs on your engine) with another cylinder and see how that affects the next code reading.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Warren, MI
On Ford, three Pending Codes sets the CEL. Scanners are better than Code Readers.
Starting in '07, Ford stop putting the memory location for PIDs in the PC/ED manuals. I have a AutoXray EZ Scan 6000. On a '02 Fiord Taurus I see over seventy PIDs but on a my '09 Escape only twenty-seven PIDs!
I've questioned OTC about their scanners, once I mentioned that the '09 FE is the only known Ford '09MY that the SCT Engine Tuner has problems with and also the DashDAQ, they stopped the replies!! Seems Ford is the worse for this.
Any scanner that states that it works on all '09MY, I'd question that point.
Starting in '07, Ford stop putting the memory location for PIDs in the PC/ED manuals. I have a AutoXray EZ Scan 6000. On a '02 Fiord Taurus I see over seventy PIDs but on a my '09 Escape only twenty-seven PIDs!
I've questioned OTC about their scanners, once I mentioned that the '09 FE is the only known Ford '09MY that the SCT Engine Tuner has problems with and also the DashDAQ, they stopped the replies!! Seems Ford is the worse for this.
Any scanner that states that it works on all '09MY, I'd question that point.
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There were no pending codes. It's an 02 Escape 2.0L I4 w a coil pack (not COPs). I use Chevron gasoline regularly, but I go ahead & do a fuel treatment on occasion. After the car started hesitating & running poorly under load but before the CEL came on, I replaced the DPFE sensor (Motorcraft), then checked the EGR valve, and replaced a couple of vacuum lines. nothing helped. After the CEL came on w the P0304 code, I went ahead & replaced the spark plugs & spark plug wire set (Motorcraft), even though I was fairly sure the old plugs & wire set were fine. no help. I replaced the pcv valve & pcv tubing. no help.
The ignition coil harness connector is showing ~12V between ground & the IGN-RUN-START terminal (which is within spec of 10+V). The resistance between the #1 & #4 coil towers is the same as the resistance between the #2 & #3 towers. The resistance on the coil pack's male spade terminals for the harness connector is the same between IGN-RUN-START & each of the A & B terminals. I don't know if those two resistance tests have any validity. The resistance of the injectors is the same.
The simplest thing to do would be to replace the ignition coil, so I ordered a Motorcraft coil pack from RockAuto.
The ignition coil harness connector is showing ~12V between ground & the IGN-RUN-START terminal (which is within spec of 10+V). The resistance between the #1 & #4 coil towers is the same as the resistance between the #2 & #3 towers. The resistance on the coil pack's male spade terminals for the harness connector is the same between IGN-RUN-START & each of the A & B terminals. I don't know if those two resistance tests have any validity. The resistance of the injectors is the same.
The simplest thing to do would be to replace the ignition coil, so I ordered a Motorcraft coil pack from RockAuto.
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