Engine diagnostic code scanner
Hello, I have always considered buying a OBDII engine code diagnostic scanner, however, wondered how useful it would be for my 2008 Ford with V-10 Triton engine. Has anyone on this forum purchased one...
Forum Discussion
There are many different scanners/reset tools on the market. Codes can be found on the internet but remember that if you get a code for example say a heated o2 sensor. It doesn't always mean the sensor is bad, it can be something else in the circuit. A common code was for o2 sensors and one fix was to remove and clean the connectors/relays in the power center as the ecm was reading an incorrect resistance in the circuit.
It doesn't always mean you can fix the problem but a reader is very handy and with a little code searching you can at least have a better understanding of what is going on even if you do take it to a shop.
This is just one example of sites with codes.
Codes
Edit:
as jrs says, a common code is for loose gas caps but it again can be anywhere in that system. Emmision systems not only monitor and adjust what is coming out the tail pipe but also control smog from fuel evaporating into the atmosphere.
So you could have a loose filler neck hose or a cracked or rotted hose somewhere else. If you are hands on you can start snooping around, fix the hose, reset the ecm (erase the code), drive it again and see if code returns.
It's common to take a vehicle in multiple times for codes like that if they dont have the equipment to properly trouble shoot it. The equipment in this case would be the machine to "smoke" the system. It feeds a smoke into the system and the tech can see where the leak is.
You dont have the equipment either but with the scan tool and a visual inspection you may be able to fix it for just the price of a $2.00 connector elbow.
It doesn't always mean you can fix the problem but a reader is very handy and with a little code searching you can at least have a better understanding of what is going on even if you do take it to a shop.
This is just one example of sites with codes.
Codes
Edit:
as jrs says, a common code is for loose gas caps but it again can be anywhere in that system. Emmision systems not only monitor and adjust what is coming out the tail pipe but also control smog from fuel evaporating into the atmosphere.
So you could have a loose filler neck hose or a cracked or rotted hose somewhere else. If you are hands on you can start snooping around, fix the hose, reset the ecm (erase the code), drive it again and see if code returns.
It's common to take a vehicle in multiple times for codes like that if they dont have the equipment to properly trouble shoot it. The equipment in this case would be the machine to "smoke" the system. It feeds a smoke into the system and the tech can see where the leak is.
You dont have the equipment either but with the scan tool and a visual inspection you may be able to fix it for just the price of a $2.00 connector elbow.
