Forum Discussion

agesilaus's avatar
agesilaus
Explorer III
May 06, 2020

If you have a Diesel HD truck - Code reader

I'm looking for a code reader that reads diesel codes. If you have a diesel truck and a code reader that works; and you like it; how about letting us know which one it is.

If you do not have direct knowledge on one that works on diesel pickups please don't tell us about ones that work on your gasser. I followed leads on another thread where folks claimed that theirs worked on all vehicles and when I tried to confirm that I never found positive evidence that they do. Diesels have manufacturer specific codes that don't appear on gasser vehicles.

I'm not going to spend $400 or $500 for one would like to find one priced more reasonably.
Tow Vehicles
  • agesilaus's avatar
    agesilaus
    Explorer III
    May 07, 2020
    Camper8251 wrote:
    Curious as to what codes are specific?

    I have one of these and it {seems} to work? Or am I missing something?


    Maybe none, I think that brand may do CAN2. The codes that could be missing are ones for example: DEF or Glow Plugs which gas vehicles do not have. I looked at this several years ago and the only ones that read diesel codes at that time were $300 or so plus you had to buy a code pack for your truck. I think some of them came with one code pack. That has obviously changed.
  • azdryheat's avatar
    azdryheat
    Explorer
    May 07, 2020
    A code reader reads codes. Doesn't matter if gas or diesel. I use an Auto Link AL319 for all my vehicles.
  • agesilaus's avatar
    agesilaus
    Explorer III
    May 06, 2020
    Bedlam wrote:
    I like the ScanGauge II because you can add custom parameters to it and the cost is reasonable for a standalone device. Many people are going with an OBDII dongle and smart phone with software to monitor their vehicles which is another option. Did you see this thread?

    https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/30074765.cfm


    Thanks but look at the first reply on that thread. I checked a number of the readers mentioned and none claim to read diesel specific codes. At least the ones I checked before giving up.
  • agesilaus's avatar
    agesilaus
    Explorer III
    May 06, 2020
    wanderingaimlessly wrote:
    I Know the Autel units work. I have this one Autel 519
    It is by no means the best one out there, but so far it has worked on everything I have tried it on , from cars, to mid size trucks (250/2500- 350/3500) models including diesels , and I did use it to check a couple of Class C's that were based on 450 chassis.


    Thanks I was just looking at that on Amazon.

    As for the $20 unit, they all will read the OBD2 codes but diesels have their own set of extra codes, on Fords I believe its CAN2 in addition to the gasser codes. Fuel injector codes for example or DEF. Things that do not exist on gas trucks.
  • wopachop's avatar
    wopachop
    Explorer
    May 06, 2020
    The common $20 reader works with my 02 diesel and the free torque app.
  • wanderingaimles's avatar
    wanderingaimles
    Explorer
    May 06, 2020
    I Know the Autel units work. I have this one Autel 519
    It is by no means the best one out there, but so far it has worked on everything I have tried it on , from cars, to mid size trucks (250/2500- 350/3500) models including diesels , and I did use it to check a couple of Class C's that were based on 450 chassis.

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