Code scanners/readers

[5.02GO]

Alright. I'm in the market for one of these.

Whats the difference between the scanner and the reader?

Can these things monitor the engine and sensors while the vehical is running?

I am considering an actron or an autoxray.

Or would i be better off with a twEECer or PMS?

I have several vehicals. 93 escort, 96 sable and a 98 F150 and of corse my 93 LX.

Will tweecer or PMS act as a code reader/scanner? Will tweecer or PMS work on any EEC4 computer?

Thanks.

 

[jrichker]

Scanner and reader are two different names for the same types of devices.

All 5.0 Mustangs are ODBI, and can be read by a jumper wire or paper clip. They do not give a live data stream feed to the diagnostic port. If you want real time data, a Tweecer will do the job. I have no knowledege of the Anderson PMS, so I can't say what it will do.

Here's the link to dump the computer codes with only a jumper wire or paper clip and the check engine light, or test light or voltmeter. I’ve used it for years, and it works great.

See http://www.troublecodes.net/Ford/
OR
See http://www.mustangworks.com/articles/electronics/eec-iv_codes.html

IF your car is an 86-88 stang, you'll have to use the test lamp or voltmeter method. There is no functional check engine light on the 86-88's except possibly the Cali Mass Air cars.

Codes have different answers if the engine is running from the answers that it has when the engine isn't running. It helps a lot to know if you had the engine running when you ran the test.

Trouble codes are either 2 digit or 3 digit, there are no cars that use both 2 digit codes and 3 digit codes.

I have an Auto Xray code scanner that reads all the OBDII (next generation of computers after OBDI). It has a $75 attachment to read the OBDI computer in the Mustang. It doesn't give any more information than you would get with a paper clip. It does a good job on my wife's Isuzu with an OBDII system.

Check out the following links. The last link for the Equis Ford OBDI scanner is the best of the two devices.

For those who are intimidated by all the wires & connections, see http://www.actron.com/product_detail.php?pid=16153 for what a typical hand scanner looks like. Normal retail price is about $30 or so at AutoZone or Walmart. This device uses a speaker and a flashing LED so that you can count the beeps or flashes. There in no numerical display of any type on this device.

Or for a nicer scanner see http://www.midwayautosupply.com/detailedproductdescription.asp?3829 – It has a 3 digit LCD display so that you don’t have to count flashes or beeps.. Cost is $35.

 

[HISSIN50]

The Handheld tuners are more fortuning the computer rather than passively reading what is going on with various functions (though the TwEECer atleast, can read real time sensory input and output).

Good luck.