2020 Top 7 Cheap Scanners for Ford F-Series Super Duty

What equipment is needed to scan the Ford super duty engine? What other data is retrievable with compatible equipment?

What equipment would you all recommend, how much does it cost, and where do I get it?

Here obdii365.com provides some cheap automotive code reader/scanner for F-series super duty. Thanks to all contributors (especially from powerstroke.org forum). For sharing purpose only. You are at your risk.

Content including:

Auto Enginuity

Foxwell NT510/NT520/NT530

Auto Enginuity

Auto Enginuity really is an awesome tool. It will do almost anything the dealer can except reflash the ECM and will also work on the Ford super duty.

Advantages:

Bi-directional support. You have the ability to initiate system and component tests
Mode 6 & Mode 9 support. Full ECM information including CAL, CVN, and VIN reporting
Multi system available: WinXP, Win7, Win8, Win10

Having AE and using it for preventative maintenance as well as troubleshooting can prevent the hurt to begin with.
The AE will allow me to monitor things in real-world conditions, change tire size configuration, has a section for PATS, buzz test, cylinder contribution, datalog, and it will watch ICP , DC%, PW, glow plug test and so many other functions. Problems frequently show up then, not in the sterile environment of the service bay.
You can record baseline performance before repair/mod. This will tell you what repair or mod takes priority and helps you to plan your expenditures.
You can record performance after mod. This is a good way to get hard data as to how effective a repair/mod is – eliminating illusions of money well spent or confirming a good repair/mod with measurable results.

If you have a independent garage you would go with AE to begin enjoying profits much faster!

Some people think the IDS is a better way to go! All we do is Ford diesels so its used regular plus having the bonus of updating the pcm,tcm,ficm, abs,relative compression, power balance and taking command of pids. But the original VCM2 takes hundreds of dollars without subscription. The vcm2 clone is cheap enough, but never able to hook up on a super duty.

Foxwell NT530/NT520/NT510

Foxwell NT530/NT520 comes with one free car brand software. The FOXWELL Ford F250 universal diagnostic code reader also help catch intermittent problems and confirm repairs during a drive cycle. Help you go through the annual emissions test easily.

Foxwell Ford F-series light/super duty vehicle list:

F-Series Super Duty 5.4L 1999

1999	Anti-Lock Brake / Traction Control Module	Read DTC
1999	Anti-Lock Brake / Traction Control Module	Erase DTC
1999	Anti-Lock Brake / Traction Control Module	Live Data
1999	Anti-Lock Brake / Traction Control Module	Active Test	Hydraulic Pump Motor
1999	Anti-Lock Brake / Traction Control Module	Active Test	Rear Inlet Valve
1999	Anti-Lock Brake / Traction Control Module	Active Test	Left Front Outlet Valve
1999	Anti-Lock Brake / Traction Control Module	Active Test	Right Front Inlet Valve
1999	Anti-Lock Brake / Traction Control Module	Active Test	Left Front Inlet Valve
1999	Anti-Lock Brake / Traction Control Module	Active Test	Right Front Outlet Valve
1999	Anti-Lock Brake / Traction Control Module	Active Test	Antilock braking system Power Relay
1999	Anti-Lock Brake / Traction Control Module	Active Test	Rear Outlet Valve
1999	Electronic Crash Sensor	Read DTC
1999	Electronic Crash Sensor	Erase DTC
1999	Overhead Trip Computer	Read DTC
1999	Overhead Trip Computer	Erase DTC
1999	Powertrain Control Module	Read DTC
1999	Powertrain Control Module	Erase DTC
1999	Powertrain Control Module	Live Data
1999	Powertrain Control Module	Active Test	Coast Clutch Solenoid
1999	Powertrain Control Module	Active Test	Shift Solenoid 1
1999	Powertrain Control Module	Active Test	Exhaust Gas Recirculation Valve Duty Cycle
1999	Powertrain Control Module	Active Test	Gear Commanded
1999	Powertrain Control Module	Active Test	Torque Converter Clutch Solenoid
1999	Powertrain Control Module	Active Test	Spark Advance
1999	Powertrain Control Module	Active Test	Torque Converter Clutch Solenoid
1999	Powertrain Control Module	Active Test	Idle Air Control
1999	Powertrain Control Module	Active Test	Evaporative Emission Canister Vent Valve
1999	Powertrain Control Module	Active Test	Fuel pump
1999	Powertrain Control Module	Active Test	Shift Solenoid 2
1999	Powertrain Control Module	Active Test	Coast Clutch Solenoid
1999	Powertrain Control Module	Active Test	Electronic Pressure Control
1999	Powertrain Control Module	Active Test	Evaporative Emission Vapor Management valve
1999	Generic Electronic Module	Read DTC
1999	Generic Electronic Module	Erase DTC
1999	Generic Electronic Module	Live Data
1999	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	All Door Lock
1999	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Four wheel drive HIGH Indicator Light Emitting Diode
1999	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Brake Lamp
1999	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Door Ajar Warning Lamp circuit failure
1999	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Two Step Unlock
1999	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Speed Relay Control
1999	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Horn
1999	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Wiper Run Relay Control
1999	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Transfer Case Shift Relay (L2H) counterclockwise
1999	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Interior courtesy lamps
1999	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Over Speed Warning Chime
1999	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Parking Lamps
1999	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Safety Belt Warning Lamp
1999	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Chimer control
1999	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Washer Pump Relay Control
1999	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Hub Lock LOCK Solenoid
1999	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Hub Lock UNLOCK Solenoid
1999	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Accessory Delay Relay
1999	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	4WD Low Indicator Status
1999	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	One Touch Down Motor Relay
1999	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Clockwise Relay Control

F-250 Light Duty 4.6L 1997

Module	Function	Note
Generic Electronic Module	Read DTC
Generic Electronic Module	Erase DTC
Generic Electronic Module	Live Data
Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Four wheel drive HIGH Indicator Light Emitting Diode
Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Door Ajar Warning Lamp circuit failure
Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Center Axle Engage Solenoid
Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Speed Relay Control
Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Clockwise Relay Control
Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Wiper Run Relay Control
Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Safety Belt Warning Lamp
Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Chimer control
Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Contact Plate Power
Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Washer Pump Relay Control
Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Accessory Delay Relay
Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	4WD Low Indicator Status
Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Shift Clutch
Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Center Axle Disconnect Solenoid
Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Battery Saver Relay Control
Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	One Touch Down Motor Relay
Integrated Air Bag Module	Read DTC
Integrated Air Bag Module	Erase DTC
Anti-Lock Brake / Traction Control Module	Read DTC
Anti-Lock Brake / Traction Control Module	Erase DTC
Anti-Lock Brake / Traction Control Module	Live Data
Anti-Lock Brake / Traction Control Module	Active Test	Rear Inlet Valve
Anti-Lock Brake / Traction Control Module	Active Test	Hydraulic Pump Motor
Anti-Lock Brake / Traction Control Module	Active Test	Brake Warning Lamp
Anti-Lock Brake / Traction Control Module	Active Test	Left Front Outlet Valve
Anti-Lock Brake / Traction Control Module	Active Test	Right Front Outlet Valve
Anti-Lock Brake / Traction Control Module	Active Test	Left Front Inlet Valve
Anti-Lock Brake / Traction Control Module	Active Test	Right Front Inlet Valve
Anti-Lock Brake / Traction Control Module	Active Test	Antilock braking system Power Relay
Anti-Lock Brake / Traction Control Module	Active Test	Rear Outlet Valve
Powertrain Control Module	Read DTC
Powertrain Control Module	Erase DTC
Remote Anti-Theft / Personality Module	Read DTC
Remote Anti-Theft / Personality Module	Erase DTC
Remote Anti-Theft / Personality Module	Live Data
Remote Anti-Theft / Personality Module	Active Test	Parking Lamps
Remote Anti-Theft / Personality Module	Active Test	LOCK
Remote Anti-Theft / Personality Module	Active Test	Starter Interrupt Output
Remote Anti-Theft / Personality Module	Active Test	Horn Output
Remote Anti-Theft / Personality Module	Active Test	Driver’s Door Lock
Remote Anti-Theft / Personality Module	Active Test	Set memory 2
Remote Anti-Theft / Personality Module	Active Test	All Door Unlock
Remote Anti-Theft / Personality Module	Active Test	Head Lamps
Remote Anti-Theft / Personality Module	Active Test	Interior Lamps
Remote Anti-Theft / Personality Module	Active Test	Driver’s Door Unlock (or 2-Step)
Remote Anti-Theft / Personality Module	Active Test	Anti-Theft Indicator
Remote Anti-Theft / Personality Module	Active Test	Key Pad Backlighting
Remote Anti-Theft / Personality Module	Active Test	Set memory 1

F350/4000 3.9L Cummins Diesel 2009

2009	4X4 Control Module	Read DTC
2009	4X4 Control Module	Erase DTC
2009	4X4 Control Module	Live Data
2009	4X4 Control Module	Active Test	Clockwise Relay Control
2009	4X4 Control Module	Active Test	Transfer Case Shift Relay (L2H) counterclockwise
2009	4X4 Control Module	Active Test	Hub Lock LOCK Solenoid
2009	4X4 Control Module	Active Test	Hub Lock UNLOCK Solenoid
2009	Tracking and Blocking Module	Read DTC
2009	Tracking and Blocking Module	Erase DTC
2009	Generic Electronic Module	Read DTC
2009	Generic Electronic Module	Erase DTC
2009	Generic Electronic Module	Live Data
2009	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Remote Initialization
2009	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Accessory Delay Relay
2009	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Clockwise Relay Control
2009	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Four wheel drive HIGH Indicator Light Emitting Diode
2009	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Hub Lock LOCK Solenoid
2009	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	Hub LOCK / UNLOCK Solenoid
2009	Generic Electronic Module	Active Test	4WD Low Indicator Status

Forscan

Most extremely cheap ELM327 adapters will not communicate with the Ford J1850 Protocol.

Compatible interface: ELS27 FORScan cable, FVDI J2534, vxdiag vcx nano for Ford, OBDlink LX USB link,Viaken, ELM327 (Forscan compatible ELM327) etc

Required Items:

Laptop PC
USB adapter and Forscan program
Super Duty

Step 1: Download and Install Forscan for Windows from their website: http://forscan.org/download.html

Step 2: Connect your USB Adapter to your laptop and to your truck.

Step 3: Open Forscan software
You should be greeted with a screen like this:

Step 4: Connect to your truck for the first time:

Note: If you are not using a usb adapter, make sure your bluetooth adapter is paired with your laptop, forscan SHOULD auto-find and connect to it when you follow these steps.

Click on the connect button circled in red

You will get a popup telling you what is required for it to connect, TURN THE KEY ON, then click OK on that popup.

Step 5: Answer Questions

You will get this popup

Unless your adapter has a physical switch on it click NO

Then you will get this

Click Yes. This creates a profile for your truck. From that point forward anytime you connect the Forscan app will remember your dashboard PID’s, which we will get to in a bit.

Now that we are connected, let’s get to the useful part of this.

DTC checking
Step 1: click on the DTC tab

That will take you to a screen showing you all of your DTC’s, including Ford Specific, and a brief explanation.

You can click on any of these DTC’s to see more details.

Run Self Tests

Click on the self tests button.

Then you will see a list of available self tests.

Pick whichever one you want to run and then click the red circled play button, the interface will walk you through them. These self-tests are explained in many places on the forums, I will not be re-explaining them here.

Monitoring with Forscan
One of the most common things to do with your OBD interface is to monitor parameters in the truck to test for things like a Failing ICP/IPR.To monitor your truck you will connect as described above.After that, click on the dashboard icon.

You will see the following screen

But that doesn’t really help, there is no info there!
Double click on any of the white boxes and you will get a popup

Scroll around and find whatever you would like to monitor. There is more here than the 7.3 supports, so some may not work. When you find one you want to monitor, simply double click on it. When you are done, click the checkmark at the bottom of the popup.
That will take you back to the datalog screen. To start actually viewing data click the play button I have circled below.

This is how the data will look.

Forscan Lite

Required items:
Bluetooth OBD Reader (OBDLink, Viaken, ELS27 etc)
Android Phone or Tablet
Super Duty truck

Now, to start we need to buy the Forscan Lite app. There is a free app that you can use for testing, this tutorial does not cover that.

Step 1: Open the google play store, search for Forscan Lite, purchase and install it.

Step 2: Connect your Bluetooth obd reader to your truck and turn the key on.

Step 3: Pair your OBD reader to your phone

Your phone will ask you for a Bluetooth pin, usually this is 0000 or 1234

Step 4: Open the Forscan app

Step 5: Configure the app, scroll down to settings, click settings

Step 6: In the settings menu make sure Demo mode is not selected and your OBD reader is selected.

Step 7: Connect to the truck.

Wait for the light to turn green

Step 8: Select Errors

Step 9: See what DTC’s your truck has.

The Red Circle clears ALL DTC’s, the Green Circle re-scans for any DTC’s.

Step 10: Disconnect
Click the button in the green circle to disconnect when done.

how to do datalogging with Forscan lite on android

Click on “Table”

Click on the settings gear to pick PID’s to monitor

Once you have picked PID’s click play to start streaming data.

At the bottom of the screen I have circled the buttons that let you play data forwards and backwords.

This is the datalogging portion.

Torque Pro

Required items:
Bluetooth OBD Reader (OBDLink MX, OBDLink LX, Bluetooth ELM327, Mini ELM327 Adapter, Kiwi Bluetooth, Diagmex DX70, Vgate ELM327 etc)
Android Phone or Tablet
Super Duty truck

Now, to start we need to buy the Torque Pro app. There is a free app that you can use for testing, this tutorial does not cover that.

Step 1: Open the google play store, search for Torque Pro, purchase and install it.

Step 2: Connect your Bluetooth obd reader to your truck and turn the key on.

Step 3: Pair your OBD reader to your phone

Your phone will ask you for a Bluetooth pin, usually this is 0000 or 1234

Step 4: Open the Torque Pro app

Step 5: Open torque settings to configure the app.

Step 6: Click on Settings

Step 7: scroll down on the screen until you find and click on “Manage Extra PIDs/Sensors”

Step 8: click on the menu button in the top right

Step 9: Click on “Add Predefined Set”

Step 10: click on “Ford (Incl. Powerstroke)”

Step 11: Verify you see a large # of new PID’s on the screen

Step 12: Press the back button to get back to the settings screen, then click on “OBD2 Adapter Settings”

Step 13: Verify connection type, choose Bluetooth device if you wish, Torque will auto find OBD readers if you do not pick.

Step 14: Back all the way out to the home screen of the torque app.
Verify that Torque connects to your reader.

The Red Circle is your GPS Lock, does not matter for monitoring
The Green Circle is your device indicator, it should always be lit
The Blue Circle is connection to OBD reader
The Orange Circle is the OBD reader’s connection to the PCM

Step 15: Click on realtime information

Step 16: Note that you can swipe left and right to get to an empty screen of gauges

Step 17: press and hold on the screen until you see a popup, then click add display

Step 18: Select the type of display you want, I like Dial (needle)

Step 19: Pick the PID you want, for Example ICP

Step 20: Pick a size

Step 21: tap the location you want the gauge, you can also drag it to the grid lines

Step 22: When you tap or release your finger the gauge will lock there.

Repeat steps 17-22 for each gauge you want to add.

CarGauge Pro

Required items:
Bluetooth OBD Reader (Elm327, ELM327 mini v2.1 or STN Bluetooth Adapter)
Android Phone or Tablet
Super Duty truck!

Now, to start we need to buy the CarGauge Pro app. There is a free app that you can use for testing, this tutorial does not cover that.

Step 1: Open the google play store, search for Car Gauge Pro, purchase and install it.

Step 2: Connect your Bluetooth obd reader to your truck and turn the key on.

Step 3: Pair your OBD reader to your phone

Your phone will ask you for a Bluetooth pin, usually this is 0000 or 1234

Step 4: Open the CarGauge Pro app

Step 5: Click on connect.

Step 6: Select your OBD reader from the popup

Step 7: Select your vehicle manufacturer (FORD!! :icon_ford: )

Step 8: Select the Ford Powertrain Module

Step 9: Select the ECU

Step 10: Select Auto-Scan for PID’s

Step 11: click cancel when asked to save the PID list

Step 12: Click Diagnostics

Step 13: Select Self Test

Step 14: Select the test you want to run, for example a Buzz Test

Step 15: let the test run until the red goes away

Step 16: Observe any leftover P codes, deal with accordingly

Step 17: Press back button back to the home screen, then press exit when done.

Forscan vs. Torque Pro vs. CarGauge Pro:

The PC version of Forscan gives you the same information as the 3 apps (Forscan lite, Torque pro, CarGauge Pro) combined.

Each android app is best suited to a specific function. Forscan Lite works awesome as a code puller and it has a datalog feature that allows you to go back in time and review, which is useful , Torque Pro is the best dashboard app/monitoring app around and is awesome for seeing your gauges at a glance, and CarGauge Pro is the only app of that allows you to run the self tests, but it is terrible at code pulling and monitoring.

So you can use Torque App Pro to data log and Car gauge Pro to pull codes and run CCT and BUZZ tests.

Autel MaxiAP AP200

Autel and Launch X431 also developed cheap OBD dongle with software App to scan Ford F-series.

Autel AP200 is a Bluetooth adapter based on iOS and Android system. With up to 19 specific functions, like Oil Reset, EPB, BMS, SAS, DPF, TPMS, IMMO, etc.

AP200 supports F-150, F-150 supercrew, F-250, F250 light duty, F-650, F-750, F350/4000, F-series super duty etc F-series vehicles.