Add a OBD2 scanner as critical equipment for Diesels

[Fowl Play]

Figured I’d pass on something that got me out of a tight spot the other day. 12hrs from the house, 5 hrs still to go to the hunting grounds, my ‘22 F350 randomly throws a DEF code and gives me 50 miles before it puts me into limp mode (can go no faster than 50mph). No warning, no reason and now I have ~50 min to figure out a solution. No side road options, I’m in the middle of nowhere. Single lane highway with speed limit of 75mph. Towing a trailer, l’m going to get run off the road and literally be a hazard to everyone else going 50mph.

Finally remembered I have Forscan on my laptop and a generic OBD2 cord under the seat. So pulled over and used Forscan to clear the codes. Have since driven 500miles and the code never came back. Still don’t know if it was a real issue or a freak thing, but I would have been in a tight spot without the ability to clear that code.

Now making sure I have a OBD2 scanner with ability to clear codes as critical equipment for the truck. What a PITA these emission systems are!

 

[Steve300xcw]

What a PITA these emission systems are!

If only there was a permanent fix for that..

 

[mntnguide]

Figured I’d pass on something that got me out of a tight spot the other day. 12hrs from the house, 5 hrs still to go to the hunting grounds, my ‘22 F350 randomly throws a DEF code and gives me 50 miles before it puts me into limp mode (can go no faster than 50mph). No warning, no reason and now I have ~50 min to figure out a solution. No side road options, I’m in the middle of nowhere. Single lane highway with speed limit of 75mph. Towing a trailer, l’m going to get run off the road and literally be a hazard to everyone else going 50mph.

Finally remembered I have Forscan on my laptop and a generic OBD2 cord under the seat. So pulled over and used Forscan to clear the codes. Have since driven 500miles and the code never came back. Still don’t know if it was a real issue or a freak thing, but I would have been in a tight spot without the ability to clear that code.

Now making sure I have a OBD2 scanner with ability to clear codes as critical equipment for the truck. What a PITA these emission systems are!

If it's the same code I got on my 21' f250... it will come back randomly. .I made a permanent solution to that issue shortly after it happened last year. My truck is much lighter, breathes better, and is just plain happy! In 100k miles, the only issue I've ever had with my truck has been Def system related. So now it's gone for good and I wondered why I didn't do it much sooner

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[Nine Banger]

Our 2020 6.7L threw a code Tuesday night.

I rolled into Advanced Auto Parts on Wednesday AM and the kid tested it as P2200: Failing Nox Sensor.

34K miles...pretty annoying.

When I was rolling out of the parking lot I thought to myself, what if I just clear it.

Currently have a sensor and wrench on order but I'd like to get a code reader and code clearer.

Are you hooking it up to your computer to read and then the app to clear it?

 

[T_Widdy]

Our 2020 6.7L threw a code Tuesday night.

I rolled into Advanced Auto Parts on Wednesday AM and the kid tested it as P2200: Failing Nox Sensor.

34K miles...pretty annoying.

When I was rolling out of the parking lot I thought to myself, what if I just clear it.

Currently have a sensor and wrench on order but I'd like to get a code reader and code clearer.

Are you hooking it up to your computer to read and then the app to clear it?

You can get a Bluetooth OBD 2 adapter and download FORScan lite app on your phone and do quite a bit with your phone

 

[180ls1]

Great tip. In your estimation, will the $20 ones generally work for this?

 

[mt terry d]

Geeze guys, don’t you know you’re killing the baby polar bears!!!!

 

[fragment]

I'm not sure about the newer trucks, mine is a 2002 Ford with the 7.3L which is quite a bit more simple, but I have one of these in every car with a computer: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073XKQQQW

And I use the app OBD Fusion to read, test, and clear codes. You can pay per car or buy packages depending on what you're trying to do. Overall it's pretty cheap insurance to me to be able to read codes on the move. https://www.obdsoftware.net/software/obdfusion

I also have AutoEnginuity when I need to do better and deep investigations on the diesel, but I haven't had to dig it out in quite awhile because the OBD Fusion is easier to get, is on my phone, and has given me enough live data to do anything I've needed to so far.

 

[Fowl Play]

If only there was a permanent fix for that..

As soon as the truck no longer has a warranty I am seriously considering this. Only issue is I drive cross country allot, so even though it’s not an issue in my home state— I could run into issues in another should I have a mechanical issue I need a shop to fix, etc.

 

[fatbacks]

Ran into a bunch of emission related codes on my 2019 duramax lately. Fed up with it and decided to make that issue go away permanently. She breathes a whole lot easier now. Only solution to that crap in my opinion.


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[Fowl Play]

Our 2020 6.7L threw a code Tuesday night.

I rolled into Advanced Auto Parts on Wednesday AM and the kid tested it as P2200: Failing Nox Sensor.

34K miles...pretty annoying.

When I was rolling out of the parking lot I thought to myself, what if I just clear it.

Currently have a sensor and wrench on order but I'd like to get a code reader and code clearer.

Are you hooking it up to your computer to read and then the app to clear it?

I got Forscan to remove the double honk if I leave the car when it’s running with keys in my pocket. It has tons of other uses though (can do a ton of other customizations to the truck, etc). But in this case I used it as a OBD2 scanner. Read the codes and manually cleared them.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Had something similar happen on my 15 6.7 and used the same set up as the op to diagnose and make it back 4 hrs to the house without issue. Worth the weight I’d say.

Also got rid of that annoying seatbelt dinger…

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Thanks for the heads up. Quick question though, will disconnecting the batteries also reset things? I don't have to worry anymore as best thing I ever did was permanently fix my Cummins but curious for other codes.

 

[Fowl Play]

Thanks for the heads up. Quick question though, will disconnecting the batteries also reset things? I don't have to worry anymore as best thing I ever did was permanently fix my Cummins but curious for other codes.

It will, but is more of a pain to do. Works in a pinch though. Quick tip on that for newer vehicles. Just disconnecting the battery will not reset the computer. There are a ton of capacitors and other devices that store power that can keep the computer powered for hours. You need to disconnect the battery, turn on the headlights, then bridge the positive and negative wires together briefly to fully drain all power in the system. (If the wires can touch, great, if not bridge the gap with a wrench or something. Shouldn’t be enough power to hurt you, but I still wore a rubber glove just in case). Only when completely dead will the computer reset.

I learned this when I had a squirrel make a nest overnight in my air intake that I didn’t catch till the next day when the truck started running terribly. Error code was something like “fuel injector has reached its maximum offset learning limit”. Clearing those codes did not work, I had to reset the computer. Disconnected the battery and that didn’t do it either. Eventually found a YouTube video outlining the process I stated above and that worked.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

It will, but is more of a pain to do. Works in a pinch though. Quick tip on that for newer vehicles. Just disconnecting the battery will not reset the computer. There are a ton of capacitors and other devices that store power that can keep the computer powered for hours. You need to disconnect the battery, turn on the headlights, then bridge the positive and negative wires together briefly to fully drain all power in the system. (If the wires can touch, great, if not bridge the gap with a wrench or something. Shouldn’t be enough power to hurt you, but I still wore a rubber glove just in case). Only when completely dead will the computer reset.

I learned this when I had a squirrel make a nest overnight in my air intake that I didn’t catch till the next day when the truck started running terribly. Error code was something like “fuel injector has reached its maximum offset learning limit”. Clearing those codes did not work, I had to reset the computer. Disconnected the battery and that didn’t do it either. Eventually found a YouTube video outlining the process I stated above and that worked.

Nice, thank you. Need a "squirrel nest in the air box" error code on these trucks. Lol

 

[Dave Thomas]

If you can clear the codes it can get you out of a bind like the op but sometimes you can not clear the codes and have the reduced power go back to normal. Depends on the problem. If you are just clearing codes to avoid fixing it you are creating problems for the mechanic because you may be erasing other info he might need. I do agree that the current emissions systems are killing the reliability of modern diesels.

 

[mntnguide]

Great tip. In your estimation, will the $20 ones generally work for this?

Yes, I have a very cheap Amazon OBD reader that will read and clear codes that is always in my truck. But since deleting the garbage from underneath the truck, Ive not needed to use it. But, the Forscan app on your phone with a reader sounds like a better solution if you actually want to be able to see and do a lot more.

 

[Beendare]

Thanks for the heads up @Fowl Play - good tip

are the $35 versions from Amazon any good?

 

[180ls1]

Is anyone having servicing issues since weight loss?