OBD II code reader

[Rickb1b]

Guys, I did the obd II conversion utilizing a 2000 ford explorer 5.0 and computer about 7 years ago. There’s a guy on this forum who programmed the computer for me, don’t remember his name. Now, I’m getting a check engine light and none of the readers I’m using will read it because I don’t know the VIN and mileage of the computer. So my question for those of you who have done this conversion; what code reader are you using which doesn’t require the VIN and will read the codes. TIA.

 

[lars]

I have one from Blue Driver that doesn't seem to care. It gives me the option of inputting VIN and mileage but doesn't require it. I'm using it with my OBD II converted Bronco and it works fine.

 

[Yeller]

My OBDII WiFi dongle and phone app don’t seem to care either. I like this better than the typical scanner, gives full look at every thing the ECM monitors, build a dashboard to monitor, and also does data logging. Data logging is huge, even if you can’t see what is causing the code, you can watch the log before it comes on and see what glitched out of tolerance.

 

[Rickb1b]

My OBDII WiFi dongle and phone app don’t seem to care either. I like this better than the typical scanner, gives full look at every thing the ECM monitors, build a dashboard to monitor, and also does data logging. Data logging is huge, even if you can’t see what is causing the code, you can watch the log before it comes on and see what glitched out of tolerance.

Do you have a make or brand of the dongle. I have one but it requires a vin.

 

[Yeller]

I don’t, had it for years so I don’t remember. The App is more the issue than the dongle. I’ve been using InCarDoc but need to find another, the free version is now quite restricted. Don’t want to pay a subscription for something I use 1x per year.

 

[EFI Guy]

My recommendation is to use Forscan for software. For hardware I would use the OBDlink MX+, or the Vgate Vlinker FS.
Use Bluetooth for Android or Windows. Apple is probably going to be limited to Wi-Fi direct.

 

[Steve83]

I've never seen a scanner ask for the miles, which aren't stored in that PCM, anyway. So tell it any miles you want - it can't tell you you're wrong. And reading the VIN out of the PCM is a standard function of any live-data-capable OBD2 reader on '00-up PCMs.

If you only want to read codes, this one will do it:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PR9PTKD/?tag=classicbroncos-20

So will this one, but it will also display a few live-data PIDs for a few bucks more:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007JSGR9Y/?tag=classicbroncos-20