Hi everyone,

 

apologies if this is in the wrong place (mods/admin) but I couldn't see a sub group for this stuff - but I'm new

I've just bought a focus 2010, 1.6 tdci and I suspect it's at that kind of mileage I'm likely to need to investigate something at some point and keep reading about Forscan. Is there a recommended seller or specific piece of kit to obtain this?

I have an Autel reader from a while back and I have a very ford specific box for my laptop that used to apparently code injectors etc on say early tdci engines but suspect what I have is a little out of date. Especially my Sykes Pickavant ACR's 🙂 

Does anyone have any recommendations or can direct me to an existing thread on this? IS Forscan everything I'm likely to need (i'm assuming from some of the threads I've read and screenshots I've seen this is laptop derived), or is there a good budget keep in the glovebox kind of thing thats worth getting? I'm an apprentice trained mechanic but have been out cars generally for the last 12-13 years so lots has happened I have very little or no knowledge of!

Thanks everyone

Forscan.org is a great place to begin.

37 minutes ago, bantam_dave21 said:

Hi everyone,

 

apologies if this is in the wrong place (mods/admin) but I couldn't see a sub group for this stuff - but I'm new

I've just bought a focus 2010, 1.6 tdci and I suspect it's at that kind of mileage I'm likely to need to investigate something at some point and keep reading about Forscan. Is there a recommended seller or specific piece of kit to obtain this?

I have an Autel reader from a while back and I have a very ford specific box for my laptop that used to apparently code injectors etc on say early tdci engines but suspect what I have is a little out of date. Especially my Sykes Pickavant ACR's 🙂 

Does anyone have any recommendations or can direct me to an existing thread on this? IS Forscan everything I'm likely to need (i'm assuming from some of the threads I've read and screenshots I've seen this is laptop derived), or is there a good budget keep in the glovebox kind of thing thats worth getting? I'm an apprentice trained mechanic but have been out cars generally for the last 12-13 years so lots has happened I have very little or no knowledge of!

Thanks everyone

If you want to keep something in your glovebox then a decent wireless adaptor and the phone version of FORScan is all you need. It does everything that the Laptop version does except Configuration and Programming, Output Control Mode, plus a very few potentially dangerous Service Functions, although I have not come across any myself.

For convenience it is best to get an adapter with automatic HS/MS Can switching although it is not essential but you do need MS Can.

If you do buy a wired adaptor only then it can still be used with the phone version with an OTG adapter if your phone supports this and the adaptor is suitable. That is for the Android version, I'm not sure about IOS. If you buy your adaptor from the usual auction sites it will be a clone and either will not work or will not work properly unless it is one of the few that FORScan recommend.

If you are going to use FORscan with your laptop then there have been some changes with the recent update. The programme now spits out an error message for a lot of the adapters. Tunnelrat electronics always used to provide the most reliable cables but to use them you now have to roll back to a previous update. *Some of them still work but will be getting phased out. 

Forscan is now utilising FEPS 18V programming in a beta stage, or similar anyway. The cable they recommend is from Vgate, it was available on Amazon UK but seems to have gone now, it is available on Amazon.com though. 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B094Z7PBLS/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_navT_g_5HMWX93YGZ7098YPV0C7

5 hours ago, Wino said:

Forscan.org is a great place to begin.

 

4 hours ago, Tizer said:

If you want to keep something in your glovebox then a decent wireless adaptor and the phone version of FORScan is all you need. It does everything that the Laptop version does except Configuration and Programming, Output Control Mode, plus a very few potentially dangerous Service Functions, although I have not come across any myself.

For convenience it is best to get an adapter with automatic HS/MS Can switching although it is not essential but you do need MS Can.

If you do buy a wired adaptor only then it can still be used with the phone version with an OTG adapter if your phone supports this and the adaptor is suitable. That is for the Android version, I'm not sure about IOS. If you buy your adaptor from the usual auction sites it will be a clone and either will not work or will not work properly unless it is one of the few that FORScan recommend.

 

1 hour ago, Jonro2009 said:

If you are going to use FORscan with your laptop then there have been some changes with the recent update. The programme now spits out an error message for a lot of the adapters. Tunnelrat electronics always used to provide the most reliable cables but to use them you now have to roll back to a previous update. *Some of them still work but will be getting phased out. 

Forscan is now utilising FEPS 18V programming in a beta stage, or similar anyway. The cable they recommend is from Vgate, it was available on Amazon UK but seems to have gone now, it is available on Amazon.com though. 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B094Z7PBLS/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_navT_g_5HMWX93YGZ7098YPV0C7

Thanks everyone for responses so far... I'll start looking into whats what, just want to be prepared and also have something I can carry in the car just in case. I'm reading of sooooo many DPF and EGR problems its likely worth having something I can quickly delete codes with in a bid to get home.

6 hours ago, bantam_dave21 said:

I have a very ford specific box for my laptop that used to apparently code injectors

Just an afterthought, if your adaptor is old, probably a VCM, then it will not be a clone and may be better than the cheap ones that are sold now.

It would be a good idea to download the free Laptop version and try it out. If it works you will be surprised at just how powerful a diagnostic tool FORScan is and you can take things from there. 

4 hours ago, Tizer said:

Just an afterthought, if your adaptor is old, probably a VCM, then it will not be a clone and may be better than the cheap ones that are sold now.

It would be a good idea to download the free Laptop version and try it out. If it works you will be surprised at just how powerful a diagnostic tool FORScan is and you can take things from there. 

I’ll have a dig through, I’ve got an ELM I’ve had for years, a wifi or Bluetooth obd adaptor and I’ve got another but it’s more of a large box as opposed to these usb cables with a box on the end….

This is my bundle of probably largely outdated leads and magic boxes….though haven’t found my autel yet….

I don’t think any of these do both CAN so will need an upgrade 

The F super one will do HS Can and might do MS Can too.

Cool, thank you - I'll try that one first, the other smaller OBD lead states on the back its an ELM

I've got all the software downloaded - various versions so will be able to try out at the weekend.

I think I have more somewhere so will have another dig through my toolbox.

9 minutes ago, bantam_dave21 said:

I've got all the software downloaded - various versions

Don't worry if the latest version gives you a warning, The warning is only if you try to programme with it, not for everything else.

I'll be fine then, I'd like to add CC at some point but want to know all is well with it first.

I've just realised what the big box is for it came with some Delphi software I got a while back - Delphi Cars? Not a great deal of use, I knew it had a specific use though!

 

Thanks again