Recommended code scanner for ‘01 7.3 powerstroke?

polomasta

polomasta

Member
So not knowing that the 2001 7.3 powerstrokes are not fully OBDII (noob!) I bought a BlueDriver wireless scanner and got this nice little message.

5c5461995bb0d7ed786cfb6b71e9b774.jpg


Can anyone recommend a (preferably wireless with iPhone app) setup that works well with this engine?

I’ve searched this forum and others and haven’t seen anything definitive.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
polomasta

polomasta

Member
cjken said:
I can scan my PSD with the Autoenginuity scanner with the Ford package.
Click to expand...

So far the AE has been the only one that has consistently come up as 100% compatible.

As far as I know it’s not wireless and windows only though.

Thanks for the reply!


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dwh

dwh

Tail-End Charlie
I've got a Kiwi3:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B016...=kiwi+obd2&dpPl=1&dpID=41BHa85VdxL&ref=plSrch


It's not the cheapest OBD2 bluetooth dongle but it supports a ton of different protocols and has a high speed (41k) data rate.

I use the Torque Pro app ($4.95) on Android. The Kiwi also works with the freebie Torque Lite app, with less features. I've used it with both.

In Torque Pro, you can load PID packages. These are the files that translate the computer codes. Not all manufacturers use the same codes for the same things. P0171 might mean "running lean" on Ford and "sweaty balls" on BMW. There are several PID packages included with Torque Pro, such as GM, Ford, Nissan, etc. The Ford package supports diesel, which I guess only got added a few years ago.

When you goto add a guage to the dashboard, there will be a list of things you can monitor, such as voltage, coolant temp, etc.

Give it a minute and some things in the list will turn green and show the latest data acquired. Those are the things that your vehicle's ECM (computer) supports. Not everything in the list (PID file) will turn green on every vehicle. I get more from my 99 Ford van than from my 97 Tbird.

The only big irritant for me is that for some reason, oil pressure is not supported by the ECM in either of my vehicles. The van has a guage on the dash, but the Tbird doesn't. Apparently "it's a Ford thing".


Torque (Lite or Pro) can also read and/or clear logged error codes. There is a standard rule of thumb among mechanics to never clear codes with the engine running. Read them yes...but not clear them. Apparently clearing codes with the engine running can screw things up on some vehicles. I don't know the details...I just follow their advice...better safe than sorry.


I believe it's "96 and up" Fords are ALL OBD2. But that doesn't mean the computer supports every possible parameter.
 
polomasta

polomasta

Member
dwh said:
I've got a Kiwi3:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B016...=kiwi+obd2&dpPl=1&dpID=41BHa85VdxL&ref=plSrch


It's not the cheapest OBD2 bluetooth dongle but it supports a ton of different protocols and has a high speed (41k) data rate.

I use the Torque Pro app ($4.95) on Android. The Kiwi also works with the freebie Torque Lite app, with less features. I've used it with both.

In Torque Pro, you can load PID packages. These are the files that translate the computer codes. Not all manufacturers use the same codes for the same things. P0171 might mean "running lean" on Ford and "sweaty balls" on BMW. There are several PID packages included with Torque Pro, such as GM, Ford, Nissan, etc. The Ford package supports diesel, which I guess only got added a few years ago.

When you goto add a guage to the dashboard, there will be a list of things you can monitor, such as voltage, coolant temp, etc.

Give it a minute and some things in the list will turn green and show the latest data acquired. Those are the things that your vehicle's ECM (computer) supports. Not everything in the list (PID file) will turn green on every vehicle. I get more from my 99 Ford van than from my 97 Tbird.

The only big irritant for me is that for some reason, oil pressure is not supported by the ECM in either of my vehicles. The van has a guage on the dash, but the Tbird doesn't. Apparently "it's a Ford thing".


Torque (Lite or Pro) can also read and/or clear logged error codes. There is a standard rule of thumb among mechanics to never clear codes with the engine running. Read them yes...but not clear them. Apparently clearing codes with the engine running can screw things up on some vehicles. I don't know the details...I just follow their advice...better safe than sorry.


I believe it's "96 and up" Fords are ALL OBD2. But that doesn't mean the computer supports every possible parameter.
Click to expand...

Awesome thanks so much for the details!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
polomasta

polomasta

Member
Quick update on this... I ended up buying the Kiwi 3 from PLX Devices and just tested it out today. Got it connected up with no issues and then there was the matter of which app to use with it.

I initially tried a couple and pulled the initial check engine light code which ended up being P1316. I ended up having to resort to google to figure out what this meant, as the app itself didn't provide those details.

Upon further investigation I discovered all P1316 means is that there are codes in the IDM waiting to be read, and the way to read those was with the "buzz" or injector electrical test.

So then I had to track down an app on iPhone that not only worked with the Kiwi 3 but also was able to perform the buzz test.

Since I'm on iPhone I figured this might be helpful to some folks:
  • OBD Fusion
    • $9.99 -- after looking at a couple apps in the App Store I bought this one on a whim because it had the best looking interface of the bunch. Unfortunately, it does not do buzz tests as far as I could tell... I will probably end up using this one to view custom dashboards though.
  • Kiwi App
    • from the same people that make the dongle. The user experience is a bit funky... free app download but then you have to pay for functionality inside the app. After contacting PLX support they said their app is not compatible with running buzz tests, so avoided paying for nothing on this one
  • DashCommand
    • This seems to be a popular app for iPhone that comes up a lot, but as far as I could tell also does not do buzz tests.
  • Torque
    • This app looks great but is Android only.
  • Forscan
    • $4.99 -- Found a random powerstroke forum post somewhere that mentioned using Forscan for a buzz test and quick search around seemed that it worked with Kiwi 3 and the Ford 7.3l and did infact run tests. $4.99 is worth it I suppose!
So in the end, Kiwi 3 + Forscan ended up being the combo that worked in pulling the initial codes and then running the required test to get further code details.

Here is a screenshot of the buzz test results:

IMG_2498.png

Now, about these injectors.... :-/
 
watson.robin

watson.robin

New member
I also just got a KIWI 3 to use on my 7.3 E350 with iphone.
I've only just plugged it in yesterday. Getting it connected seems a little finiky and doesn't always work as it should.

That's been with the KIWI app and also Auto Doctor.
So far All i've been able to see is RPM!

Is anyone seeing MPG current or trip average on theirs?
 
dwh

dwh

Tail-End Charlie
I paired my Kiwi3 to my phone. When I fire up Torque, it sometimes has to retry once or twice or half a dozen times before it connects to the Kiwi. The Kiwi has a data light, so when that starts blinking and Torque says "checking protocol", I know they're connected.

Yes, in terms of fuel, I get fuel level (% tank full), gallons per hour, MPG (instant and long term average). Fuel pressure too, but the app's formula is off so it shows like 3200 psi. I could fix that, but can't be bothered.

That's on Android of course, but it shows the data is available.
 
B

Bricaud14

New member
Has anyone tried the new PLX kiwi 4, which appears to be the current generation of the product listed above?

I have a new to me 2002 7.3L F350 that I would like to be able to read check engine codes on.
 
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