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Checking engine codes

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Old 09-04-2003, 02:27 AM
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Checking engine codes

Is this what one needs to check and clear engine codes?

Auto Xray

I'm tired of trying to find someone with the right software to check trouble codes for me and I've decided to buy my own. :

DB
Old 09-04-2003, 04:55 PM
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Re:Checking engine codes

It looks good, if you get one let us know how it works.
Old 09-04-2003, 06:06 PM
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Re:Checking engine codes

That isn't much cheaper than the other one discussed here, the Superchips tuner?

Noticed that the X-ray one only "performs modes 1-7 of the OBD-II J1979 Scan Tool Specification".
What does that mean, and what doesn't it do?

For the extra 50 bucks or so you could get the Superchips and add some HP and Torque to the truck.

Just curious about the differences between the products.


phox
Old 09-04-2003, 07:02 PM
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Re:Checking engine codes

Phox,

Check this link out, lots of good info, but be prepared it will take awhile to read it all.

Auto Xray's website

From what I've heard from others that have used these scan tools is that they are junk when it comes to a truck with a diesel engine. I talked with the service manager at the International shop here in town today and he bought one to use on the Cummins in the Dodge trucks and said he couldn't ever get it to show any codes. :-

He said DC wants $500 for just the software to do dyagnostic checks on the Cummins rams. He has the software from Cummins for the 5.9 ISB but it will not work on the engines in our trucks. You could drop the money on a laptop PC and then buy the software from DC along with the proper connections and then you would be able to do the checks your self. :

I'm back to square 1 I guess, and will have to keep driving 45 minutes to a Dodge dealer that has a diesel shop. >

DB

Old 09-04-2003, 07:09 PM
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Re:Checking engine codes

I've found that even the codes that Autozone and the like can pull don't always mean what they say they do.

Depending on the OBD-II internet site you look at you could have one code with 4 different meanings.

Back to square one I guess.


phox
Old 09-04-2003, 11:47 PM
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Re:Checking engine codes

Phox - Next time you have the opportunity or need to clear and or check codes let me know and you can use my SC Dieseltuner. I have used it to clear MAP sensor codes before when the truck went into limp mode. It seemed to work great and was well worth the money. Feel free to get hold of me if you want to play with it...........................LE
Old 09-05-2003, 08:46 PM
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Re:Checking engine codes

I don't need one, was just commenting on the previous post.
Someone was looking at another brand, and come to find out it wouldn't work for the Diesels.

Only code I've ever had is the VSS when I had my Truespeed installed incorrectly.
Has since gone away.

I'll keep ya in mind though.
See ya at Edge/Rocky Mountain next weekend. ;D


phox
Old 09-06-2003, 05:49 AM
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Re:Checking engine codes

[quote author=DarrellB link=board=4;threadid=19206;start=0#msg180364 date=1062660447]
Is this what one needs to check and clear engine codes?

Auto Xray

I'm tired of trying to find someone with the right software to check trouble codes for me and I've decided to buy my own. :

DB
[/quote]

I too am afraid to take mine to the dealer and let them plug into it. I bought the Cummins Quick Check II that works with my Palm Pilot. I am still figuring out how to use it but it covers engine, ABS, and a few other things. A bit pricy at $300 and change but worth the satisfaction to me.
Now, if I can figure out how to work it. :
Old 09-06-2003, 04:49 PM
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Re:Checking engine codes

Just a piece of advice...all obdII codes are the same for every manufactuer...so if you can retireve the code all you need to do is check it in a dodge manual to see what dodge's exact interprtation is. This was a "law" passed when OBDII was made mandatory back in Jan/97 It is true that one scanner or manual may describe the problem differently but if you get the "P000?" number it will be the same as what Dodge retieves.
An example that I am familiar with is P0301-#1 cyl misfire, p0302-#2cyl misfire, P0303-#3cyl misfire, P1147- Evap system Leak. Just a few examples. Not every manual may describe them this way but if you look in the manual for this particular Manufactuer this is what will be described. Therefore make sure you get a scanner that can spit out the P-series OBDII codes and then check in a DODGE manual what that code means.

Just my thoughts
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