Well, since I officially quit "Shade Treeing" a few months ago, I've had to turn away several people, because most of the work involved trouble shooting the computerized systems,,,Chit,,don't people even buy them old cars, trks anymore,,??

 Problem is,,I'm just as guilty as others as all my vehicles are 2000 and newer,,not by much but still,,,,

 In the last couple of weeks my 2006 HHR has needed some attention, and so has the 2000 F150 (Shameless's fav) is now needing some better knowledge than mine,,,,,PLUS,, the friend that helped me re-shingle the house,,his 1999 Ranger also threw a shoe last week.

I had decided that since I was no longer gonna shade tree, I did not need a code reader/scanner, but Oreillys has now decided that they will no longer provide a "print-out" for their code reader service. Their 17 year old new hire will now provide his "expert opinion" on what your trk needs,,,,? CHIT!!  I'M GONNA BUY MY OWN!!

  I'm hoping all them gurus like ole Fixer that does it for a living and others can suggest a good product that is not an arm and a leg expensive, but reliable. I also want one that will talk to my PC to download the info for using a bigger screen. Any one got some suggestions,,,,,

The ones I use at work are shop bought. I'm not shelling out that kind of money.

Snapon Zues with a cabinet and monitor was 17K. I think the Autel was 6 or7K.

You should be able to find something out there.

I had one from H-F for years then it didn't survive a 'drive over' test...oopsy. It's replacement stays IN my '97 F150 now. Use it to reset the 'engine' light that comes on due to truck needing right exhaust manifold...

Basic unit, just write down the number, lookup on the internet.I have a GREAT mechanic a long walk away,so I don't turn wrenches on the truck.

Been there did that in the 90s, machines have expanded exponentially since then.

A cheap less than value code reader can tell you what sensor is NOT reading properly but not why, is NOT Always a bad sensor.  Spend your money take your chances.

 The last time Oreillys actually printed out a "scan" on the HHR, I got a 3 page report that had a graph that was titled,,, "% Probability of Cause",, (or something like that) and listed cause of problem from the HIGHEST Percent Probability to the Lowest percent. (about 6 entries) and the 17 year old "Ace Reader" only tells you the "Highest Cause",,,,but like what Fixer says,,, sometimes it is something else that is triggering that particular sensor, and if you don't have that printout with ALL the probabilities, you have no idea what to check ALONG with the highest probability. Case in point, yesterday, Jamie took the F150 to Oreillys cause it had a BAD misfire at idle and engine would die after bout 45 seconds,,but ran good at hiway speeds!!  The 17 year old told him it was BOTH O2 sensors,,WTF,,? Well, Jamie bought BOTH O2 sensors ($80 Bucks wworth!),, spent 3 hours changing em and,,,,and,,,the friggin trk still has the BAD misfire!!

 Hey Steve, is there a particular website you use to get the codes info??

As far as Jamie's you need the codes, year, engine and all that to know more about it.

I just got a text from the powers at be asking how I am doing. 

Well.....try wiping your ass with the wrong hand and tell me how that goes for ya.

Lets say you have a 308 code on a F150...... I GOOGLE   "2008 F150 Code P0308"

https://www.engine-codes.com/p0308_ford.html" rel="nofollow - https://www.engine-codes.com/p0308_ford.html

this is what they give you.......

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/767725-p0308-code.html" rel="nofollow - https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/767725-p0308-code.html

sigh... I HATE the OBD-II BS....

take the FOUR possible problems above ( inj or coil..open.shorted.faulty..) ANY real programmer can code to tell WHICH of those 'problems' IS the actual problem. It CAN be done, BTDT, decades ago to look for a 'bad' temperature sensor in a greenhouse( 1 of 64 in a string...)

It ain't 'rocket science', just proper programming

I have used a BASIC code reader for 30 years and NEVER had to take a car or truck to a "mechanic" do figure out a problem... Its just a matter of looking at ALL the codes and putting 2 + 2 together before you start replacing parts.

 AND,,this is EXACTLY why I wanta "reader' "scanner" what ever they called that will give me multiple "Possible causes" based on what the ECM "sees" and I am thru with going to Oreillys for a "Check Engine Light" analysis!! Ya'll ain't gonna believe this, but took the F150 to Oreillys this morn and a diff guy hooked up and tells me,,,,," It's your O2 sensors" just as pretty as you please!!!   WTF,,,???  I told him that is BS as we replaced em BOTH yesterday based on what you people told my Son Sat and THAT cost us $80 friggin dollars!!!! Without a care in the world he says, Maybe it is this one,,,? I told him I wanted our money back and he says,,"We have 30 day warrantee so bring em back and we'll refund your money. I FRIGGIN LEFT, I was so upset,,,,,

 On the way home, I started to talk to myself and what or where this is all coming from and how we used to look for leaks with a can of carb cleaner or startin fluid,,,,,?

 I had to raise the idle quite a bit to keep engine runningand went to following a vaccum hose from start point to end and after the 3rd hose,,,,VIOLA,,,the engine revs up quite a bit and stops missing,,!! after a bit it goes back to missing, so more spray, again a rise in idle but NOT on a hose,,,its leaking on this Doo-hicky bolted to rear of intake manifold and after several sprays, it is not the gasket but the body of this part.!!

 I'ma see if I can post a pic as I have no idea what this is called,,,,,

Could be in the same area.

 10-4 Fixer, The hoses all look good and not hardened up. The 3rd hose I followed out was the hose at the air intake hose and followed it back to this IAC behind the intake manifold, The 1" hose did NOT have a clamp and was kinda loose on the fitting but engine still reved up after spraying after installing a clamp on the hose end. SO, I sprayed the gasket area and only got a slight rise in RPMs, so I sprayed the mid section of the valve and got a BIG rise in RPMs! There is a small "cap" on top of the IAC and idle would also rise when spraying that part, but really think it is the "seam" where it is leaking. Parts stores did not have one so I'ma order one from Walmart.com, be here on Thurs,,,,, Still looking into gettin a reader/ scanner, tho,,,,Got any suggestions,,??

--excess fuel

--lack of fuel

--not enough air

--too much air

--bad wire connection on the 02 sensor

-- or BAD O2 sensor...

if the CODE says "02 problem" and it happens on BOTH SIDES, the possibility of BOTH 02 SENSORS being bad at the same time is ZERO..... Store Boy should have known that !

Congrats on finding the AIR LEAK... Sometimes the "old method" of looking for leaks is the best FIX... all the CODE does is tell you that AIR LEAK is a "possibility".

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CMX3L2V?tag=bodsig-20" rel="nofollow - Amazon.com: Autel AutoLink AL619 OBD2 Scanner ABS SRS Airbag Warning Light Scan Tool, Turn Off Check Engine Light Car Diagnostic Tool, View Live Data, Freeze Frame Data Diagnostic Scanner : Automotive

Again.. NO SCANNER is going to tell you "replace this part".... you take the CODE and look up the 5 POSSIBILITIES that cause that code... then work thru them.... Sometimes you will get 2-3 DIFFERENT CODES and you can determine if they are related to ONE PROBLEM... I do that part on the COMPUTER... Some Scanners have an APP to them, etc..  NONE of them are FOOL PROOF.

 Well, a bit of an update on ole Shameless's fav trk,,,,,,I got to looking at the IAC and there is a small shaft that is moved back and forth that opens and closes a seat between the two ports on the IAC body,,,well,,the frigging shaft is frozen with both ports closed to each other,,,,Also, the little electric"solenoid"? was not working for CHIT... with 12 volts across the two pins,,SO,, this may of been the culprit that started the whole Chit-A Risky,,,,

 

I have a good friend here that is still winning as well, but his every day truck is a 65 Ford F100 or a 58 F600. Just has the thinking and uses logic to keep going until you get to the trouble. I can spend hours trying get things lined up and pushed together. Give as I need more hands to move pieces at the same time. So I call O'l Dave,  he shows up and it all just slides right together .   

P0217

 But, But,,,,,Shameless,,,what if,,and I MEAN  What IF,,,,IF I paint that danged ole Ford Allis Orange,,,and with just a slight touch of Allis silver on them wheels,,,,,I'll just bet some Prized Black Label that you would like that ,,,,wouldn't you,,??  AND,,,,and,,,I'd make triple sure it be ICE COLD just for you,,,you in,,,?  It be good on them HOT days you been a gettin up there,,,,, CHIT,,I can't hardly wait,,,,