I have two fords, a 1978-F100 and a 1996 F-150. For the past two months I have been talking with dealers with the intent of buying a new F-150. The new trucks have got to the point that its basically a computer on wheels and the price has reached levels that for what I want is basically 1.5 x's the price of my first house, and I want it to do exactly what the 96 is doing now. That beings said, it just not worth the depreciation loss the first year or the excessive price. That being said I have decided to keep my old Fords. So I'm getting prepared to do all more work on them. At that point I will need to read and diagnosis the 96. It actually has the CEL on now so what do you use and what do you recommend? There are code readers and there are diagnostic scanner w/readers as i understand it. I would like to use it on both the 78 and 96. So I thought I would ask those that know. If you have a suggestion, please let me know. I plan to keep these girls for a long time.

 

I've been doing some research on this website and others as to which type of code reader or scanner I should buy. However, I have run into some conflicting information regarding my vehicle. I have seen several say that it has an OBDI, others say that it is an OBDII and yet others say it was a mid year change and either system could be on my vehicle. Does anyone know for sure which system is on the 96 F150, (4.9)? Is there a way I can determine exactly which system I have?

Thanks in advance.

 

1996 is the year that it was federally mandated that all vehicles would have the same OBD system by.
It will be obd2.