lwjustice

Does anyone have suggestions on a laptop based scan tool & software? There's a lot of them out there and some are going to be better than others. Some will give you extended diagnostics etc.

I've got 3 fords (2004 & 2005 F150's and a 1998 Mustang) Something always needs attention.

Thanks for the suggestions

NGM

Unless you have the "Ford" software I don't know of a laptop scanner. You can get a small generic scanner for a couple hundred. They will pull all the generic codes and should give you PIDs.

obusnizzle

autotap.

blackbetty

if your looking to tune the sct tuner and livelink or the pro racer pack are lab top based programs

91mustang

i like PCMScan try it out and see, you can do performance things too

UJSLOST

get what ford uses. search ebay for IDS or VCM. Thats what we used when i worked at ford

Hause

I am in the market for exactly this as well. I'd like to hear from those that have used a laptop based scan tool and your experience. I am mostly interested in 02 counts and engine miss. And, I'd to play back a scan from a test. And, I'd like something that tells me if the sensors have been reset after disconnecting the battery similar to the "ready or not" tool below. I have been looking at the autotap with the enhanced package. One review I read said autotap can't play back a scan but that may have been an old review of a previous version.

Plus I have been looking at ElmScan 5 USB ScanXL here:

http://www.scantool.net/products/pro...FQyfnAod5Eg7Eg

They offer Ford enhanced data here:

http://www.scantool.net/products/pro...c719be29ad02c2

Here is the ready or not test tool:

http://www.scantool.net/products/pro...products_id=36

I am not affiliated with any of the items above and I don't sell anything either. I'd like to hear from anyone that has actually used either of these tools or maybe a different one. What is your opinion?

Weldman0730

I use autotap with the enhanced parameters and it can read everything, but it cant change anything.

It will make graphs, give guage readings and even let you export to an excell spread sheet

kjohnson1

I've been using software and cable from www.obd-2.com for years. They offer free software updates and can read standard and enhanced codes. PLUS, you can read all the other manufacturer codes (with the exception of Lamborghini and a couple of others we'll never own). And it's less than $150

Hause

Do you find it easy to use and set up? Is there anything about it that you don't like?