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Appreciation post: My $400 scan tool saved a job I almost walked away from
Had a 2018 Ford F-150 in the bay with a rough idle and a P0300 random misfire code. I was about to start the usual swap of coils and plugs, which would have been a big time sink. On a hunch, I hooked up my newish scan tool and looked at the mode 6 data for the cam phasers. Found one was way out of spec while the engine was hot, something my old basic reader would have missed. Replaced the phaser and the truck runs smooth now. Anyone have a go-to test for phasers before you pull the valve cover?
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campbell.mary2mo ago
That 3-degree spec from @the_emma seems pretty tight for a hot engine.
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the_emma2mo ago
What's the spec you're looking for on the mode 6 data? I usually check for a difference over 3 degrees between the two banks.
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campbell.nora24d ago
On a hunch, I hooked up my newish scan tool" - that's the kind of thing that saves so much time and headache. I've been there where you just start tossing parts at it, and it's such a relief when the tool actually points you in the right direction before you tear everything apart. Really feel for you on the old basic reader situation too, I had to upgrade mine last year for the same reason. These newer trucks are so picky about the data you can get to. It's nice when a gamble on a tool pays off like that instead of being just another thing that sits in the drawer. Hope that phaser fix holds up for you.
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