OBD Readers

[Radders226]

Hi, 

I have a Mk1 Cortina with a twin cam Zetec engine and (I've been told) an Escort EFI set up. I think the conversion was done around 20 years ago, so it's not a modern ECU set up. 

I know virtually nothing about how to find faults with this and just recently the car has started to lose power intermittently. I've replaced the electric fuel pump as it wasn't sounding too sprightly, but that hasn't cured the fault. 

Under the glove box is a rats nest of wiring and a socket which I have been told is an OBD port. Can someone confirm this please? And also, if it is, has anyone used OBD fault code readers and what would be the best one to buy? 

Thanks

Steve

[Miniliteman]

That is a OBD2 style socket. But if the diagnostics are also OBD2 compliant is another matter. From around 2002 all (new) OBD2 style diagnostics are OBD2 compliant and you can use a simple OBD-code reader. But before that you have to use a code reader which specifically is suited for Ford. Like Ford's own FDS2000 system of the Lucas Laser 2000.

These older diagnostics tools can be very limited in capability. For complicated issues an engineer would have used a break-out-cable and -box to tap into all signals to/from the ECU. What is the ECU number?

On these engine check the MAF sensor and the DIS-coil first.

Edited August 14, 2023 by Miniliteman

[Radders226]

1 hour ago, Miniliteman said:

That is a OBD2 style socket. But if the diagnostics are also OBD2 compliant is another matter. From around 2002 all (new) OBD2 style diagnostics are OBD2 compliant and you can use a simple OBD-code reader. But before that you have to use a code reader which specifically is suited for Ford. Like Ford's own FDS2000 system of the Lucas Laser 2000.

These older diagnostics tools can be very limited in capability. For complicated issues an engineer would have used a break-out-cable and -box to tap into all signals to/from the ECU. What is the ECU number?

On these engine check the MAF sensor and the DIS-coil first.

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. I'll have to post the ECU number later as I'm not near the car at present. 

Forgive my ignorance, but where will I find the MAF sensor and the dis-coil? (Is that the coil pack?) I'm a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to modern electrickery and have only just moved away from Carbs 

Steve

[Johnny Boy]

This scanner should read your engine.

 

ford scanner

[Miniliteman]

1 hour ago, Radders226 said:

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. I'll have to post the ECU number later as I'm not near the car at present. 

Forgive my ignorance, but where will I find the MAF sensor and the dis-coil? (Is that the coil pack?) I'm a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to modern electrickery and have only just moved away from Carbs 

Steve

DIS-coil is the same as coilpack. MAF sensor is the black thingy with the electrical onnection where the air filter is bolted onto.

[Miniliteman]

1 hour ago, Johnny Boy said:

This scanner should read your engine.

 

ford scanner

Looks great that. How on earth can they make it for that price. In my experience not all the diagnostics are available for Ford and only after 2002 when they are fully OBD2 compliant.

[Radders226]

6 minutes ago, Miniliteman said:

DIS-coil is the same as coilpack. MAF sensor is the black thingy with the electrical onnection where the air filter is bolted onto.

Thank you. Will give it a try. 

[Johnny Boy]

46 minutes ago, Miniliteman said:

Looks great that. How on earth can they make it for that price. In my experience not all the diagnostics are available for Ford and only after 2002 when they are fully OBD2 compliant.

I found that out when I was messing about with early  Mondeo  diesels, I've got one somewhere,  the only cheap generic scanner that reads Ford's 

[Radders226]

6 hours ago, Johnny Boy said:

This scanner should read your engine.

 

ford scanner

Thanks, I might try one of them at that price 🙂

[Radders226]

10 hours ago, Miniliteman said:

ECU. What is the ECU number?

Hi, after struggling to get to it I've found the following. It may not be dead accurate, but it's the best I could do: (This is written on the plastic plug socket of the ECU)

9705 008 Osram

E8AF 14A624 AA SILVAN 1A 

That's what I read it as anyway. I don't know if that makes any sense? 

[DT36]

I use Forscan for reading my Mondeo ST, which is a 2007 model. 

I've tried various other scanners which just don't communicate. Although Forscan is a free download, the OBD CANbox can still work out more expensive than what @Johnny Boy has linked, so his link has got to be worth a go.

I now use a Tunnel Rat with Forscan. 

https://tunnelrat-electronics.fwscart.com/

I've also tried the Android version with Bluetooth Dongle, but could not get it to communicate. 

 

Edited August 14, 2023 by DT36

[Miniliteman]

1 hour ago, Radders226 said:

Hi, after struggling to get to it I've found the following. It may not be dead accurate, but it's the best I could do: (This is written on the plastic plug socket of the ECU)

9705 008 Osram

E8AF 14A624 AA SILVAN 1A 

That's what I read it as anyway. I don't know if that makes any sense? 

Is there a number on it with 12A650 in it? Like 98AB 12A650 AB .

[Radders226]

8 hours ago, Miniliteman said:

Is there a number on it with 12A650 in it? Like 98AB 12A650 AB .

Hi, these are the pics I took. I'll have to and remove it to get better. On the plastic casing where the plugs plug in was: FOAF 14A459 AA

[Radders226]

9 hours ago, Miniliteman said:

Is there a number on it with 12A650 in it? Like 98AB 12A650 AB .

I've just found a bar code number on the bottom of the plug. 

97AB 12A650 JB. 

 

[Radders226]

I've had the car running this morning (I cant take it for a test drive-it's boxed by two other classic cars!) and found that it was not quite fully responsive when revving. So I unplugged the MAF sensor and it revs cleaner and is a lot more responsive. 

Anyone know the best place to get a new MAF sensor? 

Edited August 15, 2023 by Radders226

[Miniliteman]

97AB 12A650 JB is an EECIV ECU for a 115 bhp 1.8 Zetec-E with PATS. PATS is the system where you need the black ring around the ignition key and the original key otherwise I will not start. If you have the old Escort key them maybe the whole PATS unit is hidden away under the dash. Disabling the PATS system is possible but only very few people can do it.

When the engine runs better after unplugging the MAF sensor it doesn't mean the sensor is faulty, They all do that, the ECU just uses a middle-value for the MAF sensor output. There should be a Ford number on the MAF, with 12B579 in it.

[Radders226]

19 hours ago, Miniliteman said:

97AB 12A650 JB is an EECIV ECU for a 115 bhp 1.8 Zetec-E with PATS. PATS is the system where you need the black ring around the ignition key and the original key otherwise I will not start. If you have the old Escort key them maybe the whole PATS unit is hidden away under the dash. Disabling the PATS system is possible but only very few people can do it.

When the engine runs better after unplugging the MAF sensor it doesn't mean the sensor is faulty, They all do that, the ECU just uses a middle-value for the MAF sensor output. There should be a Ford number on the MAF, with 12B579 in it.

Yes, I remember the seller saying the ignition key and unit is hidden away behind the dash. 

Regarding the MAF sensor, I think the way car is built, was done about 20 years ago, so it wont hurt to replace the MAF sensor, and it's another thing that can eliminated from my search.

The car is booked in to Redline Tuning at Laindon in a months time anyway for them to look at the mapping and possibly fit a new ECU. I'm just trying to cure the running fault before it goes to them to try and keep the bill down. 🙂

[Miniliteman]

Make sure the replacement has exactly the same code as the one you have now. And reset the ECU after replacing.

[Radders226]

1 hour ago, Miniliteman said:

Make sure the replacement has exactly the same code as the one you have now. And reset the ECU after replacing.

Is that just a case of disconnecting the battery for about 15 mins?

[Miniliteman]

Am not sure if that ECU has a permanent memory or not. Have to look into it.