Scanner - FORScan?

[dcommsc]

Hello all. Looking into scanners for my 2014 TC 2.5L. I have seen FORScan mentioned. Is that the one to go with for iPhone?

 

Also, confused on the "Supported adapters". Is there really a benefit choosing the $140 one over the $45 or $60 one? Thanks!

- OBDLink MX+ $140

- vLinker FS Bluetooth $60

- vLinker FD+ BLE+ $45

 

 

[mrtn]

Not really. I have a $13 ELM327 (Bluetooth, wasn't compatible with iPhone at the time, needed Wifi) and it works fine. Better check the FORScan fora if there are specific issues with any of these adapters.

Edited July 10, 2023 by mrtn

[dcommsc]

2 minutes ago, mrtn said:

Not really. I have a $13 ELM327 (Bluetooth, wasn't compatible with iPhone at the time, needed Wifi) and it works fine. Better check the FORScan fora if there are specific issues with any of these adapters.

Right on. They are all listed on FORScan as supported adapters. Just wasn't sure if one say shows more data or something.

[Fifty150]

There are some codes and parameters that not all OBD II code readers can read.  The basic code scanners are able to read operating parameters related to the powertrain control module.  They sometimes do not have the technology for brake codes, transmission temps, etc.   That is why scan tools can range from $20 to hundreds of dollars.  Professionals spend thousands for diagnostic tools.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forscan is an application which allows you to read the various modules in your car via the OBD II port, and make changes is some instances.  It operates via the OBD II port, but at times, is limited by the hardware.  Some of the connection devices may not be able to read all of the vehicle's modules.  Some versions of Forscan are different.  Forscan's website has the answers to most questions, and it is where you would download the application from.

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

Forscan's website recommends certain compatible OBD2 adapters.  Be certain, that other adapters can work, even if not recommended by Forscan.   And you will also need to have the correct platform to run Forscan.  

 

 

 

 

                                   Supported modules

• Powertrain Control Module (PCM)
• Anti-Lock Brake / Traction Control Module (ABS)
• Hybrid Electronic Cluster (HEC)
• Left High Intensity Discharge Lamp (LHID)
• Right High Intensity Discharge Lamp (RHID)
• Vehicle Dynamics Module (VDM)
• 4X4 Control Module (4X4M)
• Air Conditioning Control Module (ACCM)
• Audio Control Module (ACM)
• Audio Control Unit (ACU)
• Alternative Fuel Control Module (AFCM)
• Adaptive Front Lighting System / Auto Leveling Module (AFS/ALM)
• Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS)
• Auxiliary Heater Control Module (AHCM)
• Audio Interface Module (AIM)
• Auto Leveling Module (ALM)
• Amplifier Module (AM)
• Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM)
• Automatic Ride Control (ARC)
• A-STOP System (No Idling System) (A-STOP)
• All Terrain Control Module (ATCM)
• All Wheel Drive Module (AWD)
• Battery Charger Control Module (BCCM)
• Body Control Module (BCM, BCMiim BdyCM)
• Body Control Module / Generic Electronic Module (BCM/GEM)
• Body Control Module B (BCMB)
• Battery Energy Control Module (BECM)
• Body Electronic Module (BEM)
• Bluetooth Phone Module (BPM)
• Security module (CSM)
• Blind Spot Monitoring (Left) (BSML)
• Blind Spot Monitoring (Right) (BSMR)
• Remote Climate Control (RCC)
• Cruise-Control Module (CCM)
• Circuit Deactivation Ignition Module (CDIM)
• Compact Disc Player (CDP)
• Instrument cluster (INST)
• Column Lock Module (CLM)
• Camera Module Rear (CMR)
• Connectivity Master Unit (CMU)
• Cellular Phone Module (CPM)
• Central Timer Module (CTM)
• Convergence Telematics Module (CTMii)
• Digital Audio Broadcast Module (DABM)
• Digital Audio Control Module C (DACMC)
• DC to DC Converter Control Module (DCDC)
• Driver/Dual Climate-Control Seat Module (DCSM)
• Reductant Control Module (DCU)
• Driver Door Control Unit (DFDM)
• Drivers Door Module (DDM)
• Deployable Hood System (DHS)
• Driver's Seat Module (DSM)
• (Audio) Digital Signal Processing Module (DSP)
• Electronic Automatic Temperature Control (EATC)
• Rader Brake Support (EBS)
• Electronic Crash Sensor (ECS)
• Electric Parking Brake (EPB)
• Electronic-Controlled Power Steering (EPS)
• Anti-Lock Brake / Traction Control Module (ESOF)
• Front Body Control Module (F_BCM)
• Fuel Additive Control Module (FACM)
• Front Control/Display Interface Module (FCDIM)
• Front Controls Interface Module (FCIM)
• Front Display Interface Module (FDIM)
• Front Distance Sensing Module (FDSM)
• Transmission Control Module (TCM)
• Fuel Fired Coolant Heating Module (FFH)
• Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS)
• Front Electronic Module (FEM)
• Fuel Injection Control Module (FICM)
• Fuel Indication Module (FIM)
• Fuel Injection Pump (FIP)
• Front Lighting Control Module (FLM)
• Fuel Operated Heater (FOH)
• Forward Sensing Camera (FSC)
• Fire Suppression System Module (FSSM)
• Folding Top Control Module (FTCM)
• Generic Display Module (GDM)
• Generic Electronic Module / Smart Junction Box (GEM/SJB)
• Generic Electronic Module (GEM)
• Generic Function Module (GFM)
• Global Positioning System Module (GPSM)
• Gear Shift Module (GSM)
• Gateway Module A (GWM)
• Headlamp Control Module (HCM)
• Headlamp Control Module 2(B) (HCM2)
• Headlamp Leveling Module (HD_LVL)
• Instrument Cluster (IC)
• HVAC Integrated Module (HIM)
• Heated Steering Wheel Module (HSWM)
• Head Up Display (HUD)
• Heated Steering Wheel Module (HV)
• Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC)
• Integrated Air Bag Module (IABM)
• Smart City Brake Support (ICA)
• Intelligent Cruise Control Module (ICCM)
• Information Center Module (ICM)
• Injector Control Unit (ICU)
• Interior Lighting Control Module (ILCM)
• Instrument Panel Control Module (IPC)
• Intelligent Power Distribution Module (IPDM)
• Image Processing Module A (IPMA)
• Image Processing Module B (IPMB)
• Lighting Control Module (LCM)
• Left Power Sliding Door Module (LPSDM)
• Liftgate / Trunk Module (LTM)
• Message Center (MC)
• Multifunction Steering Wheel (MFSW)
• Multi-Information Display (MID)
• Motor Pretensioner Module (MPM)
• Navigation Controller (NAV)
• Air Suspension (4WAS)
• Air Conditioning (AC)
• Cruise Control (CCM)
• Steering Column Locking Module (SCLM)
• 4 Wheel Steering (WS4)
• Next Generation Speed Control Module (NGSC)
• Battery Control Module (OBD_BCM)
• Fuel Injection Control Module (OBD_FICM)
• Occupant Classification System Module (OCS)
• Overhead Trip Computer (OTC)
• Parking Aid Module (PAM)
• Park Brake Control Module (PBM)
• Passenger Climate-Control Seat Module (PCSM)
• Passenger Climate-Control Seat Module 2 (rear) (PCSM2)
• Passengers Door Control Unit (PDM)
• Power Running Board (PRB)
• Power Steering Control Module (PSCM)
• Passenger Front Seat Module (PSM)
• Rear Body Control Module (R_BCM)
• Rear Audio Control Module (RACM)
• Remote Anti-Theft / Personality Module (RAP)
• Rear Air Suspension Module (RASM)
• Rear Air Temperature Control (RATC)
• Restraint Control Module (RCM)
• Audio Rear Control Unit (RCU)
• Rear Electronic Module (REM)
• Remote Emergency Satellite Cellular Unit Module (RESCU)
• Rear Seat Entertainment Module (RETM)
• Remote Function Actuator (RFA)
• Rear Gate/Trunk Module (RGTM)
• Retractable Hard Top (RHT)
• Rear Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (RHVAC)
• Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
• Rear Lighting Control Module A (RLCMA)
• Rear Left Door Control Unit (DRDM)
• Right Power Sliding Door Module (RPSDM)
• Rear Right Door Control Unit (PRDM)
• Tire Pressure Monitor (RTM)
• Rear Vehicle Monitoring (RVM)
• Steering Angle Sensor Module (SASM)
• Smart Brake Support/Mazda Radar Cruise Control (SBS/MRCC)
• Steering Column Control Module (SCCM)
• Steering Column/Instrument Panel/Lighting (SCIL)
• Seat Control Module E (SCME)
• Seat Control Module G (SCMG)
• Seat Control Module H (SCMH)
• Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR)
• Satellite Digital Audio Receiver System (SDARS)
• Steering Effort Control Module (SECM)
• Secondary OBD Control Module A (SOBDM)
• Secondary OBD Control Module C (SOBDMC)
• Side Obstacle Detection Control Module - Left (SODL)
• Side Obstacle Detection Control Module - Right (SODR)
• Speech Recognition Module (SRM)
• Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
• Smart Start Unit (SSU)
• Trailer Brake Control Module (TBC)
• Energy Management Module (EMM)
• Tracking and Blocking Module (TBM)
• Transfer Case Control Module (TCCM)
• Telematic Control Unit Module (TCU)
• Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM)
• Transmission Range Control Module (TRCM)
• Trailer Module (TRM)
• Variable Assist Power Steering (VAPS)
• Vehicle Emergency Messaging System (VEMS)
• Virtual Image Cluster (VIC)
• Vehicle Security Module (VSM)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Fifty150]

1 hour ago, dcommsc said:

I have seen FORScan mentioned. Is that the one to go with for iPhone?

 

 

 

 

Here is what Forscan has for your iPhone.  Note the differences between Forscan viewer for an iPhone, versus Forscan for Windows with a license.  

 

 

[dcommsc]

Appreciate all of the info!

[windguy]

15 hours ago, dcommsc said:

Hello all. Looking into scanners for my 2014 TC 2.5L. I have seen FORScan mentioned. Is that the one to go with for iPhone?

 

Also, confused on the "Supported adapters". Is there really a benefit choosing the $140 one over the $45 or $60 one? Thanks!

- OBDLink MX+ $140

- vLinker FS Bluetooth $60

- vLinker FD+ BLE+ $45

 

 

 

As mentioned many times on this forum by the FORSCAN gurus, guys like Don R, if you plan to make changes then go with a direct connect adapter (USB) to avoid any connection interruptions. For pure monitoring purposes, then a BT connection device is okay. I think Don mentioned he uses both, BT to a mobile device when on the road for monitoring and USB when making setting changes. When I needed to make some changes after upgrading the instrument cluster, I got a ~$30 ELM USB dongle and it worked just fine. Others have had the same success with similar priced models. You've gotten some good advice from others as well. Good luck!

[dcommsc]

Amazon has some decent deals so I picked up this one:

 

[Fifty150]

That is a good unit.  I use mine with a 7" Amazon Fire Tablet.  There's a Prime Day deal on those right now.It frees up my phone.  And the screen is larger than my phone.  Useful if you are planning to have multiple gauges displayed.  If you get into using FORScan, you will eventually want a Windows computer and a wired connection.  Maybe you can get those on the next Amazon Prime Day.

[dcommsc]

19 hours ago, Fifty150 said:

That is a good unit.  I use mine with a 7" Amazon Fire Tablet.  There's a Prime Day deal on those right now.It frees up my phone.  And the screen is larger than my phone.  Useful if you are planning to have multiple gauges displayed.  If you get into using FORScan, you will eventually want a Windows computer and a wired connection.  Maybe you can get those on the next Amazon Prime Day.

 

I do plan on using FORScan on my iPhone. I know you want a wired connection to write, so what all do people write to the car? Wondering if its worth it to get a wired one as well. Not all sure what I can/would want to change on my 2014. I don't plan on having gauges displayed all the time, unless I am diagnosing something.

Edited July 13, 2023 by dcommsc

[Fifty150]

 

 

Turn the perimeter lights off and go into dark mode.  Turn on cruise control if you add it.  Reset the transmission learning.  Turn off the seat belt chime.   The list goes on.  It saves you from the dealership charge.  But none of that is important until you want to do it.  You won't need any of it until you cross that bridge.  The only thing that may come up is getting a check engine light.  Then you will want a larger screen for monitoring a bunch of gauges, or running the key on and key off tests.  Which you may not even do....... Since you expect the mechanic to be able to do that with their own computer.