justin e15e22a825 Add --watch/--ford/--pid/--scan modes + 2026-06-29 session diagnostics
obd_reader.py:
- Mode 22 plumbing: ELM.mode22() sends a 16-bit PID request, parses both
  positive (62 ..) and negative (7F 22 NRC) responses.
- --ford runs a small TENTATIVE table of community-sourced Ford 6.0 PIDs
  (ICP/IPR/FICM/EBP/EOT). All printed with raw bytes for verification.
- --pid XXXX probes a single PID and prints multiple candidate decodings
  (u8, u16, mV, temp, duty) so we can eyeball the right scaling.
- --watch [N] streams ATRV + module voltage (PID 0142) for N seconds.
  Designed for capturing voltage sag during cranking.
- --scan AAAA-BBBB brute-force scans Mode-22 PIDs with --scan-log PATH
  for output. Uses fast ELM timing (ATAT2, ATST19) for ~3.5 PIDs/sec.

diagnostics/2026-06-29-no-start/:
- Captured cranking voltage trace, full Mode-22 scan (1000-14FF -> 46
  hits), and a session writeup. Working hypothesis: not batteries, not
  fuel -- ICP / FICM / CMP. FICM meter test still owed.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-06-29 21:49:18 -04:00

ford-obd

Minimal ELM327 OBD-II code reader with a Ford 6.0L Power Stroke no-start triage, built for a cheap CH340 ELM327 USB adapter. Works on any OBD-II vehicle for generic codes/PIDs; the triage notes are 6.0-specific.

Created as a stopgap while forscan.org was offline — it covers reading/clearing codes and the basics, not Ford-enhanced diesel PIDs (see Scope below).

Features

  • Read stored (mode 03), pending (mode 07), permanent (mode 0A) DTCs
  • Decode P/C/B/U codes, with common 6.0 codes described and no-start suspects flagged
  • Clear codes (mode 04) — guarded behind --clear + a typed CLEAR confirmation, then re-reads to show any code that returns immediately (active fault)
  • Key live values (coolant, IAT, MAP, module voltage, RPM, load, throttle) + battery voltage
  • 6.0 Power Stroke no-start triage checklist (FICM, ICP, cam/crank, batteries, fuel)

Setup (Windows)

  1. Install the CH340 driver (WCH CH341SER) so the adapter appears as USB-SERIAL CH340 (COMx) in Device Manager → Ports.
  2. Install Python from https://www.python.org/downloads/ — tick Add Python to PATH.

Usage

python obd_reader.py                # auto-detect the COM port
python obd_reader.py COM5           # force a port
python obd_reader.py COM5 9600      # force port + baud (default 38400)
python obd_reader.py COM5 --clear   # read, then optionally clear (asks to confirm)
python obd_reader.py COM5 -v        # verbose: show raw ELM327 traffic

Or just double-click RUN_OBD.bat on Windows (auto-installs pyserial).

On the truck: plug into the OBD port under the dash, key to RUN (engine off is fine for codes), then run the tool.

Scope / honesty

A generic ELM327 reads standard OBD-II only: codes, generic PIDs, port voltage. It does not read Ford-enhanced diesel PIDs (ICP, FICM main/sync voltage, IPR%) — those need FORScan. For FICM/ICP numbers, measure at the FICM with a meter, or use FORScan when it's available. Default baud is 38400 (measured on the CH340 adapter); try 9600 if you get garbage.

Requirements

pyserial (pip install pyserial). Tested against a QinHeng CH340 ELM327 v1.5 clone.

S
Description
OBDash — open-source, vehicle-agnostic OBD-II scanner (Python/Qt). Live multi-axis graphs, car-style gauges, DTC read/clear, JSON vehicle profiles.
Readme MIT 1.8 MiB
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