• Welcome to Ecoboost Performance Forum. Please log in or sign up.
collapse

"How- to" Access Advanced Ford PIDs Using a Scan Tool

Started by breeves002, July 18, 2013, 04:04:08 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

breeves002

I'm an administrator over on Taurusclub.com, and many of you probably know me! I wanted to share this info with other Ford owners! I'll add more as I learn more. It's about CAN basically. Thanks for reading!

So for the few of you that care about this, I decided to modify a cheap ELM327 clone to read both MS and HS-CAN data. Normally ELM327 can only read HS-CAN data. This writeup will show you how to modify an ELM327 device so it will read MS-CAN.

Thanks to tech advisor behlinla for his help in teaching me some of this info and editing the article!

Info on CAN bus:

Note: Only 2004+ vehicles will have CAN bus (basically if you have digital display in your instrument cluster).  OBD-II cars before that used the SAE J1850 PWM protocol, which will still work with FORscan.

Now some of you may be asking: "What in the heck is this guy talking about... MS and HS-CAN???"  CAN stands for Controller Area Network, and it's a digital network that connects different modules in your car much like computers would be connected to a network (LAN) in your home or workplace.  Accessing the data and self-tests on this network will be useful if you want to troubleshoot problems with something other than the engine (like with the ABS or air bags for example).  In the past you used to have to buy very expensive scan tools and software to view this data, but now you can can have this information at your fingertips for as little as $10!

There are two separate CAN buses on most vehicles before 2013, called HS-CAN (High Speed) and MS-CAN (Medium Speed).  HS-CAN is used for 'priority' data, like engine parameters (PCM) and critical communication between safety modules like the ABS and RCM.  MS-CAN is used more for things inside the car like radio, climate, and lighting control.

In new cars (2013+), nearly every function and control goes over a CAN bus. They have four CAN buses (3x HS and 1x MS) because there is much more data flying around. Things on CAN would be your headlamp switch, drivers door switches, hazard lights, turn signal stalk, dimmer switches, seat adjustments, mirror adjustments, any button on your dash, you name it!  I need to scan a 2013+ Ford to actually find out what modules there are!

The HS and MS-CAN buses are bridged together in the instrument panel cluster (IPC) so data can be shared between networks if required. In the 2013+ they bridge together in a separate gateway module.

HS-CAN modules:
-PCM (Powertrain Control Module)
-ABS (Anti-lock Brake System, includes AdvanceTrac and Traction Control)
-RCM (Restraint Control Module, AKA airbags and seatbelts)
-AWD (All Wheel Drive module, if equipped)
-OCSM (Occupent Classification System Module, AKA Passenger Seat Sensors)
-PAM (Parking Aid Module)
-IPC (Instrument Panel Cluster)
-BdyCM (Body Control Module 2013+)
-ACM (Audio Control Module, 2013+)
-FCIM (Front Controls Interface Module, 2013+)
-PSCM (Power Steering Control Module, Hydraulic PS only)
-SECM (Steering Effort Control Module, Electric PS only)
-CCM (Cruise Control Module)
-SCCM (Steering Column Control Module, 2013+)
-APIM (Accessory Protocol Interface Module AKA SYNC)

MS-CAN modules:
-SJB (Smart Junction Box)
-HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning module)
-ACM (Audio Control Module, pre 2013)
-DSP (Audio Digital Signal Processing Module)
-DSM (Driver Seat Module)
-DDM (Driver Door Module)
-RFA (Remote Function Actuator Module)
-DCSM (Dual Climate Controlled Seat Module)
-SDARS (Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service)
-FCIM (Front Controls Interface Module, pre 2013)
-FDIM (Front Display Interface Module)
-ILCM (Interior Lighting Control Module)
-HCM-2 (High Beam Control Module)
-SOD-R/L (Side Obstacle Detection Control Module AKA BLIS, a module for each side of the vehicle)
-IPC-MS (Instrument Panel Cluster, MS-CAN)
-GPSM (Global Positioning System Module)
-APIM (Accessory Protocol Interface Module AKA SYNC)

Notice how some modules change busses for the 2013MY. That's probably because they have 3xHS-CAN Busses now instead of 1 HS and 1 MS-CAN bus. Other possibility is they run on both busses and meet at a gateway module. Hopefully will confirm one or the other soon.

There may be other modules on other cars or less modules on some cars.  Here's a diagram from a 2011 that show all the modules connected to the CAN: http://revbase.com/BBBMotor/Wd/DownloadPdf?id=875110

How to modify your ELM327:

A bunch of us have cheap eBay ELM327 Clones. Stock they only connect to HS-CAN and will not be able to access MS-CAN. The newer STN1170 chips found in some scan tools already have support for MS-CAN (and GM single wire CAN), so you're set if you have one of those!

It's very simple to modify the device to allow use of MS-CAN features. You need a dual position, dual pole (DPDT) switch.  Flipping the switch will direct either the HS- or MS-CAN terminal pair in the DLC to the input of the ELM327 chip.



Instructions adapted from here: http://forscan.org/howto.html

Step 1: Crack open the clone or your ELM327 Device. Usually there are 4 screws under the sticker.
Step 2: Unplug the OBD-II connector and un-solder wires connected to pins 6 and 14 (mark them so you know which is which).
Step 3: Solder 2 new wires to pins 6 and 14 (HS-CAN pair) on the OBD-II connector.
Step 4: Solder 2 new wires to pins 3 and 11 (MS-CAN pair) on the OBD-II connector.
Step 5: Solder the wires originally on pins 6 and 14 to the two middle poles on the switch.
Step 6: Solder the new wires on 6 and 14 to one side of the switch (be sure the polarity is correct. Pin 6 will match up with the one originally on pin 6)
Step 7: Solder the new wires on 3 and 11 to the other side of the switch. Be sure to keep pin 3 with the one originally on pin 6 for polarity purposes.

BE SURE NOT TO MIX UP MS-CAN AND HS-CAN AND OBSERVE POLARITY!!! Bad things happen if you do that. I used RED wires for HS-CAN and Black wires for MS-CAN.

A few diagrams of how it works:
Diagrams are showing the dash connector view, reverse for the scan tool view!



Pictures of the process and final product:
My ELM327 motherboard:


Wires soldered onto the OBD-II connector:


Switch installed (oops forgot some heat shrink):


All in the little package waiting to be put back together, also the crappy hole I cut:


Finished product!:




HOW TO ACCESS MS-CAN VIA FORSCAN:

Now when you open FORScan it will ask you if you have an MS/HS CAN switch. SAY YES! You may have to delete your cars profile, close the program, re-open it, then connect again for it to ask you the question. Annoyingly I have to do this almost every time I use the program!



Please feel free to PM me with any questions. I'll be happy to sell anyone one of these modified for $29 including shipping.

FORSCAN.org - Download it today. May be the best free software out there!

Once you get connected you can do everything you can do on OBDWiz and ScanXL (pretty much), but you can also run self tests over both HS-CAN and MS-CAN. Here are the modules I can see and tests I can run:
SHO Lover and Advanced Diagnostics Enthusiast
2008 Mercury Sable Premier - 3.5L N/A Duratec

EcoPowerParts

#1
I edited some of the formatting and the horizontal line for you.
Hopefully I can also start seeing the AWD system parameters and AWD nanny stuff here.
Mike B | info@ecopowerparts.com
www.ecopowerparts.com -
please use my website for any price quotes and to submit any orders.
Please email me via info@ecopowerparts.com if you have any questions on new or existing orders, PM's via the forum are hard to track your purchase as I can't relate user name to actual name.
https://www.facebook.com/ecopowerparts

ecoboostsho

Thanks for the info!  I love this Scan tool...just wish it was available for Android.  That said it has a ton of parameters.  The MX adapter already has the correct chip set so it is ready for MS CAN out of the box.
2013 White SHO w/PP, Gearhead Tuned, 3 Bar, 160T, Plugs...Mess with the Bull and you'll get the Horn. :)
Previous 2011 Tuxedo Black SHO w/PP - 12.89 1/4 Mile

breeves002

#3
Wow, thanks for the quick reply's! Looks like this forum is pretty active.

Well you can use torque for android which gives some pretty good info, however can't view MSCAN. The STN1170 chip is way better than ELM327 but costs at least 3x more. This is the poor mans way to modify things. I have a OBDLink SX already but got this cheap clone for free so thought I would modify it! I'm thinking about buying this too: http://batman.homelinux.com/blog/stn1170-bluetooth-obdii-adapter/

Thank you for fixing the formatting. I copied and pasted from VB. You should be able to view the 4x4 computer over HSCAN, but maybe there are some hidden 4x4 PIDs over MSCAN. I'm pretty sure the AWD system is considered priority though. I don't have a car to test it out on so if you are able, please let me know so I can add to it!

FORScan is just the best free scan tool software right now to view all of this stuff with. I also use ScanXL with Ford enhanced which gives some other PIDs and isn't buggy.
SHO Lover and Advanced Diagnostics Enthusiast
2008 Mercury Sable Premier - 3.5L N/A Duratec

EcoPowerParts

I'll install any program I have to just so that I can figure this AWD system out. :)
It's another mountain I'll have to climb but I've got my climbing boots on and I'm not giving up! :)
Mike B | info@ecopowerparts.com
www.ecopowerparts.com -
please use my website for any price quotes and to submit any orders.
Please email me via info@ecopowerparts.com if you have any questions on new or existing orders, PM's via the forum are hard to track your purchase as I can't relate user name to actual name.
https://www.facebook.com/ecopowerparts

breeves002

Quote from: 4DRHTRD on July 18, 2013, 04:25:29 PM
I'll install any program I have to just so that I can figure this AWD system out. :)
It's another mountain I'll have to climb but I've got my climbing boots on and I'm not giving up! :)

Good luck! It shouldn't be too hard. Not sure what PIDs are available, but FORScan should give you access to them. If it doesn't I know for a fact ScanXL with enhanced ford has it, and over HSCAN, so you may consider buying that. Scan XL will run you $200 with the enhanced Ford though which is pricy when FORScan is free!
SHO Lover and Advanced Diagnostics Enthusiast
2008 Mercury Sable Premier - 3.5L N/A Duratec

breeves002

#6
I made a bunch of edits and added more modules that these cars have.

I learned that over HSCAN there is an AWD module that you can access! So with FORScan and any ELM327 (unmodified) you should be able to access that. ScanXL will work too.

View all the things a 2011 has over CAN bus here: http://revbase.com/BBBMotor/Wd/DownloadPdf?id=875110
SHO Lover and Advanced Diagnostics Enthusiast
2008 Mercury Sable Premier - 3.5L N/A Duratec

EcoPowerParts

I inquired on ScanTool.net forum if they can make us a ready to use MX adapter for our cars.
We'll see what they say!
Mike B | info@ecopowerparts.com
www.ecopowerparts.com -
please use my website for any price quotes and to submit any orders.
Please email me via info@ecopowerparts.com if you have any questions on new or existing orders, PM's via the forum are hard to track your purchase as I can't relate user name to actual name.
https://www.facebook.com/ecopowerparts

adelsin

I use one from ScanTool.net with Torque. Anything you want me to check later?
2013 Green Gem SHO PP, all available options.

EcoPowerParts

I need to see a listing of any of the custom pids that might have anything to do with AWD.
Mike B | info@ecopowerparts.com
www.ecopowerparts.com -
please use my website for any price quotes and to submit any orders.
Please email me via info@ecopowerparts.com if you have any questions on new or existing orders, PM's via the forum are hard to track your purchase as I can't relate user name to actual name.
https://www.facebook.com/ecopowerparts

adelsin

I need to dork around with and learn it better. I sort of just plugged it in and went, "This is neat", seen an unusually high boost at stock and went about my day.
2013 Green Gem SHO PP, all available options.

ecoboostsho

Quote from: 4DRHTRD on July 18, 2013, 06:27:27 PM
I need to see a listing of any of the custom pids that might have anything to do with AWD.

Here you go...from Forscan with my MX adapter (using HS CAN)
2013 White SHO w/PP, Gearhead Tuned, 3 Bar, 160T, Plugs...Mess with the Bull and you'll get the Horn. :)
Previous 2011 Tuxedo Black SHO w/PP - 12.89 1/4 Mile

EcoPowerParts

OK, awesome. I'll have my MX adapter soon so I can start playing with it. :)
Mike B | info@ecopowerparts.com
www.ecopowerparts.com -
please use my website for any price quotes and to submit any orders.
Please email me via info@ecopowerparts.com if you have any questions on new or existing orders, PM's via the forum are hard to track your purchase as I can't relate user name to actual name.
https://www.facebook.com/ecopowerparts

adelsin

I have http://www.scantool.net/obdlink-bluetooth.html

Is the MX something different that I'm missing or possibly overlooked?

2013 Green Gem SHO PP, all available options.

EcoPowerParts

Nope, that tool, I just have to stop by and pick it up :)
Mike B | info@ecopowerparts.com
www.ecopowerparts.com -
please use my website for any price quotes and to submit any orders.
Please email me via info@ecopowerparts.com if you have any questions on new or existing orders, PM's via the forum are hard to track your purchase as I can't relate user name to actual name.
https://www.facebook.com/ecopowerparts