Anyone in here familiar with Cat engine electronics?

I just got a 2000 Ford f650 with the 3126 engine. I want to buy the necessary hardware and software so I can scan it and clear codes on my own if need be. Where do I start? Basic OBD2 scanner or does cat have specialized equipment for all this?

 

I know CAT guards that stuff pretty carefully and even some independent shops cant/won’t afford it.

What does the diagnostic port look like?

Identifying Diagnostic Port Type

 

It has both OBD2 and round plug

 

Huh that's interesting. You could try an OBDLink cable or bluetooth adapter and download ForScan onto a laptop and see if it will talk to the engine ECM or any of the other modules, but I my guess is that the round one is specifically for the engine's ECM. They DO make plug-in scanner modules for the diesel coach guys that run 3126/C7/C9 motors but I think that only displays sensor data. Could be wrong on that.

They aren't bad motors but they need good oil and the change interval should be shorter. 10-12k maybe. Uses a HEUI high pressure oil system to fire injectors just as the 7.3/6.0 Powerstroke engines do. (CAT actually invented it and licensed it to Intl/Navistar). Dry sleeve engine but good used ones are not very hard to find or expensive. Cool truck...what trans and rear does it have?

 

J1708 comm adapter will read it, the 9 pin round connector, doesn't use the OBD2 for engine. You can also turn cruise off and hold either the set or resume on cruise and it will flash the engine codes on the check engine light.

 

I like it !

 

I took it to a local shop. Tech said the ecm was completely custom. He wiped it and reflashed all the factory parameters back on to it. Runs much better now, noticeably at idle and highway cruising, 275HP. One of the previous owners actually swapped in an Allison 3000 series trans, normally these come with an AT545. And I’m still figuring out the rear end. I’m pretty sure it’s got 4.10’s.

 

Good place to start. I think those could be flashed to 330 hp max but a CAT shop would have to do that. Wont be a speed demon turning an Allison 3000 and big 22.5" rubber either way. How many miles on it?

 

Oh man did my first haul today and she’s a turtle!!! Plenty of pull and braking but it takes forever to get up to speed. I’m thinking the gearing is all jacked up from the trans swap. 157k miles