get a honest no bullshit answer

[billy_bunter]

Not exactly autoshit but thought I would get a reasonable answer on here..

 

Having problems with the Mondeo estate where the self level lights keep randomly going into default. Meaning you can see f$$k all at night. Found the sensors on the axles and they are phuysically OK. It follows that i should be able to see some error codes. Thus deduce if the sensors or something else is at fault. Of course this is me being very optimistic.

 

Before I go digging on the internet. Is there a reasonably priced code reader/diagnostics tool on the market does a reasonable coverage of different makes etc.  or even software I could set up on an old laptop

[Guest Breadvan72]

I bought a standard code reader on eBay, 17.95 from autofixdirect, and this reads codes on every modern car it has been attached to so far (a Jag X Type, a Pug 206, a Fiesta), but my mech tells me that modern Fords may have their own software quirks that a generic machine may not detect.  It reads my mum's 09 Fiesta OK.

 

 

[SiC]

The above tool is unlikely to read codes from your lights. There is ForScan available for free online (legally) and then a USB ELM327 Adapter from eBay.

 

I don't know about Fords but from experience, a lot of HID control modules live under the headlights. These aren't always best sealed, especially if removed previously. So they end up filling up with water. Draining and drying them out can help.

[Guest Breadvan72]

There is a big and expensive book that interprets codes for lots of manufacturers, but you can usually find code decodes on websites.

[twosmoke300]

As sic says -the cheapy obd readers will only read engine codes