Mode $06

**malcom2073** · 12-16-2011, 06:38 PM

I've been on a business trip, and had access to a newer Ford Escape. So of course I started playing around with my OBD2 tool, and figured out that the vehicle supported Mode $06. Being inquisitive like I am, I started doing some google searches and came up with exactly zero information on mode $06. Does anyone know any information about this? I've managed to do some parsing of the message structures returned, but it'd be awesome if there was more information somewhere on the web that I just haven't found yet.

**p2psmurf** · 12-17-2011, 02:52 AM

Try searching for the text: mode $06
More than 75.000 hits, including video's on how to use the mode.

**malcom2073** · 12-17-2011, 10:54 PM

Right, but I've yet to find any information on a byte for byte description of exactly what the results returned mean other than people saying "If you use ABC software, then it will return TID 1, which is blah blah". Or descriptions on how to interpret the information that tools like Tech2 return.

So, I've now managed to figure out most of it, except what the units and scaling ID means in terms of converting the returned limits and values to their appropriate values. Interesting how little of this information is available, and how much of it is "Buy my scantool" or "Buy my software" advertisements. Once I figure this out I'll get it up on wikipedia with the other OBD2 information.

**p2psmurf** · 12-18-2011, 02:41 AM

Units and scaling is easy. Buy SAE J1979.

**malcom2073** · 12-18-2011, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by p2psmurf

Units and scaling is easy. Buy SAE J1979.

And that's exactly the kind of response that I'm finding that really irks me. A lot of OBD2 Mode and pid values/scaling is available for free on the Internet, specifically on Wikipedia, why not Mode $06? I'm getting there though, slowly. I'll be posting my results to Wikipedia once I'm done, hopefully it will help someone else. I've figured out 4 of the 6 scaling factors that are used on the vehicle I'm testing on. I figure there are probably a couple hundred, but I can only do what I have. With any luck, others will fill in the missing information.

**p2psmurf** · 12-18-2011, 10:48 AM

It'll be the best 60 dollars you have spend in your entire life.

**malcom2073** · 12-18-2011, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by p2psmurf

It'll be the best 60 dollars you have spend in your entire life.

And if I do that, I help no one but myself. Making it the most selfish $60 ever spent in my life. I assume if I copy the information from the document onto wikipedia, it'll be taken down as copyright material. If I reverse engineer it however, it's legitimate and could help other people interested in getting more information from their vehicle without having to pay for it.

**p2psmurf** · 12-18-2011, 11:54 AM

Log a complaint with your government? They decide the vehicle must comply to these rules, but do not publish the rules (well, not all of them).

**malcom2073** · 12-18-2011, 12:04 PM

I don't have any complaints to the government, there are just a lot of people who know this information but refuse to share it. Alas that's the way of the world. People are generally more interested in themselves than others. I don't hold it against people, it's just their nature, not their fault.

That's ok though, I'm finding enough scraps of information online to piece this together, and once I do it'll be freely available for anyone.

**Scantech** · 12-19-2011, 07:43 PM

I have taken a Mode 6 Smog Update Course back 6 years ago. They gave us a sheet with a list of Mode 6 PDF link. Most of the Manufacturer were available for free from their site(this was 6 years ago). I lost that Sheet! Most were free and some requires you to pay.

Ford is free

http://www.motorcraftservice.com/vdi...tsid=diagsheet

Scaling and Description is there.