FORScan or Ford's New Generation STAR(NGS) 007-00500?

[RussAdams]

Has anyone compared the capabilities of FORScan versus Ford's New Generation STAR(NGS) 007-00500?

I'd like to keep my 1999 Ranger XLT 4x4 4.0l automatic running as well and as long as possible.

Recently the windshield wiper control acted up and I looked up the manual on how to troubleshoot. There was a huge amount of help available in the manual, but it referred to Ford's New Generation STAR(NGS) 007-00500 tester exclusively.

Are there things Ford's STAR(NGS) can do that FORScan cannot?

Looks like the Ford scanner can be had on eBay for the mid-300's. All I'd need for FORScan is to buy a $35 cable and use my windows laptop...

Would like to hear what folks here think!

Thanks! Russ

 

[RussAdams]

For info, a photo of the manual showing the Ford scan tool:

 

[Poppa_R]

Personaly, I would go with the forscan unit. Ford as quit using the Star tester a long time ago. Depending on what you want to diagnosis and year of vehicle, the Star tester only covered a limited number of years and ford quit using it around 1990.








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[SenorNoob]

The tester described has to be newer than that as it says OBD2 right on it. I looked it up, but was unable to find anything useful about it beyond pictures in ebay listings.

 

[Poppa_R]

Sorry my memory is fogging this morning , you are correct it was in the 2000's that it was discontinued

 

[RussAdams]

Personaly, I would go with the forscan unit. Ford as quit using the Star tester a long time ago. Depending on what you want to diagnosis and year of vehicle, the Star tester only covered a limited number of years and ford quit using it around 1990.

The photo of the Ford tester was taken from my oem manual for my 1999 ranger. Big old monster of a manual. It has really detailed step by step instructions for troubleshooting using the Ford scanner. The scanner itself looks pretty old school electronics for sure. PCMCIA cards! Several cables.

If Forscan can do everything and I can use a nice large color laptop monitor...

Forscan seems the way to go!

 

[Roert42]

FORScan was designed as a bootleg diagnostic software by Russian ford focus enthusiasts.
There is a lot functionality there regardless of what ones better. Full screen graphs on your laptop.

I would say to start with FORScan and good cable.

They sell Bluetooth dongles for th FORScan too, but they are not as reliable and the hard wire ones. Good for recording data while driving.

 

[RussAdams]

FORScan was designed as a bootleg diagnostic software by Russian ford focus enthusiasts.
There is a lot functionality there regardless of what ones better. Full screen graphs on your laptop.

I would say to start with FORScan and good cable.

They sell Bluetooth dongles for th FORScan too, but they are not as reliable and the hard wire ones. Good for recording data while driving.

I read your October 24th post of step by step using FORScan and a cable. Great stuff. Is there any advantage to buying the more expensive OBDX Cable versus the vLinker FS cable?

 

[Roert42]

I read your October 24th post of step by step using FORScan and a cable. Great stuff. Is there any advantage to buying the more expensive OBDX Cable versus the vLinker FS cable?

I can’t speak to the longevity of the cables.

The vLinker is supposed to have some additional functionality for programming ECUs.

Obdx was original cable produced for use with FORScan

I’ve used both and would recommend either

 

[RussAdams]

The vLinker is supposed to have some additional functionality for programming ECUs.

Cheaper AND more functionality? Sounds like the way to go.

Thanks! Russ

 

[Brain75]

genuine vlinker can be bought on aliexpress as well $5 cheaper, all made in china...

and I can testify no issues with the ali one. carboard box, cable - nothing else, but it worked on the '07.

I saw it even cheaper than what I paid, but those were from shops with shipping costs or bad reviews... genuine VGate store:

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256802930481942.html

 

[SenorNoob]

I like it.
The $35 VGate VLinker worked fine with Windows 11 to connect to an 04 Mustang and a 13 Explorer. Had a buddy at work use it with his laptop to enable dark mode, change lock settings, disable seat belt warning, etc. on the Explorer. The list of options was insane.

 

[gw33gp]

What I have seen so far on my 24 Bronco with Forscan is: most of the changes you can make are on modules. We don't have many modules on our older Rangers. That could be a good thing.

I have not looked at my 02 Ranger with Forscan yet.

 

[RussAdams]

Looks like the tariffs have hit:

 

[RussAdams]

I should have bought last year... but Amazon still has them for $34.

Amazon.com