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What is FORScan?

FORScan is a software scanner for Ford, Mazda, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles, designed to work over ELM327 (please read the important note below) and J2534 Pass-Thru compatible adapters.

FORScan Lite for iOS FORScan for Windows FORScan Lite for Android

There are many OBD2 scanners, but does FORScan somehow differ? Yes, because it is designed especially for Ford, Mazda, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles. So supports specific features of the manufacturer protocols, making the FORScan more powerful in work with these models than any regular OBD2 scanner.

For example, FORScan can detect modules which are not visible for regular OBD2 scanners, it can show you and reset trouble codes which are never displayed by OBD2 scanners. FORScan can show you PIDs which are not supported by any OBD2 scanner, and also run specific tests and service procedures. Version of FORScan for Windows can also perform configuration and programming functions. In other words, FORScan can do things that regular OBD2 scanners can not do.

Main features

  • Detect vehicle on-board network configuration
  • Read and reset Diagnostic Trouble Codes from all modules (see list of supported modules)
  • Reading of modules' sensors' data
  • Run test diagnostic procedures
  • Run service procedures
  • Configuration and programming functions (only in FORScan for Windows, require Extended License)

    Supported vehicles:

  • Ford, Lincoln, Mercury models of 1996 - 2023MY (some models of 1994-1995MY are also supported). Attention: Some 2023MY Ford models may not be indentified (we work on it). FORScan may support limited set of functions and configuration parameters for brand new 2021-2023MY models (we work on it). 2024MY Ford and Lincoln models are not supported!
  • Mazda models of 1996 - 2022MY up to 6G (inclusively). Attention: Mazda 7G models (new Mazda 3, CX-30, MX-30, CX-50 etc) are supported partially or not supported at all!
  • Vehicles other than Ford, Mazda, Lincoln, Mercury are not supported!

    Please check for availability of necessary function before purchasing anything.

    Supported adapters :

  • OBDLink EX USB, recommended USB adapter for Windows version of FORScan, also for configuration and programming functions
  • OBDLink MX+ BT, recommended Bluetooth adapter for Lite versions of FORScan (iOS, Android)
  • vLinker FS USB, recommended USB adapter for Windows version of FORScan, also for configuration and programming functions
  • vLinker FD BT, recommended Bluetooth adapter for FORScan Lite for Android
  • OBDLink SX/LX/MX
  • ELS27 (STN1170/2120)
  • ELM327-compatible (fully compatible with original ELM327, please also see important note below)
  • J2534 Pass-Thru

    Important note: after many years of continued project development, even those of few ELM327 that have relatively good quality, ceased to meet all of the FORScan requirements. Besides, majority of the adapters that are being sold under ELM327 trademark have quite dubious quality that dropped a lot in the past: in fact, they have nothing common with the famous "ELM327" brand but name. Thus we do not recommend any "ELM327" anymore. If possible, please use adapters recommended above (OBDLink, vLinker). FORScan will continue to support ELM327 adapters, but some new functionality may be limited or refuse to work on outdated adapters.

    Supported protocols and bus:

  • FORD HS CAN
  • FORD MS CAN (only for J2534-2, CANtieCAR, OBDLink EX/MX/MX+, ELS27 or modified ELM327)
  • FORD SCP
  • FORD 9141
  • FORD UBP (only for Ford VCMII)

    Supported modules:

    Almost all of modules availabe through supported protocols. Full list is here.

    Supported platforms:

  • Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10 (ELM327-compatible adapters with COM, USB, Bluetooth and WiFi interfaces, J2534 PassThru adapters). Note: only x86/x64 architecture is supported for Windows. ARM architecture is not supported!
  • iOS v9.0 and higher (OBDLink MX+, ELM327 BLE and WiFi adapters)
  • Android v4.0 and higher (ELM327 Bluetooth and WiFi adapters)

    Platforms in development:

  • Windows Phone 8 (Bluetooth and WiFi adapters) - development stopped.


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