# Code reader on a Diesel truck

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/code-reader-on-a-diesel-truck/191047>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [June 8, 2023, 1:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/code-reader-on-a-diesel-truck/191047 "2023-06-08T01:55:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 1:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/code-reader-on-a-diesel-truck/191047/1 "2023-06-08T01:55:12Z")

</div>

My neighbor got a check engine light on his Ford Diesel truck. I got out my code reader to read it but the code reader said there were not DTCs. I pushed the erase button and the check engine light went out.

Do diesel engined trucks (pick up) need a different code reader? It had a standard OBDII port and the code reader detected the CAN buss.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 5:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/code-reader-on-a-diesel-truck/191047/2 "2023-06-08T17:47:59Z")

</div>

I believe you do not need a special scanner for a diesel engine. as long as the scanner is capable of reading that year truck. if it is a brand new truck your scanner might need to be updated for newer year vehicles.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 11:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/code-reader-on-a-diesel-truck/191047/3 "2023-06-08T23:47:12Z")

</div>

I wouldn’t guess there’s any incompatibility w/code reader b/c of diesel engine. But it definitely seems possible your code reader is not able to read all diagnostic codes on every make/model/year. Software on both code reader and vehicle has to match up. And it may be the dtc that turned the CEL on isn’t caused by an engine problem. Could be another system module that your code reader isn’t set up to query.