Hex Code vs MIL Code vs Scan Tool Code

[SSTJ]

So my FSM shows three types of codes for each "Diagnostic Trouble Code".

• One column is "Hex", which is a two-digit combination of numbers or letters.
• The next column is "MIL", which is a two-digit number.
• And then we have "Scan Tool Code", which is a four-digit number preceded by a "P".

I get that "MIL" is the number of flashes you'll see from the Check Engine Light, and/or the code that will display on your dash if you prompt it by using the on-off-on-off-on trick. And I get that "Scan Tool Code" is what will display on a OBD II scan tool. But what is Hex? When is that code used? I'm not getting anything interesting on Google.

 

[flyinfish]

Hex is short for Hexidecimal. I'd assume they're using Hex on the programming side.

 

[SSTJ]

Hex is short for Hexidecimal. I'd assume they're using Hex on the programming side.

Interesting, thanks.

 

[SSTJ]

So does anyone know how to find the Hex code? Over here, it would help me determine which of several identical MIL codes my TJ is giving me.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

So does anyone know how to find the Hex code? Over here, it would help me determine which of several identical MIL codes my TJ is giving me.

If you have Excel you can use function Hex2dec() to convert. I'm sure if you Google hexadecimal to decimal conversion you'll find some web based ones.

Some of the high points.

1 is 1
f is 15
10 is 16
ff is 255
100 is 256
1000 is 4096

 

[SSTJ]

If you have Excel you can use function Hex2dec() to convert. I'm sure if you Google hexadecimal to decimal conversion you'll find some web based ones.

Some of the high points.

1 is 1
f is 15
10 is 16
ff is 255
100 is 256
1000 is 4096

LOL, I meant can I get OBDII to give me the Hex code instead of MIL. As shown here, the Hex code is more helpful than the MIL.

 

[OldBuzzard]

I think that will depend on which OBD reader you use. Some let you switch between displaying hex or other codes, others may not. And each reader is going to do it a different way. Check your manual, or hunt through each screen.

The FSM for your '97 shows the hex codes, but the latest FSMs (05, 06) do not (at least not that I could find).

 

[freedom_in_4low]

LOL, I meant can I get OBDII to give me the Hex code instead of MIL. As shown here, the Hex code is more helpful than the MIL.

haha ok i thought you were getting hex and needed help interpreting it. I hadn't seen your other thread or else I'd have realized you were a lot farther into it than that.

It's going to depend on the scanner. I know I've seen some hex stuff in my Torque Pro (Android) app using a generic bluetooth-OBDii dongle, though I don't remember anything about getting DTC's in hex - it's the PID addresses and values for live data, IIRC.

What are you using to read them?

 

[SSTJ]

I think that will depend on which OBD reader you use. Some let you switch between displaying hex or other codes, others may not. And each reader is going to do it a different way. Check your manual, or hunt through each screen.

The FSM for your '97 shows the hex codes, but the latest FSMs (05, 06) do not (at least not that I could find).

Thanks. I ordered an Ancel. I’ll see if it allows that option.

 

[SSTJ]

haha ok i thought you were getting hex and needed help interpreting it. I hadn't seen your other thread or else I'd have realized you were a lot farther into it than that.

It's going to depend on the scanner. I know I've seen some hex stuff in my Torque Pro (Android) app using a generic bluetooth-OBDii dongle, though I don't remember anything about getting DTC's in hex - it's the PID addresses and values for live data, IIRC.

What are you using to read them?

Gotcha thanks. So far I’ve just used the dash display to get the MIL codes. But I just ordered an OBD reader, to see if I can get the hex code.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

Gotcha thanks. So far I’ve just used the dash display to get the MIL codes. But I just ordered an OBD reader, to see if I can get the hex code.

Ok. The manual for the 06 doesn't even have that table so I had to look it up to understand it. It looks as though that's the code the DRB3 pulls to identify it and display what that table shows in the DRB3 display column. No idea whether a third party reader will pull it, or if the DRB3 even shows the hex code (though it would be just as good since it shows the text description).

Too bad you're not local, I could drop by with my drb3 emulator and pull the specific code for you.

 

[SSTJ]

Ok. The manual for the 06 doesn't even have that table so I had to look it up to understand it. It looks as though that's the code the DRB3 pulls to identify it and display what that table shows in the DRB3 display column. No idea whether a third party reader will pull it, or if the DRB3 even shows the hex code (though it would be just as good since it shows the text description).

Too bad you're not local, I could drop by with my drb3 emulator and pull the specific code for you.

Gotcha, thanks. Well, we’ll see what my code reader displays. If it gives me the hex code, or at least if it gives me the “scan tool display“ text that my FSM shows, that will at least help me distinguish between all these different possibilities of what “42“ means.

 

[OldBuzzard]

My OBDLink SX reader with OBDwiz software (for Windoze) shows all PIDs and TIDs as hex codes. It's a $50 reader to plug into a laptop. I suspect all of the higher-end readers will show hex codes, and many/most of the lower end ones too.

Which Ancel reader did you order?

 

[freedom_in_4low]

I know it's not helpful, but I can't help but be a little amused that the mysterious code with several different possible meanings is 42, or, "the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything. " according to the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I cannot believe I have patched operating system bugs using hex many years ago. I do not miss those days lol.

 

[OldBuzzard]

Heh. I still use hex numbers almost daily, writing code for microcontrollers.

Jerry, we must be getting old.

 

[SSTJ]

My OBDLink SX reader with OBDwiz software (for Windoze) shows all PIDs and TIDs as hex codes. It's a $50 reader to plug into a laptop. I suspect all of the higher-end readers will show hex codes, and many/most of the lower end ones too.

Which Ancel reader did you order?

This Ancel one. When I ordered it, I wasn't yet thinking of Hex, just hoping to get some display text in addition to the MIL code. I figure I can return it if it doesn't help.

 

[SSTJ]

My OBDLink SX reader with OBDwiz software (for Windoze) shows all PIDs and TIDs as hex codes. It's a $50 reader to plug into a laptop. I suspect all of the higher-end readers will show hex codes, and many/most of the lower end ones too.

Which Ancel reader did you order?

Hey again,

So my Ancel arrived and not only does it now show Hex codes, but it isn't even showing all three of the codes that I get on the dash via MIL.

Can anyone suggest a code reader that does display Hex codes? Preferably compatible with iPhone, but I can do a stand-alone handheld reader if necessary.