Applicability & limits
Educational interpretation of a documented Ford data table, not a model or engine compatibility list. Confirm the exact vehicle, calibration, protocol and scanner definitions before applying any test ID. No universal misfire threshold, conversion factor, cylinder location, relearn or road-test procedure is supplied. A current vehicle-specific procedure takes precedence.
- Vehicles
- Ford vehicles whose applicable service information confirms the illustrated J1979 misfire data definitions
- Engines
- Petrol/gasoline; the Ford reference is not a diesel diagnostic procedure
- Model years
- Ford example: 2020–2023 model-year gasoline OBD summary, revision 23 October 2023. Other years require their own definitions.
- Markets
- Confirm market-specific Ford service information, UK/EU applicability is not established by this reference alone
01
The answer: identify the number before judging it
A Mode 6 misfire result is useful only when you know which test it represents, its units and the period it covers. A count of events is not a percentage. Do not use a single number or a pass label to authorise a coil, injector or other part.[ford-2023][bosch-monitor]
Bosch's diagnostic-monitor instructions warn that results do not necessarily identify a faulty component. They direct the technician to the vehicle service manual for test definitions. Start there if the scanner's label is incomplete.[ford-2023][bosch-monitor]
02
A specific Ford example: counts and rates are different
Ford's 2020–2023 gasoline summary, revised 23 October 2023, distinguishes these cylinder-monitor entries in the A2–AD range: test $0B is an exponentially weighted moving-average count over ten driving cycles; $0C is a count for the last/current cycle. Both use events.[ford-2023]
Tests $80 and $81 are rates expressed as percentages, updated over 200 and 1,000 revolutions respectively. Do not compare their displayed values directly with $0B or $0C, or substitute an older Ford test-ID chart. Confirm which supported cylinder monitor the vehicle actually exposes.[ford-2023]
03
When zero or pass leaves the complaint unresolved
Ford lists entry requirements and temporary disablement conditions for the monitor, including rough-road operation. A zero from an unmatched reporting window does not establish what happened during the customer's complaint.[ford-2023][bosch-monitor]
Use three questions to decide the next step: Is this the correct test for this vehicle? Does its reporting window include the observed symptom? Was the monitor able to run under the relevant conditions? If any answer is unknown, record that gap before declaring the engine fault-free.[ford-2023][bosch-monitor]
Do not invent a universal acceptable count or reproduce a generic internet relearn. Use the current Ford procedure for the confirmed vehicle and work within its safety conditions.[ford-2023][bosch-monitor]
04
Turn the display into a usable comparison
Save the full screen: module, monitor/test identifiers, result, units, limits and status. Bosch's manual shows why protocol and display format matter: some results are presented as hexadecimal values, whereas CAN results can include engineering units. Check your own scanner's documentation rather than applying a conversion twice.[bosch-monitor]
As a practical worksheet, record two observations using the same identified test and units. Add when each was taken, whether the symptom was actually present and what remains unknown. A changed number is a reason to investigate; it is not a component verdict.[bosch-monitor]
Preserve the starting evidence before clearing. For the broader recording checklist, use the related evidence-capture guide below.[bosch-monitor]
05
Bring the evidence into MechNostic
Bring the confirmed vehicle details, symptom description and a clear scanner photo into MechNostic. Include the test identifier, units and reporting window in your message, and ask for help organising the next diagnostic question.[mechnostic]
Check extracted text against the original display and confirm proposed checks in current manufacturer information. This invitation does not promise that MechNostic or a connected adapter can directly read every Mode 6 monitor.[mechnostic]
Reference desk
Sources
Consult the original material and confirm it applies to the vehicle in front of you.
- [ford-2023]Ford 2020–2023 MY OBD System Operation Summary for Gasoline Engines, revision 23 October 2023
Supports: Pages 5–6: misfire monitor conditions and J1979 test definitions. Used as a bounded data example, not universal market/model coverage or repair limits.
- [bosch-monitor]Bosch OBD 1300 manual, 573700 Rev B, March 2016, section 5.11
Supports: Pages 38–39: diagnostic monitor results, vehicle-specific test definitions, non-CAN/CAN display differences and the limits of component conclusions. Scanner-specific documentation; worksheet is an editorial recommendation.
- [mechnostic]MechNostic product page
Supports: Text and scanner-photo input for diagnostic discussion. No direct Mode 6 coverage or diagnostic accuracy guarantee inferred.
Take MechNostic with you.
Get the app on iPhone or Android. Use diagnostic references alongside current manufacturer information and appropriate test procedures.
