![]() ![]() Select the next tab on the display: Part Number Summary. If you review the network topography image, you can see that you get a listing of the DTCs and if you highlight the DTC you get the definition and some additional information about the code. Both the web version of IDS and the installed version on your laptop connect to the unique vehicle in your bay. It does not simply connect to any and all 2012 Focuses, but the one in your bay. It is important to note that IDS connects to the vehicle you’re working on. You will need to determine that on your own if you are working on a vehicle, and the concern may be related to one of these optional equipment modules. These modules are optional equipment modules and may be non-responsive or may not be equipped on the vehicle you’re working on. Gray module indicators are modules that did not respond when they were pinged during initial connection to the vehicle. Green is good yellow indicates that the module has a DTC in memory. Modules that are on the network and responded to the IDS will show in green or yellow. What you will see is the network topography of the vehicle you’ve connected to. Going to the TOOLBOX gives you the ability to see the vehicle’s network system and DTCs by module. It will give you any Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) or Special Service Messages specific to the vehicle and Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) or concerns that you input. The OASIS report will come up and give you background information about outstanding campaigns that may be on the car. When you connect to a vehicle via the PTS website, you will get information tailored specifically to the vehicle and the concerns of the one that is sitting in your bay. You may select Read VIN & DTCs using the IDS When you have logged into PTS and select the Vehicle ID tab you are given three options of identifying the vehicle you're working on. gives you multiple options for purchase of service publications from single vehicle for 72 hours to the everything for a year. When road testing the vehicle, you will need to use the IDS program that is on your computer or use the VCM II – CFR, Customer Flight Recorder. You will need to be connected to the Internet during this procedure. With access comes the ability to connect to the car and to the PTS website. You will still need to have IDS installed on your computer with a valid subscription for the tool. Ford has programed the tool to be accessed by their service information site PTS. Going from the seven or so that were recorded to… well I’ve never bothered to count, and they are on more than one screen so you need to scroll to see them all.Īnother revision that many don’t know exists is the way that Ford has remade its PTS website to interact with IDS. I remember a revision sometime back when they changed the number of PIDs recorded in Freeze Frame. Most of these tests are backwards compatible. Some of these changes are driven by the increased capability of the onboard computer systems and their networks in the vehicles. Ford sends out a major revision of the tool software four times per year that adds functionality, additional information about calibrations and/or new testing procedures. One more caveat -this tool changes regularly. Much has been written and recorded about the basic use of this tool therefore, we will only touch on that to get to the main topic of this piece and that is how to use it more efficiently. The subscription does include programming and calibration files. ![]() As of this writing the cost to purchase a subscription is $699 per year per VCM or VCM II. Without a subscription you can still use the software to review a recorded session, but you can’t interface with a vehicle. They have also gone to a subscription fee to use the tool to connect to a vehicle. Making the decision to buy one of these tools is a business decision that only you can make.įor those of you who have the IDS or access to it on a regular basis, you know that Ford has brought out an updated interface called the VCM II. Yet owning the factory tool still has advantages as they have capabilities for programming, calibrating and bi-directional control that your aftermarket tool likely does not. There are some very good aftermarket tools, and as an independent shop you probably have one or more of them. Ford’s IDS scan tool may be one of the most powerful tools for working on Ford vehicles that you can own. ![]()
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