Idiots guide to IDS

[ECROZ]

Thanks for explaining why the PM was still in outbox loot.

Well I've got mail back from them after asking this :-

Please let me know whether this item will allow me to code new common rail
diesel injectors to Ford Transit 2.4 TDCi models. 2oo4 onwards Both Delphi &
Denso systems ?

Will it also allow recognition of new diesel fuel injection pumps fitted to
Ford Transit 2.4 TDi non common rail 2000-2006 with Bosch VP 30 & VP44

Engine codes 2.4 TDi
D4FA 88 kW (120 hp) 4000 rpm 2000-2006
D2FA 66 kW (90 hp) 4000 rpm 2000-2006
DOFA 92 kW (125 hp) 3800 rpm 2001-2006
FXFA 85 kW (115 hp) 3500 rpm 2003-2006
D2FB 66 kW (90 hp) 4000 rpm 2004-2006

Engine codes 2.4 TDCi
H9FA 101 kW (137 hp) 3500 rpm 2003-2006
H9FB 103 kW (140 hp) 3500 rpm RWD/AWD 2006-2012
H9FD 103 kW (140 hp) 3500 rpm RWD/AWD 2006-2012

And have a response whilst writing this :-

"i ask the factory about the ford vcm ii ,your question are very professionals
i don't know this moment"

He's keen as mustard sent me another email with paypal account details

Want him to confirm capability and make sure it comes with the cable and software

Cheers

ECROZ

[kwackers]

If you got it free then it won't matter i guess, have a try, maybe Google and see what that says, maybe the vcm can be hacked? I think i read that it can be unbricked?
The annual licence is something silly like 600 pounds, probably not worth it for the diy user.

No was not free I'll google as you suggest and take it from there ,found a licence for £ 400.00 for year

[ECROZ]

Hi Folks,

Well I've ordered & paid for this one using paypal
http://www.obd2works.com/ford-vcm-ii-pr ... -1877.html

I use my Dell laptop in my w/shop it runs XP Pro, has most of my w/shop technical info on it and is used to access my Autodata account etc... Can I partition it to install the IDS software or would a better bet be buying a 2nd hand laptop/notebook from cash converters & starting from fresh ?

What minimum specs would another laptop/notebook need to have ?

Cheers
ECROZ

[loot]

I'd recumbent a dual core and 2gb ram minimal.
You can partition the hdd etc but if you have no problem getting another laptop just for ids then I'd go that way.
I think it is recommended not to use a netbook with atom processor but i have a dell mini 1011 with 6 cell battery and w7 home premium and it lasts ages on the battery and works very well. It has a 12v cigar socket type charger.
I don't use it very often but when i leave it even a week uncharged and unused i come to it and it still has 50% battery so i plug it in and use it straight away.

My last laptop was a Sony VAIO 13" with very poor battery and was 19v so i has an inverter smart charger but that needed a lot of power from the van and the laptop was always dead so it was always screen dimming and i was always concerned about it dying mid use
http://m.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?isRefine ... mwBanner=1

http://m.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=Del ... ed+battery
http://m.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=2+g ... emory+ddr2
(1x2gb memory stick needed)
http://m.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=Del ... ar+charger

[ECROZ]

Stand alone sounds like the way to go then.

I'll take a look and consult a PC guru I know.. he may have just what I need laying around

Will no doubt contact you if I have problems setting it all up once it arrives.. If your game ?

Asked for a tracking number as ordered with DHL as shipping method.. Apparently supplier has a day off & will supply me one on Monday LOL

Cheers
ECROZ

[loot]

Yes generally the Chinese are a day us in front of us so any comms on a Friday doesn't get them or you a reply til Tuesday or something daft like that as i found previously.

The dell i have is a few milliseconds slower than higher powered laptops I've used but perfectly reliable.

If you spot a decent spec touch screen 1 then grab it because i had a go on touch screen and it is more fun than the mouse as the tough books Ford use are touch screen, but that's just if the opportunity arises Lol.

Concentrate on battery reliability mainly *
Min 2gb*
Ssd is a bonus if possible, they're coming down in price and can speed up a mid range laptop *
Try and stay 10"-13" if possible for portability etc (although you can use a perfectly good 15+ size laptop i find them a bit cumbersome while sitting in the drivers seat with cables everywhere and the steering wheel in front of you and even new i find the battery life a bit pants .)

[ECROZ]

I was thinking touch screen, pretty sure from memory the dealer IDS I used to have access to whenever needed was touch screen.

They also used it for emails, web surfing, & parts orders linked back to main dealership, I remember it being a tad fussy.. Think it was a Toshiba but never took notice of which one.

My MaxiDAS DS 708 is touch screen...Reckon a touch screen device for a mechanic is right anyway.. nothing like a hands on approach

Just past 8:30pm Sunday here, I'm 2 hours ahead of China.. Only the Kiwis in the English speaking world are ahead of me by another 2 hours...

[loot]

I did use my Samsung q1u for a little bit but being 800mhz it was a wee bit slow
Ford use Panasonic toughbooks, unless they've upgraded but yes they can scan diagrams and repair orders and order parts etc i expect.

[knobby1]

Hi Chasps,

I finally got around to replacing my SCV & PRV, (with genuine Ford items), yesterday afternoon....took ~1.5hours to do the job, I guess I could now do it in ~1 hour after having done it once. Inlet manifold off is a necessity for a 2.4 RWD I'm afraid as mentioned by Loot some time back. Also needed to remove the common rail itself to allow me to correctly torque the PRV tp 172nm, no real biggie though, takes ~5-10mins to remove/replace.

Anywho, I went to do the pump/injector/pilot learns after replacing said valves and the IDS failed to complete the process three times saying the idle speed was incorrect ..... and now the IDS says I need to do a PCM update....which I cannot do as my IDS keeps telling me I have zero voltage...which is an ongoing problem for a few of us.

So long story short is I am now stuck with a van basically running in limp mode because I can't do the PCM update...my IDS appears to work correctly for all other operations and the live data shows I have plenty of voltage to do the PCM update....but it just can't see it when attempting a PCM update, this has got me rather confused.

I've tried another PC and even uninstalled/re-installed the IDS software on both PC's to no avail....so I'm kinda stuck at the moment... My van, although now hugely underpowered will get to ~100kmh on my local freeway until I come to an incline. I don't really want to go to Frauds and have my pants pulled down to get the PCM update and I'd like to do it myself, which is why I bought the VCM-II in the first place.

Lord Knobrot

[loot]

Try having the engine running and then go to the process of pcm update and it'll do a voltage check then tell you to turn the key off anyway before it proceeds.
Got 2 chances i guess.
Should show 14.4v at that point.

[knobby1]

Try having the engine running and then go to the process of pcm update and it'll do a voltage check then tell you to turn the key off anyway before it proceeds.
Got 2 chances i guess.
Should show 14.4v at that point.

Tried that about a month ago the first time when you mentioned it Loot, makes no difference, still comes up as zero voltage, rather frustrating when I know there is well over 14v when the engine is running....and well over 13v when not running, the live data tells me exactly what voltage I have at the connector and I know the cable is good, have continuity on all pins, even put my multimeter across the cable with engine running to make sure I had continuity. I now suspect the VCM has shite itself....which is strange because all other functions work fine. Such is life I guess.

Lord Knobrot

[paul2012]

If you got it free then it won't matter i guess, have a try, maybe Google and see what that says, maybe the vcm can be hacked? I think i read that it can be unbricked?
The annual licence is something silly like 600 pounds, probably not worth it for the diy user.

If black listed it's the cloned VCM 1's where you could change serial number. As far as I'm aware it impossible to do on VCM II's

Loot current price for IDS licence is £1719

[loot]

Definitely out of the financial scope of the diy user.

@ knobby, It could be that the vcm Is faulty, i forgot you may have already tried, did you try Wi-Fi?

[knobby1]

:shock:
Definitely out of the financial scope of the diy user.

@ knobby, It could be that the vcm Is faulty, i forgot you may have already tried, did you try Wi-Fi?

Funny you should say the VCM may be faulty Loot, I found out yeasterday one of my workmates has a VCM-II, he brought it in into work this morning for me and I plugged it in just 15mins ago....same result Zero voltage while attempting PCM update Needless to say I don't think it's a VCM issue.

I don't have a Wi-Fi module so that's out of the question.

I've tried two different PC's with XP.... I might give Win7 a shot and see what happens, nothing to lose I guess...I can't see two VCM's being faulty with exactly the same fault though, even used different cables and usb ports and still the same. All I can think of is the PC software is duff..

Lord Knobrot

[ECROZ]

Hi Folks,

Mine has arrived, fired a thread link off to the PC guru round the corner for him to understand what I was trying to ask for laptop wise
Then I'll maybe pester loot if I have problems on installation & functionality

Knobby shame your up in NSW or I'd offer to come by and try my one on it.

Maybe ring a local Ford dealer for a price to do what you need doing, you might be lucky and find one that will be helpful.
When I had access to a local friendly dealers IDS I just used to run the vehicle down there and plug theirs in, they were most appreciative of the free training I was providing on IDS use with Transits