Idiots guide to IDS

[loot]

What year vehicle are you working on?

[vanduara37]

What year vehicle are you working on?

2014 custom

[loot]

Right it's not as simple as running native v86 then which was going to be my suggestion.

I have v96 running and it works on my 65 custom.

I don't want to write your vcm off but the only things you can do is.

Change cables.
Reset vcm.
Change software on laptop.
Change laptop completely.

There maybe vcm diagnostics available in ids but as it is a clone vcm i wouldn't trust it.

[vanduara37]

I,ve tried the first 2 options, changed cable and reset vcm so guess I,ll try to reinstall IDS software and leave it at v96 see if it helps.
Appreciate your help,

[loot]

No worries.

[vanduara37]

Tried all of Loots suggestions but no joy so looks like a replacement VCM.
Anyone got a good recommendation where to buy ?

Thanks

[knobby1]

Tried all of Loots suggestions but no joy so looks like a replacement VCM.
Anyone got a good recommendation where to buy ?

Thanks

Don't bother, get Forscan instead.

Lord Knobrot

[loot]

Pm reply.

Been a while since I diagnosed.

Unplug all cables then press and hold the red button, plug usb cable in and wait until the beep then let go of the button.

If you are running ids natively I think it is install v86 and licence it then c81 and freeze it then v96 and freeze it.

Run ids connect the vcm and it should say that the ids version is newer on the pc than it is on the vcm update?
Select yes (no Internet)

That should show a bar of 100 minutes installing the 1 out of 50 installed screen. (something like that)

The same thing will happen on vmware but obviously it is pre installed.

If you can install v86 on the laptop and test the vcm on a mk7 transit it'll tell you straight away if it works.

That said, if it will read and clear fault codes on the custom and id the van but screws up when doing configuration only then I'm inclined to think that the vcm is a very bad clone?

See how you go anyway.
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loot
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Just so we're all on the same page.

I'm more than happy for mr vanduara37 if he wants to post the vcm to me and I can plug it into my ids and see if it works, I'll need both cables he uses too though so I can diagnose if it is a connection error. This would be free of course but if he could cover return postage maybe a pre paid label with the courier or whatever is done these days? And if he's in the uk

Or else I'd go with mr knobby's suggestion of having a go at forscan.

[vanduara37]

Installed everything on to a different laptop but unfortunately still the same result so thinking the VCM has had it, tried Forscan as suggested as had an ELM327 in garage and it does just about everything that I need so I,ll stick with that for now.


Thanks for the help.

[loot]

Result

[Joe in Oz]

Ids is ford own interface and software. It is what the dealers use and is official, albeit we all use clones as we don't have 5k and 600 annual licence knocking about

Forscan for the want of a better description is hacked software that is actually quite good and it is simple and free to use /install but it doesn't have full capabilities or support. It uses a modified elm 327 obd2 interface which is cheap to buy.

Learns are service functions that are used on euro 4 transits in particular when injectors or other fuel system components are replaced, it basically sets the vehicle paramaters in harmony and optimises the fuel system, in other words makes it run smooth and economically.

Thanks for the response. Sorry I only just saw it. Should I look for an IDS clone or should I be able to find all issues I can DIY fix using Forscan or Forscan light?
I have a working ODBII dongle (with the switch) which my Forscan and Forscan light can connect to. I can read error codes - no idea if it shows me all errors- and I can set a few PIDs and watch the numbers change and gauges move.
I have little understanding of what to do with that information, other than it doesn't show me why my battery light is continuously on while charging the battery just fine over the past 5000km.
It does show me that the EGR valve is giving values out of range - I'm thinking of cleaning it and the pipe - or block it off an ignore the error.... not sure what the consequences would be.

Oh, once in a while on full throttle up a hill, the flashing preheat light comes on - which I'm killing on the fly by hitting the clutch and turning the engine off and on again while coasting and then letting the clutch back in.... takes 3 seconds.... will that do any harm?

Some insight would be good and appreciated.

[loot]

Flashing coil light indicates either a pedal timing fault, wiring to the fuel pump fault or the edc computer on the pump is failing.

Transit mk6 have limited obd2 functionality, although yours being 2005 will have the digital clock in the speedo and I think has a bit more functionality.

You need to read fault codes, or see if you can do a live data learn and drive it to recreate the fault.

I'm limited in helping as my mk6 was faultless over 8 years

[Joe in Oz]

Thanks for that input.
The only relevant fault shown is EGR positions and responses.
Is it possible to read historical registration of faults in Transits with Forscan? and cancel faults?
I am able to have live data showing, just don't know which ones will be useful for this case.
I can certainly recreate the fault condition. What does your suggestion of a "learn" mean in this context, please?
Cheers,
Joe

[loot]

Yes I was referring to the mk7 which is 2006 to 2013.
Yours is the earlier van isn't it so mk6. The fuel system is different and there's not a lot of programming available that I know of.
I do know the coil warning light is doubled as the engine management and on these it nearly always refers to the fuel pump system.

Could be a I've already mensioned.

The rare 135 tdci engine Almost always injectors.
The tddi almost always the pump.
But you still need to read the codes.

If you clear all codes then read them again in a few days and after you speed up hill to get the coil light flashing.

However, if it is a soft fault then it will only be logged on the live data session.

Could be anything at this point though so you need the readings to find out.

Ideally it will be a hard code and you can post it up. If not then you need to find it

Is replace the crank sensor for good measure and the fuel filter if it is old. Cheap items that need to be ruled out.

[davyjcb]

If you have a vcm 2 and your ids is playing up you can use the vcm 2 as the interface for forscan it also has the advantage of switching automatically between hs and ms can so it will read all modules without the need for switching ,the switching promt on forscan won't even appear.