The next step Ford took was to eliminate the clutter. Bosch made advances that took the original protocol to a speed of 125 kbps. Another advantage is that CAN’s developer, Bosch, continues to improve the network. Parallel means that if a module were unplugged or it died, the rest of the network would continue to operate. Parallel systems work like Christmas lights that remain lit even if one bulb is out. Almost all CAN modules are in parallel, instead of series. One of the biggest advantages of the CAN is how fault-tolerant it is. The only missing coverage was air suspension in 2004 and earlier, which requires NGS and a special cable to connect. The IDS had 95 percent of the function coverage.
FORD IDS 56 SOFTWARE
This software remained in place for years and now is being phased out. In 2004, Ford then moved to its Integrated Diagnostic System (IDS) with the VCM I. To account for that, the Vehicle Communication Module tool (VCM I) was created with a cradle to help with CAN on the NGS. However, a problem arose in 2003 when CAN came around, because NGS never was able to handle CAN. It was big and bulky and not well-received, so it was more or less shoved aside and the NGS retained. This was a tablet-based tool running Windows. Starting in 1996, Ford tried to move from the NGS to the World Diagnostic Solution (WDS). So, if you get a FEPS error when trying to program a PCM, it often is an error between the J2534 tool on pin 13 and the PCM. Even as Ford advanced through various CAN styles, FEPS remained. The FEPS circuit continued to be the Ford PCM programming system for years after. It’s nothing more than an 18-volt signal to the powertrain control module (PCM) to allow the module to accept the new programming. The only odd part about the SCP network setup is the Flash EEPROM Programming Signal (FEPS), which is pin 13 on the OBD-II port. The reason so many newer programming tools struggle with this system is because they’re too fast for the Pre-CAN system to handle. Ford made the switch to CAN from 2003 to 2007. Naturally, programming pre-CAN Ford keys or modules was hampered by computer and internet speed. To put the system’s slowness in perspective, dial-up internet speed was 56 kbps. However, the data rate was just 41.6 kilobits per second (kbps). If one leg of the network were broken, the network would continue to communicate.
FORD IDS 56 SERIAL
It was a two-wire network that allowed serial communication to the modules. This network was well-designed and ahead of anything else at the time. This network is known as J1850PWM in the SAE world. The tool worked well on the Standard Corporate Protocol (SCP) network. Many seasoned locksmiths got one of these, because it was the only machine for a long time to perform passive anti-theft systems (PATS) functions. It used the same PCMIA cards (software memory cards) as the Tech2. The giant capital-T-shaped tool is unmistakable. This tool started as an OBD-I tool and advanced to OBD-II. If the vehicle has CAN, communication will take place on pins 6 and 14.įord’s first original-equipment tool was the New Generation Star (NGS). The only common network across all vehicles is pins 6 and 14, referred to as the Control Area Network or CAN. Pin 4 is always a ground to the chassis, and pin 5 is a signal ground. This is direct from the battery, with only a fuse protecting the circuit. These are known as the SAE standards, for SAE International. Depending on the year and other factors, they might not have all the applicable networks.Īlthough each vehicle manufacturer has the right to make the OBD port as it sees fit, some requirements are standard. (See the accompanying diagram.) Not all Fords have all 16 slots filled. The changes were subtle at first but have evolved in complexity and sophistication, so much that, in my opinion, Ford’s networks now surpass those of other domestic and Asian manufacturers and come just short of the those designed by European automakers.īefore jumping into tools and protocols, by which vehicle modules communicate either with other modules or with scan tools, I want to discuss the onboard diagnostics (OBD) port, now known as OBD-II, and what some of the 16 slots control. The changes in programming with regard to Chrysler vehicles are well-known.