Awesome! Ford Diagnostic Tool and ECU Programming Review

After purchasing the VXDIAG FD for Ford from vxdiag.com, I now have the same diagnostic and programming capabilities as a Ford dealership for my 2010 Lincoln MKT. I was able to read fault codes, perform some diagnostic functions, and even program a new smart key for my vehicle. Although I haven’t dug into module programming yet, my experience so far has been great. That said, getting this all set up on my old Dell D630 laptop running Win7 32-bit was a bit tricky. Here’s a step-by-step rundown of how I got it working:

1.Time Zone Adjustment: I changed my computer’s time zone to Beijing time. Not sure if this step is necessary, but I did it just in case.

2.Installing VMWare: I installed VMWare Player on my laptop to set up a virtual machine (VM).

3.File Transfer: I copied the contents of the CD onto my desktop.

4.Virtual Machine Setup: In VMWare, I created a new virtual machine by selecting the largest file from the folder I transferred to my desktop.

About Virtual Machines: A virtual machine is basically like running another computer inside your computer. It has its own Windows operating system and file storage, although everything is stored on your physical hard drive. To run both your regular Windows OS and the VM, you need enough hard drive space and processing power.

This setup is necessary because the Ford IDS software has strict license control, and each new release tightens the restrictions. A VM helps bypass some of these limitations.

5.Adjusting RAM: I increased the virtual machine’s RAM allocation to 2GB. Anything less and it runs painfully slow.

6.Launching the VM: I started up the VM file (mine was called “FORD IDS V107 EN”).

7.Connecting VCX FD: I connected the VCX FD to my laptop using the USB cable.

8.Device Recognition: Once the VM was running, I clicked “Player” in the top left corner and selected “Removable Devices.”

9.Identifying the Adapter: My adapter showed up as “Future Devices USB Serial Converter.”

10.Connecting the Device: I clicked “Connect (Disconnect from Host)” so the VM could control the adapter.

11.Waiting for VM to Load: I waited for the virtual machine to fully load.

12.Connecting to the Car: I plugged the VCX FD adapter into my car.

13.Launching Ford IDS: Once the VM was running, I launched IDS in the virtual machine window and connected it to my vehicle.

At this point, I was able to start diagnosing and programming my car. But make sure to watch some tutorials or read up on IDS functions so you don’t accidentally mess something up, as the software can erase and reprogram modules. With VXDIAG FD for Ford, I’ll never have to pay Ford for a diagnosis again! It’s way cheaper than an hour of diagnostic time at the dealership!