jonbar87

Has anyone ever messed around or purchased http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-For-Ford-VCM-II-IDS-V86-VCM-2-OEM-Diagnostic-Tool-Multi-language-VCM2/141322782762?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D23423%26meid%3D7715205117974330330%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D10050%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D171360989375&rt=nc? I get sick of taking my F-150 to the dealer and ask them to perform TSBs just to get it back and the strategy hasn't been updated. If I had one of these I should be able to enable my TBC without paying the dealer $100 just to turn it on. Thoughts?

jonbar87

$700/year just to maintain a software license? Forget that.

https://www.motorcraftservice.com/vd...il_renewal.asp

Wonder where that money goes? More than likely, the EPA.

RLXXI

Yeah I have one, the real one from Bosch. https://rotunda.service-solutions.co...9&catID=276333

The one you linked to is a Chinese clone and I wouldn't trust it mainly due to the fact that in order to use it you have to purchase a separate software license and that costs $700.00/yr no matter who makes the vcm.

http://www.motorcraftservice.com/vdi...il_renewal.asp

It's fairly easy to use once you understand the basics and you can take a class from Ford for $90 basic course and fan out to other specialties like advanced, electronics, etc..

http://www.motorcraftservice.com/vdi...tsid=trng_main

If you decide to splurge and have any questions feel free to shoot me a pm or post here again and I can perhaps help walk you thru some things.

I have a bit of a head start as I was a Ford dealer tech for 11 years and this kind of stuff was where I dabbled.

EDIT: Whoops,... looks like you found the license requirements while I was gathering links. Yeah it ain't cheap.

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RLXXI

Nope it goes straight into Ford's bank account, same place your $$ goes when you buy one of their vehicles.

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NastyFFX4

iTrader: (1)

I mean you get that it's expensive so you don't buy it right?

RLXXI

The way I look at it, is it's an accessory, people spend unbelievable amounts of $$ on lift kits, rims, tires, electronics, etc... plus I can make a little $$ on the side programming things for others that don't want to spend that much $$ on a tool that will allow you to fix every single electronic system in that 30-50 thousand vehicle.

Plus being an ex Ford tech it gave me a panic attack sitting in the customer waiting room when I first got my truck and had to go in for them to turn on the remote start I installed.

I'll never have that feeling again!!!

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jonbar87

Thanks for all the great info. So you're saying that if I get the genuine VCM (not the chinese crap), I won't have to maintain the yearly license?

I have plenty of experience with electronics and have tuned vehicles for years using AEMs software so I'm not concerned about that. I just think this could save money in the long run if I can figure out how to avoid that $700/year license...

RLXXI

No way to avoid that yearly license, it's how Ford makes even more money and they sure as hell ain't giving up that cash cow. I was saying I wouldn't want to trust the Chinese vcm because after spending that 250 you still might have to buy a Bosch for something that actually works right.

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jonbar87

Ah gotcha. Yeah...still trying to decide if it's even worth it since I'm still under warranty. I just hate the dealer touching my stuff. If I want a change, I want to make it myself and know it was made correctly.

RLXXI

My thoughts exactly, plus I can make some side cash programming stuff for others.

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