ABOUT FORD SCAN TOOLS

The VCM was the factory scan tool from 1996 through 2016. However, the VCM and VCM2 has been discontinued for over 4 years ago. 

Each laptop requires a license. Ford sells the license retail for 1 year for $1200.00 plus tax.

This was a recent increase as of October 2025 and now it can only be purchased from the motorcraft.com website.

 Diesel mechanics really need this tool and have no idea just how hard they are working without it. The cylinder power balance and especially the electronic compression test on 6.0 and newer engines makes life a lot easier and the process much faster.

Try this with any other scan tool!

Hook up the scan tool and get codes.

See if there is a reflash update to sell.

Check power balance for the miss and run the electronic compression test to see if the miss might be mechanical.

You can do all this in less than 10 minutes (even on a 6.0 diesel). Now that's the way to make money quickly and easily!

A new VCM3 package with a two-year Ford warranty without the license is $2095.00. 

 Here is a link to the Ford home page where info about IDS can be found.  https://www.motorcraftservice.com/

• Select United States and English from the drop-down using only Internet Explorer 11.
• Other browsers display the site goofy.
• To access IDS software updates, simply click the IDS software support tab in the top navigation bar. Scroll down to 'download software'
• To access As'Built info, Click the “Free Resources” tab in the top navigation bar.
• Scroll down and select “Quick Guides”.
• Scroll down the page about 1/2 way and look for the “Module build data (as-built)” red link and click on it.
• Type in the vehicle VIN and get a list of all applicable modules and Hexadecimal coding.
• Don't forget and look at the top of the screen where the four digit tear tag is for quick PCM programming.
• Examples  4WED.....W5R1.......CBDM. These only apply to your VIN number.