Integrated Diagnostic System (IDS) is Ford's laptop-based factory diagnostic system, introduced as the replacement for the Worldwide Diagnostic System (WDS). A separate Jaguar Land Rover IDS application used related diagnostic hardware and software during the period when the brands shared Ford diagnostic technology; do not assume the software releases, vehicle coverage or licences are interchangeable.
Ford IDS
Ford describes IDS as WDS software adapted for a laptop. The Vehicle Communication Module (VCM) connects to vehicle computers; the Vehicle Measurement Module (VMM) provides instrumentation such as multimeter, oscilloscope and transducer-based tests. Ford's FAQ lists reading and clearing faults, viewing live parameters, and configuring or reprogramming modules among VCM functions. Ford states WDS was decommissioned in the third quarter of 2006. These descriptions are from Ford's North American material. Ford IDS questions and answers.
Ford Diagnostic and Repair System (FDRS) arrived for selected 2018 model-year vehicles, but did not immediately displace IDS: Ford's 2017 FAQ retained IDS for supported vehicles through 2017 and some 2018 and 2019 vehicles. Select the tool using the vehicle, market and service operation rather than a universal cutover date. Ford FDRS FAQ, October 2017.
Jaguar and Land Rover
A contemporary JLR IDS manual lists Jaguar vehicles from 1995 model year, 2005 model-year Land Rover LR3 for all systems, 2005 Range Rover infotainment, and all Land Rover vehicles from 2006 model year for all systems. Those are the manual's stated starting coverage, not proof of an end date or coverage in every market. Later JLR systems include SDD and TOPIx Cloud Diagnostics; see Jaguar and Land Rover diagnostics. JLR IDS software general information.
Mazda also supplied an IDS application. Mazda states that Ford IDS and Mazda IDS cannot be installed on the same computer; the shared name does not mean their brand-specific software is interchangeable. See Mazda diagnostic systems. Mazda IDS information.
Ford also offered Portable Diagnostic Software (PDS) for Pocket PC using a VCM; it provided a subset of IDS link-based functions without VMM measurements. Ford IDS/PDS FAQ.
See Ford diagnostics overview for Ford's related tools.
Vehicle and year coverage examples
| Application | Models / model years in source | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Ford IDS to FDRS transition | Ford’s 2017 FAQ initially assigned FDRS to selected 2018MY EcoSport, Expedition and Navigator in North America, South America and Asia Pacific; IDS remained required for supported vehicles through MY2017 and some MY2018–2019 vehicles. | FDRS and IDS overlap by model; this is an initial 2017 launch list, not a current exhaustive coverage chart. |
| Jaguar and Land Rover IDS | Jaguar MY1995 onward; Land Rover LR3 MY2005 all systems, Range Rover MY2005 infotainment; Land Rover models MY2006 onward all systems | Coverage starts stated in the contemporary JLR manual; no common end year is established. |
| Mazda IDS | Earlier Mazda vehicles covered by a separate Mazda IDS application | Do not use Ford IDS coverage/software as a proxy; Mazda says the brand software cannot share the same PC installation. |
Sources: Ford FDRS FAQ, October 2017; JLR IDS coverage description; Mazda IDS requirements. Later JLR model-year selection is covered in Jaguar and Land Rover diagnostics.