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Ford Worldwide Diagnostic System Takes Service to the Future

8 February 1999

Ford Worldwide Diagnostic System Takes Vehicle Service Into the New Millennium

                 New Diagnostic Tool Supports All Ford Brands

    SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 6 -- Ford Motor Company
continues its quest to achieve superior customer satisfaction and owner
loyalty with the introduction of a new global vehicle diagnostic tool -- the
Worldwide Diagnostic System (WDS) -- unveiled today at the annual National
Automobile Dealers Association convention.
    "WDS is a powerful, sophisticated, next-generation diagnostic tool that
can meet the complex vehicle diagnostic demands of the 21st century," said
Mike Jordan, vice president - Ford Customer Service Division.  "WDS provides
technicians with fast and accurate diagnoses that will help them fix vehicles
right the first time, on time."
    WDS is Ford's response to the need for a single diagnostic system that can
keep pace with rapidly advancing vehicle technology worldwide.  It supports
all Ford Motor Company brands -- Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Lincoln, Mazda
and Mercury.
    "We took the best practices from our existing Ford diagnostic systems
around the world and combined them with some new ones," said Mike Meade,
diagnostic service planning manager, Ford Customer Service Division.  "Instead
of several regional systems, we have created one tool that has the capacity
and capability to support the increasingly complex electronics in all of our
global vehicles."
    WDS offers a variety of diagnostic functions not previously available to
service technicians worldwide.  For example, the new tool is equipped with a
dual channel oscilloscope to analyze electronic signal information such as
ignition wave form.  WDS also will enable in-depth analysis of the secondary
ignition system -- both duration of spark and peak voltage achieved.
    The WDS system includes a lightweight, ergonomically designed portable
test unit (PTU) that has a large touch screen; comprehensive instrumentation
capability; a docking station housing the CD-ROM drive and charging system;
vehicle-specific cables, adapters and transducers; and a CD-ROM containing the
latest diagnostic information.  Also included is a warranty exchange program
and regular diagnostic updates.  Optional equipment includes a cart and a
fuel-line adapter kit.
    WDS will work with Ford vehicles introduced from 1996 through 1999, plus
those that will be introduced from model-year 2000 forward.  It has been
designed to support a number of languages, offering more than 20 at
introduction.  The tool will be available to North American dealers in August,
and more than 15,000 dealers around the globe -- and the customers they
service -- will be benefiting from WDS by year's end.
    "WDS is an important advance in the way dealerships around the world will
deliver automotive service," said Jordan.  "We want owners and lessees of all
our vehicles to enjoy a world-class service experience.  WDS will help us
achieve that goal."