Vgate vLinker FD

It adds Ford's MS-CAN network to the basic OBD-II protocols. On many Fords, MS-CAN carries body, cluster and comfort modules that a plain ELM327 cannot reach. With FORScan Lite on Android, the FD reads codes and live data from modules on that network as well as the engine and transmission.

• Read and clear check-engine codes and see the freeze frame recorded when they set.
• Check I/M readiness before an emissions inspection.
• Scan Ford modules on MS-CAN in FORScan Lite, not just the engine computer.
• Watch live sensor data on any 1996-or-newer gasoline car through Torque, OBD Fusion or DashCommand.

The FD uses Classic Bluetooth 3.0. Android handles that link easily, and so does a Windows PC with Bluetooth. iPhones and iPads cannot use it, and Vgate sends iOS owners to the vLinker FD+, which uses Bluetooth 4.0 LE.

Vgate recommends FORScan Lite as the main app, and names Carista, Torque, DashCommand, JScan and OBD Fusion as compatible too. Some of those charge for features through in-app purchases. Verify on each app's own site that it supports your car before paying. For the Ford side in full, see the FORScan adapter guide.

1. Plug the FD into the OBD2 port and turn the ignition on.
2. Pair it in Windows Bluetooth settings. Windows assigns it a COM port.
3. Open FORScan for Windows and choose the adapter's connection in the settings.
4. Connect and let FORScan identify the vehicle and its modules.

Keep expectations in line with Vgate's own rating: reading only. FORScan's configuration and programming menus stay off-limits with the FD, even on a Windows laptop. Reading codes, viewing live data and checking modules is where it fits.

A laptop has another benefit: a big screen for FORScan's module lists and graphs. It also has a bigger battery than a phone for long logging drives. The phone suits quick checks in a parking lot, the laptop suits a longer look in the driveway.

If Windows pairs but FORScan cannot open the port, the connection troubleshooting guide covers COM port and driver checks.

• No configuration: global window opening, Bambi mode, tire-size correction and similar FORScan tweaks need an adapter Vgate rates for adjustments, such as the vLinker FS Bluetooth or FS USB.
• No module updates: reflashing a PCM or other module is outside the FD's scope.
• No CAN FD: Vgate rates the FD for basic OBD-II and MS-CAN only, so do not read the letters in its name as support for the newer CAN FD bus.
• No iPhone: Classic Bluetooth 3.0 rules out iOS.

Within those lines, the FD is well protected. It carries over-voltage, over-current, over-temperature and battery drain protection, which guards both the adapter and the car's port against spikes such as a jump-start.

Firmware can be upgraded from a smartphone or a PC. If an app update suddenly stops talking to the adapter, check Vgate's updater before assuming the hardware failed. Firmware updates also let Vgate improve compatibility with new app versions over time.

Vgate warns against unofficial or modified app versions, including copies of Torque and Car Scanner. They may not work with the FD at all. Stick to the genuine Google Play versions.

For most Ford owners on Android who want to understand a warning light, none of these limits bite. They matter when the goal shifts from reading to changing. The ELM327 explainer covers what the standard protocols can and cannot reach.

The FD is the most affordable way into Vgate's Ford range for Android users who only read. The FD+ costs a little more for iPhone support through BLE. The FS models cost more again and add configuration and programming.

Think about the next two years, not just today's warning light. If you already know a Ford owners' forum has you curious about hidden features, the FD will feel limiting quickly. If the car is a daily driver you simply want to keep healthy, the FD's read-only design is not a drawback at all. It keeps a curious tap from changing a module setting by accident.

Generic USB switch cables sit on the other side. They let Windows FORScan change settings, but you flip the HS/MS switch by hand and build quality varies.

• Android only, reading only: the vLinker FD.
• Any iPhone in the mix, reading only: the FD+.
• Hidden features or programming, from a phone or laptop: an FS model.
• Laptop-only programming at the lowest cost: a USB switch cable.

Starting with the FD and adding an FS later is a reasonable path. The FD then stays useful as the quick-check adapter on an Android phone. For how these compare with OBDLink adapters, see ELM327 vs OBDLink and Vgate.