MicroHacker Forum

Hey, i've got a ROTUNDA VCM (genuine) from a good friend (oscar!) but there is a cable missing, which connects the device to the car.
The Rotunda box has a special connector and i don't know the pinout. Maybe sombody have this?

Found something in the web. This could be for OBD and this for serial (to USB converter)

I have it on work in some drawer
I can check in monday is pinout ok

For OBD cable you also need a resistor between 2 pins at VCM port. This tells VCM what cable you connected (OBD long, OBD short, VCM self-test and maybe others).
Connector at VCM is of 2 types, there are 2 physical "hardware" keys. In the image with OBD pins numbered, at top of connector you have this 2 keys. In this example one of them is closer to the middle (above OBD Pin3) The other type has it at the same distance as the other, from the edge (above OBD Pin5). I don't remember why there are this 2 versions, but VCM needs to have the right cable type connected. (you can still force the other type of cable there)



For cable to Computer you have Serial or Ethernet.
Serial was used with PDA equipment.
Ethernet is used with a Realtek USB to Ethernet adapter.
In last image you have Ethernet described, not Serial

DGAlexandru wrote: ↑18 Jul 2021, 06:59 I don't remember why there are this 2 versions, but VCM needs to have the right cable type connected. (you can still force the other type of cable there)

If I remember correctly there was blue cable introduced for diagnosing Fiat 500 platform on wich was built Ford Ka mk2

The cable for Ford Ka MK2 (Fiat with Ford body) is something "recent"; this 2 versions are much older.
BTW, I think this blue / purple cable for Ka MK2 is an OBD2OBD adapter and not a VCM2OBD cable.

Thanks a lot nutra for pointing that put! As i do not have this OBD cable and it seems not to be buyable (at least not for a reasonable price) i need to build some my own.

First challenge is to identify the connector and find a reseller to buy one.
Hopefully this will enable me to program PATS using FJDS with payed 2 day license on my MK4 facelift (BCM, ABS renew).

If you want to use VCM then you have to use IDS.
FJDS cannot be used with VCM.
Also, neither FDRS works with VCM.
... aldought VCM is hardware compatible with J2534 pass-through.

VCM II on the other hand works with all 3 of them.


For VCM OBD cable look on chinese websites.
You could also try to adapt a VCM II OBD cable.. or any OBD cable.
If you open the VCM you will see that this connector has its own PCB an you can build another adapter with your own choice of connector.

Do not forget about the other connector, the one used for connection to PC. You must use an old Realtek USB to Ethernet adapter in order to be able to use this VCM with Ford dedicated software.

DGAlexandru wrote: ↑18 Jul 2021, 18:20 If you want to use VCM then you have to use IDS.
FJDS cannot be used with VCM.
Also, neither FDRS works with VCM.
... aldought VCM is hardware compatible with J2534 pass-through.
VCM II on the other hand works with all 3 of them.

I just found out myself... after installing Windows 10 and FDRS with it's VCI-Manager, which tells me that it only supports VCM-II upwards

And i can't find FJDS to download, only see IDS and FDRS. In first i thought FDRS is just another (older) name for FJDS. But where to get this software?

DGAlexandru wrote: ↑18 Jul 2021, 18:20 For VCM OBD cable look on chinese websites.
You could also try to adapt a VCM II OBD cable.. or any OBD cable.
If you open the VCM you will see that this connector has its own PCB an you can build another adapter with your own choice of connector.

Possible, but if i can't use the VCM-I for programming, it's of no use for me...

DGAlexandru wrote: ↑18 Jul 2021, 18:20 Do not forget about the other connector, the one used for connection to PC. You must use an old Realtek USB to Ethernet adapter in order to be able to use this VCM with Ford dedicated software.

I have a cable plugged into VCM-I and it has a small box and USB on the other. I guess this is what you tell a "USB to Ethernet adapter", right?

The main problem i see is, that every VCM-II below $500 is a cheap Chinese fake and may fail or is only useable with a patched IDS version... don't know but seen many proofs what's really inside of them, regardless of what the pictures in the shops may want you to believe. So i thought my best chance is to use this old VCM-I.