A NEW repair system developed by Ford looks set to considerably reduce the amount of time fleet vehicles needing repairs spend out of action. The manufacturer has brought into service the world's first fully operational worldwide diagnostic system (WDS) which has gone into service at Stormont Ford, in Tonbridge, Kent.

By the end of this year more than 15,000 Ford dealers around the world will be using the system. Tom Pallister, director of Ford's customer service division, said: 'WDS simplifies the servicing and fault-finding process for our cars and vans manufactured since 1996 and is the only diagnostic tool compatible for Ford model year 2000 vehicles onwards.'

Two years in development, WDS is a highly powerful laptop system which 'talks' to the Ford vehicle being repaired or serviced and immediately identifies all the vehicle's electronic systems, including the ignition and fuel system. Because it is compact and lightweight it can be carried in a car, making on-the-road diagnosis quicker and more effective, particularly with intermittent faults hard to reproduce in the workshop. In Britain, WDS replaces the Ford Diagnostic System 2000. All Ford technicians will receive comprehensive, hands-on training.