GT350 FORScan Tweaks

[mattlqx]

Well, here's what IDS looks like! http://www.fordservicecontent.com/ford_content/catalog/ids_manuals/IDSUserManual_ENG.pdf

Have at it. ;)

I have no idea how to directly change the asbuilt configurations through IDS. I'm sure it's possible, but I think most dealer techs are only familiar with changing the dropdowns or restoring whole asbuilts from the Motorcraft site.

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[superman07]

There is no reason other than they wanted the temp display to be a "premium" feature of the Track package. It's all marketing and corporate BS, the same reason they wouldn't sell Tech+Track together in the first place.

I would bet it is as simple as not wanting base or tech owners seeing their temps go from 220-280 degrees, and the assumption fewer folks would hit limp mode. I bet someone figured there would be too many questions if this was kept enabled. They were absolutely right.

Ford Exec and Ford Engineer talking,

Does it get hot without the cooler, Yup, Will it ruin the transmission, naw, probably not in 36k miles at least, Will the owners know there running pretty darned hot in the summer, yup, but we could just hide the temp from the center display, you can do that, yup, ok do it.

walks away happy with himself as he hit the price target.

 

[lemers]

I would bet it is as simple as not wanting base or tech owners seeing their temps go from 220-280 degrees, and the assumption fewer folks would hit limp mode. I bet someone figured there would be too many questions if this was kept enabled. They were absolutely right.

Ford Exec and Ford Engineer talking,

Does it get hot without the cooler, Yup, Will it ruin the transmission, naw, probably not in 36k miles at least, Will the owners know there running pretty darned hot in the summer, yup, but we could just hide the temp from the center display, you can do that, yup, ok do it.

walks away happy with himself as he hit the price target.

That's exactly how I pictured it.

 

[Epiphany]

I would bet it is as simple as not wanting base or tech owners seeing their temps go from 220-280 degrees, and the assumption fewer folks would hit limp mode. I bet someone figured there would be too many questions if this was kept enabled. They were absolutely right.

Sounds plausible as does Matt's mention of marketing strategy. Stinks all around but at least they finally addressed the issue.



If it helps, I took quick cell phone screen shots as we made some changes last night so that you can see what is being changed, as opposed to just listing numbers and talking about them. I wanted to disable the engine noise enhancement and found the relevant field of as-built data in the F150 spreadsheets.

The above told me what address to look for (beware, as you can't always cross car lines for addresses) and I found the address (IIRC, it was in the ACM module). I highlighted the appropriate line that shows the way my car came (enabled).

After using some logic (took 3 attempts) we figured out the appropriate values. The first few tries changed the radio such that turning the vehicle on brought on the AM radio and I had no control over the volume so we changed back to the original values each time and tried again. These are the values highlighted below that worked.

Car seems slightly quieter inside the cabin now in each exhaust mode.






Next up, I wanted to enable "Dark Car Mode." I don't see the need to give everyone the opportunity to see what is going on in my car at night each time I exit or enter the vehicle. If I need to gather anything before exiting I can always turn on the interior lights manually, so this one works perfectly for me. To find the relevant address, we again looked at F150 data.

So we looked for the same address in the GT350 (in the BCM module IIRC). Here are the values the car came with...

And here is the same address with the appropriate field changes to enable DCM.

Color me happy. No more annoying horn honks, faux enhancement, and no lightshow when exiting/entering the car. I looked again for any opportunity to play with the default exhaust mode settings and could not find them. My guess is that they are buried in the PCM and we don't have access to that yet via FORscan.

 

[Tank]

Thanks Epiphany. Couldn't ask for anything more!!

 

[Side_Pce]

It is highly recommended to stick with the Bluetooth device I showed at the onset of this thread and to avoid the wifi units.

OBDlink MX has an alternate Wifi device that compatible with IOS phones/Ipads but I don't think the ForScan lite (mobile software) will allow these changes to be made. Bummer. I just want to monitor the Trans Temp.

 

[dev1360]

I want to know what enabling track key does. Playing with this in my GT soon.

 

[likeaboss]

Patiently waiting for my FORScan forum account to be activated so I can get my extended code.

 

[mattlqx]

I want to know what enabling track key does. Playing with this in my GT soon.

My guess is absolutely nothing. It needs a tune that supports it and I guarantee you they don't ship with that. This option is just holdover from the S197s.

 

[Socal350]

Patiently waiting for my FORScan forum account to be activated so I can get my extended code.

Make sure to keep checking your inbox every 5-10 minutes or so unless you're busy doing stuff. I received my ForScan activation email within 20 minutes of registering

I want to know what enabling track key does. Playing with this in my GT soon.

My guess is absolutely nothing. It needs a tune that supports it and I guarantee you they don't ship with that. This option is just holdover from the S197s.

That would be correct matt! I tried to enable the option yesterday to see if it did anything to the car but I received an error message when trying to save/write the updated configuration settings to my car

I also checked the as built file after restarting the car but the setting was still set to "disabled"

Sorry [MENTION=19646]dev1360[/MENTION] :(

 

[Side_Pce]

Make sure to keep checking your inbox every 5-10 minutes or so unless you're busy doing stuff. I received my ForScan activation email within 20 minutes of registering





That would be correct matt! I tried to enable the option yesterday to see if it did anything to the car but I received an error message when trying to save/write the updated configuration settings to my car

I also checked the as built file after restarting the car but the setting was still set to "disabled"

Sorry [MENTION=19646]dev1360[/MENTION] :(

What scanner are you using? Trying to decide which one to pick up.

 

[Socal350]

What scanner are you using? Trying to decide which one to pick up.

I'm using the OBDLink MX. Pretty easy to use and you can connect it to the car just by reaching down near the clutch pedal

 

[dev1360]

I was only hoping to enable temp displays and other displays that would come along with "track key" on the GTs. Many of the displays a 350 already has.

Maybe even a digital speedometer.

 

[Tank]

Hey Epiphany, Matt, Socal ....
Has anyone found the 'R' start up snake?!

 

[Evil Minion]

I was only hoping to enable temp displays and other displays that would come along with "track key" on the GTs. Many of the displays a 350 already has.

Maybe even a digital speedometer.

Yeah I've been wondering how much of this can be applied to a regular GT. I'm going to have to snag one of the OBD plugs and try it out in a few weeks...
Likely the double horn and lights are the same, but wondering if there's hidden gages as well.

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