Spart
Well-Known Member
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First off, here's what we're working on: S550 As-Built Library
What is as-built?
As-Built refers to configurable elements of the modules in your S550. These are typically (but not always) limited to production features that found their way into a Ford in one of the many models and markets in which they're sold. Given that Ford has a tendency to go to the "parts bin" as often as possible, even modules which are unique to the Mustang usually share software with other models, and that software is configured using as-built data.
One example of this would be tire size. Your car knows which tires it came with, but there are many optional factory tire sizes and the car must be calibrated to each. Tire size is defined in the same line/location of as-built on the S550 as on the current generation F150, for example.
Ford currently provides entire as-built files containing all of the factory settings for a given vehicle if you provide the VIN.
You can learn a whole lot more about as-built by going here.
Why do we need this library?
A few reasons. When people are swapping in optional equipment that their car didn't come with from the factory, say Sync 3, a digital gauge cluster, or an automatic transmission - they need to play with the as-built to make things work properly. It's often most helpful to have the as-built file for a car configured as close to your car (but with your swaps) as possible.
Also, if you're trying to figure out how to unlock a feature, it's hugely helpful to have a variety of as-built files you can use to compare differently configured S550's and discern what a given line in the as-built is responsible for.
Lastly, we don't know how long Ford will maintain the availability of as-built files. These cars are relatively new, still under warranty. But ten years from now? Who can say. We might wake up tomorrow and discover that Ford has cut off public access to the as-built website. Having this data available could make a difference for someone trying to get their project car functioning properly as time goes on.
How can I contribute?
I'm glad you asked! What we need are as-built files and PDF window stickers for cars with a set of factory options that don't already exist in the library. If we already have a 2017 GT Premium 401A with Auto trans, Nav, and no other options, we don't really need another example. But if we're missing that same car with Adaptive Cruise, we need to add it to the library!
We need the window sticker so we can confirm that the corresponding as-built file is for a car with the options that whoever submitted it claimed it had. Mistakes do happen, and we could get trolled with bad info.
Unfortunately Ford has locked down their window sticker site to a certain extent, and it appears that only unsold (or recently sold) cars are available. This also means that we have a pretty limited window to get some 17 model year cars in the library before the window stickers aren't generally available to the public.
I have a process for finding VINs and window stickers. It may not be the best, but it does work. If you figure out a better way, let us all know.
Step one: Go to AutoTrader and do an advanced search. Set the distance from your ZIP to any distance, and make sure you check the "New" condition box. Then choose whatever options you're looking for and do a search.
Step two: On each listing, you should be able to see a VIN. The listings are a terrible source for info. The people who work at dealerships and are responsible for internet listings are overwhelmingly bad at their jobs. But don't despair! We can take that VIN and add it to the end of this URL: http://www.windowsticker.forddirect.com/windowsticker.pdf?vin= to get a window sticker, like this:
After you've pulled up the window sticker, save it to your machine. By default, it's saved as "windowsticker.pdf" and I always replace "windowsticker" with the VIN.
Step three: go to Ford's as-built website. The first time you visit this link, it asks you to select a country and language. Then, unhelpfully, it redirects you to the home page rather than the as-built page. So you'll need to close the tab/window and click on this link a second time: https://www.motorcraftservice.com/AsBuilt Once you have the page that's asking you for a VIN, paste it and click submit. After a while you'll get a page with as-built info on it and a button that says "Download File." The downloaded file will be named in the format "VIN.ab" - no need to change the filename.
Step four: Now it's time to add a record to the library. Go here and click the "Add Record" link near the top of the page. You'll need to input the VIN, choose the .ab and .pdf files you saved, and select all of the options that car has. That will be added to the public library and now other people will be able to access it.
It seems like we need a drop down selector or checkbox for XYZ
I've tried to limit the selections available to options which affect as-built. Paint options, appearance packages, and certain special editions like the California Special do not have any effect on as-built which I can discern. Wheel sizes do have an effect on as-built, but we've already mapped that part of the S550 genome.
Some options, like Shaker Pro and BLIS, are tied to higher-level packages, so it would be redundant to have them listed.
So if it's something that you genuinely think affects as-built, let me know and we can decide on whether or not it needs to be added.
What if your website goes offline, or you get weird and disappear?
I worry about this too (especially the getting weird part) and I can provide a CSV of the database as well as a zip file containing all of the .ab and .pdf files to anyone who wishes to keep a backup safe.
What is as-built?
As-Built refers to configurable elements of the modules in your S550. These are typically (but not always) limited to production features that found their way into a Ford in one of the many models and markets in which they're sold. Given that Ford has a tendency to go to the "parts bin" as often as possible, even modules which are unique to the Mustang usually share software with other models, and that software is configured using as-built data.
One example of this would be tire size. Your car knows which tires it came with, but there are many optional factory tire sizes and the car must be calibrated to each. Tire size is defined in the same line/location of as-built on the S550 as on the current generation F150, for example.
Ford currently provides entire as-built files containing all of the factory settings for a given vehicle if you provide the VIN.
You can learn a whole lot more about as-built by going here.
Why do we need this library?
A few reasons. When people are swapping in optional equipment that their car didn't come with from the factory, say Sync 3, a digital gauge cluster, or an automatic transmission - they need to play with the as-built to make things work properly. It's often most helpful to have the as-built file for a car configured as close to your car (but with your swaps) as possible.
Also, if you're trying to figure out how to unlock a feature, it's hugely helpful to have a variety of as-built files you can use to compare differently configured S550's and discern what a given line in the as-built is responsible for.
Lastly, we don't know how long Ford will maintain the availability of as-built files. These cars are relatively new, still under warranty. But ten years from now? Who can say. We might wake up tomorrow and discover that Ford has cut off public access to the as-built website. Having this data available could make a difference for someone trying to get their project car functioning properly as time goes on.
How can I contribute?
I'm glad you asked! What we need are as-built files and PDF window stickers for cars with a set of factory options that don't already exist in the library. If we already have a 2017 GT Premium 401A with Auto trans, Nav, and no other options, we don't really need another example. But if we're missing that same car with Adaptive Cruise, we need to add it to the library!
We need the window sticker so we can confirm that the corresponding as-built file is for a car with the options that whoever submitted it claimed it had. Mistakes do happen, and we could get trolled with bad info.
Unfortunately Ford has locked down their window sticker site to a certain extent, and it appears that only unsold (or recently sold) cars are available. This also means that we have a pretty limited window to get some 17 model year cars in the library before the window stickers aren't generally available to the public.
I have a process for finding VINs and window stickers. It may not be the best, but it does work. If you figure out a better way, let us all know.
Step one: Go to AutoTrader and do an advanced search. Set the distance from your ZIP to any distance, and make sure you check the "New" condition box. Then choose whatever options you're looking for and do a search.
Step two: On each listing, you should be able to see a VIN. The listings are a terrible source for info. The people who work at dealerships and are responsible for internet listings are overwhelmingly bad at their jobs. But don't despair! We can take that VIN and add it to the end of this URL: http://www.windowsticker.forddirect.com/windowsticker.pdf?vin= to get a window sticker, like this:
After you've pulled up the window sticker, save it to your machine. By default, it's saved as "windowsticker.pdf" and I always replace "windowsticker" with the VIN.
Step three: go to Ford's as-built website. The first time you visit this link, it asks you to select a country and language. Then, unhelpfully, it redirects you to the home page rather than the as-built page. So you'll need to close the tab/window and click on this link a second time: https://www.motorcraftservice.com/AsBuilt Once you have the page that's asking you for a VIN, paste it and click submit. After a while you'll get a page with as-built info on it and a button that says "Download File." The downloaded file will be named in the format "VIN.ab" - no need to change the filename.
Step four: Now it's time to add a record to the library. Go here and click the "Add Record" link near the top of the page. You'll need to input the VIN, choose the .ab and .pdf files you saved, and select all of the options that car has. That will be added to the public library and now other people will be able to access it.
It seems like we need a drop down selector or checkbox for XYZ
I've tried to limit the selections available to options which affect as-built. Paint options, appearance packages, and certain special editions like the California Special do not have any effect on as-built which I can discern. Wheel sizes do have an effect on as-built, but we've already mapped that part of the S550 genome.
Some options, like Shaker Pro and BLIS, are tied to higher-level packages, so it would be redundant to have them listed.
So if it's something that you genuinely think affects as-built, let me know and we can decide on whether or not it needs to be added.
What if your website goes offline, or you get weird and disappear?
I worry about this too (especially the getting weird part) and I can provide a CSV of the database as well as a zip file containing all of the .ab and .pdf files to anyone who wishes to keep a backup safe.
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