FORDTECH

that's right. Up until version B24 of the WDS software you were unable to monitor the APP(Accelerator Pedal Position) sensor.You were also unable to montior the ETB(electronic throttle body)control function.If you now have a look with your WDS(Latest level software is B27. you should be able to monitor them all. You will also notice that they are the normal reference voltage of 5v.

It's not actually a different tow bar.However you do require a special switch(to be fitted to the trailer harness socket) that disables the reverse sensing system when you have a trailer attached to the vehicle.Will chase up a part number for you.

I think that's exactly what hes saying. Exactly.

There are 3 potentiometers in the accelerator pedal sensor that are monitored by the PCM at all times while the engine is running as well as monitoring the ETB throttle plate position.The reason there are 3 when technically it only needs 1 is for this exact reason.Unfortunately I have to question the validity of the claim about the ETB going to full throttle by itself. I have watched an XR8 throttle that developed a mind of its own with a WDS attached and monitored the results. You can monitor 2 PID's(parameter identification data) on the ETB that show you in real time what the ETB should be doing and what it is actually doing.They are throttle position demand(ETB_DMD) and throttle position actual(ETB_ACT). With the engine running at idle both readings were approx 1.5 to 2 deg(Both readings should mirror each other). Then suddenly the ETB_ACT reading started to increase by itself(Hence the engine started to rev up).When it got past 7 deg(Failsafe default)it started shutting cylinders down.When it got to 10 deg it went back to 7 deg and the throttle light came on.The whole time it was doing this the ETB_DMD read 0. To sum this up and answer your question, Yes they can develope a mind of their own but there are failsafe strategies in place (and they do work) to prevent it from getting out of hand and you really have to question the source of the claim(Oh I dont know what happened officer.The car just stuck flat out and left that 150m tyre mark all by itself). And by the way,the fix for the above mentioned vehicle was a new throttle assy and the re routing of some missplaced wiring that provided the PCM with some nice back emf (electro magnetic force) and made it think it needed to accelerate when it shouldnt. Hope this makes sense.

There are 2 different levels of failure mode depending on the failure and the level of control the PCM has over the throttle body(ETB) 1/ Default position:- this occurs when no reliable information about drivers request is recieved such as a disconnected APPS(accelerator pedal position sensor/switch) or loss of internal PCM control. In this case the PCM de-energises the ETB and allows the spring-loaded throttle plate to default to a slightly open position (7 deg plate angle) allowing limited operation. The PCM may also selectively cut fuel and/or spark to maintain control of rpm and maximum power. 2/ Total Shutdown:- should the PCM be not able to control the system correctly as in one of the above modes or have an internal fault then the engine will shut down rapidly, this may best be described as just like running out of fuel.

Yes I am a Tech. The only way you can tell if you have a genuine alarm is to look in the far corner of the engine bay, near the panel that covers the part where the wipers are housed.You should see an oval shaped plate with 2 bolts through it.This is your alarm siren.The other way is to remove your tissue compartment and using a mirror check the colour of your Body Electronics Module(Should be black if genuine alarm is fitted.If its light blue then its not a genuine alarm)

Because the reverse sensing system is integrated into the audio system for "FAIRMONT GHIA", the vehicle occupant can control the volume up,down or off. ALL vehicles up to FAIRMONT(Irrespective of whether they are fitted with Premium Audio(Colour ICC) or not)utilizes a seperate speaker as part of the electronic control unit which is mounted to the rear parcell shelf and the volume is non adjustable. The dealer fitted genuine sensing system cannot be integrated to the audio system.

Badabing, The genuine dealer fit kits have the same sensors as the factory fit sensors.The fact that you found some sort of diode in your door pocket all sounds a bit dodgy to me.

The dealer fit genuine reverse sensing system has a small speaker in the control unit which should be mounted to the rear parcel shelf of the car.If it's factory fitted the reverse sensing audible warning comes through the rear speakers.If your vehicle is a N/A XR6 with a limited slip diff, you cannot have traction control with this combination(Only XR6T & XR8).

They cost around $19k to buy.I dont think you can lease them.Not 100%sure though

To be honest,I dont think the speedo calibration method works on BA's. I've only ever done it using a WDS.

Take it and ask your dealer to disable it using WDS. Takes about 2 min's

Just a couple of interesting points regarding how serious Ford are in relation to security and technical advancement. The WDS test equipment(Or a derivative of) will soon be capable of what is known as "Bluetooth" capabilities.This means when you go to your dealer with a concern,all they have to do,rather than drive your car into the workshop, is plug a transmitter into the diagnostic connector of the vehicle and they can read the vehicles "brain" from their test bay or office or wherever the diagnostic machine is kept. As far as security goes,already on the European manufactured Fords,to do any kind of function that relates to either security settings(Anti theft systems)or PCM reflashing, the dignostic equipment must be docked in it's "Base station" before or during these procedures.This function is soon to be introduced on OZ built vehicles. Technology that Ford is also toying with is known as "Telematics".This technology would enable the manufacturer to have 2 way comunication with any vehicle via sattelite's.Not only could they trouble shoot your vehicle from afar(read PCM information),but they could also reprogram or update the PCM remotely.Still a bit too costly,but maybe in the not too distant future. Regarding your quest to crack the PCM coding,if you have access to a WDS and the software it shouldnt be to hard for someone that knows what they're doing.When you plug WDS into a vehicle and identify it, it carries out what is called an electronic handshake. This is where it compares the data stored in the PCM with the data stored in the WDS(Which is updated every month).During this handshake,all the data you need to read flows freely between the vehicle and the WDS. So all you need is the equipment and someone with the knowhow.

Turbo6man, When police mode has been enabled you lose both trip a and trip b from the display in the speedo.You also loose the average ltr/km,trip time and instant ltr/km from the display in the tacho.However, the DTE and 1 trip meter now appear in the tacho display. The display in the speedo now displays the total km's when the ignition is off and with the ignition on but engine not running. When you start the vehicle the speedo readout will display P and your digital speed. Now the odometer reset button is used to scroll between DTE and Trip meter.The trip button on the side of the cluster,when pressed while drivig, freeze's the speed reading in the digital display.Hold the trip button for more than 3 seconds to return to digital operation again.(Unfreeze the display) Hope this isnt too confusing.Its a lot easier to show people than to put it into text. Also to my knowledge you cant calibrate the BA cluster the same way you can with the AU2 & AU3. You actually do it with the WDS(They call it speedo offset). But I could be wrong.Will try it and let you know.

Found this post on FordForum.com. Just a note on the "Legal" ramifications of enabling the digital speedo readout on the odometer that seems to be a hot topic with dealerships that are unwilling to do so and give the customers some cock and bull story as to why they supposedly cant or wont. The digital speedo enabling,known as "Police Mode",is available on the entire BA range of vehicles. It is one of the many features that, if the owner of a BA would like enabled, IS entitled too. It is only called Police Mode because it is one of the features that the police wanted to be incorporated in the manufacturing of the vehicle that could be reconfigured for the vehicle to be used as a police vehicle rather than the additional cost of fitting recalibrated instruments(smaller increments on speedo,etc).All the dealer has to say is that even with the digital speedo enabled you must realize that you dont automatically have a dead acurate speedo. When this feature is enabled on police vehicles, they are then checked, recalibrated(error offset adjusted using WDS) and certified to be acurate. If you have ever seen inside a police vehicle with this feature you would see a little decal affixed to the windscreen saying speedo certified. They are also fitted with a larger decal stating "USE DIGITAL SPEEDO FOR SPEED RELATED OFFENCES". In a nut shell, if you have this feature enabled, you ARE allowed to have it,just remember that unless you have had it checked and the error offset reconfigured then it will still read about 2-4%more than it should.(3% being the industry standard)

ITINT, The symptoms you describe are consistant with the "C" connector on the cars original PCM being unplugged(Have seen this on quite a few XR6T's). Just wondering where the UNICHIP actually plugs in to the electrics?From what I've read of the Unichip it actually fools the original PCM in to thinking everything is fine and therefore doesnt log any DTC's. Still trying to get my WDS onto one fitted with a Unichip to suss it out for myself.

If it has anything to do with the engine management system it would have logged a DTC.Sounds like it may have a VCT Phaser issue.If you drop in to your dealer and they have any decent technicians who know how to use a WDS they should be able to pick up any problems with very little down time on your behalf.Better to be safe than sorry.

The three workshop manuals are worth around the $300 to $400 dollar mark. They are also available at the fordworkshop.net website in PDF format.All you need to access them is a registered Ford tech with a valid STARS Id.

FPV no longer use Mobil 1. The factory fill is now Castrol Formula R Synthetic. Still the same viscosity though(0w/40)

CJF077, Which one voids warranty??The Turbo timer or the BOV?Also if you have verified this could you please explain why they do?Just curious. Cheers

Keithg, in reference to turbo timers, read my post in the topic- BOV:do they void my warranty.

The SIDO is issued after your dealer lets the factory know what options you want.So unless the other similar spec vehicle's SIDO is almost the same as yours,It looks like another case of Dealer Salesman BS.

Turbo6man, I wasnt aware of this.Thanx for the heads up.Makes sense though.When you read the training material it doesnt actually state this.It states as follows: The PCM is no longer part of the EEC series(Bosch);it is still supplied by Visteon and uses an all-new Motorola CPU. To distinguish between the earlier and this PCM engineers referred to this latest PCM as "Black Oak", a name given to the micro-controller.The correct name to identify this new PCM should be Visteon. So it sounds pretty much like it's Bosch after all. Cheers

sixfan, This is a known problem to Ford and there is a repair procedure for it.Make sure your dealer is aware of this when you drop your car off to them. Cheers

Turbo6man,Just a couple of interesting points. Bosch dont make the PCM for the BA's.They are manufactured by Visteon.The BEM is manufactured by Bosch. The newer level PCM's have to be reflashed still by dealers fitting cruise controls. Ford US are the ones that screw up the WDS software and Ford OZ have to fix it so that it is compatable with Aust built vehicles.