2024 Maverick Lariat Hybrid - Essentially bricked

[Dad]

Sorry to hear of this problem. While I cannot offer much advice on how to fix it, I can tell you to pay close attention to whatever advice BradnChristine is offering. He laboriously researched which baseplate worked best with the Maverick and pioneered the baseplate install to the point that Demco adopted much of his findings.

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[Flomounier1]

Take it to a different dealership, act like you never installed any wiring or modified it. Don't pay $1500.

 

[Timothyd]

UPDATE 1: I just got off the phone with the Ford dealership. They said that when the RV guys installed the diode kit for the tow package (Roadmaster Diode 7-Wire to 6-Wire Flexo-Coil Wiring Kit - RM-15267), it somehow shorted the Body Control Module (BCM). To install the diode, you have to cut some wires. The installation instructions say, "Jump the diodes attached to the taillights, as shown in the schematic." With the BCM shorted, the Maverick believed the brakes were constantly being depressed and, therefore, drained the battery.

Ford says the problem is not under warranty and will cost $1,500.

Now we have the problem of getting the part. The car is so new they can't seem to order the part. We are SOL until the part comes in.

I have called Roadmaster to see if they have updated installation instructions.

I will call the RV dudes to see what they want to do.

I will keep you posted.

D

PS I have attached the diode installation instructions just because.

Thanks for the update! I guess nothing is done casually anymore with all the complicated and intertwined electronics.
Moral of the story is to think twice and make sure anyone doing the work is skilled and careful.

 

[BradnChristine]

...
Moral of the story is to think twice and make sure anyone doing the work is skilled and careful.

That has rapidly become the norm, particularly after Covid.
At 75, I no longer trust anyone to do work I could remotely do myself,nomatter what the cost. Just too many workers don't exercise care.
Luckily, Youtube has made learning how to do many things pretty easy. Wish I could figure out how to practice medicine on myself!

 

[BradnChristine]

Sorry to hear of this problem. While I cannot offer much advice on how to fix it, I can tell you to pay close attention to whatever advice BradnChristine is offering. He laboriously researched which baseplate worked best with the Maverick and pioneered the baseplate install to the point that Demco adopted much of his findings.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I also know what I don't know, and try to add supporting links when I can find them for something arguable.

 

[SloopJB]

It may be too late, but I use a tow dolly with surge brakes. Works great

 

[Timothyd]

That has rapidly become the norm, particularly after Covid.
At 75, I no longer trust anyone to do work I could remotely do myself,nomatter what the cost. Just too many workers don't exercise care.
Luckily, Youtube has made learning how to do many things pretty easy. Wish I could figure out how to practice medicine on myself!

Gotcha! I find that by the time I get to my pill pusher (physician) I've fixed or, at least, found the problem myself. YouTube has been a great help, only problem is, sometimes I fall down the Youtube rabbit hole and spend a lot of time glued to videos or listening to great old music.

 

[BradnChristine]

It may be too late, but I use a tow dolly with surge brakes. Works great

Mavericks (Hybrid) tow easily, and the Demco baseplate works well. No dolly to store or mess with.

You just have to navigate the hype from the tow folks. We've had 2 Blue Ox baseplate failures already noted within this group, and when you see the Roadmaster instructions that tell you to destroy your lower active shutter system by cutting the plastic, you should recognize that is a danger to your warranty. Installers will not warn you in either case.

DEMCO is not going to bend like Blue Ox, and the 4 vanes that you likely need to remove are not broken and you can put them back easily. Once you go Roadmaster, that shutter systme would likely involve pulling the engine if you wanted to reinstall a shroud assembly.

 

[BradnChristine]

Gotcha! I find that by the time I get to my pill pusher (physician) I've fixed or, at least, found the problem myself. YouTube has been a great help, only problem is, sometimes I fall down the Youtube rabbit hole and spend a lot of time glued to videos or listening to great old music.

I'm considering having my computer sewn to my lap...as it seems to always be there anyway.

 

[Timothyd]

I'm considering having my computer sewn to my lap...as it seems to always be there anyway.

Same. Only my cat is a bit irritated at the competition for valuable real estate.

 

[Automate]

Take it to a different dealership, act like you never installed any wiring or modified it. Don't pay $1500.

1st dealer has probably already filed a service report indicating a 3rd party has modified the wiring.

I do question if the BCM module really needs replacing. Even if a wire is shorted out, the factory circuit beakers and fuses should protect the BCM module. Dealer could just be using it as an excuse for an upcharge on the work.

Many shops can't do proper electrical troubleshooting and just try swapping parts until they can get it to work. Make money on the extra parts, even if they were not really needed.

 

[a***h]

There has to be great caution taken when adding any wiring to the newer vehicles where they use data for control & diagnostics through out the wiring of the vehicle. The Maverick is no different than any other newer vehicle. I have added the necessary wiring for flat towing on several newer Rangers, F-150s and now my Maverick. Have I had any problems with these additions? Absolutely. There are dos, and there are not to dos. Once I learned the proper way to deal with them, they are all quite easy. When I read the ops thread, I knew what had happened up front.

 

[BradnChristine]

There has to be great caution taken when adding any wiring to the newer vehicles where they use data for control & diagnostics through out the wiring of the vehicle. The Maverick is no different than any other newer vehicle. I have added the necessary wiring for flat towing on several newer Rangers, F-150s and now my Maverick. Have I had any problems with these additions? Absolutely. There are dos, and there are not to dos. Once I learned the proper way to deal with them, they are all quite easy. When I read the ops tread, I knew what had happened up front.

One issue I learned was all the codes. I tested my light wiring with the fascia still off and the front electrical connector unplugged. The PAD was also disconnected as part of the baseplate install. That set a few unexpected codes that I had to clear once back together. Lesson learned.

 

[a***h]

1st dealer has probably already filed a service report indicating a 3rd party has modified the wiring.

I do question if the BCM module really needs replacing. Even if a wire is shorted out, the factory circuit beakers and fuses should protect the BCM module. Dealer could just be using it as an excuse for an upcharge on the work.

I also question the BCM being damaged, and agree with either what you say or that they don't know enough about trouble shooting the problem to come to the correct answer. I haven't seen very many mechanics that know very much about electronics?

 

[Red Ryder]

Take it to a different dealership, act like you never installed any wiring or modified it. Don't pay $1500.

Yes, once you're in the "system", it's all over. My wiring harness issue was never resolved due to the original servicing dealership finding my Kicker Hideaway HS-10 behind the seat. It got blamed for all of my no-power/no-start issues, even though it had been in place for a year (and >20,000 miles) with no issue. I even removed it, yet multiple dealerships still blamed the "speaker behind the seat" as it was documented in Ford's service system.
Like a blemished academic or financial record, any documented issue seems to follow the vehicle for it's life.
Never could get that one resolved...

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