2024 Maverick Lariat Hybrid - Essentially bricked

[dk253]

Greetings,

Took delivery on Dec 12. I drove it 500 miles. Worked great. Took it to an RV tow-gear specialist to get a Roadmaster baseplate and the electrical installed so we could tow it behind our motorhome. We also installed a Demco Air Force One brake system.

The next morning the battery had drained and, after charging, we got all kinds of ABS warnings on the screen along with "Antilock brake fault", "Pre-collision Assist Not Available", and "Hill Start Assist Warning" messages on the FordPass app. Additionally, the brake pedal was as hard as a rock.

The RV guys got it over to the Ford dealership. The Ford dealership had the RV guys remove all the wiring. It's been over a week and the dealership has no idea how to fix it. I do know they tried resetting the BMS. But they also informed me that, even with the wiring removed, the battery is draining overnight.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

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[JetFixxxer]

Do they know how much amps are being drawn while the Maverick is just sitting there?

 

[dk253]

I do not. The maverick has not been in my hands since the start of the debacle. I will ask when the dealer calls back, though.

 

[OleFordGuy]

OUCH. Hope they get it resolved for you soon. Also hope it doesn't turn into a finger pointing pissing match between Ford and the RV specialist shop.

 

[icegradner]

Yikes, this kind of stuff is why I've hold off on getting any aftermarket stuff the requires additional wiring.

 

[OleFordGuy]

Keep us posted on the details of the progress/resolution if you don't mind. Never know if the info might could help someone else in the future with a similar situation.

 

[BradnChristine]

I wonder if when the installer destroyed the lower active shutter system to install that Roadmaster Baseplate, they nicked some wiring? The Demco baseplate is so much simpler with no destruction..
But I think it would likely turn out to be a fault in the braking system install. There have been some bad stories about the various braking systems. My old BrakeBuddy Classic system may seem awkward, but it works simply.

Please keep us posted as to what they find.

 

[dk253]

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.

 

[BradnChristine]

There is nothing odd about the Roadmaster instructions. I essentially wired mine the same, but with an $18.50 set of 4 diodes, and it works fine. The instructions to jump the two taillight wires is odd, and it is much easier to use 4 separate diodes (LT Turn, RT Turn,and each running light separately), But that should not have caused any issue. That is what diodes are for, to isolate the voltages applied to the lights.

I would more suspect a mis-wiring inside the 6pin connector by your installer. I've done 9 of these over the years and never had such an issue occur. Someone should carefully examine that 6 pin. There are many of us already with successful installs on our Mavericks. The Roadmaster kit is just an expensive collection of the needed items, but there isn'tanything wrong with it when properly installed.

 

[BradnChristine]

I should further note that the two diodes being jumped in the Roadmaster instructions are for the 2 tail lights, NOT the brake lights, and NOT the turn signals. All that jump does is avoid having to run 4 wires (green, Yellow, and 2 browns) from the front and use 3 wires instead. I've done that before as well, as only one signal triggers both the tail lights, and running pin 4 (taillights) as shown in the instructions works just fine. Some trailer wiring kits have the extra brown wire, and some don't.

Somebody wired it wrong, and it isn't Roadmaster's instructions. Maybe someone wired the 6 pin backwards as those "Front of socket" and "Front of plug" views can be confusing if someone isn't being very careful.

 

[OleFordGuy]

I pretty much figured this would end up as a fault on the RV specialist. Sincerely hope it all gets worked out to your satisfaction very soon and your on the road in your RV with the Maverick in tow behind it.

 

[Red Ryder]

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.

That's the frustrating part, there many stories of this being a "new vehicle" and parts are always on backorder, sometimes for an extended period. Yet, Hermosillo is reportedly running multiple shifts and setting production records.

The Maverick has been available for over two years and Ford should have sufficient supplies of spare parts to support a vehicle in which they've sold almost 200,000 units.

Best wishes for a speedy resolution.

 

[Dunrollin]

Still waiting on my Maverick to be built but I acquired an Escape that I tow behind the motorhome. Of course it is a similar chassis. I put the baseplates on myself and added an air line for the brake system, but when it came to cutting into the wiring I decided instead to use wireless magnetic lights on the Escape. If when you get your truck back, if they leave the wiring off, check out the wireless lights. I really like mine.

Hope they get you rolling again soon!

 

[BradnChristine]

Still waiting on my Maverick to be built but I acquired an Escape that I tow behind the motorhome. Of course it is a similar chassis. I put the baseplates on myself and added an air line for the brake system, but when it came to cutting into the wiring I decided instead to use wireless magnetic lights on the Escape. If when you get your truck back, if they leave the wiring off, check out the wireless lights. I really like mine.

Hope they get you rolling again soon!

It has to be the install, not the diodes. I used mag lites on my first towed, a 1998 CR-V, then extra bulbs inside my 2003 S-10, but from then on, used diodes. They are a safe method whenwired correctly.
Driver's side tail light: Solid purple Maverick wire is tail light (brown trailer wire); White with green stripe is Turn signal/Brake (Yellow wire).
Passenger side: White with Orange stripe is tail light; Violet with purple stripe is Turn signal/brake (green wire).
The diodes I bought are even sold as color-coded. Much less than the Roadmasters where you have to attach spade connectors. https://www.ebay.com/itm/385511304724

 

[OneAlienBoi]

Yikes, this kind of stuff is why I've hold off on getting any aftermarket stuff the requires additional wiring.

Yeah, not only could modifying a car cause issues, it can also void a warranty in many cases.

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