Drive mode question

[jts047]

Could Ford potentially do an over-the-air software update to allow the driver to choose to have the drive mode stay the same as it was when the truck is turned off, the next time you turn it back on?
It’s mildly annoying to have to do the 4-5 button presses to get to ECO everytime and hit “ok”.
Seems like it could be an easy software fix.

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[Renho17]

It’s not easy but could be done. Why don’t you start driving in slippery. It’s better gas Mileage than eco and only 3 presses!

 

[jts047]

It’s not easy but could be done. Why don’t you start driving in slippery. It’s better gas Mileage than eco and only 3 presses!

that’s funny! Although to clarify, it’s not the number of presses being too taxing to apply it’s mainly 3 things:
- I’ll forget to do it and end up wasting fuel by driving in normal
- I have to do it as part of the start up sequence when I’m also trying to backup/pull out of somewhere and really need to be paying attention to surroundings not the screen (if I don’t do it then, I’ll likely forget altogether)
- also, have questions about the long term lifecycle of a small mechanical switch that I have to press multiple times every time I get into the truck. I tend to keep vehicles a long time and would rather not wear that thing out and have to be picking through a junkyard 15 years from now and disassembling a console in hopes of finding a functional one

 

[Mabcim]

Here is one solution.
https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/default-to-eco-mode-with-this-diy-module.17805/

I’m looking into creating another custom option.

 

[jts047]

Here is one solution.
https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/default-to-eco-mode-with-this-diy-module.17805/

I’m looking into creating another custom option.

As an electrical engineer, I appreciate the brute force method of getting it done with the tools you have. Nice work!
However FoMoCo should throw a couple of guys into modifying code for a day or two and just solve this the most elegant way possible…. Would it make them one more dollar? Maybe not, but it’s the right thing to do to build customer trust and loyalty.

 

[Mabcim]

As an electrical engineer, I appreciate the brute force method of getting it done with the tools you have. Nice work!
However FoMoCo should throw a couple of guys into modifying code for a day or two and just solve this the most elegant way possible…. Would it make them one more dollar? Maybe not, but it’s the right thing to do to build customer trust and loyalty.

That post, I linked, is from a different member.

I agree it would be easy. Most likely there is some kind of issue of the ‘wrong’ one I set as the default. But that would be easy as well.

It would also be nice to disable Auto Start Stop. I’m working on a solution to solve that, which can also be used to solve the default mode.

 

[BoboysTruck]

As an electrical engineer, I appreciate the brute force method of getting it done with the tools you have. Nice work!
However FoMoCo should throw a couple of guys into modifying code for a day or two and just solve this the most elegant way possible…. Would it make them one more dollar? Maybe not, but it’s the right thing to do to build customer trust and loyalty.

If they want to build trust and loyalty, they need to do something about the dealers who are screwing customers by adding ADM to retail orders.

 

[Renho17]

that’s funny! Although to clarify, it’s not the number of presses being too taxing to apply it’s mainly 3 things:
- I’ll forget to do it and end up wasting fuel by driving in normal
- I have to do it as part of the start up sequence when I’m also trying to backup/pull out of somewhere and really need to be paying attention to surroundings not the screen (if I don’t do it then, I’ll likely forget altogether)
- also, have questions about the long term lifecycle of a small mechanical switch that I have to press multiple times every time I get into the truck. I tend to keep vehicles a long time and would rather not wear that thing out and have to be picking through a junkyard 15 years from now and disassembling a console in hopes of finding a functional one

I think you’re looking too much into this. I also do it everytime, but also forget sometimes and the times you forget won’t change ur MPG in the long run. It’s okay to miss sometimes. And buttons have been a thing for years and looks to be easily replaced. I know we are all different but just drive and have fun, or not and worry. Lol

 

[RR - All the way]

It’s not easy but could be done. Why don’t you start driving in slippery. It’s better gas Mileage than eco and only 3 presses!

I believe I say this posted in reference to the hybrid engine. Does this apply to the EB as well?

 

[commadorebob]

That post, I linked, is from a different member.

I agree it would be easy. Most likely there is some kind of issue of the ‘wrong’ one I set as the default. But that would be easy as well.

It would also be nice to disable Auto Start Stop. I’m working on a solution to solve that, which can also be used to solve the default mode.

I had researched this before with my Escape. I read the drive mode thing has to do with how the computer is programmed to start up. It's all modular and so the "Normal" mode is the default because the drive mode is stored in volatile memory and the last state is lost when power to it is removed. It boots in Normal mode as default (hence the name) because that is how the chip itself is programmed. I'm not sure that is something that can be fixed OTA as that would require a firmware update or even pulling the FPGA out to reflash it. It is probably doable as they had to reflash the Escape's ABS chip as part of a recall. But I doubt Ford considers it a priority.

The Auto Start Stop thing will never happen. It is literally the only thing keeping the EPA off Ford's rear end. The fact we have the per-drive option to turn it off at all is a bone thrown our way.

 

[icegradner]

If they want to build trust and loyalty, they need to do something about the dealers who are screwing customers by adding ADM to retail orders.

If Ford owned the dealerships it wouldn't be an issue, but they don't, so realistically they cannot, short of removing allocations, or stripping them of their right to sell Ford vehicles. Legally those are Ford's only options. If they did that to every dealership that sold over MSRP, there wouldn't many left, you still wouldn't have a new vehicle, and Ford would loose sales. They have no interest in the latter, so they let it go. If people want to see changes in how dealerships are run, by all means go out and buy one and do things differently, or lobby regulartors to allow Ford to own it's own dealerships.

 

[Lindsey]

that’s funny! Although to clarify, it’s not the number of presses being too taxing to apply it’s mainly 3 things:
- I’ll forget to do it and end up wasting fuel by driving in normal
- I have to do it as part of the start up sequence when I’m also trying to backup/pull out of somewhere and really need to be paying attention to surroundings not the screen (if I don’t do it then, I’ll likely forget altogether)
- also, have questions about the long term lifecycle of a small mechanical switch that I have to press multiple times every time I get into the truck. I tend to keep vehicles a long time and would rather not wear that thing out and have to be picking through a junkyard 15 years from now and disassembling a console in hopes of finding a functional one

My thoughts exactly!

 

[SloopJB]

That post, I linked, is from a different member.

I agree it would be easy. Most likely there is some kind of issue of the ‘wrong’ one I set as the default. But that would be easy as well.

It would also be nice to disable Auto Start Stop. I’m working on a solution to solve that, which can also be used to solve the default mode.

Auto Start/Stop already available with FORScan. Many YouTube presentations of the procedure. My “Button” for Auto Start/Stop is functionless now and the feature is always deactivated. Therefore the motor on my 24 Ecoboost only starts and stops when I want it to.

 

[Mox4615]

It’s not easy but could be done. Why don’t you start driving in slippery. It’s better gas Mileage than eco and only 3 presses!

I posted this on another thread not that long ago but I thought I read in the manual that driving in slippery mode for just normal driving was hard on the drivetrain, you’ve had no issues at all using that for normal driving?

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