[NickP]

I understand some cars will "permanently" log the number of times computer controlled rev limiter is hit. My questions are:

1) Do the STs have this functionality, assuming only stock program and components?, and

2) Assuming yes to 1 above, how does one retrieve this data? I presume the dealership might be the logical answer here, but what if I want to see how the service techs (or a valet, etc.) may have driven my car while in their possession?

I did a quick search first, and found lots of entertaining posts about how our cars sound hitting rev limiter, etc., but nothing directly on topic with my questions - unless I overlooked. Thanks!

 

[brian60]

I understand some cars will "permanently" log the number of times computer controlled rev limiter is hit. My questions are:

1) Do the STs have this functionality, assuming only stock program and components?, and

2) Assuming yes to 1 above, how does one retrieve this data? I presume the dealership might be the logical answer here, but what if I want to see how the service techs (or a valet, etc.) may have driven my car while in their possession?

I did a quick search first, and found lots of entertaining posts about how our cars sound hitting rev limiter, etc., but nothing directly on topic with my questions - unless I overlooked. Thanks!

While I can't help you in what exactly you are looking for, I'll give you a free 20min bump and say that if you tune your car you can put it in "valet mode" should you get it with your tune...then take out your Accessport when you take it places. That way valet/service techs can't rip your car. It'll be limited so they can't be shady a55holes

 

[FourD]

Someone on here had a dash cam hard wired. That puts anyone off


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[stylo]

This may help

http://www.focusst.org/forum/focus-...cam-caught-dealership-tech-ragging-my-st.html

 

[FourD]

This may help

http://www.focusst.org/forum/focus-...cam-caught-dealership-tech-ragging-my-st.html

Yep, that's the one


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[NickP]

Yep, that's the one


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Yes! That is the video that got me thinking about this in the first place. Unfortunately, my car is presently at the dealer, and has been for 3 weeks, due to the dreaded misfire problems. I don't have a dashcam - yet. If/when I get the car back, I wanted to verify whether they abused my car, like the service techs did in the dashcam video.

 

[brian60]

Yes! That is the video that got me thinking about this in the first place. Unfortunately, my car is presently at the dealer, and has been for 3 weeks, due to the dreaded misfire problems. I don't have a dashcam - yet. If/when I get the car back, I wanted to verify whether they abused my car, like the service techs did in the dashcam video.

Did you write down your miles? If not that should be your first step and you definitely should have.

 

[NickP]

Did you write down your miles? If not that should be your first step and you definitely should have.

Yes, of course. However, they have been putting miles on it, trying to sort out the misfire. They have informed me that they have been road testing it, so I expect to see miles on it for sure. I'm not terribly concerned about them driving it, I just worry about them beating the pi55 out of it, you know? Well, I wasn't worried so much, until I saw that dash cam footage... I am now!

 

[ddfred]

Funny story here about why I won't ever take a car I own to a dealership for anything. Previously owned a car that was "tuned"; took it in to the dealership for one of 3 free oil changes given at purchase. Put car in "valet" mode and removed tuning device from car. When picking up the car later the lube guy informed me that something was wrong with my car as it would not rev over 3000 rpm or go faster than 30 mph. I asked why he was trying to rev the car over 3000 rpm and drive over 30 mph since it was only in for an oil change which required no test drive. He just looked at me with a stunned blank expression and skulked off to his lube bay.

 

[NickP]

Funny story here about why I won't ever take a car I own to a dealership for anything. Previously owned a car that was "tuned"; took it in to the dealership for one of 3 free oil changes given at purchase. Put car in "valet" mode and removed tuning device from car. When picking up the car later the lube guy informed me that something was wrong with my car as it would not rev over 3000 rpm or go faster than 30 mph. I asked why he was trying to rev the car over 3000 rpm and drive over 30 mph since it was only in for an oil change which required no test drive. He just looked at me with a stunned blank expression and skulked off to his lube bay.

Another eyewitness account, which further strengthens my desire to objectively verify (or rule out) whether, and how many times, the car has bounced off the rev limiter. That is beyond annoying!

Ideally, the data is preserved to also show the mileage at which the event(s) occurred. I may have to hire a forensic "black box" expert. I figured that there must be a device out there that will reveal historical data like that, if it is preserved by the car. Maybe not.

 

[brian60]

Funny story here about why I won't ever take a car I own to a dealership for anything. Previously owned a car that was "tuned"; took it in to the dealership for one of 3 free oil changes given at purchase. Put car in "valet" mode and removed tuning device from car. When picking up the car later the lube guy informed me that something was wrong with my car as it would not rev over 3000 rpm or go faster than 30 mph. I asked why he was trying to rev the car over 3000 rpm and drive over 30 mph since it was only in for an oil change which required no test drive. He just looked at me with a stunned blank expression and skulked off to his lube bay.

Another eyewitness account, which further strengthens my desire to objectively verify (or rule out) whether, and how many times, the car has bounced off the rev limiter. That is beyond annoying!

Ideally, the data is preserved to also show the mileage at which the event(s) occurred. I may have to hire a forensic "black box" expert. I figured that there must be a device out there that will reveal historical data like that, if it is preserved by the car. Maybe not.

This is exactly why I tell people about the Valet mode you can get when you get your car tuned. Best mod for the money is a tune...AND if you get one you can have valet mode for things like this!

 

[NickP]

This is exactly why I tell people about the Valet mode you can get when you get your car tuned. Best mod for the money is a tune...AND if you get one you can have valet mode for things like this!

I completely agree. However, the programmer/tune presents a problem in itself. Some owners with aftermarket programmers are getting push-back from the dealers working to remedy the misfire (and others) problem. Meaning, the dealerships are declining warranty service in some cases, based on the programmer. I know in my case, dealing with this misfire debacle, they asked me on more than one occasion if I had installed a tune. In addition, there is a notation on one of the service records where the tech inspected and ruled out the presence of an aftermarket program on the ecu. I'm fairly certain that if they had found a tune had been installed, and especially if it was in "valet mode," they would have blamed the misfire on the programmer and told me to take a hike.

Moreover, on at least 2 occasions, the dealer has reflashed the ecu trying to fix the misfire, which would have taken it out of valet mode, assuming I had a programmer and had put it in valet mode to begin with.

 

[brian60]

I completely agree. However, the programmer/tune presents a problem in itself. Some owners with aftermarket programmers are getting push-back from the dealers working to remedy the misfire (and others) problem. Meaning, the dealerships are declining warranty service in some cases, based on the programmer. I know in my case, dealing with this misfire debacle, they asked me on more than one occasion if I had installed a tune. In addition, there is a notation on one of the service records where the tech inspected and ruled out the presence of an aftermarket program on the ecu. I'm fairly certain that if they had found a tune had been installed, and especially if it was in "valet mode," they would have blamed the misfire on the programmer and told me to take a hike.

Moreover, on at least 2 occasions, the dealer has reflashed the ecu trying to fix the misfire, which would have taken it out of valet mode, assuming I had a programmer and had put it in valet mode to begin with.

I guess in your particular instance having the issue you have valet mode would not be as useful...but in other circumstances I stand by it.

You should definitely look into the dashcam...I've been looking at those as well

 

[GronkDaSlayer]

You would need some ODBII tool to be able to extract the logs from the ECU.
It's easy enough when you have an aftermarket ECM like an AEM-4 (they come with a USB cable and software) but for a stock one, I'm guessing that Ford uses a special scanner.
I wonder if the Foccus software could be upgraded to retrieve those logs.

 

[FourD]

You would need some ODBII tool to be able to extract the logs from the ECU.
It's easy enough when you have an aftermarket ECM like an AEM-4 (they come with a USB cable and software) but for a stock one, I'm guessing that Ford uses a special scanner.
I wonder if the Foccus software could be upgraded to retrieve those logs.

What about ForScan?


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[GronkDaSlayer]

What about ForScan?


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I honestly don't know.
I do have the Ford calibration tool that came with the Power Upgrade Pack but I haven't played with it at all. It allows to upload a map (contained on a sdcard) and also change things like tire sizes and whatnot. It is possible that one could retrieve logs but I'm not too sure. I'll play with it this week-end and see what it can do.

Ford will buy it back for $75 but I ain't planing on giving it back to them :big smile:

 

[adaycj]

I understand some cars will "permanently" log the number of times computer controlled rev limiter is hit. My questions are:

1) Do the STs have this functionality, assuming only stock program and components?, and

2) Assuming yes to 1 above, how does one retrieve this data? I presume the dealership might be the logical answer here, but what if I want to see how the service techs (or a valet, etc.) may have driven my car while in their possession?

I did a quick search first, and found lots of entertaining posts about how our cars sound hitting rev limiter, etc., but nothing directly on topic with my questions - unless I overlooked. Thanks!

I've spent quite a bit of time with the dealer tools lately trying to fix a flash issue I was having. Using the IDS with a VCMII I rowed through every menu, list, and function I could find. I never saw anything related to rev limits. No PID, no special function, and no over rev counts. I'm not a factory trained tech, although I was working for awhile with a tech that flashes calibrations daily at a Ford tech center. Maybe there are things I didn't see.

I did finally see a list of recent flashes in the newest version of IDS. I was disappointed to see it was still Palm interface layout with check boxes on alternating sides of the screen and clunky user warnings.

I agree with the other posts. Use valet mode from a programmer if you really need to limit the abuse. Sadly, even with that tool there are lots of things other drivers can do to tear up your car even in valet mode. Until there is a door ding and back into things prevention flash I am still nervous anytime I hand over the keys. It honestly isn't that harmful to hit the limiter. Its also not that fun, since it actually makes a stock car slower.

 

[FourD]

It seems like the dashcam is about the best idea so far.


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