Drive mode not available

[PatagonianMara]

There are some drive mode options for our Lightnings: Normal, Off-Road, Sport, Tow/Haul. None of them are available to my truck now.
I used to like to put it into Tow/Haul even when I wasn't towing anything. It was smoother and gave me more control.
Suddenly one time I turned the truck on and I wasn't able to select it. I got the message "drive mode not available". I thought it was some kind of glitch, but I haven't been able to get it back in a couple weeks. I played around a bit and found no drive modes are available.
What is going on?

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[Entropy]

I have not experienced that but a quick search (use the Google search option) shows it has happened:
https://www.f150lightningforum.com/forum/threads/no-drive-mode.17335/
https://www.f150lightningforum.com/forum/threads/missing-driving-mode-and-sat-not-working.17658/

From these two threads that ended without explanation, I would guess that this is an isolated issue but a more in depth review of search results followed by a dealer visit may be next.

 

[bmwhitetx]

Have you done any FORScan changes? There is one that does this.

 

[PatagonianMara]

Have you done any FORScan changes? There is one that does this.

I didn't know what FORScan was. So I looked it up: " Ford FORScan is a diagnostic and configuration software for Windows PCs that allows users to access various modules in Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles to read and clear fault codes, monitor real-time data, and make custom changes to settings and features. It requires a compatible OBD2 adapter (dongle), a Windows computer, and a special license key to unlock its full capabilities, which include enabling features like extra driving modes, adjusting tire sizes, or disabling the seatbelt minder chime. "
The only thing I updated was my FordPass phone app (because it made me). I guess the car is doing its own overnight software updates from time to time.

 

[bmwhitetx]

Hmm, then look at the other threads on this. Besides the two mentioned above, there are many others. You can search, or if you scroll down on this page there is a section called Similar Threads

 

[Dan C]

Mine did that a couple of times when it was new, but not for a long time. I did nothing about it, just hoped it would pass.

 

[Adventureboy]

First, try restarting your sync. Sometimes updates to Sync cause some inconsistencies in the settings compared to the actual settings in the modules. Restarting Sync pulls the correct parameters from the modules. With the truck ON, press and hold both the volume down and the skip right for about 10 seconds and you'll see the screen restart. Check after it reboots (it can take a minute or so) and see if the problem goes away.

 

[The Weatherman]

If you’re still having this issue and it’s been awhile with no correction, it may be time to do a hard reset. Insure no updates are loading and if not remove the ground wire in your LVB and let it sit for 20-30mins. This make sure all modules have fully discharged. Then reattach the ground and after you have restarted the truck, give it another go.

If this fails, make a bee line to the dealer for professional assistance.

 

[PatagonianMara]

If you’re still having this issue and it’s been awhile with no correction, it may be time to do a hard reset. Insure no updates are loading and if not remove the ground wire in your LVB and let it sit for 20-30mins. This make sure all modules have fully discharged. Then reattach the ground and after you have restarted the truck, give it another go.

If this fails, make a bee line to the dealer for professional assistance.

I assume LVB means "low voltage battery". I'll try to reSync it first and then if that doesn't work, go to the LVB disconnect method. I'll wait till I get home to try though .

 

[PatagonianMara]

I did the soft reboot and that didn't work. Will try the LVB disconnect hard reboot if I can get home before dark tonight. Thanks for everyone's help.

 

[PatagonianMara]

I did the hard reboot (12V battery disconnect). At first it seemed to work when I turned the car back on. However, the next morning it didn't work.
By the way, can it be harmful to disconnect the battery without removing the current sensor?

 

[The Weatherman]

No. It can be harmful if you remove it while an update is loading. That’s a serious No No.

Looks like you are heading to the service department.

 

[PatagonianMara]

Let's say an update is not going on. (I have updates scheduled for about 1 AM. )
If you just want to disconnect the battery, do you have to first pull the current sensor from the negative battery cable first before you remove the the negative battery cable from the negative battery terminal?

 

[Adventureboy]

Let's say an update is not going on. (I have updates scheduled for about 1 AM. )
If you just want to disconnect the battery, do you have to first pull the current sensor from the negative battery cable first before you remove the the negative battery cable from the negative battery terminal?

You can remove the current sensor from the battery terminal with the wires attached to the sensor and leave it disconnected for a few minutes. That will reset your 12v.
If you have done this and still don't have your drive modes, it may be that one of the other modules did not update properly and may need to be reset by the dealer.
If you drive daily and updates are set to daily, it is probably time to book an appointment.

 

[PatagonianMara]

super user "Mike G" ran my VIN to get a list of the DTCs the truck is showing and what PTS says the problem might be. He said:

" Seems to indicate that the screen or the connection between the screen and the APIM behind it are causing this. Like a poor connection. The DTCs with stars next to them means they are still faults. The DTCs that are not bolded are 'historic' and not currently a fault. When they are bold, that means that's the drive event period they initially showed up originally. Anything that starts with a "U" is a network connection error. .... I think the tech is going to run the guided routine and either discover a loose connection that can be fixed...or will have to order either an APIM or the screen itself. But that's speculation without actually seeing the issue firsthand. "

So, it's a trip to the dealer... I still need to do that upper ball joint and hand shift lever recalls.

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