F150 Lightning FORScan thread - Version 2

[evowner]

At first I was excited about the thought of being able to alter the behind the scenes settings for my Lightning. After looking at the available 'documentation', and I am not trying to detract from any of the contributors, I just think it is too risky to even attempt it. I see some people on here that have really strange issues with their trucks, some with problems during and after software updates, is it related, I don't know. I think the only safe way to do it is have the documentation, or all of the source code, from the vendor. I knows that is a pipe dream. I will use forscan just to look at things.

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[digitaldad]

Agreed...I believe if you are "hesitant" from the get-go, that is enough for me to advise against doing your own changes.

However, @evowner if you at least go through the motions to dig around in the tool, that may be the motivation you need to then move forward.

If you readup and follow along on saving/backing up your as-builts to your local hard drive, that (at a minimum) gets the basic movements under your belt.

Look for a very minumum one/two line change in one module, attempt the write changes, you can then push your original as-built back if you either mess up or just want to see the reversal process in action.

 

[watts/up]

It looks like the FORScan license is now available for purchase again. They posted news of it last week but I just noticed it. Price is slightly higher.

 

[bmwhitetx]

At first I was excited about the thought of being able to alter the behind the scenes settings for my Lightning. After looking at the available 'documentation', and I am not trying to detract from any of the contributors, I just think it is too risky to even attempt it. I see some people on here that have really strange issues with their trucks, some with problems during and after software updates, is it related, I don't know. I think the only safe way to do it is have the documentation, or all of the source code, from the vendor. I knows that is a pipe dream. I will use forscan just to look at things.

I understand your points. There have been folks that fat-fingered the wrong setting and the mod worked differently or not at all (guilty). And some blindly see a post on Reddit or the ICE forum and change a value incorrectly for a Lightning.

FORScan has been around a long time. I remember enabling DRL on my 2010 F-150 (it was a fleet option). So settings like DRL, glare-free (Canada), seat belt strategy (Europe) are configured by Ford based on where or how the vehicle will be used. We are changing that.

Other settings like tire size, number of blinks, steering wheel temp are fairly straight-forward. I personally wouldn't change steering wheel temp.

The best FORScan mod to this day was on my son's Mach-E. During the 2021 chip shortage, Ford deleted the hands-free trunk/liftgate for 2022 and later Mach-E's (no delete credit). But they still put the module in the car until they ran out, and just disabled its setting. We enabled the two bits they disabled and he had hands-free liftgate!

 

[watts/up]

The best FORScan mod to this day was on my son's Mach-E. During the 2021 chip shortage, Ford eliminated the hands-free trunk for 2022 and later Mach-E's. But they still put the module in the car, and just disabled it's setting. We enabled the two bits they disabled and he had hands-free trunk!

I wish for a kick to open frunk every time I open it.

 

[B177y]

I wish for a kick to open frunk every time I open it.

+1 for a hands free frunk.

How about a kick to open hands free and damped tailgate?

A man can only dream....

 

[bmwhitetx]

I have updated post 2 to remove the vLinker FS USB as a recommended dongle based on forscan.org's findings. Issue with certain laptops that have USB3 ports and general non-support.
https://forscan.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=28290

I have and recommend the OBDLink EX. And if you have a Mongoose, you can use that.

Of course, use the vLinker if you have it and it works for you. This is more for folks just getting started and looking to buy.

6/1/25 UPDATE: this adapter is back on the recommended list after the manufacturer made some changes. See link posted above.

 

[evowner]

I appreciate the responses. I am not afraid to use the tool. I have written software for many kinds of advanced machinery, operation as well as user interfaces. I have used RS232, RS485, Ethernet, WiFi, with secs, mod-bus as well as other custom protocols. If there was a way for people to modify the settings on these machines, by changing a byte or two, without restrictions, a million dollar machine could quickly become severely damaged and useless.

My main concern is that since this vehicle is mostly drive by wire, a person could do something that could be detrimental to my safety. Changes are being made without really knowing what effect it may have on other logic or calculations in one or other modules. I know some of the changes seem to be working OK, but it seems to me, maybe I am wrong, that there are no restrictions as to what can be changed. Leaving it up to the individual to not do something wrong is troublesome.

 

[NeuroDawg]

This is why you need to reference the spreadsheet while making changes. Not all trucks have the same OEM configuration. What works for a '22 Platinum might not be the same as a '24 Flash.

Is there somewhere that explains exactly what all the abbreviations represent?

For example, I've been looking at the SCCM (2024) tab in the spreadsheet, and I wonder what "SFWM_Present " actually means. Some of the things I can figure out from context and googling, like "SCMFtWashType_Cfg" configures the front washer type (standard v. aquablade). But others I can't. So when I compare suggested changes/modifications with the spreadsheet it would be beneficial to understand all the abbreviations.

 

[NeuroDawg]

I personally wouldn't change steering wheel temp.

May I ask why? Of all the mods you mention, this is as straightforward as number of blinks. And since 37°C is body temp, and 39°C is only 4°F above body temp, the warmest your steering wheel will get is much lower than on a day in the sun in July.

 

[bmwhitetx]

Is there somewhere that explains exactly what all the abbreviations represent?

For example, I've been looking at the SCCM (2024) tab in the spreadsheet, and I wonder what "SFWM_Present " actually means. Some of the things I can figure out from context and googling, like "SCMFtWashType_Cfg" configures the front washer type (standard v. aquablade). But others I can't. So when I compare suggested changes/modifications with the spreadsheet it would be beneficial to understand all the abbreviations.

Are you trying to add rain-sensing wipers?
The key thing is if you don't know what a parameter does, leave it in the same state (enabled or not), when changing another parameter.

For the parameter you mention (724-02-01 xxxx x*xx --), I'm guessing you want to leave SFWM and SCMWC with the same values as before and pick the value that flips RSM from disabled to enabled.

The best source is the spreadsheet itself. Sometimes the abbreviation is spelled out in other places so I search. I couldn't find anything on your example.

 

[bmwhitetx]

May I ask why? Of all the mods you mention, this is as straightforward as number of blinks. And since 37°C is body temp, and 39°C is only 4°F above body temp, the warmest your steering wheel will get is much lower than on a day in the sun in July.

Nothing to do with burning yourself. But more about it is a resistant heater with limitations on the heating wire itself and the materials covering it. Just my engineer brain giving a nod to the Ford engineers for choosing that value. Kinda related to @evowner's post above.

Plus I find it warm enough!

 

[NeuroDawg]

Are you trying to add rain-sensing wipers?
The key thing is if you don't know what a parameter does, leave it in the same state (enabled or not), when changing another parameter.

For the parameter you mention (724-02-01 xxxx x*xx --), I'm guessing you want to leave SFWM and SCMWC with the same values as before and pick the value that flips RSM from disabled to enabled.

The best source is the spreadsheet itself. Sometimes the abbreviation is spelled out in other places so I search. I couldn't find anything on your example.

I am, but I was just using those as examples, because they were in the tab I was looking at and I couldn't figure out what the one meant. Not that I thought they had anything to do with rain sensing wipers.

edited to add: And if you know anything about the wiring up where the rain sensor goes, your comment would be much appreciated over there.

 

[evowner]

Thanks for clarifying.

 

[bmwhitetx]

All, I found an error for the Turn Signal Blinks. The original source of the mod didn't notice that it also has the Heated Steering Wheel Present parameter embedded. The code originally posted by him and copied by me assumed a Heated Steering Wheel. I have updated post 1 with new values - separating out HSW and no HSW. Here are the proper values:

SCCM 724-01-01 xxxx **xx xx--

Number of blinks	Heated Steering Wheel	No Heated Steering Wheel
3 (default)	8C	0C
4	90	10
5	94	14
6	98	18

If you have a HSW, nothing changed.
For the programmers, you will notice that the value is 0x80 less for no HSW.

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