Shifter System Fault -- Truck Undriveable

[surferjoe]

Well, I know there has been some previous discussion about whether the big mechanical/folding shifter is cool or clunky; and today I can report that it is definitely clunky.
My truck is now showing a "Shifter System Fault" error and the truck cannot be placed in gear . . . and so cannot be driven.

On top of the obvious inconvenience of needing (1) a tow and (2) warranty service/ a loaner, I have the issue of my local dealership previously refusing to service my truck.

(a) Will Ford pay for towing to a more distant dealership (such as the one who sold me the truck)?
(b) What kind of towing is suitable for a truck whose transmission is frozen?
(c) Would a service technician come to the truck to attempt repairs?

I am hoping the Ford Team who has been responding to the "Clicking Sound When Starting to Move" thread might be willing to assist me as well.

Fingers crossed.

Minor Update: Bummer -- there are a lot similar Gear Shift Module problems reported on the Mach-E forums . . . But if a new GSM is available, can be a relatively quick repair. And Ford has frequently offered to assist. . . .

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[Gimme_my_MME]

Do not wait for the Ford account to maybe reply and ask for your VIN. Call the customer relations team (1-800-392-3673) and ask for the BEV team

 

[Henry Ford]

This guy shows all the ways to shift into neutral. I'm not sure if they'll help with driving but they should at least help towing.

My wife's Odyssey has a push button shifter. If the battery dies or the car won't start for some other reason the only way to put it into neutral is to do it manually on top of the transmission. If, for instance, you were sitting at the front of the line to pick up your kids at school with the car off and the heated seats running and the battery died with no warning, you'd be stuck blocking all the other parents until one of the teacher's husbands gave you a jump start, unless you carried around a socket set. That would certainly be an embarrassing situation.

 

[surferjoe]

We delayed the tow to this morning, but driver did not call ahead to assess the situation and showed up with a regular tow truck. My truck will not go into neutral. Even the Emergency Tow setting is greyed-out on the screen. Shifter is completely dead, won't even fold down (Give me a row of buttons, please!).

So, Ford is ordering a different flat-bed to come out . . .

Sure would be great if they could just send out a technician with a new GSM, and pop it in. . . .

 

[surferjoe]

Do not wait for the Ford account to maybe reply and ask for your VIN. Call the customer relations team (1-800-392-3673) and ask for the BEV team

You are correct on two counts:
(1) Responses from Ford here are from the Social Media Team. Basically sent back form response asking me for same information I submitted in DM. Not very helpful.
(2) When calling CS for BEV service situations, you need to request a BEV Service Specialist. I've been transferred twice now, from regular CS to BEV Mktg to BEV Service. . . .
So, yeah, it's important to know where you need to go. . .

 

[surferjoe]

Apparently it's the gear shift module (GSM). Part is available and should be at dealership by early next week. Got a loaner (much appreciated). The GSM issue appears much less-frequently (so far) on the Lightning forum than it has on the MME forums. Hopefully, that's good news generally; and hopefully I'll have an "issue resolved" update next week.

 

[MRButtler]

This person had the same issue and it turned out to be a faulty 12v battery.

https://www.f150lightningforum.com/...-in-park-shift-system-fault.12526/post-266310

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