- Thread starter
- #1
Howdy folks, thought I'd share my experiences here, in case other folks run into similar issues. I have a 2021 4D Badlands, its been good to me up until about 34,000 miles.
What I'm experiencing right now, is similar to something that has happened to me once before early into ownership. The "Check 4x4" light message came on around the 10,000 mile mark on the way home from wheeling in Joshua Tree. When it happened that very first time, I lost transfer case control, goat mode, anti-lock brakes, cruise control, and parking sensors. The issue resolved itself at the stoplight right in front of the dealer, and that issue never returned really.
Shortly after receiving my Turn Off-Road hard top a month ago, the following weekend (super bowl sunday to be specific), the vehicle refused to start in the grocery store parking lot. The dash showed the battery was at 12.6V (should be plenty), but the starter would not even fire, the dash panels would just reboot. Thankfully I had a Gooloo booster battery with me which pushed the voltage up past 13V and the vehicle started. This happened about five or six more times over the course of a week before I took it in for service at which point they tested the battery, and it passed so I was sent home without any corrective measures done. The failure to start returned again, and this time "Check 4x4" came on with it, and the transfer case controls were offline though GOAT mode selection still worked.
I dropped the vehicle back off at the dealer. They applied updates to the PCM to address a TSB that indicated that it resolved intermittent "Check 4X4" alarms. That issue came back again, prompting me to roll up my sleeves a little, and pickup a Mongoose adapter and rent access to FDRS for a weekend. The software indicated (as Flip suggested) that a software update was necessary to the ABS module, and applying said update did actually clear the issue and restore transfer case control, though FDRS still shows an update is available the module, so I'm not really sure if it's applying it or not, and I'm not too inclined to monkey around in there too much.
One odd bit of information here, is that hooking up to a trickle charger or booster battery does bring the transfer case back online immediately, so something really is odd in that regard. I already had an appointment for my last in-warranty oil change, and to have a few recalls addressed, so I dropped it back off and was given a loaner vehicle. At this point also, they were able to get the battery to actually fail a test, so it was replaced under warranty, and all my other work: oil change, camera recall, front camera replacement under warranty was completed. I thought I was in the clear, but on the way home that Check 4x4 light came on.
Some time later tonight, I'm going to hook up to FDRS again and see what modules are flagged as needing updates to hopefully influence what the dealer does next, I don't intend to apply any update myself until this thing is stable. My biggest concern here is that I'll be up on a trail, and lose transfer case control, stranding me in a mode that either doesn't let me off a trail or let me drive a highway home.
I'm at ~34,500 miles, so not much warranty left. I'll be bringing it back to them again on Monday, later in the morning.
In case FMC is watching, here is my VIN: 1FMEE5DP7MLA86516
My vehicle is being handled where I bought it, Aaron Ford of Escondido (formerly Gosch Ford)
What I'm experiencing right now, is similar to something that has happened to me once before early into ownership. The "Check 4x4" light message came on around the 10,000 mile mark on the way home from wheeling in Joshua Tree. When it happened that very first time, I lost transfer case control, goat mode, anti-lock brakes, cruise control, and parking sensors. The issue resolved itself at the stoplight right in front of the dealer, and that issue never returned really.
Shortly after receiving my Turn Off-Road hard top a month ago, the following weekend (super bowl sunday to be specific), the vehicle refused to start in the grocery store parking lot. The dash showed the battery was at 12.6V (should be plenty), but the starter would not even fire, the dash panels would just reboot. Thankfully I had a Gooloo booster battery with me which pushed the voltage up past 13V and the vehicle started. This happened about five or six more times over the course of a week before I took it in for service at which point they tested the battery, and it passed so I was sent home without any corrective measures done. The failure to start returned again, and this time "Check 4x4" came on with it, and the transfer case controls were offline though GOAT mode selection still worked.
I dropped the vehicle back off at the dealer. They applied updates to the PCM to address a TSB that indicated that it resolved intermittent "Check 4X4" alarms. That issue came back again, prompting me to roll up my sleeves a little, and pickup a Mongoose adapter and rent access to FDRS for a weekend. The software indicated (as Flip suggested) that a software update was necessary to the ABS module, and applying said update did actually clear the issue and restore transfer case control, though FDRS still shows an update is available the module, so I'm not really sure if it's applying it or not, and I'm not too inclined to monkey around in there too much.
One odd bit of information here, is that hooking up to a trickle charger or booster battery does bring the transfer case back online immediately, so something really is odd in that regard. I already had an appointment for my last in-warranty oil change, and to have a few recalls addressed, so I dropped it back off and was given a loaner vehicle. At this point also, they were able to get the battery to actually fail a test, so it was replaced under warranty, and all my other work: oil change, camera recall, front camera replacement under warranty was completed. I thought I was in the clear, but on the way home that Check 4x4 light came on.
Some time later tonight, I'm going to hook up to FDRS again and see what modules are flagged as needing updates to hopefully influence what the dealer does next, I don't intend to apply any update myself until this thing is stable. My biggest concern here is that I'll be up on a trail, and lose transfer case control, stranding me in a mode that either doesn't let me off a trail or let me drive a highway home.
I'm at ~34,500 miles, so not much warranty left. I'll be bringing it back to them again on Monday, later in the morning.
In case FMC is watching, here is my VIN: 1FMEE5DP7MLA86516
My vehicle is being handled where I bought it, Aaron Ford of Escondido (formerly Gosch Ford)
Sponsored
