Recommendations for 2.3L Service Mode Scan Tool? For service mode / brake job

[Junior127]

It is my understanding that the only way a Bronco with a 2.3L engine can be put into service mode to perform a rear brake job is with a scanner.

I have been trying to find a low cost scanner to do this but have not had any luck.

Has anyone found a scan tool that is inexpensive to put the Bronco into service mode?

thank you in advance.

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[Ducati1098]

It is my understanding that the only way a Bronco with a 2.3L engine can be put into service mode to perform a rear brake job is with a scanner.

I have been trying to find a low cost scanner to do this but have not had any luck.

Has anyone found a scan tool that is inexpensive to put the Bronco into service mode?

thank you in advance.

Unlikely you’re going to find a low cost tool that’s able to do this. Unless forscan can, but I’m not sure if it can or not.

 

[RagnarKon]

Can be done without scan tool.

Activate Service Mode

1. Turn vehicle on (not running)
2. Release the parking brake
3. Press and hold the accelerator pedal, and parking brake release switch.
4. While holding the accelerator and parking brake release, turn off and on the vehicle within 5 seconds
5. While continuing to hold the accelerator and parking brake release, turn off the vehicle

You should get a message that on the screen regarding maintenance mode.

Deactivate Service Mode

1. Turn the vehicle on (not running)
2. Press and hold the accelerator pedal and the parking brake set switch
3. While holding the accelerator pedal and parking brake set switch, smash down the brake pedal for a few seconds.
4. Release brake pedal while continuing to hold the accelerator pedal and parking brake set switch.
5. Turn the vehicle off and back on within 5 seconds. Then release the accelerator pedal and parking brake switch.

The brake lights on the dash should turn off and the maintenance mode info box should disappear.

And.... now stand on one foot, touch your nose, and spin in a circle? Anyway, hope that helps.

 

[Ducati1098]

Can be done without scan tool.

Activate Service Mode

1. Turn vehicle on (not running)
2. Release the parking brake
3. Press and hold the accelerator pedal, and parking brake release switch.
4. While holding the accelerator and parking brake release, turn off and on the vehicle within 5 seconds
5. While continuing to hold the accelerator and parking brake release, turn off the vehicle

You should get a message that on the screen regarding maintenance mode.

Deactivate Service Mode

1. Turn the vehicle on (not running)
2. Press and hold the accelerator pedal and the parking brake set switch
3. While holding the accelerator pedal and parking brake set switch, smash down the brake pedal for a few seconds.
4. Release brake pedal while continuing to hold the accelerator pedal and parking brake set switch.
5. Turn the vehicle off and back on within 5 seconds. Then release the accelerator pedal and parking brake switch.

The brake lights on the dash should turn off and the maintenance mode info box should disappear.

And.... now stand on one foot, touch your nose, and spin in a circle? Anyway, hope that helps.

Will that actually work though? There have been lots of mentions on here of the procedure not working on 2.3 Broncos for some reason. I have never personally tried it on one.

 

[RagnarKon]

Will that actually work though? There have been lots of mentions on here of the procedure not working on 2.3 Broncos for some reason. I have never personally tried it on one.

Well then...... be right back.

 

[Junior127]

I had my Bronco at the dealer for a week because they thought it should work per the procedure above and after talking with the Ford engineers the 2.3L will not work per the procedure above.

That is why I was hoping to find an inexpensive scan tool or another option on how to do this.

 

[Brian_B]

Watching - can confirm the Brake Maintenance Mode does not work on my 7MT. My completely uneducated theory is because the 2.3 doesn't have the EBB, but I can't confirm that's the cause.

 

[Ducati1098]

Watching - can confirm the Brake Maintenance Mode does not work on my 7MT. My completely uneducated theory is because the 2.3 doesn't have the EBB, but I can't confirm that's the cause.

Well the procedure in the WSM is the same or very similar for all Ford vehicles whether they have an EBB or not. The 2.3 is the bronco is the first I’ve heard of it not working though. So it may just be an ABS software issue or something.

 

[thesocalexplorer]

To clarify, is it necessary to put the bronco into maintenance mode for bleeding the fluid at each corner? I'm assuming it's to cycle the ABS unit and get all the air out.

Eventually will do my brakes myself down the road, but I'm used to the old school aquarium line in a bottle & having a partner pump the pedal bleeding procedure lol.

 

[Ducati1098]

To clarify, is it necessary to put the bronco into maintenance mode for bleeding the fluid at each corner? I'm assuming it's to cycle the ABS unit and get all the air out.

Eventually will do my brakes myself down the road, but I'm used to the old school aquarium line in a bottle & having a partner pump the pedal bleeding procedure lol.

It isn’t required for bleeding alone,
but it is required when changing rear pads/rotors or a rear caliper.

There’s a different procedure for ABS bleeding, which can only be done with a scan tool. But even that typically isn’t necessary for most circumstances unless the master cylinder or HCU has been replaced.

 

[RagnarKon]

Well then...... be right back.

Alright I'm back—got distracted by lunch, and then work, and then more food, and then I doom-scrolled for 2 hours.

The manual method indeed does not work for me. I tried all three methods I know of and nothing. Curiously, it also does not work with Forscan, but works fine with FDRS.

Not sure if @BudgetBronco is still around or not… but wonder if he can still enter maintenance mode on his Bronco. He also has a 2.3L manual, and I know he could do it a few years back. I’m wondering if Ford introduced a bug when they switched the brake switch around after they discovered so many people were breaking them.

 

[noliveaxle]

What. I can’t change the rear brakes pads on my Bronco.

FOR SALE
Ford Bronco
Runs great
Looks great
Just needs rear brakes pads

F Ford

 

[mbdlds]

Is it really impossible to change the rear brake pads/rotors when you have the 2.3L engine without FDRS?

 

[BudgetBronco]

Alright I'm back—got distracted by lunch, and then work, and then more food, and then I doom-scrolled for 2 hours.

The manual method indeed does not work for me. I tried all three methods I know of and nothing. Curiously, it also does not work with Forscan, but works fine with FDRS.

Not sure if @BudgetBronco is still around or not… but wonder if he can still enter maintenance mode on his Bronco. He also has a 2.3L manual, and I know he could do it a few years back. I’m wondering if Ford introduced a bug when they switched the brake switch around after they discovered so many people were breaking them.

Still here! I will give it a try and report back....

 

[BudgetBronco]

Still here! I will give it a try and report back....

Schnikeys....I was able to put it in to brake service mode, but I cannot get it back to normal mode and got a CEL to boot.

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