rmp301
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- October 19, 2011
- Messages
- 313
- Reaction score
- 2
- City, State
- Yonkers, New York
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2012 Explorer XLT
Thanks for the update. Mine has been in the shop for over a week now, but the fault has not popped up. This makes perfect sense to me as I felt from the beginning that this is an electrical hiccup and is hard to isolate. In the same vein, thats why this is listed in the owners manual: Quote from Explorer manual: TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT: If this message isOK everyone, sorry for the long post but I think I have a lot of relevant info. First, my Ex is not fixed yet. They are trying a last-ditch solution (which I'll get to in a second) so it's either this fixes it, or it is going back to Dearborn next week (at least that's my current understanding). This is for people who are having problems at start up.
Here's some background info on the truck to frame this issue up: The Ex has a couple of "main" computers that interface with the various modules throughout the truck that they are assigned to. The "main" computers have a set time window during boot up at the initial turn of the key to find all of their assigned modules or they start generating faults. For this issue, the current theory is that the "Body Control Module" (which looks after the TMS) is not finding the TMS within the allotted time limit. According to the dealership, the TMS is actually working, but the BCM is turning off the icon on the TMS selector and showing a "fault" just because it didn't "check-in" on time. So the Ford engineer on site has a new BCM coming for my truck to see if i have a "slow computer." I am hopeful for this fix because it fits the symptoms noticed by the techs: when they pull up any other Ex next to mine and just see how my truck reacts compared to the other. In all cases my truck is "slower" than the others on the lot. The BCM is the controlling computer for the things being "slow". Once again, this is not THE fix yet but the next logical fix once the communication timing issues cropped up.
As a further note for ALL Explorer owners, this communication timing issue was a KNOWN PROBLEM during development. Ford elected to produce the vehicle knowing that this issue could happen. So ALL Explorers on the road have the potential to have this problem. This particular fault only happens during start and not after. If you have a TMS fault pop up while driving along you have a different problem.
I will keep everyone up to date as this effort plays out.
displayed, cycling the key may clear the fault. If the fault is not cleared
after a key cycle, have the system serviced by an authorized dealer. So ........ Ford produces the truck and leaves us to our own recourse. Seems the service dept is in the dark and has no clue what is happening. I will enlighten them tomorrow when they call me with a progress report. Will keep everyone updated as to a resolution.