Mark Ahlert
New Member
- Joined
- June 29, 2018
- Messages
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- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2013 Ford Explorer
Terrain management fault (TMF) – Solution that worked for me...
2013 Ford Explorer terrain management fault.
I figured out a solution to this problem that seems to have worked.
For background I drive with a very light foot on the gas pedal. I was allowing the engine idle to just carry me in stop-and-go traffic on the interstate in summer heat. A tractor-trailer cut in front of me and I had to slam on the brakes and I received the TMF popup warning. I came to a complete stop, but my vehicle just would not go no matter how much gas I applied. I stopped the engine and restarted it and it was okay.
I went another year without having that problem until last week, again in summertime traffic, my Explorer gave me the terrain management fault again when I took my foot off the brake pedal at the signal light change. Again I had to stop the vehicle place it in park and restart it. But this time I received three or four train fault management errors before I could make it the half-mile back to my house. I guessed that it was low idle speed causing the problem.
I disconnected the battery, waited a short time and reconnect the battery, went through the idle relearn process described in the owner's manual. Unfortunately this did not reset the idle and I again got the train fault management every time I took my foot off the brake and tried to ease on the gas.
I again disconnected the battery, but this time I grounded the positive terminal to the negative terminal to discharge any capacitors, and waited 5 to 10 minutes (see YouTube video below). I drove with a heavy foot in the 15 minute idle relearn process. Since then I have driven for a week and not encountered the terrain management fault error.
I got the idea by watching this guy’s (FordTechMakuloco) video.
I later found this:
Terrain Management Pop-Up Warning - 2011-2014 Ford Explorer
Instead of forcing you to go to the iffen Ford dealer and paying them a wad of cash, they should just describe this solution.
2013 Ford Explorer terrain management fault.
I figured out a solution to this problem that seems to have worked.
For background I drive with a very light foot on the gas pedal. I was allowing the engine idle to just carry me in stop-and-go traffic on the interstate in summer heat. A tractor-trailer cut in front of me and I had to slam on the brakes and I received the TMF popup warning. I came to a complete stop, but my vehicle just would not go no matter how much gas I applied. I stopped the engine and restarted it and it was okay.
I went another year without having that problem until last week, again in summertime traffic, my Explorer gave me the terrain management fault again when I took my foot off the brake pedal at the signal light change. Again I had to stop the vehicle place it in park and restart it. But this time I received three or four train fault management errors before I could make it the half-mile back to my house. I guessed that it was low idle speed causing the problem.
I disconnected the battery, waited a short time and reconnect the battery, went through the idle relearn process described in the owner's manual. Unfortunately this did not reset the idle and I again got the train fault management every time I took my foot off the brake and tried to ease on the gas.
I again disconnected the battery, but this time I grounded the positive terminal to the negative terminal to discharge any capacitors, and waited 5 to 10 minutes (see YouTube video below). I drove with a heavy foot in the 15 minute idle relearn process. Since then I have driven for a week and not encountered the terrain management fault error.
I got the idea by watching this guy’s (FordTechMakuloco) video.
I later found this:
Terrain Management Pop-Up Warning - 2011-2014 Ford Explorer
Instead of forcing you to go to the iffen Ford dealer and paying them a wad of cash, they should just describe this solution.