Bronco Nation

Another FORSCAN Question

tsielski
May 07, 2022

Rank III

May 07, 2022

I've seen the existing FORSCAN thread on this forum, however for those who have FORSCAN and "tinkered" with their Bronco I have a question.
Let me start with that I have FORSCAN, and have used it to do a few things on a 2019 F150 I had, such as display digital temperatures above certain analog guages, and move a few icons on the information display. A link to do that is
here ( https://www.adventurousway.com/blog/ford-f150-forscan-hacks).
The question is the feasibility of using FORSCAN to display the digital temperature above the engine coolant gauge, if that is even possible. I really like the fact that oil temperature and transmission temperature are displayed, but being able to see actual coolant temperature would be great as well.
Someone on the existing FORSCAN thread suggested using F150 hacks and see what happens, but that is a VERY dangerous course of action.
The primary reason making the digital temperatures always visible on the F150 was possible, was on the F150, if those temperatures reached critically high levels, the ECU automatically displayed the temps. The FORSCAN hack changed that to make them always visible.
In the Bronco, from everything I can glean, if temperatures get too high, all we get is a warning light, but no actual temps displayed, unless there is something I haven't found yet.
2022 Bronco "Black Diamond" 4DR hard top, 2.7 V6 in "Area 51"
Last edited by a moderator: May 07, 2022

Rank V

May 07, 2022

#1
tsielski
I've seen the existing FORSCAN thread on this forum, however for those who have FORSCAN and "tinkered" with their Bronco I have a question.
Let me start with that I have FORSCAN, and have used it to do a few things on a 2019 F150 I had, such as display digital temperatures above certain analog guages, and move a few icons on the information display. A link to do that is
here ( https://www.adventurousway.com/blog/ford-f150-forscan-hacks).
The question is the feasibility of using FORSCAN to display the digital temperature above the engine coolant gauge, if that is even possible. I really like the fact that oil temperature and transmission temperature are displayed, but being able to see actual coolant temperature would be great as well.
Someone on the existing FORSCAN thread suggested using F150 hacks and see what happens, but that is a VERY dangerous course of action.
The primary reason making the digital temperatures always visible on the F150 was possible, was on the F150, if those temperatures reached critically high levels, the ECU automatically displayed the temps. The FORSCAN hack changed that to make them always visible.
In the Bronco, from everything I can glean, if temperatures get too high, all we get is a warning light, but no actual temps displayed, unless there is something I haven't found yet.
Does any of this mess with the warranty or extended warranty?

Rank III

May 07, 2022

#2
Interesting question to which I've no answer. On my F150, I had it to a dealer several times after making those "hacks", and if they were even noticed, I didn't hear anything about them. I'd guess that if someone while attempting to make a modification with FORSCAN, really messed things up, mandating a trip to a dealer for a complete reflash, it might raise some eyebrows, but that's only opinion and likely dependent on a particular dealer.
I am aware of numerous instances where after having a lift installed on a vehicle and then some part failed, dealers did NOT honor a warranty, but again thats dealer dependent. It can even go so far as installing larger aftermarket wheels and tires with an incorrect offset that placed larger than expected strain on wheel bearings resulting in a failure and warranty being denied.
2022 Bronco "Black Diamond" 4DR hard top, 2.7 V6 in "Area 51"
Deano Bronc

Rank V

May 07, 2022

#3
tsielski
Interesting question to which I've no answer. On my F150, I had it to a dealer several times after making those "hacks", and if they were even noticed, I didn't hear anything about them. I'd guess that if someone while attempting to make a modification with FORSCAN, really messed things up, mandating a trip to a dealer for a complete reflash, it might raise some eyebrows, but that's only opinion and likely dependent on a particular dealer.
I am aware of numerous instances where after having a lift installed on a vehicle and then some part failed, dealers did NOT honor a warranty, but again thats dealer dependent. It can even go so far as installing larger aftermarket wheels and tires with an incorrect offset that placed larger than expected strain on wheel bearings resulting in a failure and warranty being denied.
Good to know yours didn't cause any issues. I tried a couple key fob changes on my F-150 and those didn't work. One was to stop the double horn honk when you get out with the engine running.

Thanks for the response.

Burrito Connoisseur

May 07, 2022

#4
We don't know what is possible yet with FORScan. Some of the stuff transfers nicely from Ford's other vehicles... some of it does not. I do plan to really dig into it someday... but if I am being 100% honest there is no way I'm going to do it right now with the microchip shortage. There have been times in the past where I have killed a module with a bad flash, the dealer was unable to re-flash it back to factory, so I had to buy a brand new module. Very hard to take a risk bricking a module right now when I know I may not be able to get a new one for months.

BUT... some day perhaps.

MIGeezer
Does any of this mess with the warranty or extended warranty?
Yes it can.

BUT ultimately it depends what is wrong. Say, for example, you had flashed the anti-lock brake module on your Bronco, but you were submitting a warranty claim because you had a leak in a coolant line. Obviously the two are not related in any way, and therefore it would not impact your warranty claim.

Now say you had flashed the anti-lock brake module, and a later your trail turn assist stopped working. The trail turn assist function is controlled in part by the anti-lock brake module. Therefore the dealer (or Ford themselves) may deny your warranty claim.
2022 4dr Badlands, 2.3L Manual, Mid pkg
YouTube: youtube.com/@ragnarkon
Instagram: @ragnar.kon
Deano Bronc

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