Ford Seems to be Tracking Module Changes

Could it be when they do updates (over the air updates) that they are down loading all of your changes too?

Jakob1972

Could it be when they do updates (over the air updates) that they are down loading all of your changes too?

Don't know when or why they download each module's configuration, but it means two things for owners:
1. Ford knows all about those Forscan changes you make
2. You better back up your ASBUILT before you make changes, or they're lost

Jakob1972

Could it be when they do updates (over the air updates) that they are down loading all of your changes too?

That is exactly what Ford is doing

And whenever you go into have service done they plug in the ODB2 And check everything out.

Hmmm so will Forscan changes void your warranty?

TK1215

That is exactly what Ford is doing

On the positive side, there is no indication that they want to cut off users from modifying Forscan data on their vehicles. Evidence that Ford is recording Forscan changes (and if you consider the infrastructure it makes complete sense) does not necessarily have any real meaning. Just because Big Brother CAN watch doesn't mean he gives a rat's posterior what what the minions are up to, it may just mean that they, like every competent IT manager, makes sure that everything has backups.

And there is a certain element of finding out user preferences to project future models.

TK1215

And there is a certain element of finding out user preferences to project future models.

Doubt that's the reason. I suspect it could involve a combination of:
1. Not wanting to brick modules on software update, or have customers complain that their configurations were lost (at least a few are customizable in the UI)
2. If something seriously goes wrong with the vehicle, e.g. blown engine or transfer case, I suspect they'll want to have a look at any changes that were made.

It's not really a matter of Ford allowing people to continue to use FORScan, so much as having to support a worldwide decentralized repair structure, and requiring standardized protocols so that things "just work". It's the same approach to medical equipment, such as pacemakers, where centralized authentication and management would make managing them much more difficult and probably lead to lawsuits. In other words, Ford needs to make it easy to repair these things, and so reprogramming modules can't have a high bar.

I'm more baffled that there doesn't seem to be a true "ASBUILT" record of how the vehicle was actually built, at least publicly available.

FWIW, I reached out to some Ford contacts about this, and will report back when I hear something. I am not convinced propagating it to the AB site is intentional. If a repair tech needs to reflash a module causing problems, they’re probably going to get the same (modified) config which would mean a module is never able to be configured in factory configuration. Even if they replace the module, the changes may propagate once it’s programmed. Seems like this could cause a lot of repair head scratching if a customer or a tuner made a change that caused problems.

I noticed that an older forscan change (speakers and rear EQ) showed but the recent forscan changes did not when I printed off my as built.

Just like all tech, things mysteriously change on their own. My audio sounded a little tinny, so I checked the settings. The base slider was toggled all the way to left?????? Half the time, you'll never know what settings are changed, unless of course you're OCD.....like us forum users.