I love the driving dynamics of my Focus SE (of course I probably wouldn't say this if I had an A/T but I did my research and bought a 5 speed which has had no issues). There are a few things I don't like such as the dashboard, coffee holders etc...there isn't one flat area to put a phone, wallet etc...but driving the car is fun.
2015 Focus Battery Placement
- Thread starter JeffKeryk
- Start date
This one hits home in one specific area: rear brake jobs on anything equipped with an electric parking brake integrated into the caliper. 99% of systems require a scan tool with OE level functionality to put the calipers in "service mode". The single outlier? Mopar. The Uconnect screen has a vehicle maintenance menu which includes the ability to set the calipers in service mode. It's AMAZING.
My 2013 Volt didn't. But I think it has a regular parking brake cable going to the rear calipers. I replaced the rear pads and rotors shortly after I got it because the previous owner had purchased the parts because he thought the rear brakes were making noise. I didn't hear anything but I replace those parts since I had them.
I definitly feel the automakers try to make their vehicles as unfriendly to DIY's as possible....some much more so than others.
I have yet to do the brakes on the Chrysler, but that day will come soon because my Son will inherit this car. I remember the day that I realized that they integrated this feature in the maintenance screen, I thought “good on them” for making this DIY friendly.
Ford has a sequence something like key on, electronic park brake on, key off, key on e brake off.
Many engineers have no practical experience doing MRO work of any kind.
One of my old neighbors is an EE (electrical engineer). Called me up one day to ask who I recommend to service his AC unit. I said let's go look at it and see if it might be something we can fix ourselves.
Opened it up and the capacitor was bulged out. Got a new one for $15 and put it in, fixed the problem.
He told me he was afraid to open it for fear of getting electrocuted. An EE...wow.
Fords have a method to engage maintenance mode for brake service, no scan tool required. I'll grant it is not as easy as checking a button, but there is a method.
Also on the BMS reset, you can drop a new battery in there and not resetting it won't actually kill anything. The fact that it does reset a monitoring counter you can see in Forscan makes it appear it likely does something in the charging algorithim. What, I don't know... so I reset mine when I replaced the battery in my F150.
For those with or maintaining a later model Ford, getting set up with Forscan an be useful and helpful. Literally only cost me for the dongle I use with the PC I run forscan on...
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Yeah, an electrical engineer isn't the same as an electrician or service tech. He can design circuits but doesn't have practical hands on experience. In theory he should know that if he does it with one hand, he shouldn't get electrocuted anyway, no pathway to the heart that way.
