Access to “Black Box”

[JRV1631]

As always I made an effort to see if this has been discussed prior. If it has and I missed it I apologize in advance. But is there a way, possibly through FORScan, to access information in the “black box”? Or do we even have one? I know in a recent incident involving a mustang the info in the black box was discussed. Any information as always is appreciated.

 

[6500rpm]

There is no "black box" exactly. The RCM (restraint control module) records data before, during, and after a trigger event (accident with deployment of a restraint device. It also captures data from other modules in the car so it knows your speed, brake application, probably steering wheel input, seat position, seatbelt latched or not, bla, bla, bla. What I can't tell you off the top of my head is if that information is latched. Many vehicles do, or did, latch all this information so it couldn't be erased.

 

[Johnbigdog]

Shodded reference to a black box is also called a flight recorder. In the past it was a black box (green letters) that plugged into the data link conector to make recordings of pid data. You could hook it up to the Integrated diagnostic system (IDS) [Ford's scan tool] and select pids to make a recording of. The customer was then able to press a button when the fault is present to catch what was going on.

Recently the flight recorder has been abandoned and is now integral to the vehicle communication module 2 (VCMII). The VCM is the box that allows the IDS to communicate to Ford vehicles. To make it a recorder, the dealership has to purchase a separate "pendant" (it's a glorified button with a few LEDs and a numeral read out, maybe a storage device).

If a dealership gives you the recorder it is possible for it to disappear and never return. This is about a $1600 loss. Many dealerships wont give them out. Also, it costs the dealership a scan tool. For every VCM their is usually an assigned laptop. You get rid of the VCM you get rid of someone's use a lap top and scan tool.

Prices for VCMII and VCMM (vehicle communication and measurement module which has oscilloscope and vibration diagnostic capabilities) can be found below.

https://rotunda.service-solutions.com/en-US/Pages/SearchResults.aspx?CKey=(+(CatalogLevel1_Name_en-US:"Vehicle+Diagnostics")+)&CTitle=Vehicle+Diagnostics&CSelectedKey=CatalogLevel1_Name_en-US%3a"Vehicle+Diagnostics"%7cVehicle+Diagnostics

Not all dealerships provide a tech with a scan tool and vcm. Lots of techs own their own. So would you give Joe blow ford/lincoln owner 1600.00 bucks and HOPE to get it back?

Anyhow, on the RCM stuff, the dealership cannot read crash event data, however the data can be extracted on request though the Ford Hotline.

Now, generic scan tools usually have access to a minimal amount of module data. A factory scan tool has more capabilities.

Does that answer your question?

 

[JRV1631]

Shodded reference to a black box is also called a flight recorder. In the past it was a black box (green letters) that plugged into the data link conector to make recordings of pid data. You could hook it up to the Integrated diagnostic system (IDS) [Ford's scan tool] and select pids to make a recording of. The customer was then able to press a button when the fault is present to catch what was going on.

Recently the flight recorder has been abandoned and is now integral to the vehicle communication module 2 (VCMII). The VCM is the box that allows the IDS to communicate to Ford vehicles. To make it a recorder, the dealership has to purchase a separate "pendant" (it's a glorified button with a few LEDs and a numeral read out, maybe a storage device).

If a dealership gives you the recorder it is possible for it to disappear and never return. This is about a $1600 loss. Many dealerships wont give them out. Also, it costs the dealership a scan tool. For every VCM their is usually an assigned laptop. You get rid of the VCM you get rid of someone's use a lap top and scan tool.

Prices for VCMII and VCMM (vehicle communication and measurement module which has oscilloscope and vibration diagnostic capabilities) can be found below.

https://rotunda.service-solutions.com/en-US/Pages/SearchResults.aspx?CKey=(+(CatalogLevel1_Name_en-US:"Vehicle+Diagnostics")+)&CTitle=Vehicle+Diagnostics&CSelectedKey=CatalogLevel1_Name_en-US%3a"Vehicle+Diagnostics"%7cVehicle+Diagnostics

Not all dealerships provide a tech with a scan tool and vcm. Lots of techs own their own. So would you give Joe blow ford/lincoln owner 1600.00 bucks and HOPE to get it back?

Anyhow, on the RCM stuff, the dealership cannot read crash event data, however the data can be extracted on request though the Ford Hotline.

Now, generic scan tools usually have access to a minimal amount of module data. A factory scan tool has more capabilities.

Does that answer your question?

X10 LOL! Thank you!

 

[JRV1631]

Thank you both for the information. So, in a nut shell, without a trigger event(fortunately one did not occur) there is no information logged/recoverable such as top speed. I had an occasion recently, on a closed course naturally, to open it up a little. Last I saw was 120. But beyond that I was more focused on the conditions ahead. There were a few more seconds of acceleration after my last glance. I was just curious what the final was.

 

[Johnbigdog]

Thank you both for the information. So, in a nut shell, without a trigger event(fortunately one did not occur) there is no information logged/recoverable such as top speed. I had an occasion recently, on a closed course naturally, to open it up a little. Last I saw was 120. But beyond that I was more focused on the conditions ahead. There were a few more seconds of acceleration after my last glance. I was just curious what the final was.

Its recalled the P.P. is governed at 140?

The pcm can set a engine overspend and vehicle overspeed D.T.C. now that I recall, but meh. What is the dealership going to do about it unless it potentially is the cause of a fault? If you duplicate it and the overspeed dtc isn't there it's not the problem.

If you're wondering, the government is probably watching you closer than Ford is.

 

[Lostneye]

Thank you both for the information. So, in a nut shell, without a trigger event(fortunately one did not occur) there is no information logged/recoverable such as top speed. I had an occasion recently, on a closed course naturally, to open it up a little. Last I saw was 120. But beyond that I was more focused on the conditions ahead. There were a few more seconds of acceleration after my last glance. I was just curious what the final was.

Not sure what Diablo Sport can do but you can log with SCT including mph.

 

[JRV1631]

Its recalled the P.P. is governed at 140?

The pcm can set a engine overspend and vehicle overspeed D.T.C. now that I recall, but meh. What is the dealership going to do about it unless it potentially is the cause of a fault? If you duplicate it and the overspeed dtc isn't there it's not the problem.

If you're wondering, the government is probably watching you closer than Ford is.

The tune I use removes the speed limiter. I always return it to stock before I go into the dealer. According to Diablo Sport all the dealer can see is the flash count. But not that it was tuned. But what else would they say? Actually the prospect of Ford or the government finding out.....since I wasn’t caught in the act...on that closed course....never crossed my mind. Just my own curiosity.

 

[JRV1631]

Not sure what Diablo Sport can do but you can log with SCT including mph.

Yes Diablo Sport has a logging capability. I’ve used that for a custom tune. But you have to have it plugged into the OBD2 port and set to logging. I didn’t have that much forethought into it.

 

[Johnbigdog]

The tune I use removes the speed limiter. I always return it to stock before I go into the dealer. According to Diablo Sport all the dealer can see is the flash count. But not that it was tuned. But what else would they say? Actually the prospect of Ford or the government finding out.....since I wasn’t caught in the act...on that closed course....never crossed my mind. Just my own curiosity.

Ok. Disnt know how far down the rabbit hole you were going.

 

[JRV1631]

Ok. Disnt know how far down the rabbit hole you were going.

Understood. You’ve provided a wealth of information. Thank you very much.