TCS and ABS Lights on

[Johnandcarols]

Hi. We have had our new ACE 29D for about a month. We've driven it for 150 miles since picking it up, and it now sits in our RV storage lot while we wait for a little warmer weather.



I went up today to start it, and both the ABS and TCS lights were on. The rig hasn't been driven in a week and the last trip was only a half mile to a parking lot to set it up.



Any ideas what can cause this? Am I looking at a trip to a Ford service center?

 

[16ACE27]

Any other messages on the DIC? Like "Service ABS". Otherwise you need to pull codes. Generally those lights come on when there is a failure during the start-up ABS self-test. Could be any sensor or pump.

 

[Johnandcarols]

nope, no other messages. Why would they fail when the coach isn't being driven?

 

[16ACE27]

nope, no other messages. Why would they fail when the coach isn't being driven?

Mechanical, electrical, and electronic stuff fails all the time out of the blue. Sometimes, not using a piece of equipment is the worst thing for it.

 

[Johnandcarols]

Hmm. Well, I just got off the phone with the local Ford Truck dealer and he said that there is a year wait for RV work, but he happily put me on the list. He suggested taking it out for a drive and seeing if they went off then. Maybe we will.

 

[16ACE27]

Hmm. Well, I just got off the phone with the local Ford Truck dealer and he said that there is a year wait for RV work, but he happily put me on the list. He suggested taking it out for a drive and seeing if they went off then. Maybe we will.

That's unacceptable for a 2024 rig.

Research the lemon law in your state - the chassis may be covered by it - which generally means 30 days to repair.

Then, get on the phone with the Ford regional advisor and see what his solution is.

You should have received a Lemon Law pamphlet (if covered) and a warranty booklet with contact info when you bought your new MH. Time to dig them out.

And BTW, this is not "RV work", it's Warranty Work.

 

[david_reaves]

Hi. We have had our new ACE 29D for about a month...

Any ideas what can cause this? Am I looking at a trip to a Ford service center?

Welcome to new RVs! I have the same issue with a 2024 Freedom Traveler A32.

There is one possible fix that a dealer can flash and update the ABS system. There's something about tolerances, and the new code for ABS fixes that error. That's usually shows as an intermittent problem and the update fixes it (normally). You can probably find a dealer that will do the ABS update on the driveway, much more quickly.

If the ABS light and traction control light stay on, that's a different issue and is likely a physical problem with the ABS system, often the "tone ring" that helps the computer measure wheel speed. That requires more shop time, sadly.

For either error, you'll discover that the cruise control and the hill start assist also don't work if the errors are active.

In my case, the ABS software update (done at a Ford Truck center) didn't help. I'm waiting now to take in my motorhome, fortunately they don't have a year wait here. It will probably take a month to get it in, but at least they've already opened the ticket. I will take it physically into the shop once they are getting closer on the queue. I'm using a commercial truck repair center in Dallas. It's about a 60 mile drive for me, but the other Ford Authorized place only about 20 miles away had a wait of 3-4 months AND they required that it be brought to the lot and left (Those same people also disclaim any liability for the RV or contents while they have it!).

There is a Ford Motorhome Assistance Hotline at 800-444-3311. They may be able to help you find somewhere else to take your F53 Chassis. There is also a database at https://fordcommercialvehiclecenter.com/ that allows you to search on vehicle types (Class A Motorhome). Even with the filter, you still have to check if the dealer has bays big enough for your RV. I did a lot of calling to discover that many don't service Class A RVs even though they are in the database. :/

Finally, you can open an NTSB safety problem report on the ABS if the updated software doesn't fix your problem. If you do, you will want to open two tickets, one with your actual motorhome make and model and one with the Ford F53 base chassis. If enough people report the issue, it may turn into a service bulletin or even a recall. It will start conversations, at least, between the NTSB, Ford, and motorhome manufacturers. I posted a separate message about this here:

https://www.thorforums.com/forums/f8/advance-trac-abs-error-35798.html

Good Luck!

 

[Johnandcarols]

Wow, a lot of good info here. I will check tomorrow and see if the issue is still there and then will do a little drive. One mechanic suggested that perhaps water was the issue, but as I understand the system I doubt that is the case.



I have two more Ford Truck shops I am contacting, one in VA and one in PA (we are in MD, and the one here was the 1 year wait place). We are planning a big trip leaving like 1 April so I want to get it fixed now if I can.

 

[david_reaves]

I have two more Ford Truck shops I am contacting, one in VA and one in PA (we are in MD, and the one here was the 1 year wait place). We are planning a big trip leaving like 1 April so I want to get it fixed now if I can.

PS-- I neglected to say that my ODB-II reader includes ABS capability, but when connected I didn't get any code. I may still try a different reader. Ford dealerships apparently are reluctant to give out error codes.

 

[Johnandcarols]

ordered and will come tomorrow. Stand by for info!

 

[Johnandcarols]

Got the little ODB reader, and while it showed cool data from the engine while it was running, no error codes when I turned off the engine. What a pain.

 

[Lt Keefer]

My guess is a rodent chewed one of the wires to a speed sensor. Happens every day to thousands of vehicles. It happened to me twice in a month on a Nissan pickup sitting in my driveway. Field mice chewed thru speed sensors on both front wheels.

 

[16ACE27]

Got the little ODB reader, and while it showed cool data from the engine while it was running, no error codes when I turned off the engine. What a pain.

I don't know what OBDII reader you have but generally you have to have the key on and engine off as a pre-requisite to tell it to "READ DTCs" or "RUN DIAGNOSTICs". It will then query all the computer modules to see if they have stored or active DTCs. No need to look at "LIVE DATA".

If you got a simple ELM327 bluetooth scanner I would use the "Car Scanner" APP with it.

https://play.google.com/store/search?q=car scanner&c=apps&hl=en&gl=US

 

[david_reaves]

Got the little ODB reader, and while it showed cool data from the engine while it was running, no error codes when I turned off the engine. What a pain.

Same. I bought a ELM327 clone (one of the blue plastic ones) and bought the full versions of Car Scanner Pro. No ABS codes even when I asked it to read "all codes". I've sent an email to the developers to see if I'm not doing something right.

Does anyone know specifically how to get Car Scanner to read ABS codes with an ELM327 reader?

 

[HMCSW]

That's unacceptable for a 2024 rig.

Research the lemon law in your state - the chassis may be covered by it - which generally means 30 days to repair.

Then, get on the phone with the Ford regional advisor and see what his solution is.

You should have received a Lemon Law pamphlet (if covered) and a warranty booklet with contact info when you bought your new MH. Time to dig them out.

And BTW, this is not "RV work", it's Warranty Work.

Also, the brake issue would fall under a safety problem. We had this happen to a car once. I had one of the tires in the air while parking having to go at an angle. I touched the brakes and the abs light up. It was an easy reset. Might try AUTOZONE?? Use their reader and reset fault.

 

[Fourdaybreak]

Had the same thing happen to me at around same mileage. It was a wire going to wheel sensor that had been cut by shoddy installation of cabin on chassis. Ford dealership fixed and Thor paid for it. Dealership re ran many of the wiring harnesses and neatened them up. Cost was over $1000 but Thor reimbursed. If this is the issue make sure dealership takes many photos and documents well.

 

[Johnandcarols]

Wow, great post Joe. I am definitely going to mention this to the Ford Maintenance guy tomorrow when we get to go to the shop. Great tip about photographs for documenting the issue. Thanks for the response!

 

[Johnandcarols]

Took the RV to the Ford Truck maintenance facility today, and one mile into the drive the lights went off and stayed off. I kept going to the facility (40 miles away) anyway to let them look it over. We'll see what they come up with.

 

[simidrm]

Abs codes are definitely hard to diagnose some times, I have found on many heavy duty trucks, that either the air gap between sensor and tone ring is too much, or corrosion on the tone ring, if it were mine I would get a scanner that shows live data on the abs, and go for a drive and look at all 4 sensors to make sure there are reading, each sensor can be checked by using a ohms meter to rule out sensor issues, also check all abs connections

 

[16ACE27]

Abs codes are definitely hard to diagnose some times, I have found on many heavy duty trucks, that either the air gap between sensor and tone ring is too much, or corrosion on the tone ring, if it were mine I would get a scanner that shows live data on the abs, and go for a drive and look at all 4 sensors to make sure there are reading, each sensor can be checked by using a ohms meter to rule out sensor issues, also check all abs connections

Hopefully, the Ford Truck maintenance facility where it was dropped off yesterday, knows to do all that.