Focus RS PCM update has ruined the car
17-09-2013, 06:54 PM
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Focus RS PCM update has ruined the car
Hi all, I have made a few posts over the last few days regards very low power from my focus RS mk2, I have contacted the previous owner and ford today and found out from ford that the car had a PCM update in jan 2013, when I spoke to the previous owner he confirmed the car never drove the same after, which is why he sold it in the end. Now has anybody else heard of the updates making the RS feel so underpowered or know if there are any newer updates available. The car is now with ford but they don't know if they can resolve the problem, so any help would be great or it looks like ill be taking the car back and getting me money back
17-09-2013, 07:27 PM
#2
If it was updated in Jan I would suspect it is on 'CL' calibration which I believe is the most upto date. This was to improve cold starting/idle speed I believe amongst probably other things Ford dont want us owners to know about.
Unless is was a incomplete update which I doubt I suspect there is another issue such as boost solenoid. I appreciate your under warranty but I would only take it to a dealer who you trust with decent techs. Failing that take to a specialist ;(
HTH...
Unless is was a incomplete update which I doubt I suspect there is another issue such as boost solenoid. I appreciate your under warranty but I would only take it to a dealer who you trust with decent techs. Failing that take to a specialist ;(
HTH...
Last edited by Mint FRST; 17-09-2013 at 07:28 PM.
17-09-2013, 07:30 PM
#3
I cannot help with your problem, but i think there is a guy on here that buys and sells the mk2 RS and 500 for a living.
Someone may be able to tell you his forum name but im sure his company is RS Direct or something like that. Be worth giving him a bell.
Someone may be able to tell you his forum name but im sure his company is RS Direct or something like that. Be worth giving him a bell.
17-09-2013, 07:43 PM
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Well the main problem with the update is the fact that it has a permanent fault which is p1639 vehicle I'd block corrupt or not programmed. Dtc present.
Although I know the boost solenoid is a common problem my car low down performs like a 1.6 focus but once it goes it makes and holds full boost. 2 friends that have both got focus RS say that my car is definitely not like there's. it just does not go from nothing like there's, but when it's up in the rev range pulls like a train. Even ford don't know what to do as they don't know yet what's wrong with it. I have spoken to jamsport. Pumabuild, and scc and the only answer I get is take it back to ford, or where you bought it from and get your money back. They all say its something they have not heard of
Although I know the boost solenoid is a common problem my car low down performs like a 1.6 focus but once it goes it makes and holds full boost. 2 friends that have both got focus RS say that my car is definitely not like there's. it just does not go from nothing like there's, but when it's up in the rev range pulls like a train. Even ford don't know what to do as they don't know yet what's wrong with it. I have spoken to jamsport. Pumabuild, and scc and the only answer I get is take it back to ford, or where you bought it from and get your money back. They all say its something they have not heard of
17-09-2013, 07:52 PM
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Yes I agree but ford don't know what's wrong with it, they are saying they can't reload the same update twice so if it has failed ill never know according to them. Really wish I never bought it now
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17-09-2013, 08:00 PM
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I suppose they could if they had a car to take it from, but then I would of thought that the file must include other info such as immobiliser, keys etc. plus to be honest I really can't see ford doing it, the car ran out of warranty 8 days ago and are charging by the hour.
There is probably a very slim chance that the guy I bought it from would be willing to pay for much more, plus I certainly am not paying for anything as I've only had it 5 days and will quite happily take it back and get my Ł23000 back
There is probably a very slim chance that the guy I bought it from would be willing to pay for much more, plus I certainly am not paying for anything as I've only had it 5 days and will quite happily take it back and get my Ł23000 back
Last edited by bobbob; 17-09-2013 at 08:04 PM.
17-09-2013, 08:08 PM
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I am pretty certain my dealer will charge all the way, they are not interested in and what if the file was loaded incorrectly. I don't see the point in fighting with court action as ill happily just get my cash back from where I bought it.
17-09-2013, 08:42 PM
#14
PassionFord Post Whore!!
Ford don't even tell the dealers what the updates are meant to address half the time either, sometimes get a brief description on the page, such as above.
17-09-2013, 08:52 PM
#16
I've found that life I needed.. It's HERE!!
Ive had an issue in the past with an Insignia 160 CDTI that someone had been messing about with doing SPS's and managed to fudge it up. It had all sorts of ECU errors and mismatches and the car was in SVS mode.
I had to reset the ECM and reprogram it and load the latest data back onto it and reconfigure it to the car. This in turn also affected a few other controllers that needed to be configured again. Im not sure if the Focus RS uses the same style of Can-BUS
I had to reset the ECM and reprogram it and load the latest data back onto it and reconfigure it to the car. This in turn also affected a few other controllers that needed to be configured again. Im not sure if the Focus RS uses the same style of Can-BUS
17-09-2013, 09:00 PM
#17
PassionFord Post Whore!!
Well I think whatever the updates do, somewhere along the line things change some for the better and some for the worse.
Very true, I have put later cals on Transit TDCI before and it's made them more noisy for example.
Trouble is, once you have put the latest cal on, it's very difficult to change to an earlier one. Easy to sit here and say it but there is one way that I know of, which involves blanking the PCM and going into a routine with 'no-comms' then adding an earlier cal number (If known) That is of course if this is still supported on recent versions of IDS software. Ford do take off useful stuff like that sometimes when they revise the diagnostic tool software!
EDIT - Looks like the original PCM part number for mk2 RS is 9M51-12A650-CG according to an ECU for sale on Pumabuild.
http://pumabuild.com/pumacat/product...oducts_id=2250
Previous poster stated update is CL So in theory it should be possible to blank the PCM and then add the original CG part number to get it back to an earlier cal.
Surely the dealer should know this or if not be guided by Ford technical to do so?
Last edited by GVK.; 17-09-2013 at 09:41 PM.
17-09-2013, 09:00 PM
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Well just got off the phone to the previous owner and he confirms that the car was the same for him very sluggish. He took it to ford while it was under warranty and they would change settings and it would be ok for a short period and then revert back to being sluggish again. So it's been in and out of fords with the same problem for a while, so it's not looking like they will fix it this time either.
17-09-2013, 09:07 PM
#19
I've found that life I needed.. It's HERE!!
Not sure about ford and their warranty claim procedure, but with VX if an ecu has been corrupted and is unable to be reprogrammed tech will authorize a new ECM
17-09-2013, 09:44 PM
#21
I've found that life I needed.. It's HERE!!
if its been an ongoing prob thats been in to be fixed when it was still under warranty,
surely if it wasn't rectified then it shouldn't be a chargeable job now its out of warranty
surely if it wasn't rectified then it shouldn't be a chargeable job now its out of warranty
17-09-2013, 10:45 PM
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Well it's a hard lesson learnt, I did look on there site but they didn't have a standard model at the time. The problem with the ongoing problem is the fact that ford don't know what's wrong with it. I was told by the previous owner that when it went back they changed some settings and it improved it and would be ok for a while. But it would then return to being sluggish and then they would change the settings again and it would be ok. He then part exchanged the car to Watford jaguar who then sold it to the company I bought it from, they have been good and are paying for ford to look at it but if they don't know what's wrong with it how can they fix it. I really would like the current PCM to be erased and then a completely new file to be uploaded. But they are saying its not possible. I know have to wait and see what ford are going to do next and if they can't fix it all I can do is try and get my money back. 
17-09-2013, 11:38 PM
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Ford themselves keep every update that's been released so therefore as you are their customer you have the right to get them to put the previous powertrain control module settings on, as you have experienced newer isn't always better!!
18-09-2013, 12:11 AM
#25
just finding my feet
If its a revo remap after the update or even the battery being going dead you need to get the peramiters put back into it
If standard I doubt a update would loose power as ford staff also own RS cars too and we would have screamed at Daventry to get it sorted just like the zetec S throttle housing issue
If standard I doubt a update would loose power as ford staff also own RS cars too and we would have screamed at Daventry to get it sorted just like the zetec S throttle housing issue
18-09-2013, 12:12 AM
#26
just finding my feet
If its a revo remap after the update or even the battery being going dead you need to get the peramiters put back into it
If standard I doubt a update would loose power as ford staff also own RS cars too and we would have screamed at Daventry to get it sorted just like the zetec S throttle housing issue
If standard I doubt a update would loose power as ford staff also own RS cars too and we would have screamed at Daventry to get it sorted just like the zetec S throttle housing issue
18-09-2013, 10:35 AM
#27
There are plenty out there - Take it back, get your cash back, and find another, as that one sounds like a lemon.
If you really want to persevere I'd give Collins a call, and speak to Martin. He's got first hand experience with restoring corrupt ECUs so may be able to help.
If you really want to persevere I'd give Collins a call, and speak to Martin. He's got first hand experience with restoring corrupt ECUs so may be able to help.
18-09-2013, 05:48 PM
#30
PassionFord Post Whore!!
Yep, on a lot of the later stuff it won't let you carry on with an update if battery is too low.
Regarding putting an earlier cal on, as I posted above it used to be possible, but it maybe that newer revisions of the IDS (Ford diagnostic tool) don't support that function anymore. When the IDS was updated by CD you used to get a seperate disc full of the updated calibrations, now it's all web-based.
The only other way of doing it is to completely put the car back to factory settings by AS BUILT data. Again, I would hope the dealer involved would know this or be guided by Ford technical.
Regarding putting an earlier cal on, as I posted above it used to be possible, but it maybe that newer revisions of the IDS (Ford diagnostic tool) don't support that function anymore. When the IDS was updated by CD you used to get a seperate disc full of the updated calibrations, now it's all web-based.
The only other way of doing it is to completely put the car back to factory settings by AS BUILT data. Again, I would hope the dealer involved would know this or be guided by Ford technical.
18-09-2013, 09:36 PM
#32
I've found that life I needed.. It's HERE!!
have you drove any others? just in case they're all the same as yours
as it might be that your just expecting too much from a standard car
or have ford admitted that its not right but just cant get to the bottom of it?
as it might be that your just expecting too much from a standard car
or have ford admitted that its not right but just cant get to the bottom of it?
18-09-2013, 10:10 PM
#33
PassionFord Post Whore!!
He posted earlier -
Although I know the boost solenoid is a common problem my car low down performs like a 1.6 focus but once it goes it makes and holds full boost. 2 friends that have both got focus RS say that my car is definitely not like there's. it just does not go from nothing like there's, but when it's up in the rev range pulls like a train.
18-09-2013, 10:24 PM
#34
I've found that life I needed.. It's HERE!!
thats what i get for not reading it right then, ah well, just a thought
any probs with idle or low revs?
just if its flat down low but goes well high up the revs, could there be a prob with the variable vale timing?
again just a though, and i'd hope that ford would check this
but the old volvo's used to suffer from on the t5's
any probs with idle or low revs?
just if its flat down low but goes well high up the revs, could there be a prob with the variable vale timing?
again just a though, and i'd hope that ford would check this
but the old volvo's used to suffer from on the t5's
Last edited by jamie's; 18-09-2013 at 10:27 PM.
18-09-2013, 10:27 PM
#35
PassionFord Post Whore!!
On another thread it appears he had an ST so should know what these cars go like. 
3-4 threads about the same thing.
https://passionford.com/forum/ford-f...ode-p1639.html
https://passionford.com/forum/ford-f...-of-power.html
3-4 threads about the same thing.
https://passionford.com/forum/ford-f...ode-p1639.html
https://passionford.com/forum/ford-f...-of-power.html
Hi all, firstly I'm new here.
I own a frozen white focus RS mk2 60 reg, it's completely standard and I'm havin some issues. It's hard to describe but basically the car feels weird, if I put my foot down in first gear it feels like there is no turbo, if I put my foot down in second it will occasionally feel very flat and seems that there is no boost till about 4000 rpm and others times it boosts fairly well, but never feels powerfull even though its still quick. The boost gauge is showing boost but it does not seem to go or sound like it should. I have not had it long so can't compare it, I get no wheels trying to spin or the front banging like my st did, so I'm struggling to get my head round it and feel very disappointed. Please help
I own a frozen white focus RS mk2 60 reg, it's completely standard and I'm havin some issues. It's hard to describe but basically the car feels weird, if I put my foot down in first gear it feels like there is no turbo, if I put my foot down in second it will occasionally feel very flat and seems that there is no boost till about 4000 rpm and others times it boosts fairly well, but never feels powerfull even though its still quick. The boost gauge is showing boost but it does not seem to go or sound like it should. I have not had it long so can't compare it, I get no wheels trying to spin or the front banging like my st did, so I'm struggling to get my head round it and feel very disappointed. Please help
Last edited by GVK.; 18-09-2013 at 10:31 PM.
18-09-2013, 10:52 PM
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Hi all, car goes in to ford tomorrow for another go, spent all day on the phone with both ford a various tuners so have a little more info, so far ford have not admitted that there is a fault but they have found that for some reason the vin number on the ecu does not match the car vin
The tuners I have spoken to have said that the boost gauge on the car is controlled by the ecu and is a command not actual boost pressure so although I thought I was making boost it appears I may still have a issue with the boost solenoid. They have also said that if it was a maf or map sensor it would put the mil light on. I was also told that they would detect it if I had a miss or anything else not quite right. They also said that the ecu map was a bit like numbers and that if settings had been changed it would effect everything and recognise it as a fault, which it does not. So now need to resolve the software issue and get them to try a boost solenoid. If not I'm going to take it to one off the tuners and let them have a look at it so fingers crossed.
The tuners I have spoken to have said that the boost gauge on the car is controlled by the ecu and is a command not actual boost pressure so although I thought I was making boost it appears I may still have a issue with the boost solenoid. They have also said that if it was a maf or map sensor it would put the mil light on. I was also told that they would detect it if I had a miss or anything else not quite right. They also said that the ecu map was a bit like numbers and that if settings had been changed it would effect everything and recognise it as a fault, which it does not. So now need to resolve the software issue and get them to try a boost solenoid. If not I'm going to take it to one off the tuners and let them have a look at it so fingers crossed.
18-09-2013, 11:02 PM
#37
PassionFord Post Whore!!
Yes, the centre gauges in these and STs are just 'calculations' from the ECU and sent to the gauges via the can-bus communication network.
Good luck with it, and let us know the outcome!
Vin number not matching will give the P1639 code as I posted previously.
Good luck with it, and let us know the outcome!
Vin number not matching will give the P1639 code as I posted previously.
P1639 FORD - Vehicle ID Block Corrupted or Not Programmed
Possible causes
- New PCM-Needs programming
- Incorrect VID configuration
As part of the calibration there is an area referred to as the Vehicle Identification (VID) block. The VID block must be programmed when replacing the PCM as described under Programming the VID Block for a Replacement PCM. Failure to perform this procedure may generate fault codes: P1635, P1639, VID Block not programmed or is corrupt. The VID block in an existing PCM can also be tailored to accommodate various hardware/parameter changes made to the vehicle since production. Failure to perform this procedure properly may generate fault code: P1635, Tire/Axle Ratio out of Acceptable Range is one of the main causes for code: P1639. This is described under Making Changes to the VID Block and also under Making Changes to the PCM Calibration. The VID block contains many items used by the strategy for a variety of functions. Some of these items include the VIN number, octane adjust, fuel octane, fuel type, vehicle speed limit, tire size, axle ratio, the presence of speed control and four wheel drive electronic shift on the fly versus manual shift on the fly. Only items applicable to vehicle hardware and supported by the VID block will be displayed on the scan tool.
Possible causes
- New PCM-Needs programming
- Incorrect VID configuration
As part of the calibration there is an area referred to as the Vehicle Identification (VID) block. The VID block must be programmed when replacing the PCM as described under Programming the VID Block for a Replacement PCM. Failure to perform this procedure may generate fault codes: P1635, P1639, VID Block not programmed or is corrupt. The VID block in an existing PCM can also be tailored to accommodate various hardware/parameter changes made to the vehicle since production. Failure to perform this procedure properly may generate fault code: P1635, Tire/Axle Ratio out of Acceptable Range is one of the main causes for code: P1639. This is described under Making Changes to the VID Block and also under Making Changes to the PCM Calibration. The VID block contains many items used by the strategy for a variety of functions. Some of these items include the VIN number, octane adjust, fuel octane, fuel type, vehicle speed limit, tire size, axle ratio, the presence of speed control and four wheel drive electronic shift on the fly versus manual shift on the fly. Only items applicable to vehicle hardware and supported by the VID block will be displayed on the scan tool.
Last edited by GVK.; 18-09-2013 at 11:04 PM.
18-09-2013, 11:09 PM
#38
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Yes thanks for that, the worrying part for me was I thought the car might be a ringer. But hopefully tomorrow they will revert the vehicle back to build with the ids and then install the update so it matches up right. If possible
19-09-2013, 10:23 AM
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Well car is back in fords been here since 8am, they are reprogramming the whole car and have updated software so once it's all done ill go for a drive and see if it has cured the problem.
19-09-2013, 02:06 PM
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really did not think id get to the bottom of it but today i spent 5 hours in fords workshop with there best technician and ford technical. we wiped the pcm clean and then completely reprogrammed the whole car, it took a little longer than anticipated but we got there in the end.
all i can say is what a difference, now car goes like it should and finally i have the car i payed for.
hats off to the guy i bought it from as he paid for the whole lot to be done, the cause was a pcm update that had not been done properly, they had not programmed the pcm to abs module or disruted the connection and therefore the car did not know how fast it was going and not letting it boost.
the vin number in ecu now matches the car and the fault code has gone. top job
all i can say is what a difference, now car goes like it should and finally i have the car i payed for.
hats off to the guy i bought it from as he paid for the whole lot to be done, the cause was a pcm update that had not been done properly, they had not programmed the pcm to abs module or disruted the connection and therefore the car did not know how fast it was going and not letting it boost.
the vin number in ecu now matches the car and the fault code has gone. top job
Last edited by bobbob; 19-09-2013 at 02:11 PM.