Lare

My 2015 SCAB, 2.7l 2ith 18,500 miles on it has been a dream since I got it.

Yesterday, we veered into nightmare territory for a bit and I'd like any thoughts from the community.

It's a balmy June day in metro Phoenix, with temperatures hovering around 116F (47C to my metric friends) and I have just driven about 5 miles to the market to stock up on cold beverages and ice cream.

I shut off the truck, made my purchases and loaded them into the back. I crawled into the seat, took down the shade screens and started the engine.

The instrument panel still looked like the truck was off. The "P" gear shift was lit up but the tach showed 0 and all the other gauges were off. Not sure if I had started the truck, I turned the key to off and started it again, paying a little more attention. Yes, the engine was running, but the instrument panel was off except for the gear indicator at the bottom. A/C was off (!!). I couldn't open the windows, either. And no radio.

Not an ideal situation, but I had melting ice cream to deal with so I decided to drive home and deal with it. I shifted into Drive but the indicator remained on "P." It drove about normally, but the power steering felt a little heavy. Brakes worked. Engine shifted normally.

About 1 mile down the road, all of a sudden the IP came to life, showed the correct gear, all gauges where I'd expect. Radio worked as did (yay) the A/C. About 1/10th of a mile later the wrench icon came on along with the very useful message to "See manual."

Instead I went home, shut it down, and immediately tried to restart. The truck is now pretending that nothing ever happened. The wrench icon is gone. Everything is working.

I hooked up Forscan and checked the DTCs. There were a bunch, mostly dealing with lost communication between modules. I cleared them to see if they'd reset. (Hey, Livinitup said I could in the Forscan intro!) None are showing. It's as clean as when I first hooked it up.

I am not sure what to do. Maybe I shouldn't have cleared the codes and taken it in, but the impression I have is that Ford doesn't want to see it if it's not actively displaying a problem.

Searching the interthingees I found one other forum (There apparently are others. Who knew?) where someone reported the exact same thing but there's stayed down and Ford replaced the Gateway Module. All my Forscan codes say that the Gateway is fine.

I've taken a few short rides, trying to duplicate this issue but everything seems fine which is a mixed blessing. I don't want to embark on a desert journey and maybe break down--or not be able to operate A/C or open windows. But if it was a one-time glitch I don't want to be stressing out every time I put the key in the ignition. Oh yeah--I also went to the local Auto Zone and had them load test the battery and alternator. They guy says they're in great condition.

Give me guidance, oh F-150 cousins! What should be my next step?

Fireimp141

Ride it out and see if it happens again. If you can't duplicate the problem, there ain't a mechanic in the world that can help you, specially since you cleared any form of a path to find said issue with clearing those codes. Did you happen to check freeze frame data?

Lare

(Not at home/near the PC but) I did save all the DTC info off to a file from Forscan.

​​​​​​Please bump my memory, what do you mean about ​​​​ Freeze Frame?

My current plan is to ride it out.

Fireimp141

Any time a DTC is set, it stores when/why/how the DTC was set. What speed, RPM, MAF rate, O2 sensors, etc.

Lare

In this post
https://www.f150forum.com/f118/instrument-panel-acessories-did-not-work-but-vehicle-started-386687/#post5367524

CMDRVortex describes almost the same symptoms.

Ifallsguy

Understand, electronic components sometimes really don't like extreme heat. Those mild summer temps in the Valley of the Sun, added to heat off the engine and in the cab can push some components past their "comfort zone". Could just be a weak component. May not repeat itself until you get a hot day.

FYI, used to live in the reasonable 4 seasons of Flag.

LoneWolfTrucker

I am sure in 116 degree weather you'd act a little funny too! I seriously do not know how you guys do it. It was 70 degrees all weekend here in Michigan. That is is as hot as I like it. Yeah we get some hot weather, for a week or two at a time. 116?!? I'd melt before the ice-cream did.

Ifallsguy

You go from your air conditioned house to your precooled air conditioned truck. Then to the air conditioned store or work, back to your precooled air conditioned truck and back to your air conditioned house. Then stand inside, looking out the window and complain about the heat.

Lare

Looking out the window? No, that just reminds us that we miss green trees and waterfalls.

But think about this: To the engine compartment, what's the difference between 100 and 120 outside when the engine is running well over 200 degrees? Besides, I have to think Ford woild have tested for that kind of thing. And as further input, in this thread
https://www.f150forum.com/f118/everything-dash-went-black-more-386575/
I have linked to a few other people reporting similar symptoms which makes me suspicious that it might be a weak component. But I need a hard enough failure to take it in for diagnosis. In the meantime I have to wonder if I will get stuck somewhere--in the heat but without ice cream.

As to acting a little funny at this temperature, well, the fact that we choose to live here is proof of that, isn't it? ☺
(Wish I could move to Flag.)

LoneWolfTrucker

Big difference. Remember, the radiator is used to cool the water that is cooling the engine. That will be much less efficient in 116 degree weather vs. 80 degree weather. Not to mention that I read an article about wires and plastic melting right now in the South West heat wave. So yes, extreme heat will affect things.