Factory radio hell
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 9,300
Likes: 1,524
From: Manassas Va
Well, my nightmare continues... I took my truck in with a replacement factory deck installed to have it flashed so that the Aux button would respond. After $100 and a three hour wait, I was told that the radio had problems and wouldn't take the flash. It just spit out error codes relating to features I didn't have, such as steering wheel controls. What's worse, of the three dealerships I called this is the only one that would attempt it. Based on the guy's notes in the invoice that was given to me, I have almost zero faith in their ability to perform this...anyway, before I left, the service guy told me to get an aftermarket radio, or that a new factory one would cost me about $1000. So, I have one last option. United Radio offers repair services of factory decks. They give free estimates. So, I sent my original "broken" radio in for an estimate. If they fix it at a price that I'm willing to pay then perhaps my nightmare will end then. If they can't fix it, or want too much, then I am officially giving up on the factory radio and buying an aftermarket unit. I really don't want it to come to that, but I think I am out of options. Post script to this story: On the dealer invoice, there was a note about how I'm going to be surveys, and if I feel I can't give "very satisfied" call a number. So, I did. I told them that I felt like I paid $100 for nothing. They wanted me to bring my truck back in. I told them I already wasted three hours of my life there and that I had zero faith in their abilities to get this problem resolved. I asked for my money back. The guy tried to guilt me saying that the mechanic wouldn't be paid for 1.8 hours of his time. I responded back that there is no way in the world he spend this much time on it. Most of that time was just me waiting while others cars got serviced. Well, he ended up giving me my money back...and, while I'm happy about the refund, I would have just much rather had the flash that they told me they could do. All I wanted was an amp install. That doesn't make me a bad guy, does it? I don't deserve all these problems that have come up. Sorry, just venting frustration here.
Second, you paid three hours of service! Who are you to tell them what they did and didn't do, if you were a whiz I. The field you wouldn't be paying someone else to do the work!
If you were such a stellar person who knows what a dealer should and shouldn't do to flash a radio that YOU SCREWED UP AND BROUGHT TO THEM then you should be able to do a simple amp install!
You're lucky you got your money back, I would have told you to pack sand as my guy was tied up for three hours trying to fix your mistake!
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 183
Likes: 23
From: Boise, ID
Here's the deal as I see it: I used to work(several years ago) as an electronics tech at a Ford stealership, and one of the things I learned was: if it didn't come set up from the factory, you might as well forget it. Obviously, if you throw enough time, money, and parts at it, you can change anything. You will most likely find that it costs about twice what it would have if you would have just bought the truck equipped how you wanted it in the first place. I'm sorry, but I just don't know any other way to say it.
Sincerely, radios - HIDs - power running boards - bedliners - and misc. other options.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 9,300
Likes: 1,524
From: Manassas Va
My Custom Retrofits are one of a kind and blow the stock HIDs out of the water, my Kenwood head unit and speakers put stock to shame and my running boards look way better than anything ford offers!
The issue is that he cheaper out and had an idiot try and install amp, installer didn't do the most basic of things and disconnect battery.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 183
Likes: 23
From: Boise, ID
Well, the stock Ford options aren't exactly what everyone wants!
My Custom Retrofits are one of a kind and blow the stock HIDs out of the water, my Kenwood head unit and speakers put stock to shame and my running boards look way better than anything ford offers!
The issue is that he cheaper out and had an idiot try and install amp, installer didn't do the most basic of things and disconnect battery.
My Custom Retrofits are one of a kind and blow the stock HIDs out of the water, my Kenwood head unit and speakers put stock to shame and my running boards look way better than anything ford offers!
The issue is that he cheaper out and had an idiot try and install amp, installer didn't do the most basic of things and disconnect battery.
Not questioning after-market at all. Have plenty of it. Easy to learn from reading the threads that some works and some does not.
Not knowing a hot lead and when to shut it down is pretty bad.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 187
Likes: 24
From: Tucson, AZ
So I read your story and first never trust an installer that doesn't disconnect the battery!
Second, you paid three hours of service! Who are you to tell them what they did and didn't do, if you were a whiz I. The field you wouldn't be paying someone else to do the work!
If you were such a stellar person who knows what a dealer should and shouldn't do to flash a radio that YOU SCREWED UP AND BROUGHT TO THEM then you should be able to do a simple amp install!
You're lucky you got your money back, I would have told you to pack sand as my guy was tied up for three hours trying to fix your mistake!
Second, you paid three hours of service! Who are you to tell them what they did and didn't do, if you were a whiz I. The field you wouldn't be paying someone else to do the work!
If you were such a stellar person who knows what a dealer should and shouldn't do to flash a radio that YOU SCREWED UP AND BROUGHT TO THEM then you should be able to do a simple amp install!
You're lucky you got your money back, I would have told you to pack sand as my guy was tied up for three hours trying to fix your mistake!
Besides, last time I went to this dealer they made me pay $550 for a $200 job. I don't feel at all bad getting my money back from these crooks.
I'll tell you something else. I work in IT for a living. I've seen so many people who don't know something, and are too proud to admit it so they make up stuff because they don't want to admit they don't know. I hate people like that. That's what happened here. There were notes about aftermarket wiring (which is currently not connected to ANYTHING), steering wheel controls (which I don't have), parking assist (which I also don't have)...so stop trying to make me feel guilty about getting my money back, because that will never happen in this particular case. This guy didn't know what was going on. If he would have just been honest about that rather than try to make stuff up I would have never asked for a refund.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 187
Likes: 24
From: Tucson, AZ
Even though I didn't get this new, my current plan is to drive this truck until the wheels fall off...I like it that much.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 187
Likes: 24
From: Tucson, AZ
I have to wonder if they tried as built data, it's downloadable from Ford and can be used to flash any module the truck has with the same programming it came with off the line, no old module required. I've done it a few times, twice to my own truck and once on my wife's truck.
My truck is a 13 and wife's is a 14 so I don't know for certain if it would work with your 09. I was reading about it for another reason and it's stated as built data can be obtained for up to 10 years (I think) from the build date.
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My truck is a 13 and wife's is a 14 so I don't know for certain if it would work with your 09. I was reading about it for another reason and it's stated as built data can be obtained for up to 10 years (I think) from the build date.
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Is there any way in the world that this can be done by the consumer?
Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 26,680
Likes: 6,253
From: Big Easy
Well,.... yes and no, first you would have to spend $2,200.00 for the computer interface and 1 year license for the software, then you would have to spend another couple hundred taking the Ford courses to know how to operate said computer interface.
So yes it's possible, I in fact do have the system and know how and am a consumer (former Ford factory trained tech) so it was a little less costly (training courses) because the dealer I worked at paid for training but I still had to come out of pocket $2.2g for the hardware and license. I'll probably still pay for the advanced courses because it's been 10 years since I worked at the dealer and a lot has changed. Yes anyone can take the same courses Ford techs take. Here's a link. http://www.motorcraftservice.com/vdi...il/default.asp that link will also guide you to the hardware and everything I spoke of concerning your question.
No it's not feasible unless you consider it an option or accessory that you must have (my thought process) for your vehicle.
I paid up for peace of mind, I can't stand anyone touching my vehicle(s) at all and no way in hell am I going to trust them with my electronics (unless a warranty repair or recall) and then ONLY after I run the tests my self so they don't feed me some line of bs when I take it in.
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Last edited by RLXXI; May 29, 2014 at 06:53 PM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 187
Likes: 24
From: Tucson, AZ
I appreciate the response, but you lost me at the $2,200 part.
I see you're in Nawlins. I've been looking for an excuse to go...
Nah, I can't go. With all the great food down there I'd soon end up one of those fat people shut-ins that you would need to knock down the wall to get out.
I am hoping the folks at United Radio can come through for me, as I really like the factory deck. But, all the same, I am starting to browse aftermarket units...
I see you're in Nawlins. I've been looking for an excuse to go...
Nah, I can't go. With all the great food down there I'd soon end up one of those fat people shut-ins that you would need to knock down the wall to get out.I am hoping the folks at United Radio can come through for me, as I really like the factory deck. But, all the same, I am starting to browse aftermarket units...
Well,.... yes and no, first you would have to spend $2,200.00 for the computer interface and 1 year license for the software, then you would have to spend another couple hundred taking the Ford courses to know how to operate said computer interface.
So yes it's possible, I in fact do have the system and know how and am a consumer (former Ford factory trained tech) so it was a little less costly (training courses) because the dealer I worked at paid for training but I still had to come out of pocket $2.2g for the hardware and license. I'll probably still pay for the advanced courses because it's been 10 years since I worked at the dealer and a lot has changed. Yes anyone can take the same courses Ford techs take. Here's a link. http://www.motorcraftservice.com/vdi...il/default.asp that link will also guide you to the hardware and everything I spoke of concerning your question.
No it's not feasible unless you consider it an option or accessory that you must have (my thought process) for your vehicle.
I paid up for peace of mind, I can't stand anyone touching my vehicle(s) at all and no way in hell am I going to trust them with my electronics (unless a warranty repair or recall) and then ONLY after I run the tests my self so they don't feed me some line of bs when I take it in.
.
So yes it's possible, I in fact do have the system and know how and am a consumer (former Ford factory trained tech) so it was a little less costly (training courses) because the dealer I worked at paid for training but I still had to come out of pocket $2.2g for the hardware and license. I'll probably still pay for the advanced courses because it's been 10 years since I worked at the dealer and a lot has changed. Yes anyone can take the same courses Ford techs take. Here's a link. http://www.motorcraftservice.com/vdi...il/default.asp that link will also guide you to the hardware and everything I spoke of concerning your question.
No it's not feasible unless you consider it an option or accessory that you must have (my thought process) for your vehicle.
I paid up for peace of mind, I can't stand anyone touching my vehicle(s) at all and no way in hell am I going to trust them with my electronics (unless a warranty repair or recall) and then ONLY after I run the tests my self so they don't feed me some line of bs when I take it in.
.