On the Road Again

Adding some pic's, hope they show ok.

# 1- Wheelchair lift, in the stored position so any passengers can get by.
# 2- Back of Transit with the relocated batteries and an additional one. Also show always on, rear facing camera and the relocated last row of seats (waiting for power couch/bed to arrive) and some of the monkey bars.
# 3- composting toilet, inverter and chair docking system. Chair backs up to inverter area.
# 4- 3 Camera monitoring system. (in-line with passenger side mirror)
# 5-Note hand grips on both "A" pillars.
# 6- Passenger side camera.

Dash cam and GPS to be mounted to underside of overhead shelf, dc behind mirror and GPS under lights.

Semper Fi

All,

Yes it has been a long wait, over 5 months just for the modifications after finally having Ford deliver it. I got it back 1 week short of a year after ordering it.

A lot of the time on modifications was because it hadn't been done before. Thankfully, my up fitter is a multi-disciplined engineer, who is also a para. He takes a lot of pride in his ability to help others. Now that he has done a few Transits (he did the 1st U.S. modification, mine was the 2nd but ended up being the 3rd finished due to more necessary modifications on mine) , he has other upfitter companies asking him for help. The# 1 major issue was the moving of the batteries to allow a transfer seat, otherwise a lot of us would only be allowed to be passengers.

I can finally be independent again, and go out whenever I want and be able to get around on my own in my power chair. It was rougher on my wife for the past 2 1/2 years, in order for me to leave the house she had to load up a backup manual chair and then push me everywhere. I'm not exactly a small person, while she is.

I'll be taking it back after the New Year's, for hopefully, a short list of minor tweaks. I've already got a couple of things that need to be moved for better functionality and the pictures of the switches that robertl, posted, have given me an idea to have some 12v plugs controlled by same, up on the shelf. That way I won't have plug in power cords from GPS , dash cam and whatever else I want to add, hanging down to the center console plugs.

I have a Christmas road trip planned to see family, so I will get a good feel for how everything is working. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for the support.

I got my Christmas present ( late for last year, early for this one)

Semper Fi

Was previously asked, on another Thread, about how the batteries were secured in my wagon. Was also asked about the size of the wiring run to the rear of my wagon to accommodate the batteries being that far back, and how they were set up.

Took my Wagon down to the up fitters yesterday 5/17 for some routine maintenance , some needed changes and to put the power rear seat / couch / bed, in.

The batteries currently are bolted to the floor and the wiring to them is 1 / 0 . (the electrician said that is how to discribe it)

The factory dual battery system runs all the OEM equipment and the 3rd battery is separated by the isolator. It runs the lift and the rest of the mobility equipment, only.

There is also an upgrade being added to the power sliding door. Previously, the manufacturer was unaware that the U.S. model Transits would have different wiring than the European models, so making them automatic, eliminated the manual operation of them. The upgrade restores everything back to normal (automatic and manual operation).

I am having the aluminum flooring extended from where it ended in front of the last row of seats all the way to the rear of the Transit. It will be attached to the flooring as the front part is now, batteries will then be bolted to that. This will also allow me to have additional tie down locations placed in the rear of the van to secure bins etc when we are traveling.

It will also provide a place to secure leg mounts (6, 2 on each side and 2 in the middle for support) for a removable shelving system above the battery boxes. These will be constructed to my design to allow me to put grocery and shopping bags there without them spilling all over the interior of the wagon. On trips, that is also where our suitcases will be stored, and the shelfing will be light weight, easily removable, if access to the batteries is needed. I'm also having a frame work made behind the wheel chair lift to have a small safe securely mounted, this gives me a place to put valuables, dash cam, gps, monitor, weapon etc when I'm going to be away from the vehicle and can't or don't want to carry it all with me. Rather than just having to leave it unsecured in the wagon. Frame work will have steel plates welded to it and the safe will be attached to the plates from inside the safe, both for security and to keep it from flying around in an accident.

Since I am having the aluminum flooring extended, this gives me areas for additional tie down locations, so I'm having "Q-Straint" Surface Angle L track (the same tie down system that was installed as a back up system for securing the wheel chair in case the docking system fails) installed. This track comes in longer lengths than the original 4" sections already in place, so I am having them install a piece under the couch overhang, the width of the Wagon. With a few shorter pieces out in the floor area between the wheelchair docking area , lift and the couch, I will then be able to secure anything that I put in the wagon, without needing help to do so.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

Semper Fi

Factory Remote start causing problems for electronics

I mentioned a month or so, ago in the Loss of Power throttle body Thread that my dash module was blacking out and making wagon and mobility equipment inoperable at times, and Ford's response to my dealer.

Well, time for an update.

Ford wanted the dealer to run live diagnostics while a "intermittent dash module failure" was occurring. They didn't get the "intermittent" part. Then the problem started happening more frequently, so I took my wagon back to the dealer on the 3rd of this month to see if they could get it to happen while they had it. First try by them, it happened.

After days of running every wire connection down, the dealership located the problem. Poor wiring and connections for the remote start and my alarm. So the dealership contacted my upfitter to see how he installed it, and any other wiring he installed to the CAN bus. Trouble is he didn't install either and he didn't connect any wiring to the Ford CAN Bus. When I told them who installed my running lights, they checked to see if they had also installed my remote start, they didn't.

Ford Hdqrs was advising problem was being caused by whomever installed the remote start and for the dealership to have them redo it and pay for problem.

When they asked me who installed it, I had to laugh, I said you did (meaning Ford) they ran all their records and advised they had no record of installing it. I said, no, not the dealership but Ford. Had them pull up my window sticker and see that it was a $495. (68 B)option installed at the factory.

Then I remembered that there had been some delays and problems back when the '15's were first coming out, involving remote starts causing orders to be held up. So I checked the Threads here and gave the dealership the info other members had found out.

It has been 10 days now without my wagon. Senior tech and dealership have conferenced with senior Ford techs hoping to find a solution. Dealer called yesterday and said they thought they had it fixed and it was being taken for a test drive and would get it back to me in the afternoon. When I didn't get a call, I knew something had gone wrong.

Called dealership this morning, they advised it wasn't fixed and was happening quite often now.
Hope they reimburse me for wheel chair accessible cab fares, I've needed to get to appointments, since they didn't have hand control, wheel chair accessible loaner available. :|

BTW, the alarm problem is the factory perimeter alarm system (59 D) that is wired with the remote start.

Semper Fi

Still not on the Road, Again


An update on the problem.
Ford called this morning, the long wait was over. Ford had finally sent the dealership all the computer downloads to reinstall all the operating codes after the instrument cluster and control module had been replaced a week ago. They got most of it done the end of last week.

Dealership took it out for a test drive this morning, prior to calling me and returning my Transit (they have had it since 10/3). Tech brought it back and left it idling while he got ready to call me, when the instrument panel blacked out and a few seconds later, the engine cut off. Would not start again. This is a new manifestation of the problem. Previously the instrument panel would black out after the engine was turned off and would have to wait an undetermined time frame for it to come back on, to operate my equipment or restart. Now it is also shutting the engine off while it is running.

Sooooooo , they have escalated problem, again, back to Ford headquarters, and I remain stuck for the 4th week.

Semper Fi

Protection for air bag module

SummerWind PM'ed me with a request for a pic of what the floor looks like without the PB, so I decided to add it here. My installer first covered the hole with a heavy duty plate. Then since there is height difference from the drivers compartment floor and the heater vents, (behind seats) he designed a larger plate that bridge's the gap. This has a dual purpose, It adds further protection for the air bag modules in case another driver or front seat passenger stands on it while moving to the back, and it allows my feet to slide on it without getting hung up as the seat rotates and slides back to my chair. Previously the process ripped my shoes off a couple of times when they got hung up on the slightly higher vent.

The button activating the PB is just barely visible in the area where the coin holder use to be. (to the drivers side of the upfitter switches) Coin holder was removed and replaced. PB button is to the immediate left of switch # 1. To it's left is the automatic sliding door button and the far left is a USB to plug in my flash drive for my oldies music.

Semper Fi