Tl;dr: Ford Flex never offered lanekeeping or auto highbeams because the windshield is more vertical than any other model. The entirety of the system is built into the rearview mirror, so I designed an adapter to fit a Lincoln mirror. I started with a mirror from a 2016 Lincoln MKT.
I tried many many different designs for the adapter because I was also learning 3d modeling and printing at the same time. At one point my mirror refused to calibrate, so I bought a second one from a 2013 MKT. Figured it out though and kept it as a spare, then damaged the camera ribbon in it like a schmuck.
Well the other week I was working on the girl next door's transmission and thought it was weird that a Titanium trim didn't have an autodimming rearview mirror. Doing a quick eBay search, came across another lanekeeping mirror for $20. It said it was for a Focus but i knew that was wrong. It was the correct shape for mine, but came out of a Lincoln MKZ.
Now, we need discuss network architecture a little bit. Most Fords/Lincolns were CGEA 1.3 starting in 2013. Flex, Taurus, MKS, MKT, and Continental never got that upgrade; they were all CGEA 1.2 right up to the end.
Some modules are compatible with both networks and there's a configuration bit you change to specify which network it's on. Some modules are hardcoded for a specific network. These mirrors are hardcoded.
In preparation for updating my "how to install lanekeeping in a Flex" guide, I wanted to see if there was any way to get that MKZ/1.3 mirror to work. There's certainly a better supply of Fusion/MKZ parts than Taurus/MKS on eBay.
Right off the bat I could tell there were compatibility issues. When I connected the mirror, I was given "lanekeeping fault", "keep hands on steering wheel", and the lanemarkings showed green / red. All this despite being in park.
I decided to try a firmware update. I was able to pull compatible firmware for the known-good 2016MKT mirror I've been using for years, plus the firmware for the 2013MKZ mirror. I tried flashing the 16!MKT to the 13!MKZ and it kept faulting out, bricking the mirror.
At this moment, I'm not sure if the issue is that I'm putting 1.2 firmware on a 1.3 mirror, or 2016 firmware on a 2013 mirror. The camera itself is slightly different between the two years.
I could try flashing the 16!MKT firmware to the 13!MKT mirror, but I couldn't get compatible firmware for the 13 and would have no way to recover it in the case of failure. The mirror itself is useless in a car -- missing ribbon cable and I drilled a couple test holes in it -- but I still use it as a benchtop CANBUS generator for testing modules I build.
It's frustrating doubly because apparently the mirrors are the hardest thing to update firmware on, but any threads in the forscan forum are by disgusting illiterate euros so there's no useful information. The forum/software itself claims to be American and only accepts support tickets in English, despite clearly being Russian.
So all this was to avoid doing my actual job and i wanted an excuse to post this video. The module reflash process scared the shit out of me the first time it ran. I was most confused by the crash alert -- according to every wiring diagram, those LEDs are wired in series and not addressable. It shouldn't be possible to only light up the middle few. Idk. I'm bored and sick of everything.
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What do you think of the Escape and Edge? Would recommend any firmware or other upgrades for 10-year-old models?
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The Escape/Focus/Fiesta is kind of an oddball amongst the lineup, architecturally. They use more of a European network called CCC or something.
Forscan can technically interface with it to make changes but I know there's extra steps involved.
Annoyingly the Forscan forums are overflowing with foreigners who HI I HAVE MK3.5 FOCUS PLEASE HOW TO ENABLING TSR all over the place. The Focus was way more popular overseas. Also my work wi-fi blocks the forscan forum.
The 2011-2014 Edge is similar to the 2011-2015 Explorer, so you can probably get an idea from this spreadsheet though it's not going to tell you much about retrofits. I had to compare my AsBuilts to an MKT to determine what bits enable lanekeeping. Massaging seats were actually the easiest -- a single well-known bit in the radio to enable the page.
Generally if it was available on your year/model or similar models, it can usually be added but not always. So you could add most Lincoln MKC features because it's the same basic car. But if you have an F150 XLT, it's hard to add reverse parking sensors because the main Body module would have to be changed to a higher trim version. Technically possible but cost-prohibitive.
The most common things people do that don't require new hardware are
Disable the "engine running" double honk on pushbutton-start models
Enable navigation on Sync2
Disable hyperflash when using LED turn signals
Enable keyboard/texting in motion (you'll lose 911 Assist though)
Change daytime running lights
Change how long powerpoints run
Speedometer correction with aftermarket wheels
And with extra hardware...
Replace Sync2 with Sync3
Enable reverse camera
Add power running boards
Add heated seats / steering wheel
On my Bronco I was also able to enable global window closing, changed the DRL turn signals to amber, disable double-honk, etc. F150 Lighting, changed lightbar brightness and enabled the Matrix highbeam lighting from higher trims.
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Thanks! I might just stick with the stock features. If I had a model that was capable of heated seats /steering I would try to get that. Maybe one day we'll be able to do some crazy shit like flash custom operating systems or something
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Well your model is likely capable of seats/steering, just need the parts.
It'd be nice to tighten up the graphics a bit in my cars. I hate how laggy the UI animations are compared to my Chevy.
Everything else about the truck sucks, but i like the smooth animations
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Oh shit you're right. Just looked it up and even my older model has them.
Yeah if there was the ability to upload custom firmware then potentially everything could be changed at a whim, including graphical interfaces
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