Just recently picked up a new FX2 and had a quik question. When I was looking at the Chevy I noticed there was a simple mod where you could add the advance message center buttons to the Chevy and it would then show the instaneous MPG and other advance features. The capability was already there you just had to get a better option package to get the advanced message center. I guess folks could install these buttons for less than 70bucks.

My question is can this be done on the Ford as well?

 

Try pushing the button near your odometer

 

I asked this question a few weeks ago, but i guess nobody has tried it yet. I would assume its just a plug like the one on the gm.

 

Yes I know that...but there is more functionality I believe starting with the Lariat that will show instaneous MPG and I think a running clock and some other features. These have buttons not near the odometer that you use to scroll through all your message center options. I was hoping there was a cheap way like the GM trucks have to add this capability. Can anyone help out?

 

What you see is what you get for features. The message center above the radio is for the stereo and on higher end models, is also used for climate control. That's it. GM uses the center for it's message center as opposed to putting it on the dash. Ford no longer uses instant MPG, but now uses average MPG instead. You can reset the average at anytime. The only additional function you could possible get in the center is if you switched to the automatic climate control. Don't know if if it's just a matter of getting the sensors and control panel or if there's more to it.

 

I am talking about the message center below the odometer not the one above the console that shows radio stations, temp and sync commands. In the Lariat it does show an electronic looking guage in the odometer message center that has the instaneous MPG not just the average. This is the same as in the GM trucks.

 

My owner's manual describes a standard message center and an optional message center. The manual only provides information on how to display average fuel economy with the standard message center while it includes information on how to display both the average and instantaneous fuel economy with the optional message center.

I have the standard message center.

However, I learned from this site that I can put the standard message center into an engineering test mode by holding down the reset stalk while starting the truck and continuing to hold the stalk down until the message center says ENGINEERING TEST MODE.

In engineering test mode, there are additional displays you can sequence thru including an extra one for fuel economy. I believe the extra fuel economy display provides either a maximum or instantaneous value because it was showing 20.6 MPG during a long trip on the highway while the regular display was showing between 17 and 18 MPG at the same time. However, it didn't behave dynamically so it seems more likely to be a maximum or peak recorded economy (probably since the last reset). I haven't exactly figured it out yet.

 

You don't have it and never will. Unless someone thinks of a way.

 

May want to spring for one of these? http://www.scangauge.com/

I keep putting it off. One of these days.

 

that looks pretty cool, wish they had one that did abs codes too.

 

...which is exactly why he's asking.

Thanks for the constructive input anyway.

 

No one has, so thanks for quoting me.

 

As far as i am concerned the message center display is the same in all of the trucks, and i am sure it is possible to get the xlt's to display the same things as the upscale models. I am just waiting to find a lariat or king ranch at a junk yard so that i can follow the cables. Also in engineering mode the other thing it displays is RAFE avg. and that stands for Running Average Fuel Economy.

 

Did anyone get an answer to this question? I looked in my truck (08 Screw) and behind the blank panel where the buttons would be is a wire plugged into a dummy slot on the backside of the blank. Does that mean if I were to get the buttons and plug them in they'd work?

 

don't worry, you guys aren't missing much by not having the advanced message center. It doesn't even tell you the instantaneous MPG's in numbers, rather it's a series of like 5 bars. Basically it's either 5 bars when you're coasting, and 1 or 2 bars when you're on the throttle/gas. really helpful....