Ford's hidden test feature test your gages
 

Ford decided to include a cool hidden feature (HEC Dealer test mode) in the instrument cluster starting in 99. With a simple press of the trip button and turn of the key you could not only test your instrument cluster (gauges), oil pressure and speedo senders, but get a real time digital readout of your speed, tach and other info as you drive your F150.

I tried it and it works there is also a list of trouble codes you can read through the instrument cluster.

http://www.mustangworld.com/ourpics/fcar/dtcodes.htm


http://www.mustangworld.com/ourpics/News/99hec.htm

its been done and known...

but thanks for the links!

i didn't know what some of those meant.

At what point in the process can you safely start the engine?

-Joe-
nevermind... should've read the whole thing first!

Instructions? Who needs 'em?!


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98 Explorer (Lemon Law Case in Progress)

'00 F-150, X-cab, 4x4, Lariat, Off-road, Trailer Tow, Holandia Sunroof, built 11/99 picked up 10/00!Clear Corners, Manik Stainless Steel 1-piece brush guard, Custom CB wiring, Uniden PC76-XLW CB radio with K-40 Magna-Mount antenna (for now), 1 set of 165 watt KC Daylighters (for now... more on the way) Custom switch mounting plate and overhead console, Bully Stainless Steel Trailer hitch drawbarw/ 2" stainless steel ball.
List of planned mods: Clear tails, torsion bar tweak, bug deflector, spray in liner, and a tonneau of some sort...

93 Probe GT teal, OE rims painted to match, bone stock drivetrain.

[This message has been edited by GIJoeCam (edited 03-05-2001).]

awesome I was testing that out on my home last night, I probably drove off the road checkin out my gauge as I was driving along, LOL.

I thought the oil pressure gauge always reads back the same until the actual pressure drops past a certain point then the gauge drops to zero. If they have the data acquired why don't they use it?


G

well I think often people get oil pressure and oil amount mixed up. Because you can cram 7 quarts into a 5 quart oil receptacle, but still have low oil pressure, if say you had an oil pump failing or something wrong. Obviously DONT put 7 quarts into a 5 quart receptacle cause your gonna do more damage, but I know that a lot of people get oil pressure and amount of oil confused. I like the guage trick though https://www.f150online.com/f150board/smile.gif.

to keep the people of lesser knowledge from taking their truck to the dealer for service every time the gauge would show normal oil pressure fluctuations.

I just remembered that someone on the ford-Diesel website had a way to make the oil pressure gauge show actual readings. It was pretty involved, but several guys did it. Do a search over there if you're interested. www.Ford-Diesel.com
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BigBunnell

98 F150 4X4 XLT flareside V6 5sp K&N Flowmaster and some other goodies


[This message has been edited by BigBunnell (edited 03-10-2001).]

i ran the diag. test, everything seems fine but my oil reading is 000 when the engine is running or when the engine is off, but the oil pressure gauge needle is right between L and H..... should i be worried? and by the way ive driven a lot over the past month (over 3500 miles) and i wont be able to get an oil change in until sometime next week.... whats the most miles you've put on your truck before an oil change? thanx in advanced

Thanks alot Screwit! I printed the article, now I can't wait to try it.:cool:

hidden dio test oil read out
 

branrulz

hey mine did the same thing the 000 on the oil pressure
if you find an answer please let me know . I am going past the dealer ship and will ask

on the oil /mileage question the owners manul says 5k miles but I get a sick feeling in my stomic if I go pask 3k between changes
what kind of oil? I know guys that run amsoil synthetics and the go 10k and swear by the stuff
I love my truck to much to try that though maybey after the first 100k

Roy

I wouldn't worry about the 000 reading. The info said:
So a reading of 000 would be normal.

Fade

There is also a test for your radio speakers. If you push buttons 3 & 6 at the same time the radio will do a speaker check and shut down all but 1 speaker at a time.

The bad thing is if your display is on the blink you can't read all that info.

Be careful when you do this...you can reset your trip odometer...Not a big deal unless you like tracking mileage!
:p

This is really cool. I've know about it for a while, but have just now tried it. It is too bad that this info couldn't be routed to another display so you could have the odometer and the other stuff at the same time.