Don Ridley

I think that is for the third brake light. The location does not appear to meet US DOT standards so another light was installed in the top middle of the TC.

As part of another (unsuccessful) project, I found the trunk release switch from a Focus will also release the liftgate on a TC. I bought a switch from a local salvage yard for $30. It is easy to install by removing the side panel and popping out the switch panel with plastic panel removal tools. The switch sends a signal over the LIN (low speed network) to control the lights, trunk release etc.. Apparently the trunk release LIN message also releases the liftgate (actually unlatches to door, not just unlock like the button on the key fob). The switch will not activate if the vehicle is in gear. Not sure if this is useful, but I had the switch so I installed it. I think a 2012+ Focus switch will work.

The gas nozzles in California have vapor recovery systems. The nozzle has a rubber boots that seals against the vehicle filler housing. A retainer ring around the nozzle pipe is supposed to hold the nozzle in the fill neck against the pressure from the rubber and/or spring loaded boot. The filler neck on my 2016 does not hook onto the retainer ring properly. The spring loaded boots pop the nozzle out of the filler neck. This appears to be a design issue with these types of filler necks. I have heard that California is battling with Ford over this design. For info, the vapor recovery systems are only needed on older vehicles. The system sucks in the gas vapors that are displaced when filling. Newer cars have built in vapor recovery. This is why we don't smell gas fumes any more when filling up a newer car. California wants to retire the vapor recovery requirement in a few years. The only concern is communities and people that have a lot of old cars will be negatively impacted so who knows what will happen. FYI, the vapor recovery requirement was the single most effective regulation in reducing smog. It had the added benefit of reducing the driver to acute exposure to toxic fumes.

Changing the steering wheel is not a problem. This post shows you can add cruise control if the new steering wheel has the buttons.

Finding a source for automotive connectors is difficult. These parts are usually sold only in large quantities. I would make a new connector. Buy a crimping tool and a two pin connector set on amazon, eBay etc. Buy extra parts to practice using the crimp tool. Much cheaper than $170. Another option. Is to find a used connector from a salvage yard. Molex Connector Lot, 5 Matched Sets, ( 2-Circuits ) w/14-20 AWG .093" Pins, Free Hanging https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074G5PQHL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_4qv7CbHC31HM2 Deutsch DT Series 2 Pin Connector Kit w/Barrel Style Terminals 16-20 AWG https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3RS64E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_1rv7Cb06CGPRS

Racing stripes being acceptable is a matter of opinion.... I am sure we all agree this driver has issues.

The F150s and US cars have different programming than the Euro models. The BCM in the TC doesn't have a lot of data that can be edited like a F150. We are stuck with the tire size options in the Forscan menu.

I agree you likely have a problem or malfunction. These brakes are already larger than other small vehicles' brakes. An upgrade possibility is to use Focus RS brakes. But this is not a simple bolt-on and may not be possible if TC and Focus brakes are different (plus it's expensive). The Focus forums have info.

Nice work!

There is a arrow in the plastic moulding along the bottom on my TC the shows the jack points.

750 rpm is normal.

Have you checked for Sync updates? My 2016 with SYNC 1 has been updated once since I purchased it. Update using a USB drive. Google SYNC updates to find the website. I never have to reset the system. Voice commands work mostly.

Each module has a bunch of hexadecimal numbers (0 to F) that define the configuration. You can see and edit this in Forscan. Ford has a website that stores the configuration of each module as it was shipped from the factory. This site will show the configuration based on the VIN. Below is an example of the IPC configuration. You can pull your as built configuration and compare if you wanted to see the differences. I only had to change one number on the new IPC. I know it looks complicated, but it is not bad once you study it for a while. ipc example.docx

FWIW, of the 20+ modifications and upgrades, this is top 5. The screen looks better and contains more info. Plus, you look at this every time you drive so you are constantly reminded of your handiwork.

Check the owners manual. Single and double press options can be user configured for the key fob. This may be configurable in the 2019s.

The 2014-2016 clusters should be interchangeable. The prefix may identify the firmware in the unit or maybe just the model year. This part number strategy is similar for all parts. I saw the same pattern on the head units (acm). I am 90% sure a 2016 cluster will work on your 2015. There were no significant changes in those model years. But, use a 2015 if you can find one. The new cluster is identical except for the LCD display and silver painted trim around the gauges. The odometer company requires a signed statement that you are not changing for financial gain. It is easier for a crooked seller to buy a base model cluster and replace the existing one if they want to cheat.

The rear lift gate on my 2016 unlocks with the door buttons.

This looks promising https://allusedparts.com/ford/transit_connect/2016/speedometer/ I would request photos.

IPC cost $75-$150. Odometer programming $90 + shipping(return shipping included in the $90). Use PN FT1T-10849-Ux. The U designates the color display. Any lower letter is the standard led display. Search the internet. These are rare but not expensive. Look for salvaged titanium trim Transit Connects. Try to confirm the cluster via photos. Get the VIN from the donor vehicle. Use this to look up the configuration (but I found all the Ti trims had the same configuration) and for record keeping. Use multiple search engines and variations of the part number. There are at least a couple more units out there. I deleted the URLs from my searches or I would share it. They were about $130.

Don, This upgrade is likely a plug and play on your TC. Mechanically, it is 4 screws and an electrical connector. If you want to try it, I can look at your existing IPC configuration and see if you need to make any changes. You would only need the Forscan app on a smartphone and the elm327 adapter to reset DTCs (if any). I am sure I could have simply installed the new cluster and everything would have worked and the only issue would have been the odometer. This was one of the best mods I have done. Don D

I think the digital speedometer was deleted with a warranty upgrade/repair to the programming in the body control module on 2014s. There is a post regarding this.

Success! The new cluster works perfectly. I used the configuration that was in the new cluster and changed one register to match my old cluster: 720-03-01 2B01 xxxx xxxx changd to 2901 xxxx xxxx This register may be related to navigation, which I don't have. Overall this swap was very easy once I found the used cluster. It cost $90 to update the odometer http://odo-pro.com/index.html

UPGRADE TO HD RADIO-1/2 Fail The Transit Connect premium factory audio head unit (Audio Control Module, ACM) for the TC comes in two configurations that I have identified: with Sat and HD Radio and without Sat and HD. I wanted to upgrade my ACM to HD radio. I read numerous posts on the F150, Fusion and Escape forums that showed this was possible. I would need a new ACM and need to reconfigure its programming using Forscan. But my TC is configured with the small center console LCD display and the successful upgrades were made with vehicles that had the larger display. Here are some of the forum threads I used. Livinitup at the F150 forum decoded the ACM configuration. His spreadsheet is the Forscan modification bible. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uDSQ1Z5a2Wt8-kjrSiVSlDFGFHnfeuhb3RTMVz95730/edit#gid=338817466 https://www.fordescape.org/forum/3g-electronics-audio-lighting/73513-2016-se-upgrade-hd-radio.html#/topics/88162?page=4 Tutorial https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-8dKaS_Spu4Zw4hV_CrKC4tLoP9G8yejqegF1wxIqxY/edit I found a used ACM for $100. The units are the same for 2014-2017 (maybe 2018?) TCs. Sat/HD units are easily identified by a HD radio logo on the label and an extra antenna connection for Sat radio. SAT/HD units have a “C” suffix in the part number: Standard unit DT1T-19C107-Ax Sat/HD unit DT1T-19C107-Cx (CA,CB etc..) The F150 spreadsheet in general is not useful for Focus, TC and Escape owners because most of the functions in our cars use Central Configuration to make changes. But the ACM is a stand-alone module and you can change by manually editing data bits in each memory location (register) like the F150 and Fusions. The spreadsheet shows configurations for the standard ACMs and the Sony premium ACMs (not available for the TC). After a lot of research I saw there were a couple of key registers in HD radios that were different from my ACM. Long story short, I installed the new ACM and changed the following: 727-01-01 x8xx xxxx xxxx change to x0xx xxxx xxxx (8=no HD, 0=HD radio) All other registers were tested with the original and the new ACM config without any difference in function. They likely relate to Sat radio functions and that is turned “off” in the original configuration by the first bit in 727-01-01 Xxxxx xxxx xxxx. My ACM config: Does it work? Maybe. The small LCD display does not appear to have the ability to display the “HD” radio icon when an HD station is identified. HD radio units will automatically play stations in HD or analog depending on what’s available. If the HD signal is too weak the station switches to analog. If I ever hear this switch I will know the HD radio is working. There are no DTCs and all radio functions work. FYI, the various forums noted that ACMs were made by Sony and Sanyo. The circuity in the TC ACM has no manufacturer markings. The controller chip on the CD drive is made by Pioneer. If you added a Sat radio antenna you could find the ACM sat radio serial number and subscribe. PRE-AMP AUDIO OUTPUTS-Fail DanMc85 at the 2G Fusion forum found the ACM can be configured with pre-amp outputs for the audio signals. http://www.2gfusions.net/showthread.php?tid=3704 727-01-01 xx0x xxxx xxxx change to xx5x xxxx xxxx I tested this with my existing speaker level inputs into my amp and the change reduced the signal going into the amp. So I rewired the amp using the RCA inputs. But the new low level signal is too low. The amp did not have enough gain to amplify the signal properly. The ACM in the TC is different from the one’s used in the F150 and Fusion. The pre-amp signal is not 4V. I saw a recent post where someone else had the same problem and measured the signal at 0.5V. This modification does not work. Final note: These modifications are safe because you are only changing the ACM. It is a simple, stand alone module that is probably impossible to brick and replacements are cheap. Many of the ACM settings in the spreadsheet don’t apply to the non-Sony ACM used in the TC. .

90k is the lifetime of platinum plugs. Replace them and your misfires should disappear. Replace the coil packs only as they fail. The focus st guys regap their plugs periodically. I will check/do this every 30k miles. But my 2016 only has 22k mi.