Drive Mode Memory Installation

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wakeboarder

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I was tired of hitting the button 5 times every time I started the car to put it in ECO mode. I like the way adaptive cruise control responds in ECO mode. I think there are a lot of people who would use this for sport mode.

I saw the memory module for the F150 and I wanted to see if I could make it work for my Expedition.

1. Functionality notes
1.1. Install at your own risk. I won’t guarantee that this will work on your vehicle. I’m not liable for any damages. I also can’t guarantee that there are no typos in my write-up.
1.2. This was done on a 2wd. I’m not sure if it will work on a 4wd. I think the 4wd’s use CAN with the dial for the drive modes. The 2wd’s use a simple switch.
1.3. If remote start is used, it won’t work correctly. One of two things can be done to rectify the issue.
1.3.1. Shut off and start the car again before driving off.
1.3.2. Don’t touch the drive mode button until after shutting off the car.
1.4. It gets stops one mode short of the intended mode if there is a notification active on the instrument cluster. This includes, but is not limited to the following modes.
1.4.1. Reverse proximity sensor settings while in reverse
1.4.2. Parking brake is released message. You have to be quick to release the parking brake so the message will disappear in time.
1.4.3. Full accessory power is active message when turning ignition on without starting.
1.5. The default delay for the drive mode memory module to become active is about 10 seconds.
2. Materials needed
2.1. 1x 5 mode memory module for column shifter (F150) from http://timers.shop/.
2.2. 3x wire taps. I used Posi-tap
2.3. Liquid electrical tape
2.4. Small diameter heat shrink
2.5. Wire tie
3. Installation
3.1. Disconnect the battery
3.2. Open center console lid
3.3. Remove top of center console. See from the 1:00 minute to 3:00 minute mark of this video. Note the video is for an F150, so it is slightly different. 3.4. Several connectors need to be disconnected to get full access to the bottom of the gear shift module.
3.5. Carefully cut back or unwind the loom tape from around the gear shift module harness. I had disconnected the harness to get better access.
upload_2020-4-1_22-45-23.png
3.6. Find the following wires
3.6.1. Black w/ blue stripe - Ground
3.6.2. Brown w/ green stripe – Switch output
3.6.3. Brown w/ white stripe – +12v supply
3.7. Install wire taps on these wires.
3.8. If you want to further verify that you have the correct wires, measure voltage.
3.8.1. With drive mode button not pressed. Ignition on.
3.8.1.1. Voltage from brown w/ white stripe to black w/ blue stripe 12 volts.
3.8.1.2. Voltage from brown w/ white stripe to brown w/ green stripe 12 volts.
3.8.1.3. Voltage from brown w/ green stripe to black w/ blue stripe 0 volts.
3.8.2. With drive mode button pressed and held in. Ignition on.
3.8.2.1. Voltage from brown w/ green stripe to black w/ blue stripe 12 volts.
3.9. Cut the harness from one side of the memory module.
IMG_E0172.JPG
3.10. Paint a few layers of liquid electrical tap on the exposed wire leads.
IMG_E0174.JPG
3.11. Using the cut off memory module harness, heat shrink over the two unused wires.
3.12. Connect the harness to the wire taps according to the image. Ensure the orientation is the same as the picture.
IMG_E0180.JPG
3.13. Secure the memory module to the harness.
IMG_0181.JPG
3.14. Plug everything back in
3.15. Re-connect the battery.
3.16. Start the truck. Change the setting. Shut off truck. Start truck again and verify the setting was remembered.
3.17. Reinstall the console cover
4. Does anyone know of a wire that gets 12 volts only when the car is put into drive? This would help alleviate most of the issues with 1.3 and 1.4.

I don't work for timer.shop. I may do a couple other modifications to the installation.
1. Install a switch inline with the memory mode module positive wire so I can trick it into thinking I just started the truck. I think this would help me for the remote start application.
2. See if I can get another module with a longer delay. I usually back into parking spots, so I don't have to worry about the reverse sensor message.
 

Grey ghost

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You must be kidding, wire nuts on your wiring harness?no thanks.mine drives fine in normal mode with my 5 star tuner.rarely use sport and never use eco.
 
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wakeboarder

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You must be kidding, wire nuts on your wiring harness?no thanks.mine drives fine in normal mode with my 5 star tuner.rarely use sport and never use eco.

Wire nuts have no place in automotive use. I used posi-taps. For dry locations I prefer to use them rather than cutting the OEM wire harness. If I ever want to remove it, it leaves very little evidence. Regardless, a person should use whatever they feel comfortable with to tap into the harness. DE8137BD-FC82-4F5C-A774-84734877293E.jpeg
 
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wakeboarder

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So, I have had this over a month now and I really like it. I did make a few changes.
1. I talked to Slava at timers.shop. He sent me a drive mode memory module with a 1 minute delay. This seems to work better. I rarely have any problems with the drive mode getting out of sync since I'm driving by that time. It takes care of the issue noted in 1.4 of my original post. Also, if I don't want to wait a minute for the drive mode to be set, I can set it manually and it stays there at 1 minute mark.
2. I installed a NC momentary switch on the +12VDC line going to mode memory module. This helps me in 2 situations.
2.1 If I remote start the car, I just have to press the NC switch and it think the car restarted. Everything works normally from that point.
2.2 If the drive mode gets out of sync as noted in 1.4 of my original post, I can do the following:
2.2.1 Press and hold the NC momentary switch. Press the drive mode button until it gets to the mode "normal". Release the momentary switch. This re-syncs the memory module with the Expy.

The majority of the time it works as intended and I don't have to press the NC switch. Last weekend I took the boat to the lake. It remembered the towing drive mode every time.
 
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