Can't talk to computer

[ozarkhiker]

The Ford dealership that works on my truck is great and does a great job but has hit a snag with my truck. When he tries to connect to my computer it tells him that there is no connection and information can't be shared. Anybody ever have this happen and know what needs to be done? We have never replaced the orig. computer and never done any elect. work that would disrupt it. They seem dumbfounded and they're supposed to be experts!

 

[kevinsranger]

did you turn off your firewall? enable cookies? no man i never heard of it sorry, thought this was funny

 

[MAKG]

The computer TELLS him there is no connection? I think you mean the scan tool says that.

And despite what you may think, you do need a new mechanic if he can't figure out how to troubleshoot this. It means he doesn't understand it, and hasn't bothered to go looking in the manuals.

 

[ozarkhiker]

Thanks so far and yes I realize the message appears on his laptop or scan equipment. Just frustrated becasue this is a big dealership with all the fancy equipment...guess you gotta know how to use it too.

 

[Bob Ayers]

Try resetting the PCM. Disconnect the negative battery cable with the headlights on, and the PCM will reset.

 

[AllanD]

The rule my brother follows is that if the scan tool will not talk to the computer is "frisbee"

Meaning that the PCM gets frisbee'd at the nearest parts counterman
with the statement "Shit's bad, needs one"

personally I say " It's DEAD Jim!"

In either case if the scan tool WILL NOT "Talk" to the PCM the
PCM often has an irrepairable problem.

Though it's POSSIBLE there is a bad contact in the path between the computer
and the test connector

A junkyard computer is easy enough to aquire... IF you can verify that the
computer is the problem.

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[MAKG]

Another possibility is an unpowered or ungrounded PCM. Those will also yield "no connection" since it makes the scan tool think it's talking to a doorstop with a 60 pin connector on it.

A dead battery will do this as well.

Though if the truck runs, these can't be the issue.

 

[AllanD]

If the PCM ground is bad the fuel pump relay won't turn on.

BTDT, I left my own PCM to body ground lug loose when I was doing
my 4.0 conversion... everything was ready, "everything checked twice" (not!)
and the bugger wouldn't start.

It was 1:45am I had been working on the truck for 19hours
and that was the sixth day in a row, I decided that the next
to things on the scheduel involved a 1.75liter bottle of Bicardi
Black, several 2liter bottles of cocacola, a bag of fresh limes
and then sleeping it off.

After a serious bout of heavy drinking, a long nights rest, breakfast
at the crack of noon we literally found the loose lug in under a minute.

Then to discover that six years of sitting on the engine stand had turned
the gasoline in the fuel rail into something more like roofing tar.

But that's another story.

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