2020 Suspension issues

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

codeman

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2020
Posts
114
Reaction score
109
Location
Canada
I hope you guys are right! With the quality of the shocks it seems odd it’d not be more comfortable on the road. Both my wife and I feel sick after an hour in the truck. I figured that would be a large part of the active suspension setup for on-road use being a good combination of comfort and performance ... I’ll definitely report back here with progress
 

nikhsub1

FRF Addict
Joined
Mar 5, 2017
Posts
4,332
Reaction score
5,045
Location
Los Angeles
Seems like the OP has an issue where the live valve system thinks it’s unplugged. The shocks default to full stiff when that happens. Seems when you wiggled a couple of the connectors to the ride height sensors it reconnected for a bit and rode properly. I’d look to bad connections or bunk sensor(s).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 

Idaho

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2020
Posts
243
Reaction score
236
Location
North Carolina
Does unplugging the modules reset the PCM for the shocks? And if so, does the truck need to be running when you unplug them? Also is one of those plugs or both?
 
OP
OP
R

RexusRaptor

Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2020
Posts
19
Reaction score
3
Location
Pasadena, CA
Does unplugging the modules reset the PCM for the shocks? And if so, does the truck need to be running when you unplug them? Also is one of those plugs or both?
Not sure if it’s a reset or not. Taking it back into the dealer on Monday 1/4 they have Ford looking into the issue.
Yes I’ve always had it running and in park. Unplug both connectors let it sit for a moment and then plug them back in. You might get an error code that says terrain management unavailable see dealer but that goes away as soon as I plug the module back in. My steering mode is typically in sport and when it unplugs it reverts it to normal. I’ll continue to update.

Really hoping someone else tries this and it does the same thing as mine.
 

Idaho

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2020
Posts
243
Reaction score
236
Location
North Carolina
This could be just in my head, but I unplugged the modules, drove a little, plugged them back in and the ride seems noticeably better. I wouldn't say it's dramatic, but feeling smoother overall on the bumps around town.

Once again, this could just be in my head or there is some sort of magic going on in that module that unplugging and plugging back in unlocked. A bit frustrating for sure, at this point I'm wishing I had gone with a 2018 for the non-live valve shocks and full leather seats.
 
OP
OP
R

RexusRaptor

Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2020
Posts
19
Reaction score
3
Location
Pasadena, CA
Ok day 4 of my truck at the dealer again. They have told me the “wet” on the ends of the steering rack is normal that it’s grease from when it’s assembled but they cannot tell me why my alignment never holds yet the alignment hardware is marked and doesn’t move. Onto the suspension issue. I explained what I did to the dealer and they are stuck they don’t understand how unplugging and plugging the VDM back in would change anything. I luckily have contacts at Ford Performance and when I told them my end they said it’s either a bad VDM, bad height sensors, or a bad under hood wiring harness. I’m now in the process of getting the dealer to hopefully swap those three pieces out but without being able to “duplicate” the issue it’s a hard fight. It’s just about time to lemon law this truck it seems. Going to contact a lawyer tomorrow to see if it qualifies while Ford and the dealer figure things out.
The Saga continues
 

FordTechOne

FRF Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2019
Posts
6,672
Reaction score
13,071
Location
Detroit
Ok day 4 of my truck at the dealer again. They have told me the “wet” on the ends of the steering rack is normal that it’s grease from when it’s assembled but they cannot tell me why my alignment never holds yet the alignment hardware is marked and doesn’t move. Onto the suspension issue. I explained what I did to the dealer and they are stuck they don’t understand how unplugging and plugging the VDM back in would change anything. I luckily have contacts at Ford Performance and when I told them my end they said it’s either a bad VDM, bad height sensors, or a bad under hood wiring harness. I’m now in the process of getting the dealer to hopefully swap those three pieces out but without being able to “duplicate” the issue it’s a hard fight. It’s just about time to lemon law this truck it seems. Going to contact a lawyer tomorrow to see if it qualifies while Ford and the dealer figure things out.
The Saga continues

The steering rack contains no fluid, so any “wet” is the result of tie rod grease or outside contamination. Is your truck completely stock?

As far as the ride quality issue, the dealer is required to verify the concern before performing any diagnostics or repairs. That’s true for all brands. Have you demonstrated the issue to them and showed the difference by comparing with a like unit?

If there are no DTCs and the issue is resolved by disconnecting and reconnecting the VDM, root cause is the VDM, connector pin fitment at the VDM, or a VDM power/ground issue.
 

QCRappy

FRF Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2012
Posts
1,100
Reaction score
483
Location
Charlotte, NC
I experienced this at 600 miles on a new 2020 on 11/6 before anything was done to the truck. The error was "drive control malfunction" and it has to do with the shock solenoids. When that error happens (third time now) the truck stiffens up and feels awful. When I push ok or restart the truck, it goes away. Now truck has about 2500 miles and it just came back on again but turned off and somehow goes away. A Ford Tech on the Gen2 FB group said this is a very common problem, the truck can be brand new with 100 miles or whenever but most likely will happen.

In 2019 when this happened, Ford would replace the entire shock but learned not long ago to just replace the bad solenoid. I had appts to take my truck in but the dealership isn't a convenient drive
 

EastEndAngler

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2020
Posts
165
Reaction score
136
Location
Long Island, NY
Im starting to think i've got these issues too. All summer long I had what I thought was a very smooth ride. Fast forward to a little before Thanksgiving and I feel every little road imperfection and the truck feels extra stiff. The front left shock also excessively stiff and some "thud" type noises during low speed travel over minor road imperfections.

@FordTechOne - is the best way to document this using ForScan and logging the oscilator/PID values for the shock heigh sensors/ voltage?
 
Top