Page 1 of 2
2013 F150 Manual to Dual Auto Climate upgrade
Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2025 2:37 am
by atlaurent
2013 F150 5.0 Super Crew XLT
Hi all,
I've been upgrading and customizing my truck for a number of years, adding/modifing all sorts of things. I had success in doing so until my last mod: manual climate to dual auto climate. The problem I have is that the blower turns on and stays on in defrost mode (hot air) as soon as I turn the key on and I can't change anything, cannot even turn it off. I have the HVAC DTC U0140:00 "lost communication with BCM" and believe is being set due to a calibration error.
This upgrade was made because of the previous one: steering column shifter to floor console shifter. Components changed at that time included the center console and dash, cab harness and dash harness. The original manual climate controls did not match the new harness so I ended up changing the ACM, APIM, HVAC module, Sunload sensor and the AC plenum. I got everything working except the climate as described above.
Any feedback or suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Re: 2013 F150 Manual to Dual Auto Climate upgrade
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2025 10:49 am
by Expat_Zach
On the 2013 F150, did the HVAC module also have connection through APIM for touch screen controls? If so, you may need to program it in through the APIM module as well as the BCM. It’s also possible that since it’s a DEATC system and the BCM wasn’t wired for it, youll have to find the MS_CAN + and MS_CAN - wires and directly splice them into the MS_CAN network. Thats how I had to do it on my PX1 Ranger from 2012 for the same conversion. Without being tied into MS_CAN, nothing will function, not even the aircon compressor as manual controls were on a hardwire switch that sent a signal to the PCM to engage the compressor. DEATC controls send the request over the MS_CAN network to the BCM, which sends the request to the PCM over HS_CAN.
Long story short, your BCM doesn’t have MS_CAN terminations in the socket for the harness that goes to the HVAC module because it was built/configured for manual controls. You'll need to find a wiring diagram to find out what colour wires your MS_CAN+ and - signals are on.
Re: 2013 F150 Manual to Dual Auto Climate upgrade
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2025 4:17 pm
by atlaurent
Thank you very much for your input! I'll look into the MS_CAN wiring.
Re: 2013 F150 Manual to Dual Auto Climate upgrade
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2025 7:11 pm
by Expat_Zach
Yeah, no worries mate! Let me know how ya go with it and if ya need a bit of help with the wiring and all that, let me know. And if ya can’t get your hands on a good wiring manual for your ute, feel free to reach out, because I can possibly get my hands on a proper electrical manual for it, but I’d have to make a few calls.
Re: 2013 F150 Manual to Dual Auto Climate upgrade
Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2025 3:22 am
by atlaurent
Thanks again.
I have the service information data and I've been using it to check on diagrams and other service procedures. I looked at the HVAC and BCM MS_CAN wiring/connectors and everything seems to be there. I also opened the BCM module casing and there are pins hardwired (on the corresponding locations) from the connector side to the circuit board. I'm not sure what you meant by finding the MS_CAN +/- wires and splicing them into the network.
I really appreciate you taking time to help out with this.
Aloha!
Re: 2013 F150 Manual to Dual Auto Climate upgrade
Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2025 5:52 pm
by atlaurent
Thank you for the info.
All my attempts to reprogram the original BCM failed (firmware upgrades and as-built changes). Everything works except the climate. I ended up purchasing from my local Ford dealer a new module and the HVAC started working as soon as I plugged it in. Unfortunatelly, I didn't save the factory settings and in the process of programming and clearing the DTCs, I did a programable module installation with IDS; that loaded a different calibration on the module and the climate stopped working again. I went back in FORscan and changed the firmware (available and factory) but it didn't fix the problem. I noticed the part number changed from DC3T-14B476-DA to my original module part number DC3T-14B476-DB and I'm not sure how to fix this. I looked up calibration files on FJDSSupport but I don't know which would be the correct file to custom change the firmware. So far I managed to brick the module, but luckily I was able to restore it to the version that doesn't work with DEATC.
Expensive $1200 mistake, unless I find the correct calibration files and manage to restore the firmware. A screenshot of the FORscan BCM firmware window or a list of calibration files would be very helpful in my situation.
Can you or do you know of someone that could help with this?
Re: 2013 F150 Manual to Dual Auto Climate upgrade
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2025 12:12 pm
by Expat_Zach
atlaurent wrote: Tue Oct 14, 2025 5:52 pm
Thank you for the info.
All my attempts to reprogram the original BCM failed (firmware upgrades and as-built changes). Everything works except the climate. I ended up purchasing from my local Ford dealer a new module and the HVAC started working as soon as I plugged it in. Unfortunatelly, I didn't save the factory settings and in the process of programming and clearing the DTCs, I did a programable module installation with IDS; that loaded a different calibration on the module and the climate stopped working again. I went back in FORscan and changed the firmware (available and factory) but it didn't fix the problem. I noticed the part number changed from DC3T-14B476-DA to my original module part number DC3T-14B476-DB and I'm not sure how to fix this. I looked up calibration files on FJDSSupport but I don't know which would be the correct file to custom change the firmware. So far I managed to brick the module, but luckily I was able to restore it to the version that doesn't work with DEATC.
Expensive $1200 mistake, unless I find the correct calibration files and manage to restore the firmware. A screenshot of the FORscan BCM firmware window or a list of calibration files would be very helpful in my situation.
Can you or do you know of someone that could help with this?
If you pull the HVAC module out and look at the data tag that’s on it, it should list the part number and the original calibration file versions on it. You could possibly use that data to revert it back by downloading the files that correspond to the data on the tag.
Re: 2013 F150 Manual to Dual Auto Climate upgrade
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2025 4:23 pm
by atlaurent
Expat_Zach wrote: Sun Oct 19, 2025 12:12 pm
atlaurent wrote: Tue Oct 14, 2025 5:52 pm
Thank you for the info.
All my attempts to reprogram the original BCM failed (firmware upgrades and as-built changes). Everything works except the climate. I ended up purchasing from my local Ford dealer a new module and the HVAC started working as soon as I plugged it in. Unfortunatelly, I didn't save the factory settings and in the process of programming and clearing the DTCs, I did a programable module installation with IDS; that loaded a different calibration on the module and the climate stopped working again. I went back in FORscan and changed the firmware (available and factory) but it didn't fix the problem. I noticed the part number changed from DC3T-14B476-DA to my original module part number DC3T-14B476-DB and I'm not sure how to fix this. I looked up calibration files on FJDSSupport but I don't know which would be the correct file to custom change the firmware. So far I managed to brick the module, but luckily I was able to restore it to the version that doesn't work with DEATC.
Expensive $1200 mistake, unless I find the correct calibration files and manage to restore the firmware. A screenshot of the FORscan BCM firmware window or a list of calibration files would be very helpful in my situation.
Can you or do you know of someone that could help with this?
If you pull the HVAC module out and look at the data tag that’s on it, it should list the part number and the original calibration file versions on it. You could possibly use that data to revert it back by downloading the files that correspond to the data on the tag.
The HVAC module works fine. It's the BCM that I need to restore the firmware on. I'm looking for the calibration files for DC3T-14B476-DA.
Re: 2013 F150 Manual to Dual Auto Climate upgrade
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2025 8:09 pm
by Expat_Zach
atlaurent wrote: Sun Oct 19, 2025 4:23 pm
Expat_Zach wrote: Sun Oct 19, 2025 12:12 pm
atlaurent wrote: Tue Oct 14, 2025 5:52 pm
Thank you for the info.
All my attempts to reprogram the original BCM failed (firmware upgrades and as-built changes). Everything works except the climate. I ended up purchasing from my local Ford dealer a new module and the HVAC started working as soon as I plugged it in. Unfortunatelly, I didn't save the factory settings and in the process of programming and clearing the DTCs, I did a programable module installation with IDS; that loaded a different calibration on the module and the climate stopped working again. I went back in FORscan and changed the firmware (available and factory) but it didn't fix the problem. I noticed the part number changed from DC3T-14B476-DA to my original module part number DC3T-14B476-DB and I'm not sure how to fix this. I looked up calibration files on FJDSSupport but I don't know which would be the correct file to custom change the firmware. So far I managed to brick the module, but luckily I was able to restore it to the version that doesn't work with DEATC.
Expensive $1200 mistake, unless I find the correct calibration files and manage to restore the firmware. A screenshot of the FORscan BCM firmware window or a list of calibration files would be very helpful in my situation.
Can you or do you know of someone that could help with this?
If you pull the HVAC module out and look at the data tag that’s on it, it should list the part number and the original calibration file versions on it. You could possibly use that data to revert it back by downloading the files that correspond to the data on the tag.
The HVAC module works fine. It's the BCM that I need to restore the firmware on. I'm looking for the calibration files for DC3T-14B476-DA.
Ah, my mistake. I misread that. I know it’s a PITA, but the same kind of data tag with part numbers and software calibration levels should be on the back of the BCM as well. Or, if you have the original vehicle profile, it may still list the original software numbers in it.
You can also try looking here:
https://www.motorcraftservice.com/diagn ... goryId=288
Re: 2013 F150 Manual to Dual Auto Climate upgrade
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2025 10:06 pm
by atlaurent
Expat_Zach wrote: Sun Oct 19, 2025 8:09 pm
atlaurent wrote: Sun Oct 19, 2025 4:23 pm
Expat_Zach wrote: Sun Oct 19, 2025 12:12 pm
If you pull the HVAC module out and look at the data tag that’s on it, it should list the part number and the original calibration file versions on it. You could possibly use that data to revert it back by downloading the files that correspond to the data on the tag.
The HVAC module works fine. It's the BCM that I need to restore the firmware on. I'm looking for the calibration files for DC3T-14B476-DA.
Ah, my mistake. I misread that. I know it’s a PITA, but the same kind of data tag with part numbers and software calibration levels should be on the back of the BCM as well. Or, if you have the original vehicle profile, it may still list the original software numbers in it.
You can also try looking here:
https://www.motorcraftservice.com/diagn ... goryId=288
I have the part number DC3T-14B476-DA and part kit number DL3T-14C442-BB on the tag. Ford has it as DL3Z-15604-A. All these numbers return with error: file not found.
The BCM was working with the factory calibration (I didn't save the configuration) but while clearing DTCs and programming PATS I did a module installation (in IDS) and it loaded the original calibration firmware (manual AC) and I can't restore the factory one (dual AC) - it changed the calibration level from DA to DB.
The original vehicle As-built files are not useful in this case because I am changing from manual to auto AC. It seems that the CAN files in the firmware need to be changed back to factory but I wasn't able yet to find them (or their names).