FORScan forum

hi all. john here/ 2012 f-250 SD/XL/6.2/4X4 . i just need some advice if you all would. so i was having a driver's side headlight/ wiper not working. was waiting for the auto parts store to call back and was checking fuses. pulled and put back 3. went to leave and no start. had my buddy come out to turn the fuel pump back on with his program, (he had done that for someone i knew before) did not work. i now have had the truck at my moms for 3 mos. it was showing every code and no communication between modules. i bought a BCM, that i actually need anyway, dome light issue and PATS issue. so i put the BCM in (exact part # ending in DG) and it was showing " not configured". so i attempted to run my forscan and take care of that, but it could not read the key. showing a "key in ignition/ ground to fault". i bought a key cylinder and keyed it to my set of 4 existing keys. while the new BCM was in the truck, not letting me program it because no other modules could communicate with it, and it would not load my old data from old BCM that was saved, the alarm went off. drained battery. so the next night bought a new battery and after reading about the key re=programing, put old BCM back in, (to save data again in different folder) and was able to erase keys and program all 4. so tonight, i disconnected the battery, and switched BCMS so the new one was back in the truck. alarm immediately went off, and afte3r disconnecting the horn, i attempted to re do the keys again/ did every option in PATS to get the hazard/ lights to stop flashi9ng.tried to load saved data, and also Ab data. will not complete. says, " service procedure interrupted. any advice that could prevent me from taking to the dealer would be very much apricated. sorry for the long post , i just thought it was necessary to diagnose the situation. thanks in advance.

A new model does not have any firmware loaded. You may need IDS to load the firmware. Search the forum to see if Forscan can load firmware in new modules. The more common way to replace modules is to buy a used one and load firmware using Forscan (special Beta version).

A used module(BCM in this case) already has firmware. All you have to do is program the as-built data for your vehicule and you're good to go. Also you need to do PATS programming to code your existing keys to the new BCM. I replaced a BCM on my 2019 F150 with a used one. Changed a few as-built values to match my data and reprogrammed the keys with an Autel IM608(at the time Forscan could not do PATS). Get your as-built data from :

https://www.motorcraftservice.com/asbuilt

Don Ridley wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2026 2:09 pm A new model does not have any firmware loaded. You may need IDS to load the firmware. Search the forum to see if Forscan can load firmware in new modules. The more common way to replace modules is to buy a used one and load firmware using Forscan (special Beta version).

thanks don for the reply. I faulted by saying "new" when mentioning the BCM that I had installed. it was used off of e bay. I ended up turning it over to the dealer. they quoted $215 for the programing and getting PATS off including the programing of 4 of my keys.

TRoN wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2026 10:02 pm A used module(BCM in this case) already has firmware. All you have to do is program the as-built data for your vehicule and you're good to go. Also you need to do PATS programming to code your existing keys to the new BCM. I replaced a BCM on my 2019 F150 with a used one. Changed a few as-built values to match my data and reprogrammed the keys with an Autel IM608(at the time Forscan could not do PATS). Get your as-built data from :

https://www.motorcraftservice.com/asbuilt

thanks tron for the reply. I faulted by saying "new" when mentioning the BCM that I had installed. it was used off of e bay. I ended up turning it over to the dealer. they quoted $215 for the programing and getting PATS off including the programing of 4 of my keys.

Thanks for the update. You are lucky the dealership helped you. Many will not attempt to do anything with used modules or modules installed by the owner. Glad you got it sorted for a reasonable price (compared to a new BCM).