Default to Sport Mode? I thought maybe, but no 🫤

[SilverPigeon]

Apologies if someone has already covered this subject.
Ok, so ages ago I did the Rock Crawl Mode addition to my 4x4 KR. Recently, there have been threads with peoples' comments mentioning that they'd like to default to Sport Mode, not Normal. It got me thinking so I went sniffing. The Selectable Drive Mode settings in the ABS module do the enabling/disabling of drive modes. Mode 10 is Rock Crawl from livnitup's fantastic sheet and even notes that point out mode 1 is Normal and mode 2 is Sport. So, I thought, what if I disable mode 1; will it default to the next lowest mode number of 2? See attached video.
Default to Sport Mode Test

In the video, you can see that there is no more Normal mode to select. However, the blue theme of Normal mode stays up. The ABS did the right thing by setting 4A automatically though. Now, when I change drive modes with the knob, you can see that there is no more normal mode and, during that ignition cycle, switching to Sport shows the correct Sport theme. On key on after a key off though, back to the Normal theme. This makes me think that the IPC has a coded default of showing the Normal mode theme (I can't find a setting to modify for this) ?‍.

the "But" is as described above. So if you are prepared to lose Normal mode, the only thing left is for one of you who always uses Sport Mode to actually drive test for all the characteristics of Sport Mode. You need to do this after a key on engine running WITHOUT turning the drive mode knob such that Sport settings are in place but the blue Normal theme still shows on the cluster.

Of course, it would be nice if the Sport theme came up on key on too ?

ABS: 760-04-01 xxx* xxxx xx-- SDM Generic Mode1, 1 = enabled, 0 = disabled.

Oh, if you ever get an ABS software update, you'll most likely have to re-do this change; the servers know you should have Normal Mode ?

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[roadPilot]

In the video, you can see that there is no more Normal mode to select. However, the blue theme of Normal mode stays up. The ABS did the right thing by setting 4A automatically though.

If your truck is in any 4A mode when you shut it off, it will always be in 4A when you turn it back in. Even if you ignore the prompt to return to the previous 4A drive mode (e.g., sport tow haul, slippery), it will stay in 4A because you're not moving. All that does is leave it in 4A and normal mode. It's the equivalent of not using the dial to change drive modes but simply pressing the 4A button (while moving).

If the dash indicator (under the 4A symbol) doesn't show you're in one of the other various drive modes, you're in normal mode with 4A engaged.

 

[SilverPigeon]

You are correct; I did not realise the separate behaviour of the drive select (not drive mode select) buttons. I must have had it in a previous 4A mode when making the video.

I did find something interesting in my testing this morning: it is the ABS that, as already known, disables/enables drive modes, but through a module reboot, I found that it is the ATCM that controls the drive select buttons and, as in many cases, the IPC is repeating information from other modules. I would have liked to sniff out the ATCM but it is not in the spreadsheet nor configurable by FORScan, which leads me to believe that there is nothing to configure. I think that it is the ATCM not allowing an initial change away from Normal mode.

 

[adaycj]

Forscan has the PID for drive modes, it may help to watch it there even if the dash defaults to another mode on startup. Not suggesting it is or isn't in a mode, just a way to check.

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