Is Disabling Shifter Fold Button Harmful?

[johnnySV]

I'm interested and following...

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[Lefty665]

It might work something like this.

Settings option "Set user defined enable/disable sequence". it would use monitored functions like Ford does for many functions like resetting battery parameters, configuring a new key fob, changing the door keypad code and many other things. Ford has used so many of these for so many years that they've likely got a simple look up table and long established code to check for special sequences. This would simply add an entry to the table to allow a user option to disable or enable the truck. Wanna bet there's not an entry in there already Ford can use to enable/disable the truck?

If selected this would disable the truck if entered or enable the truck if disabled. For example:

"Set user defined enable/disable vehicle sequence" Check box to enable

# of actuations.....function 1
3 ..........................flash brights

# of actuations....function 2
4..........................step on brake

# of actuations....function 3
2..........................press fan lever


If data string2 = blank then ask "Ok? Yes/No" If Yes then prompt "Re enter sequence to confirm" else start over.
If data string1 = data string2 then exit to "Are you sure you want to activate enable/disable?" question. If Yes then write entry to look up table and exit else start over.
If data string1 not= data string2 then display error "Confirmation failed - please try again" and start over

This would allow each truck owner to set up their own sequence to disable or enable the truck.

If selected, each time the sequence is repeated it would toggle enable/disable vehicle.
Each of the function selections would be a data list of monitored actions to choose from, with the # of actuations required limited to something like 0-5. Where 0 = ignore this function.
To keep it simple, require actuations for each function to happen within a preset time, like 10 seconds.
Writing the user interface to collect the data would take longer than implementing the enable/disable, and even the UI would be a quickie.

Very simple really, and could go a long way to stopping vehicle thefts.

It is logically no different than requiring a password to log onto a computer system. A simpler alternative would be to allow a user defined password to enable/disable the truck. That could have an option to enable more secure 2 part authentication with a one time enable/disable code sent to a phone, although that might be a little dicey.

An even simpler third option could be to allow something like pushing the bottom 2 buttons + the top button on the door lock keypad to lock and disable the truck then require entering the unlock code to enable the truck.

Lotsa different ways to let owners disable the truck in software, I've just scratched the surface. Ford just has to decide to give us the option. It could go a long way towards stopping car theft.

Funny that with all the automation in these trucks that, with the exception of the key fob accessory, locks have not progressed much past key operated door locks and ignition switches from a half century ago. Pretty primitive really.

 

[HammaMan]

It might work something like this.

Settings option "Set user defined enable/disable sequence". it would use monitored functions like Ford does for many functions like resetting battery parameters, configuring a new key fob, changing the door keypad code and many other things. Ford has used so many of these for so many years that they've likely got a simple look up table and long established code to check for special sequences. This would simply add an entry to the table to allow a user option to disable or enable the truck. Wanna bet there's not an entry in there already Ford can use to enable/disable the truck?

If selected this would disable the truck if entered or enable the truck if disabled. For example:

"Set user defined enable/disable vehicle sequence" Check box to enable

# of actuations.....function 1
3 ..........................flash brights

# of actuations....function 2
4..........................step on brake

# of actuations....function 3
2..........................press fan lever


If data string2 = blank then ask "Ok? Yes/No" If Yes then prompt "Re enter sequence to confirm" else start over.
If data string1 = data string2 then exit to "Are you sure you want to activate enable/disable?" question. If Yes then write entry to look up table and exit else start over.
If data string1 not= data string2 then display error "Confirmation failed - please try again" and start over

This would allow each truck owner to set up their own sequence to disable or enable the truck.

If selected, each time the sequence is repeated it would toggle enable/disable vehicle.
Each of the function selections would be a data list of monitored actions to choose from, with the # of actuations required limited to something like 0-5. Where 0 = ignore this function.
To keep it simple, require actuations for each function to happen within a preset time, like 10 seconds.
Writing the user interface to collect the data would take longer than implementing the enable/disable, and even the UI would be a quickie.

Very simple really, and could go a long way to stopping vehicle thefts.

It is logically no different than requiring a password to log onto a computer system. A simpler alternative would be to allow a user defined password to enable/disable the truck. That could have an option to enable more secure 2 part authentication with a one time enable/disable code sent to a phone, although that might be a little dicey.

An even simpler third option could be to allow something like pushing the bottom 2 buttons + the top button on the door lock keypad to lock and disable the truck then require entering the unlock code to enable the truck.

Lotsa different ways to let owners disable the truck in software, I've just scratched the surface. Ford just has to decide to give us the option. It could go a long way towards stopping car theft.

Funny that with all the automation in these trucks that, with the exception of the key fob accessory, locks have not progressed much past key operated door locks and ignition switches from a half century ago. Pretty primitive really.

They can just put a passcode into sync like those of us w/ PAAK have. I can open my MME door w/ the keypad and enter a passcode into sync to start and drive the vehicle no phone/fob needed.

 

[Lefty665]

Neat, I shoulda figured there was nothing new under the sun. My blinding flash of the obvious was not the first time it occurred to anyone.

Truck as app makes a lot of things very simple. Wonderful as it is so far I'd bet we're just scratching the surface. Now if we just had a Race mode along with Eco, Normal and Sport that loaded an actual tune, suspension and shed about a ton...

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