*Click/Tone* Every 45 Seconds

[airline tech]

So, a clarification on this: Since we have confirmed its the Waste Gate Actuator triggering a power cycle.

Does it only do it with the Hood Opened and Batt Minder (On)?
and is this the only thing powering up (Waste Gate Actuator)?

I am looking for anything else that powers up when you open the door, like the IPC and Sync Screen (Boot Screen) and any Interior Lights or Parking Lights (Flash)

If no other items are powering, then this possibly eliminates the Door Ajar switches but not ruled out.
I have a hunch the Hood Ajar switch is sticking and not seeing a full contact of open or close (Partial) and resorts to thinking it's being actuated.
The same goes for the Door Ajar switches.

For the Waste Gate actuator to power, the PCM Power Relay needs to close and in order for it to close it needs a Ground Signal on the coil from the PCM which is sent to the relay from the Wake Circuit (power input) it receives from the BCM

So, you may try pulling the PCM Power Relay - (BJB) Under the Hood, this should stop the Waste Gate from getting power, now it is possible this relay may be sticking and cycling, but you are not reporting any start or shutdown issues, so I am thinking the relay is good, just its being controlled via the Wake Circuit to get power.
If you pull the relay and it still does it, then you have a wiring issue

With the constant mention of the Hood Being Open, I would look deeper at that switch, and if the truck is Running or in Accy, are you getting the Hood Open message when opened and when you close the hood does it go away.
I would disconnect the Hood Switch connector and see if that makes a difference,

Something on the wake circuit is the issue, be it a door ajar, hood ajar, brake pedal, or TCU.
or a sticking microcontroller in the BCM sending the wake signal to the PCM or the PCM internally cycling the ground to the PCM Power Relay.
Another possible is the Ignition Switch itself or the PATS Transceiver - Moreso the Key in Ignition signal transmission between the (2), so this is a highly probable area, the Key in Ignition will also trigger the Wake Circuit.

A quick test of this theory, pull the Interior Fuse Box (BCM) fuse #18, this will drop power from the Ignition Switch, and see if that stops the power cycle.

If pulling the TCU fuse or disconnecting the connector on the TCU has no results, then I would focus on disconnecting the Hood Ajar switch as the next most likely fault point.

You might also try a BCM and PCM - Self Test, one this will force a reset and also hopefully pull some codes.
Unfortunately, this one needs a Indepth Live Data monitor to hopefully show something or disconnect everything in the system (1) at a time to isolate what is actually triggering the power up.

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[airline tech]

Another possibility, is the Wastegate Actuator itself, going to an at rest position. (Engine Off)
It is possible that the actuator is not seeing the correct position in OFF and continues to cycle to find its position. Basically, the same issue as the HVAC Door Actuators clicking and popping except no binding noise. (Only Lost)
This one would take a Live Data, position monitor to see if the actuator actually reaches the commanded position. Position of it is from the VREF circuit.

 

[Scott D]

Update. I double checked the Nationwide Smartmiles module. I pulled it out again and the truck still moves the actuator every 45 seconds or so.

I put it back, pulled the battery cable off, pulled the wire loom off of the modem. I put the battery cable back on and let it sit there with the doors open and the hood open. After a couple minutes of nothing happening, I closed the doors. When I close the driver's door, the actuator did it's thing and hasn't since. That was roughly 15 minutes ago. Maybe I'm getting somewhere.

Edit: I opened the driver's door and the actuator did it's thing, of course, and I started the truck up. I'm going to shut it off, pull the battery cable off and plug the modem back up, put the battery cable back on and see if it goes back to doing the "every 45 Seconds" nonsense again.

Edit II: Sure enough, the actuator started doing it every 45 seconds. I closed the hood and it hasn't done anything for the past 10 minutes or so, but I saw it start doing it 2 weeks ago when I opened the tailgate and shook the truck, getting the hot water heater out of the bed of the truck. :| It was off, doors and hood closed when that happened.

Edit III: I opened the tailgate, hopped up in the back and shook the truck around and no actuator movement. Maybe it's the hood latch sensor?

The thing is, it has sat out here in the garage with the hood open and the battery minder on it for months and months. It just started doing this actuator thing every 45 seconds just recently. I'm in the garage enough to hear the truck, if you know what I mean.

Edit IV: I left the hood closed, put it back in the garage, shut it off and after a few minutes it started doing it every 45 seconds again. I pulled the cable off and put the battery minder on it. I'm done with it for today.

Maybe it's the modem.

I was never able to re-add the truck to the Fordpass app. It kept failing over and over.

 

[TJC]

Maybe its the modem or maybe it's Ford infrastructure talking to your truck for whatever reason. I disconnected my modem a month or two ago and will not be plugging it back in. I also pulled the telematics fuse in slot 9. Truck runs great.

Sometimes less is more

 

[Scott D]

Maybe its the modem or maybe it's Ford infrastructure talking to your truck for whatever reason. I disconnected my modem a month or two ago and will not be plugging it back in. I also pulled the telematics fuse in slot 9. Truck runs great.

Sometimes less is more

I 100% agree, but I'm guessing the Smartmiles module uses the modem? I'm not even sure how it would.

I forgot to mention I connected the truck to my home WiFi for the first time yesterday. The truck has never had an update in 3.5 years. I just went back in the garage and did a master reset. It shouldn't be connected to my phone or Fordpass at all now.

 

[Scott D]

Another possibility, is the Wastegate Actuator itself, going to an at rest position. (Engine Off)
It is possible that the actuator is not seeing the correct position in OFF and continues to cycle to find its position. Basically, the same issue as the HVAC Door Actuators clicking and popping except no binding noise. (Only Lost)
This one would take a Live Data, position monitor to see if the actuator actually reaches the commanded position. Position of it is from the VREF circuit.

I just rewatched the video on page one and watched my actuator. Mine is not moving anything like that.

The one in the video moves forward, then backwards, then it settles in the middle.

Mine moves forward, then moves back to settle in the middle position.

 

[TJC]

I 100% agree, but I'm guessing the Smartmiles module uses the modem? I'm not even sure how it would.

I forgot to mention I connected the truck to my home WiFi for the first time yesterday. The truck has never had an update in 3.5 years. I just went back in the garage and did a master reset. It shouldn't be connected to my phone or Fordpass at all now.

What is a smartmiles module?

 

[Scott D]

What is a smartmiles module?

Nationwide Insurance. It's a policy for vehicles that don't move much like mine.

Less money and they're able to see how many miles I put on it per year.

I put around 1,200 miles on it every year.

 

[TJC]

I am a little confused, here in NC each year we are required to have our cars inspected. The odometer is read and the mileage is recorded in state records. That record is available to most everyone. You'd think your insurance company would simply look at the inspection data to see annual mileage. There must be more to it than this, maybe monitoring your speed, braking and travel routes... I dunno, but it seems to be about more than just annual distance driven.

 

[TJC]

Yeah, now that I think about it my mother opted for a tracker in an effort to lower her rates (RIP Mom).

 

[Scott D]

I am a little confused, here in NC each year we are required to have our cards inspected. The odometer is read and the mileage is recorded in state records. That record is available to most everyone. You;d think your insurance company would simply look at the inspection data to see annual mileage. There must be more it than this, maybe monitoring your speed, braking and travel routes... I dunno, but it seems to be about more than just annual distance driven.

Here in GA the state apparently has no interest in the milage. Many years ago it had to be written on the renewal.

I don't know if it monitors my driving other than recording milage, but I drive like an old man anyway. It's driven to the barbershop and maybe a trip or two to the hardware store every month.

 

[TJC]

NC insists on the state inspections and have tied them to tag renewals and property taxes. If you don't get the inspection, tags will not be issued and property taxes will not be paid, and penalties and interests starts to accrue. Both Tennessee and South Carolina have stopped requiring the inspections... NC should do the same.

 

[airline tech]

I just rewatched the video on page one and watched my actuator. Mine is not moving anything like that.

The one in the video moves forward, then backwards, then it settles in the middle.

Mine moves forward, then moves back to settle in the middle position.

The operation you describe is this when you open the door or is this the 45-Second cycle?

The TCU Comm (Vehicle Health Status) Update and Remote Start and Opening of the Drivers Door generates that Power Cycle - Like in my video.

Now Once Started - Moves from Mid to Aft
When Running - At Idle (Occasional (Quick Succession) Fwd and Back (Movements)
When Truck is Shut Off - Moves to Mid Position

My thought is that since the Sync Has not been updated, Ford is trying to force and update via Over The Air and trying unsuccessfully to communicate to the TCU.
It's better to do the updates via USB Stick after downloading from Ford Update Site.
I am not sure if the lower trim levels has the option to Turn Off Automatic Updates.
The most current version of Sync = 23188 - If I recall correctly
This just might be what is happening.
I know you stated you updated it, but is it at the correct version and did you use the truck to check for updates, basically you are looking for a response on the display to read - Up to Date
This will stop the Sync trying to update itself via OTA and the TCU.
If that's what it is happening.
or
Hood Ajar Switch

or possibly the Door Locking / Unlocking system as when you opened the Tail Gate.
Was the truck locked? and do you have the (Remote Unlock-Actuator) on the Tailgate?

When playing with mine and monitoring the Waste Gate, I was able to use the FOB and hit Lock and Unlock and the actuator moved similar to the way you described yours moving.
The problem is - I do not remember which way it moved when pressing the Lock / Unlock FOB Buttons and for the like of me, I cannot duplicate that response I got again, for documented movement.
So, with that said, do you hear or see anything else be powered? other than the actuator.
Door Lock (Click) , IPC Power, Dome Light Power, Tail / Brake Lights etc.

Looked at the VREF Circuit, trying to find something that would possibly be an issue, multiple sensors on that circuit but noted that the Fan Clutch is a possible tie in.

I am sure you have seen the posts about the Fan Clutch and the wiring being ripped apart.
What is the condition of your Hose and Wiring at that point?
You may try shaking the harness along that hose to see if it makes any difference.

If disconnecting TCU / updating Sync / Turning Off - Automatic Updates - Etc, turns to be no help.

Try hitting the Lock and Unlock buttons on the FOB, when the actuator is in its 45-Second event.
See if it causes a reaction of any kind.

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