• Sign Up! To view all forums and unlock additional cool features

    Welcome to the #1 Explorer ST Forum and Explorer ST community dedicated to Explorer ST owners and enthusiasts. Register for an account, it's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the Explorer ST Forum today!


BCM Reflash/Reset

Cksutler

New Member
Messages
10
Reactions
1
Points
2
Location
Raleigh, NC, USA
#1
So after searching through the forum pages I've seen where others have had similar electronic issues that I am experiencing and a BCM reflash seems to be the first step. So I tried calling my local dealership Service Department to see about having the BCM reflashed. They told me they were unable to do this???? Did I not word this right when asking? Any idea on what I should do next. I live in the Raleigh NC area.
 

Cdubya

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,693
Reactions
842
Points
262
Location
NE Ohio
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST
#2
You can not just request procedures to be done under warranty. You can relay symptoms and hope that they do what you want. Not sure what you would say is wrong for them to lookup to see if updated BCM firmware is available and would solve the problem. I've found on a number of occasions that pulling the negative terminal of the battery for a few minutes will reboot all modules and often cure any problems.

What year is your car and what is your BCM doing that's problematic?
 

OP
C

Cksutler

New Member
Messages
10
Reactions
1
Points
2
Location
Raleigh, NC, USA
Thread Starter #3
Its a 2020 so out of warranty. It started with no longer connecting to wifi to update and GPS no longer tracking. Sometimes the center entertainment console will lock up and do nothing and stop playing music while driving. Only the driver side handle will lock/unlock the doors. The driver side heated seat has stopped working which a lot of others have complained about but not worried about that as much but still like things to work and not be broken. But recently the biggest issue now is none of the electric buttons work from the outside or remote, I open the door manually and the tones sound like the battery is dead and the truck will not start. Soon after the alarm will start to sound and I am unable to stop it from happening. Eventually the alarm will stop and I can go to the back tailgate, open, and then the truck will start again.

I have tried disconnecting the battery for a bit and that did not solve anything. I replaced the battery over the summer and that did not change anything either. I'm not sure what else to do.
 

Messages
281
Reactions
92
Points
27
Location
Desert South West
Vehicle
2023 Explorer ST
#4
Have you checked the auxiliary Battery?
 

OP
C

Cksutler

New Member
Messages
10
Reactions
1
Points
2
Location
Raleigh, NC, USA
Thread Starter #5
did not know I had an auxiliary battery…. What exactly does it do? Gotta Google where it is located to be honest
 

GearHead_1

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,557
Reactions
1,301
Points
262
Location
Utah
Vehicle
Exploder
#6
I believe the auxiliary batteries are only in the Interceptors unless someone has added one for audio or some other requirement.
 

Cdubya

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,693
Reactions
842
Points
262
Location
NE Ohio
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST
#8
Its a 2020 so out of warranty. It started with no longer connecting to wifi to update and GPS no longer tracking. Sometimes the center entertainment console will lock up and do nothing and stop playing music while driving. Only the driver side handle will lock/unlock the doors. The driver side heated seat has stopped working which a lot of others have complained about but not worried about that as much but still like things to work and not be broken. But recently the biggest issue now is none of the electric buttons work from the outside or remote, I open the door manually and the tones sound like the battery is dead and the truck will not start. Soon after the alarm will start to sound and I am unable to stop it from happening. Eventually the alarm will stop and I can go to the back tailgate, open, and then the truck will start again.

I have tried disconnecting the battery for a bit and that did not solve anything. I replaced the battery over the summer and that did not change anything either. I'm not sure what else to do.
Those are a lot of different modules. I can tell you some may have been corrected in firmware updates but others, like the seat no longer heating, just sound like they are broken. Sounds like also you have electrical gremlins that have nothing to do with firmware updates. There were some early 2020s that had bad grounds. Not sure what advice to give you... if it were me, I trade in the car and get a new ST. Seems like a common path for many 2020 owners. I thankfully had some quirks corrected with firmware updates (DIY) and the car is finally worry free.
 

Messages
281
Reactions
92
Points
27
Location
Desert South West
Vehicle
2023 Explorer ST
#9
There’s no aux battery in an st.
It's the second battery in the rear cargo area, maybe its called something different, but I have one.
 

GearHead_1

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,557
Reactions
1,301
Points
262
Location
Utah
Vehicle
Exploder
#10
It's the second battery in the rear cargo area, maybe its called something different, but I have one.
We need a picture, please. The Interceptors had one but I've never heard of or seen an ST with one.
 

Last edited:

UNBROKEN

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,587
Reactions
5,362
Points
352
Location
Houston, TX, USA
#11
It's the second battery in the rear cargo area, maybe its called something different, but I have one.
I’ve disassembled the whole rear of my car more times than I care to think about. There’s no extra battery back there. If you have a US model ST you don’t have one either.
 

Cruising68

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,627
Reactions
1,185
Points
262
Location
Chicago, IL, USA
#12
I’ve disassembled the whole rear of my car more times than I care to think about. There’s no extra battery back there. If you have a US model ST you don’t have one either.
I can confirm this. I had my complete interior emptied for sound treatment and no battery.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

rmrenn75

New Member
Messages
7
Reactions
0
Points
1
Location
34986
#13
So after searching through the forum pages I've seen where others have had similar electronic issues that I am experiencing and a BCM reflash seems to be the first step. So I tried calling my local dealership Service Department to see about having the BCM reflashed. They told me they were unable to do this???? Did I not word this right when asking? Any idea on what I should do next. I live in the Raleigh NC area.
Not sure if this is still relevant, but you can reset your BCM by turning your vehicle to auxiliary, with lights on, or on automatic, flash your high beams 5 times and pump the brakes 3 times and wait for the battery icon on the dash to blink. This works on my 2021 ST. Unfortunately I have to do it every 2 months or so
 

Messages
3
Reactions
3
Points
2
Location
Vancouver, BC, Canada
#14
Not sure if this is still relevant, but you can reset your BCM by turning your vehicle to auxiliary, with lights on, or on automatic, flash your high beams 5 times and pump the brakes 3 times and wait for the battery icon on the dash to blink. This works on my 2021 ST. Unfortunately I have to do it every 2 months or so
Doing some research and came across this, and found that this process isn't for the BCM but the BMS. This process resets the BMS (Battery Monitoring/Managment System) not the BCM (Body Control Module). The BMS monitors the state of the battery and is needed for triggering modules to turn off, such as the remote cell link. Resetting the BMS is needed when a battery is changed so it re-learns the battery versus what it has from the old battery.
 

Messages
956
Reactions
532
Points
82
Location
East Freetown, MA
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST, Silver Spruce Metalic
#15
So after searching through the forum pages I've seen where others have had similar electronic issues that I am experiencing and a BCM reflash seems to be the first step. So I tried calling my local dealership Service Department to see about having the BCM reflashed. They told me they were unable to do this???? Did I not word this right when asking? Any idea on what I should do next. I live in the Raleigh NC area.
Just to be clear, do you mean the BCM (Body Control Module) or BMS (Battery Monitoring System)? I'm not sure I've seen anything on reflashing the BCM nor does the search feature pull anything up.
 



Top