MACS Service Reports - 2015 - MAY8

ANOTHER "IT'S NORMAL"
Now for one that ISN'T normal: 2014-15 Transit
Connect with poor A/C performance and airflow
coming out of the wrong vent. This was an assembly line defect: the connectors for the recirculation
door and the defrost door were swapped.

pushing reprogramming, the answer is a loud YES,
because in an increasing number of cases, it is the
fix for many service problems.
And we're seeing more of these "they all do it"
problems, because the typical car has hundreds of
thousands of lines of software code. And just as on
your shop or home computer, the software "fixes"
keep coming every day.
On the 2011-14 Jeep Wrangler for example, the
blower speed may slow down, and you can check
for a poor connection everywhere, but it's a "glitch"
in the software that occurs at 75°F and above. On
the same vehicle, if it happens to have the factoryinstalled remote start, if the car is remotely started,
the A/C request is activated. And the only way to
turn it off is to shut the engine off and restart. It
seems that the normal on/off function only works
with a key in the ignition start. But there is a fix:
new software that you can install by reflashing.
Still another example: on the 2014 Dodge Charger
and Chrysler 300 with dual-zone Climate Control,
the blower speed may drop from a high-speed setting (on manual temperature control systems) or in
the manual mode on Automatic Temperature Control. Here again, there's new software to keep the
blower speed from changing. ■

Or The Dreaded "They All Do It"
This line has been around for eons, and in next
month's issue we'll talk about one case that does
fall into the normal category but drew a lemon law
suit. However, a far more common issue is when
something is clearly not right, there's no bad connection, etc. It comes down to a software issue,
which is why we keep saying that reflashing modules is something that you just have to accept you'll
be doing, even if you've heard some horror stories
about difficulties.
At the recent MACS Training Event, tech trainer John Thornton tried to show that although you
have to learn some new techniques, you can reflash
on-car computers. You also have to invest in a J2534
Pass-Thru tool, which costs about $1600. Alternatively you can buy a limited function device (works
only on a specific car line, such as General Motors)
for about $500. If you think we're being stubborn

MACS Service Reports is published monthly by the Mobile Air
Conditioning Society Worldwide. It is distributed to members
of MACS Worldwide and is intended for the educational use of
members of the automotive air conditioning service and repair
industry. Suggestions for articles will be considered for publication,
however, MACS Worldwide reserves the right to choose and edit
all submissions.

Editors:
Elvis Hoffpauir, Steve Schaeber
Production Designer:
Laina Casey
Manager of Service Training: Steve Schaeber

Unless otherwise noted, all photos/art by author.

Email: membership@macsw.org * Website: www.macsw.org

May 2015

Mobile Air Conditioning Society Worldwide
P.O. Box 88, Lansdale, PA 19446
Phone: (215) 631-7020 * Fax: (215) 631-7017

MACS Service Reports

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of MACS Service Reports - 2015