{"id":16959,"date":"2025-11-21T12:11:04","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T20:11:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mitchell1.com\/?post_type=shopconnection&#038;p=16959"},"modified":"2025-11-21T12:11:04","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T20:11:04","slug":"suretrack-real-fix-2013-ford-flex-limited","status":"publish","type":"shopconnection","link":"https:\/\/mitchell1.com\/shopconnection\/suretrack-real-fix-2013-ford-flex-limited\/","title":{"rendered":"SureTrack Real Fix: 2013 Ford Flex Limited"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Real Fixes from SureTrack\u00ae provides expert-based knowledge captured from millions of documented repairs and community discussions. Read on to see how SureTrack can help you fix tricky issues that are not easily diagnosed with OEM information alone. SureTrack is available at no additional cost within ProDemand\u00ae.<\/p>\n<p>This fix illustrates the power of the SureTrack community to help a fellow tech quickly solve a tricky diagnosis. SureTrack community member, <strong>AddisonsAutoService<\/strong>, had a 2013 Ford Flex Limited roll into the shop. They posed the question to the community, and with help from <strong>1akinsautorepair\u00a0<\/strong>and others, they resolved\u00a0the issue quickly.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-16960 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/mitchell1.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2013-Ford-Flex-Excerpt.png\" alt=\"2013-Ford-Flex\" width=\"499\" height=\"350\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Complaint &amp; Initial Observations<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"paragraph-in-scc-markdown-text ___1ngh792 ftgm304 f1iaxwol\">The technician attempted to replace the PCM on a 2013 Ford Flex and clone the original data into a new\/used PCM using <strong>Programmable Module Installation (PMI)<\/strong>. During the process, the scanner indicated programming was complete, but the old VIN remained in the new PCM, and the vehicle would not start.<\/div>\n<div class=\"paragraph-in-scc-markdown-text ___1ngh792 ftgm304 f1iaxwol\">Diagnostic checks included verifying OBD port voltages:<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"___ccc16d0 fje8fi8 f1ng9h0j f1bwykku f18jd3zf\">Pin 6 = 2.5V<\/li>\n<li class=\"___ccc16d0 fje8fi8 f1ng9h0j f1bwykku f18jd3zf\">Pin 14 = 2.1V<\/li>\n<li class=\"___ccc16d0 fje8fi8 f1ng9h0j f1bwykku f18jd3zf\">Pin 16 = Battery voltage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"paragraph-in-scc-markdown-text ___1ngh792 ftgm304 f1iaxwol\">Despite these checks, codes <strong>P160A<\/strong> (Control module vehicle options reconfiguration error) and <strong>P161A<\/strong> (Incorrect response from immobilizer control module) persisted.<\/div>\n<h2><strong>Community Insight<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"paragraph-in-scc-markdown-text ___1ngh792 ftgm304 f1iaxwol\">The best advice came from a contributor who suggested the issue was likely with the scan tool. Some tools simulate programming but fail to write data. Instead of sending the vehicle to the dealer, they recommended subscribing to MotorcraftService.com and performing the programming with a <strong>pass-thru device<\/strong> for accurate results.<\/div>\n<h2><strong>Real Fix<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"paragraph-in-scc-markdown-text ___1ngh792 ftgm304 f1iaxwol\">Ultimately, the technician had to take the vehicle to Ford. The Snap-on Verus Edge scanner appeared to complete the process but didn\u2019t actually clone the PCM. Ford performed a proper clean install, resolving the issue. Lesson learned: sometimes it\u2019s not the car, it\u2019s the tool.<\/div>\n<h2><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"paragraph-in-scc-markdown-text ___1ngh792 ftgm304 f1iaxwol\">Modern module programming requires reliable equipment and OEM access. If your scan tool isn\u2019t performing as expected, verify its capabilities before wasting time. Investing in a pass-thru device and OEM subscription can save headaches and prevent unnecessary dealer trips.<\/div>\n<div class=\"paragraph-in-scc-markdown-text ___1ngh792 ftgm304 f1iaxwol\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<p>SureTrack\u00ae adds to the power of <a href=\"https:\/\/mitchell1.com\/prodemand\/\">ProDemand\u00ae<\/a>\u00a0with an exclusive combination of real-world knowledge and powerful diagnostic tools, all wrapped in an interactive community of professional technicians. Designed to help automotive shops increase accuracy and efficiency from diagnosis to completed repair, the industry\u2019s most comprehensive repair information resource is just a few clicks away.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"paragraph-in-scc-markdown-text ___1ngh792 ftgm304 f1iaxwol\">\n<p><strong>Want more? Here\u2019s how you can see more Real Fixes in SureTrack:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Current ProDemand Customers:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.prodemand.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LOG IN TO PRODEMAND<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Not a ProDemand customer yet? No problem:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mitchell1.com\/support\/trial-request\">REQUEST A FREE DEMO OF PRODEMAND<\/a><\/li>\n<li>SureTrack Community Frequently Asked Questions: <a href=\"https:\/\/mitchell1.com\/shopconnection\/get-started-suretrack-community-faqs\/\">FAQs PAGE<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A 2013 Ford Flex wouldn\u2019t start after PCM replacement, despite the scanner claiming programming was complete. The real fix? Dealer-level programming. This case shows why reliable tools and OEM access are critical for module installs. Don\u2019t trust a false \u201csuccess\u201d message, verify your equipment before you begin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":16960,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":""},"shopconnection-category":[1716],"shopconnection-tag":[2067,2064,2066,2022,2065,2068,2062],"class_list":{"0":"post-16959","1":"shopconnection","2":"type-shopconnection","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"shopconnection-category-suretrack-real-fixes","7":"shopconnection-tag-ford-flex-pcm-programming","8":"shopconnection-tag-oem-programming","9":"shopconnection-tag-pcm-module-replacement-issues","10":"shopconnection-tag-prodemand","11":"shopconnection-tag-programmable-module-installation","12":"shopconnection-tag-snap-on-verus-edge-programming-failure","13":"shopconnection-tag-suretrack-real-fix","14":"entry"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mitchell1.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/shopconnection\/16959","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mitchell1.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/shopconnection"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mitchell1.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/shopconnection"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mitchell1.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mitchell1.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16960"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mitchell1.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16959"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"shopconnection-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mitchell1.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/shopconnection-category?post=16959"},{"taxonomy":"shopconnection-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mitchell1.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/shopconnection-tag?post=16959"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}