No More ABS Service Bleed Function in FORScan?
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Tuned
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 472
Likes: 153
From: Southeast Wisconsin
No More ABS Service Bleed Function in FORScan?
Was bleeding my brakes today and hooked up to FORScan. Opened up the service procedures file and ABS Bleed was not there as I had seen on various YouTube videos. In the help forum, others complained of the same issue I am having, and no satisfactory answers were given. If it matters, I have updated to the most recent version of FORScan. Anybody know whats up with that? And if my ABS cylinder was not bled out by manually pumping the brakes, am I finished with the job, or is there more to do?
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 3
Likes: 3
Was bleeding my brakes today and hooked up to FORScan. Opened up the service procedures file and ABS Bleed was not there as I had seen on various YouTube videos. In the help forum, others complained of the same issue I am having, and no satisfactory answers were given. If it matters, I have updated to the most recent version of FORScan. Anybody know whats up with that? And if my ABS cylinder was not bled out by manually pumping the brakes, am I finished with the job, or is there more to do?
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Tuned
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 472
Likes: 153
From: Southeast Wisconsin
I have a 2015 F-150 and am having the same issue. I have both a FORScan with the latest software and a Launch tool with the latest firmware and neither support ABS bleed functions. I spoke with a number of friends that have various tools ranging from a few hundred dollars to over $1000 and none of them can bleed my truck. What's the deal? You cannot properly bleed an ABS system without this function. Air gets trapped in the ABS module and my experience showed me that it requires using the ABS pump. Is this a Ford restriction not getting the codes to the software developers? I know Ford uses the ABS bleed function to bleed my brakes. I watched them do it. Why can't we get this on our scan tools? I am tired of having to take vehicle to dealers after I change brake fluid. Does anybody have an answer?
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 3
Likes: 3
Apparently the ABS bleed function was dropped from the FORScan menu some time ago. I have asked asked several local technicians and none of them can answer my questions. Also interesting is that I took my Nissan Xterra in for a clutch fluid leak. Turns out I had a clutch and a brake line leaking. So when they asked for permission to repair the brake line leak, I said yes, absolutely do that too. And I added that while you are into the brake line, go ahead and bleed all the lines, as well as the ABS system too. So, when I picked up the vehicle, I asked if they had any issues bleeding the ABS. The tech says "it's all taken care of". Then I open the hood when I got home and noticed that they repaired the clutch and leaking brake line, but never bled the other 3 wheels and likely not the ABS either. Very strange. NOBODY I talked to will even touch the subject of bleeding the ABS system!
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 3
Likes: 3
I just received a reply from the ForScan people. Here is what they sent me about my 2015 F-150 ABS Bleed Function as not available:
"Dealership scanner has no ABS service bleed function for 2015+ F-150. The ABS service section in Ford IDS only has IVD initialization sequence (to calibrate longitudinal acceleration sensor). We guess the ABS system on this car doesn't require service bleed via scanner."
"Dealership scanner has no ABS service bleed function for 2015+ F-150. The ABS service section in Ford IDS only has IVD initialization sequence (to calibrate longitudinal acceleration sensor). We guess the ABS system on this car doesn't require service bleed via scanner."
2nd Gear
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 2
Likes: 2
I just received a reply from the ForScan people. Here is what they sent me about my 2015 F-150 ABS Bleed Function as not available:
"Dealership scanner has no ABS service bleed function for 2015+ F-150. The ABS service section in Ford IDS only has IVD initialization sequence (to calibrate longitudinal acceleration sensor). We guess the ABS system on this car doesn't require service bleed via scanner."
"Dealership scanner has no ABS service bleed function for 2015+ F-150. The ABS service section in Ford IDS only has IVD initialization sequence (to calibrate longitudinal acceleration sensor). We guess the ABS system on this car doesn't require service bleed via scanner."
My experience is similar to yours. Got a 2017 F150, looking to bleed brakes. Read about needing Forscan to do it, so I figured now's a good time to get it (this is wife's truck, my car's a Bullitt).
Hooked it up yesterday, newest version of Forscan and OBDLink EX adapter and the function is not available. Seems to be there for old vehicles up to 2014 and then new 2020+. Basically the last gen F150 seems to be completely missing.
You guys think vacuum pump (the handheld pump) would be enough? Just got a soft pedal and got the master cylinder recall done, I just don't think they bled it.
1st Gear
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
New member here, first post.
My experience is similar to yours. Got a 2017 F150, looking to bleed brakes. Read about needing Forscan to do it, so I figured now's a good time to get it (this is wife's truck, my car's a Bullitt).
Hooked it up yesterday, newest version of Forscan and OBDLink EX adapter and the function is not available. Seems to be there for old vehicles up to 2014 and then new 2020+. Basically the last gen F150 seems to be completely missing.
You guys think vacuum pump (the handheld pump) would be enough? Just got a soft pedal and got the master cylinder recall done, I just don't think they bled it.
My experience is similar to yours. Got a 2017 F150, looking to bleed brakes. Read about needing Forscan to do it, so I figured now's a good time to get it (this is wife's truck, my car's a Bullitt).
Hooked it up yesterday, newest version of Forscan and OBDLink EX adapter and the function is not available. Seems to be there for old vehicles up to 2014 and then new 2020+. Basically the last gen F150 seems to be completely missing.
You guys think vacuum pump (the handheld pump) would be enough? Just got a soft pedal and got the master cylinder recall done, I just don't think they bled it.
Did you get this resolved?
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2nd Gear
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 2
Likes: 2
Holy buckets, that's a reply to a tad older post...
My summary's this:
We traded that truck in at the end of May.
I didn't get a vacuum pump, did the ole 2-person method. It improved some, but trying the Forscan method probably would have been better.
We now got a '21, haven't played with Forscan on that.
My summary's this:
We traded that truck in at the end of May.
I didn't get a vacuum pump, did the ole 2-person method. It improved some, but trying the Forscan method probably would have been better.
We now got a '21, haven't played with Forscan on that.
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More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 715
Likes: 11
From: Erie, PA
If anyone wants to cheat, place vehicle in the air and get the abs pump to go haywire and then re-bleed. By haywire I mean run the wheels with traction control turned on and the pump will go crazy. Not perfect but this method and the gravel road method works well for me before I had forscan,
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