So I bought the Banks iDash Data Monster November 26, 2021. I ordered it from direct from Banks. It arrived shortly thereafter and I installed it in my 2022 F250 with 6.7L PSD. It shipped with the most recent firmware version at that time, which is still the most recent (v.1.23.0). Under vehicle settings I chose Ford 6.7L. I set up 4 different pages with various PID's. All was well...

Then sometime soon after I started noticing that sometimes when I would get in and crank it up, the transmission temp PID would display "--". So, I would actually stopped the truck (if I had already started driving), shut it down, then waited for the iDash to shut off, and then cranked it back up. This always "fixed" it... but it got to where it was doing this fairly often...

Then, about 2 months ago, one day I looked down at it while driving down the road, and the whole thing was just dark... I reached down and felt that the cable was still plugged firmly into the OBD2 port, so I held the down arrow button on the iDash to force it to come on... but then every PID on each page displayed "--" except the battery voltage, which actually displayed a numerical value and looked to be accurate. So, I just reached down, unplugged the iDash from the OBD2 port and then plugged it back in. This was while driving down the road. It booted back up and all PID's displayed appropriate values. Then I noticed that this happened again... and again. At this point, in the last 2 months it's probably not come on 8 or 9 times now. As well, on occasion it still has issues displaying the transmission temps...

To make sure, I rechecked the iDash's firmware version and confirmed that it was still the most recent. After this, I emailed Banks and described to them what I described above. It took them 8 days to get back to me... and when they got back they really focused on the fact that my firmware needed to be updated. The person explained that the transmission PID was a known issue on previous firmware versions, but the most recent version (v.1.23.0) fixed it. The person never mentioned anything about the fact that the iDash wasn't even coming on at times... Besides all of this, I very specifically stated in my original email to them that "I had checked the firmware and it was the most current version." Honestly, this kind of bummed me out that I waited 8 days to get a response, and the response told me to do something that I specifically stated was up to date in the original email... I don't know if the person that responded even took time to actually read my email...

So, I responded back and informed them that everything was (still) up to date. And now I am waiting for another response... which I don't expect to get for a long while now, especially being the 4th of July weekend. That's fine I guess... it mostly works... but for something that I paid $400+ for just 7 months ago, I would hope that this isn't just something I have to live with. For kicks, I did go ahead and download the most recent version and replaced the same, most recent version that I already had on the iDash for a fresh version... but the very next morning, the transmission PID displayed "--" again, so yeah... that didn't work...

Just curious, has anyone else had issues like this with their iDash?


Most current version. V.1.23.0

All PID’s display — after forcing the iDash to come on when it didn’t automatically come on when the truck was cranked…

… but the battery voltage still displayed a value.

More often the transmission temp displays — instead of an actual value.

 

I don't know it that would affect me because I'm a different gen truck. Maybe I'll change my one of my PIDs to the trans temp and see what happens. Definitely a software issue.

I've had issues prior with it not turning on but I had to adjust the wake up sensitivity. I can't remember exactly what I did. Very rarely, it won't turn on but I just hit the right arrow and she turns on.

I also have the 1.23.0 version as well. I've updated it at least 5 times since I've had it. Hopefully they will resolve this for you.

 

Hopefully they will have a solution. And I remember reading threads about adjusting the sensitivity, but I felt like this wasn’t my issue since when I force it to wake up none of the parameters are reading correctly except the battery voltage. Seems like either a software thing, which I figured the fresh update, even being the same version, would fix… but it didn’t… or the cable is making a bad connection. I dunno… at least it works most of the time… for now.

 

Maybe try reloading the current version onto the iDash. Maybe it's corrupted for some reason.

 

That's what I did, thinking the same thing. But the very next morning, the transmission temp displayed -- when I cranked it again. Maybe they need another update for this version with 22 SD's? I dunno...

 

So, to update this thread… on June 29th, Banks responded to my initial email (sent 6/21… 8 days later…) Their response told me to check my firmware version, which I specifically stated was up to date in my initial email. I responded within about 2 hours of their email stating (again) that the firmware was, and had been, the most current version. Today, July 13 (14 days later) I still had no response… So I called this evening. I got put on hold as there were 3 others ahead of me. While on hold I was prompted to enter my number for a call back, which I did. I got a call back about 30 minutes later. I explained my issues and the timeline for the emails. The tech quickly stated that it sounded like I have a defective unit and offered to send out a replacement. He said it should ship out tomorrow and will ship via 2 day FedEx. So… I’ll wait to see if the new unit will perform any different.

I am happy that Banks is sending out a new unit, however I am a bit dissatisfied with the timeframe concerning their customer service… it’s been over 3 weeks since my initial email and have only received one response, and again that response was answered in my original email... so I question whether the email was even read through… and I had to reach out via phone to get an actual response… so, from here on out, I will use their phone service first, however I do hope this will be the last time I need to reach out.

 

I can't remember if I've used email but I've always called and had great experiences with their customer service phone line.

I bought the original iDash which came in a 4 inch and a 5 inch screen I believe. I had problems with it and when they no longer supported it, they offered to send me an iDash 1.8 as an upgrade free of charge. I had to send my original iDash back first.

When I was on multiple phone calls with them, I had the iDash hooked up to my laptop and they remotely worked on it to reload software. So I can say that in my experience with their customer service phone lines, that they were outstanding. But emails may be a completely different matter though. But I'm glad I ain't shy and called them.

Let us know how the replacement iDash works with that trans temp PID. Good luck.

 

I wish I had just called to begin with... but my schedule gets me home later in the afternoon, so I figured I would just email... but from here on out, I will call. The good thing is they are in CA, so they are 2 hours behind me, which gives me extra time.

Also, I offered to send him the log files I have been recording, but he was pretty quick to say that this wouldn't help and was pretty sure it was an issue with the iDash forgetting the trucks profile, which required it to need to be rebooted each time to get it to read the parameters. He said that the fact that the iDash would still read the batteries voltage wasn't any sort of indication as all it was doing was reading the voltage at the OBD2 port.

Anyway, I have little understanding about alot of this stuff, but it seems that Banks has a strong name and quality products... I just happened to get duds... (I also had issues with their pod mount, which they also replaced...) I was thinking about maybe picking up a pedal monster sometime, but I was a bit put off with their lack of customer service... this has helped me to gain some of that trust back though... and especially if the new unit works as expected!

 

my trans temp does not show every once in a while. But not very often.

A phone call has always been my method, usually followed up by an email if they wanted something.

Another route is to obtain who your salesperson is and email them. That gets results too.

Your phone number is registered so they will know who to patch you though too.

 

The issue I have found is when the micro sd card is in it! Removing the sd card and only putting it in when I need to log something or maybe do an update.

 

So you're saying if you leave it in as you may log some data when you drive the truck, you don't see the trans temp PID?

 

Ok story time.
When I first got the iDash drove it for months with NO micro sd card in, worked 100%. Put the micro sd in to checkout the data logging and left it in for a week. Right away once the micro sd was in I noticed once in awhile when I started the truck the gauges wouldn't turn on, holding down the arrow would start the guages up to get an error and if you wait then they all come back up like normal. I thought that was weird and never happened before, maybe it has to do with adding this micro sd card. Removed the sd card and no longer have that start up issue. Put the sd card back in weeks later starting doing it again. Now it stays out and in center console if I ever need to use.

The trasn temp PID issue no idea, but have you removed the sd card and given it come cycles to see if it clears up? My trans temp is just over the guages enabled in forscan, don't have it on the iDash.
Also I am running one Data Monster and one Super guage in a 2 pod setup.

 

Appreciate the story... thanks.

 

My issues are somewhat similar... but not exact. I started having the trans temp issues from the moment I installed it, with or without the SD card installed. For a few months I did not install the SD card because of the location I have the iDash installed, which is near my knees and I feared that I may hit the micro SD card with my knee and break it off inside the iDash. (Which is another issue I have with the Data Monster... the SD card sticks out way too far IMO.) But you are right, it was after I had the SD card installed that I started noticing that the iDash sometimes would not come on at all, however, when I would hold the down arrow down to force the iDash to come on, it would not correct itself and eventually begin working. The only way I could get it to work correctly was by shutting the truck off and turning it back on, unplugging the iDash and plugging it back up, or by going into the settings and choosing "Ford 6.7L" under vehicle selection, which would force it to reboot.

And to update my original post... FedEx delivered my package to the wrong house... but it eventually found it's way back to me! I stayed in touch with Banks the whole time and they informed me that we would have to wait for the issue to resolve with FedEx, but that if it wasn't found, they would ship me another one without charging me for the lost one... thankfully though, it was found and made it to me!

The day I got it, I installed the new one, set up 3 pages that mimicked my original one (I left one page off that was a bit redundant), and took off! I drove a couple of miles to get some dinner... then when I got back in, the trans temp parameter was -- ... and this was the new one! So, I got back in touch with Banks and let them know I had finally received the replacement and mailed the original iDash back to them, however, I also let them know I was experiencing the same issues with the trans temp occasionally not displaying. We both agreed that it was most likely not the iDash, or the cord at this point, and most likely was either just a software bug with the "Ford 6.7L" option (although, no one else has reported issues so far), or something about my specific truck... He said he would file it and speak to some of the guys at Banks to see if there was anything they could find that may be specific to the newest MY trucks, and if they find anything they will get an update to correct it...

So, for now, I will just deal with the occasional non working trans temp PID. But, so far, the iDash has turned on every time I have cranked the truck, so that is a good thing, but if it starts not coming on again, I will try pulling the SD card out for a while to see if it makes a difference. But, if that does become the case, it will really make me wish I had saved the $$ and just went with the regular Super Gauge... and at this point, I kind of wish I had just done that anyway.

But, they did take care of me in the end, which matters! And if I have anymore issues, I will just go directly to calling them to deal with issues rather than sending an email... despite the super long wait times (but at least they will set you up as a call back so you don't have to sit on hold for an hour or more!) Until then though, I am hoping that the trans temp issue will either work itself out, or they will put out and update that fixes it... at least in my case!

Also, as a side note, I have an XLT, so I can't add the gauges with the actual temps on my trucks dash screen... unfortunately!

 

That's just crazy to me that because you have a lower trim level XLT that Ford decided to not have the oil and trans temps displayed on the dash or at least to be able to display them. While I realize the lower trim trucks had a simpler gauge cluster for the 11 to 16 MYs, I'm sure the 20s plus all have the same dashes. That's nuts to me you have to buy a Lariat trim to get it.

On my iDash, the OLM and fuel level PIDs start at 99%. It bothered me a little in the beginning but it doesn't anymore. The same with the soot load total; that they don't match up. I'd rather have a "miles since last regen PID anyway. I haven't looked in awhile but I'm pretty sure there isn't one for my MY.