Body control module went out!

Tiny
CNLOOPER
  • MEMBER
  • 2014 FORD F-150
  • 3.5L
  • V6
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 33,000 MILES
Can someone explain and tell me what all this module does and what all it controls and what would cause it to go out. The dealership just called me and told me the body control module went out and it needs replaced. What causes this is my main concern! Wold changing the battery and aftermarket amp and subwoofers make this problem happ pen? Thanks!
Friday, March 25th, 2016 AT 9:26 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
The body control module controls about everything inside truck and outside sometimes. It' deals with lights, radio, cameras etc. It may be a connection problem or what is called a can bus which several modules are connected on same line and if one goes out it cause a a problem. It can be a shorted wire, water, etc. To cause it to go out. Or even a surge of electricity that is to high in voltage.

Here are the instructions in the diagrams below on how to replace the BCM and reset the ignition keys as well. It must be done at the same time.

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what happens.
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Friday, March 25th, 2016 AT 10:23 AM
Tiny
CNLOOPER
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So obviously my amplifer and subwoofers made it go out, cause u are supposed to hook a remote turn-on lead wire from the amp to a terminal to get the amp to turn on and off when ignition switch turned on. That comes to be ran to the junction fuse box for that while running a straight power lead from the amplifier to battery. I
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Friday, March 25th, 2016 AT 12:32 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
I didn't recognize the name when I answered the question but because your fuse box burnt up for whatever reason that is why the module went out. But it may be because of the amp/subwoofer caused the fuse box problem in the first place.
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Friday, March 25th, 2016 AT 1:07 PM
Tiny
CNLOOPER
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  • 11 POSTS
Lol haha! Well, if that's the case that the subs and amp caused the module to go out. Which I pretty sure that had to be the cause. Obviously, I'm going to have to find another route to hook up my remote turn on lead wire running with the factory unit. At first it was running from amp into fusebox into a accessory slot with the fuse in it that is a 12v power source when the keys turned on. May have to get some kind of converter for the head unit to solve this problem. I was told there isn't a remote turn on wire on the harness on the back of the unit. But all aftermarket ones have them. All be damn if I hook it back up to the junctuon box again and this happen a secong time. I don't see a po8nt in replacing the oem navigation system it's a awesome deck to begin with. The dealer ship is fixing it and ford is warranty it for the repairs.
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Friday, March 25th, 2016 AT 10:38 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Well that's good you can always hookup a fused circuit from battery with a relay to operate this. You just have to make sure to turn it off when car is shut down.
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Saturday, March 26th, 2016 AT 7:39 AM
Tiny
DANNIESKES
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 FORD F-150
What does the body control module do? Where is the body control module?
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Wednesday, January 8th, 2020 AT 1:39 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Yours has a BCM but cannot pull it from Mit1 no location of it-sorry

Get educated How the Body Control Module works

A body control module is a computer component in an automobile that checks, regulates and operates electronic devices throughout the car. When electric devices first began being used in cars and trucks, each device had a separate electric component to govern it. There was a module for the air conditioning, a module for the interior lighting, a module for the door locks and so forth. A body control module gathers all these separate modules under one system so that they function together instead of separately, a format easier to both manufacture and troubleshoot.

While there are many different types of body control modules, they are generally alike, connecting sensors, switches and automatic reactions together in one computer system. These components are divided into inputs, such as sensor data about heat or speed, and outputs, or ways in which the body control module computer responds to control the vehicle's electronic functions. Inputs and outputs are further divided into analog and digital types of information, analog signals being used with modules that may change continuously (such as oil pressure) and digital signals being used for modules that can simply be on or off (like the headlights or the oil indication light).
Inputs and Outputs
Input components are divided into electric parts, such as the potentiometer, the variable resistor, the magnetic pickup and the the voltage generator. A potentiometer is designed to change a voltage output to the computer, so that when a fuel setting or gas pedal position is changed the voltage will change, and the computer will be able to read the new voltage and respond accordingly. The variable resistor works in a similar fashion, but senses changes in temperature for reading engine coolant conditions and other data. The magnetic pickup reads the speed of a rotating object via a simple magnet attached to the object, and a voltage generator sends out a voltage signal based on the presence of compounds like oxygen so the computer can tell the oxygen-rich levels of a pipe or space.

Output devices consist of relays, solenoids, servomotors, switching transistors and others. Relays can turn other devices on and off by connecting or disrupting a circuit to turn on a fan or automatic air conditioning unit. Solenoids are analog components that use magnetic forces to move objects, such as fuel injectors. A servometer is a mini-motor also used to move objects, usually to turn things, while a switching transistor is the digital version of a relay. Other output devices are very simple, such as LED lights, or very complex, such as a night-vision view of the road.
Computer Tasks
The body control module computer itself performs many of the functions of a normal computer, including storing data, using RAM, and sending or receiving radio waves. It is the computer's job to regulate many of the systems and troubleshoot all of its component modules. Some modules are set by timer, which the the computer digitally keeps track of, while other modules like the anti-theft alarm need to be kept active even when the car is turned off. The body control module computer can also be in charge of keeping track of mileage and CO2 output.

When troubleshooting, a mechanic can often get pointed to the right area by the body control module system, which sends out a code that shows what module is not responding. At times the body control module computer can even diagnose itself and report specific problems.
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Wednesday, January 8th, 2020 AT 1:39 PM (Merged)

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