Vehicle Network Communication Error???

[wb41]

I left my Bronco on the street for 3 days and today when I hit the ignition the engine won’t start and none of the electronics will turn on. I reset the main screen and it has a message that says “vehicle network communication error”. I’ve seen other threads on this site saying to find the Body Control Module on the passengers side but I can’t find it! I would much rather try and fix this issue myself than pay for a tow and have to deal with my dealership. Any suggestions? Thanks!

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[ScareCrow]

I left my Bronco on the street for 3 days and today when I hit the ignition the engine won’t start and none of the electronics will turn on. I reset the main screen and it has a message that says “vehicle network communication error”. I’ve seen other threads on this site saying to find the Body Control Module on the passengers side but I can’t find it! I would much rather try and fix this issue myself than pay for a tow and have to deal with my dealership. Any suggestions? Thanks!

I'm think the warranty will cover tow, check your manual for 800 number

 

[13MikeH]

Ooof. That's not good. Ford does have a rep on the forum it's Ford motor company. Maybe direct message

 

[13MikeH]

I'm think the warranty will cover tow, check your manual for 800 number

I'd agree. I had a faulty and known alternator issue and it died on the way to dinner waiting on replacement alternators. Dodge covered all of it.

 

[Fossil]

if you really want to try something disconnect/reconnect the battery to force a hard reboot.

then call the service department even if it works

 

[jake4042]

MY BS just did this. Was almost home and a sensor malfunction went off, the driver console screen went blank and then everything went dark and said: Vehicle Network Communication Error

PIC: This was before I turned the car off. It now won't restart.

The car is still like this on the street tonight. The screen is lit up with the message and some blue accent lighting inside. Hopefully no shady folks notice and try to get it. FYI for getting a tow, car won't switch gear from park.

 

[DISCOLEG]

This proves that they don't need to use old chips.

 

[Mlarv]

MY BS just did this. Was almost home and a sensor malfunction went off, the driver console screen went blank and then everything went dark and said: Vehicle Network Communication Error

PIC: This was before I turned the car off. It now won't restart.

The car is still like this on the street tonight. The screen is lit up with the message and some blue accent lighting inside. Hopefully no shady folks notice and try to get it. FYI for getting a tow, car won't switch gear from park.

A good tow company can even move it in park. They jack up the front and slide something under it lift it strap it away they go. Even if the parking brake is on the lift the back slide something under the wheels strap it and away they go. Pull the negative battery cable for ten to fifteen minutes. Then try and start it.

 

[ck122]

MY BS just did this. Was almost home and a sensor malfunction went off, the driver console screen went blank and then everything went dark and said: Vehicle Network Communication Error

PIC: This was before I turned the car off. It now won't restart.

The car is still like this on the street tonight. The screen is lit up with the message and some blue accent lighting inside. Hopefully no shady folks notice and try to get it. FYI for getting a tow, car won't switch gear from park.

there is a manual trans release behind a small door on lower left side of dash below steering wheel with a bright orange pull strap to release the trans

 

[magicbus]

I left my Bronco on the street for 3 days and today when I hit the ignition the engine won’t start and none of the electronics will turn on. I reset the main screen and it has a message that says “vehicle network communication error”. I’ve seen other threads on this site saying to find the Body Control Module on the passengers side but I can’t find it! I would much rather try and fix this issue myself than pay for a tow and have to deal with my dealership. Any suggestions? Thanks!

As Fossil suggested, did you try just pulling the battery cable off for an hour? I had mine off for 6 weeks and when I connected it my BS threw a party flashing all the lights and then lighting up the dash. Then I would have Ford read the stored codes.

 

[jake4042]

I unplugged the battery for 15 minutes this morning. The accessories then came on but the engine wouldn't turn. The battery might have drained over night. Towed to the dealership. They can't look at it to diagnose it until May. No dealers have loaners and warranty doesn't cover rental car until diagnosed. I am going to go back to the dealership and see if I can jump the car and get it running. Have an appointment with another dealership on April 22nd. Frustrating situation.

 

[Mark S.]

Frustrating situation.

Agreed.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

I unplugged the battery for 15 minutes this morning. The accessories then came on but the engine wouldn't turn. The battery might have drained over night. Towed to the dealership. They can't look at it to diagnose it until May. No dealers have loaners and warranty doesn't cover rental car until diagnosed. I am going to go back to the dealership and see if I can jump the car and get it running. Have an appointment with another dealership on April 22nd. Frustrating situation.

Hi there, this doesn't sound like an experience we want you to have with your Bronco Sport. Could you please send us a PM with your VIN and the name and location of your Ford dealer? I'd be happy to look into how I can assist you with this battery concern on my end.

 

[jake4042]

Went to the dealership at my lunch break yesterday and wanted to see if maybe the BS just needed a jump and maybe the battery reset this morning fixed things. The dealer jumped it and it started but holy malfunction alerts. Power steering wouldn't work. They pulled some codes (see below) Got it towed to another dealership that can have it diagnosed on April 22nd instead of in May.

"We sold all of our loaners" "We can't determine if it is under warranty until a tech looks at in 6 weeks" "Ford won't cover a rental car until a tech determines its a warranty issue" If Ford is only allowing people to get repairs at dealerships that are overly backed-up... This sounds like something the State Attorney General might want to look into. It sounds like the dealers are working with Ford to mitigate Ford's expenses of rental cars by delaying diagnosis. Putting the burden on the consumer.

 

[Meanderthal]

Given the collection of errors, if the BS required a jump start, it probably needs some time for the battery to be charged. Electrical errors like this, especially in this quantity out of the blue, generally means the battery is low on charge or possibly bad.

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