Remove Transit Connect speed limiter

I have a 2006 Transit Connect, she started acting up recently so I brought her to a garage, they diagnosed the ECU as the problem and said it needed to be replaced. 

I sourced a new ECU online and they fitted and reprogrammed it for me. 

After taking the van on a road trip I discovered that it was now limited to 120KPH, the garage has told me that their guy is unable to remove the restriction.

After doing some research I'v discovered that I need a ford VCMII OEM Diagnsotic tool to remove the limit, this tool is not cheap, I can source one from china, but it's still not cheap and I don't wanna drop the money on something that may not work.

Does anybody know is there anywhere I could bring the van to have the limiter removed?
Any help appreciated

kirving

Ford main dealer would be your best bet.

Yeah I'll give that a shot, but I'll be surprised if they're willing to do it, forums that I've read would suggest they won't.

R.O.R

http://www.blackchurchmotors.ie

Be surprised if they couldn't sort it for you.

CiniO

Astrid Victorious Mouthwash wrote: »

Yeah I'll give that a shot, but I'll be surprised if they're willing to do it, forums that I've read would suggest they won't.

Why wouldn't they?

What is the point in programming such limit to the ECU in a first place?

I know minibus transits come with factory limiter to 100km/h as it's legally required for minibuses in the EU.

But no legal requirement for limiters on regular van transits.

R.O.R

CiniO wrote: »

Why wouldn't they?

What is the point in programming such limit to the ECU in a first place?

I know minibus transits come with factory limiter to 100km/h as it's legally required for minibuses in the EU.

But no legal requirement for limiters on regular van transits.

It's an option on a lot of commercial vehicles so the fleet manager can limit the speed for fuel consumption purposes.

CiniO

R.O.R wrote: »

It's an option on a lot of commercial vehicles so the fleet manager can limit the speed for fuel consumption purposes.

Makes sense, but still don't understand why ford dealer would not be willing to remove it if asked.

martinr5232

There is no problem removing it any dealer would do it.
Where are you i have a vcm ??

endacl

Astrid Victorious Mouthwash wrote: »

After taking the van on a road trip I discovered that it was now limited to 120KPH

What's the problem? Are you driving in Germany?

colm_mcm

Surprised it took 9 posts!

CiniO

endacl wrote: »

What's the problem? Are you driving in Germany?

Why Germany?

Bazzy

CiniO wrote: »

Why Germany?

Because the autobahn has no speed limit and the fastest you can drive in ireland is 120kph

endacl

colm_mcm wrote: »

Surprised it took 9 posts!

Sorry. Got here as quick as I could.

CiniO

Bazzy wrote: »

Because the autobahn has no speed limit and the fastest you can drive in ireland is 120kph

Yes, but he could have intended to drive in France, Netherland, Italy, Denmark, Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Bosnia, Greece, etc... All that within Europe not to mention countries outside Europe.

That's why I ask - why Germany?

mossy50

bought an ex British Gas vw caddy maxi van last month and it had limiter fitted
Took it to local mechanic to have it removed 120 notes all ok now

chicorytip

Astrid Victorious Mouthwash wrote:

After taking the van on a road trip I discovered that it was now limited to 120KPH, the garage has told me that their guy is unable to remove the restriction.

The vehicle is only capable of doing a maximum speed of what, 95 m.p.h. or thereabouts, so why even bother?

bazz26

Maybe it's one of these:

pablo128

bazz26 wrote: »

Maybe it's one of these:

I used to drive one of them. Fantastic yokes. They would out handle any average car on the road.

GrumpyMe

pablo128 wrote: »

I used to drive one of them. Fantastic yokes. They would out handle any average car on the road.

Just about half the cars on the road will out handle the average car on the road!
I'll get my coat!

Caliden

endacl wrote: »

What's the problem? Are you driving in Germany?

Can I see your badge there Garda?

pablo128

GrumpyMe wrote: »

Just about half the cars on the road will out handle the average car on the road!
I'll get my coat!

True. But its a van, not a car.;)

martinr5232

martinr5232 wrote: »

There is no problem removing it any dealer would do it.
Where are you i have a vcm ??

I'm in Rathfarnham? 

I must have disabled email notifications, I thought this thread got buried till I logged in today :D

martinr5232

There is a ford dealer beside you just book it in and get it removed. They shouldnt charge much and if they quote too much shop around its very straight forward.

Bazzy

Bazzy wrote: »

CiniO wrote: »

Why Germany?

Because the autobahn has no speed limit and the fastest you can drive in ireland is 120kph

Have you ever driven a limited vehicle? 

Fair enough our motorways are limited to 120KPH, but try driving on a motorway with someone doing 110KPH, then you go to overtake them, they decided while you're over taking to speed up a bit (not quite 120KPH, but faster than they were going), you suddenly hit your 120KPH and now have to drop back as you wont be in an overtaking position till Christmas at this speed and you'll hold up all the traffic in the overtaking lane.

Frustrating would be an understatement! :'(

martinr5232

martinr5232 wrote: »

There is a ford dealer beside you just book it in and get it removed. They shouldnt charge much and if they quote too much shop around its very straight forward.

Yeah ford dealer in Tallght, I'll drop over to them so, Did you order your VCM from China? was very tempted to get one...

R.O.R

Astrid Victorious Mouthwash wrote: »

Yeah ford dealer in Tallght,

I'd say www.rathfarnhamford.ie is probably closer to Rathfarnham than Tallaght Ford

Follow up on this.
I contacted my local Ford dealer and this was the response:
[font=arial, sans-serif][font=Calibri, sans-serif]"Hi Astrid Victorious Mouthwash,[/font][/font]
[font=arial, sans-serif][font=Calibri, sans-serif] [/font][/font]
[font=arial, sans-serif][font=Calibri, sans-serif]It would depend on whether the limiter is a hardware factory setting or an aftermarket software option. The only way I can find that out is through connecting to my computer here. Cost would be one hour’s labour 80eur + vat but can’t guarantee I can remove it unfortunately if it’s a hardware issue."[/font][/font]

I can't for the life of me find anywhere online referencing a hardware factory setting other than the ECU setting, which is changeable via software, so what's the story here? 

And I'll be charged regardless of whether they remove it or not, seems a bit harsh.. (maybe I'm expecting too much :P)