2.3L engine coolant over temp soon as car starts + more

[LokiBronco]

Encountered an interesting issue yesterday morning. Got in the car to take it in for an oil change. Soon as I started the car it said engine coolant was over temp and sounded like it was running a little rough. Got a bunch of messages from ford app (attached). When tow truck driver pulled it up into the flat bed, he noticed engine was in limp mode and couldn’t even make it all the way up. Should be interesting to see what Ford comes back with on this one. Any of y’all have any theories?

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[SuperDave150]

Some multifunction wiring connector has jiggled a little loose. They’ll find it, snap it securely in, and you’ll be back in business.
(I had this happen on my Tacoma years ago)

 

[USMCAg]

A glitch. Week before last I had a brake warning come on. I live in the country so I put the Bronco off the road, switched the park break on, shut it down, and still had the warning with no mechanical issues on the way to work. A prisoner transport, get back, start the Bronco...no issues, not any since then. If it works right mechanically, then likely an electric glitch.

 

[LokiBronco]

A glitch. Week before last I had a brake warning come on. I live in the country so I put the Bronco off the road, switched the park break on, shut it down, and still had the warning with no mechanical issues on the way to work. A prisoner transport, get back, start the Bronco...no issues, not any since then. If it works right mechanically, then likely an electric glitch.

Yeah definitely thinking it’s a glitch. Turned it off, let the car sit for another 5 or so minutes before trying again. Same issue. Couple hours later the tow truck arrived and was still doing same thing

 

[UncleBrad]

Not sure what "glitch" means, but my bet it is a bad connection (ie: connector, ground, splice, etc.)

This is the kind of stuff that scares me. On, say, an old Pontiac with proper analog gauges you could see precisely what is happening. And you would be the "authorized dealer" when you got it home - without it being in "limp mode."

 

[Brian_B]

Not sure what "glitch" means, but my bet it is a bad connection (ie: connector, ground, splice, etc.)

With all the computers and modules in the Bronco, there's a lot of random weird things that can occur. The computers are very sensitive, and it's not uncommon at all for a random bit to get flipped the wrong way and the computer goes nuts, or for voltage to droop (especially on an aging or failing battery) for a computer to drop out and cause all kinds of warnings to pop up out of the blue.

The advice to look for a connector come loose is a good one - as is looking for rodent damage and such as well -- a good visual inspection is always a good first step.

Anytime you start seeing glitches - my mind usually goes to this.
https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/bronco-cheat-codes-list.91121/
General Reset for Wierdness
Unplug the negative battery terminal for about 5 minutes
Reconnect the negative terminal
This reboots all the modules and computers in the Bronco
Use a trickle charger rated for AGM batteries:
Connect (+) to the (+) battery terminal
Connect (-) to either chassis ground or the side tab on the (-) battery terminal
DO NOT connect directly to the (-) battery post
The BMS system must see the charger and going directly to the (-) battery post will bypass it.
Let the battery trickle charge over night. Low battery voltage, or just the BMS thinking there is low battery voltage, can cause a lot of odd things to occur and this corrects for that possibility.

 

[Johnkn]

Check that a rodent didn’t chew through a sensor wire.

Good luck

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