Steering counterweight?

[SebastienMachE]

I never had bluecruise working from day one; had issues with the telematics module which eventually got replaced. Bluecruise started working thereafter.

Ever have any FordPass/car communication issues?

No issues really with my Gen1 First Edition (aside from that Blue cruise...)

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[Mirak]

Whether BC Hands-Free is enabled or not, the eyeball sensor is now live 100% of the time, correct? So a weight that applies a bit of torque to fool the overly-sensitive hand nanny doesn’t seem to make anything material unsafer. The eyeball sensor remains active and you’ve got to watch the road regardless.

Likewise the BC Hands-Free doesn’t have any better Lane Centering than BC Hands-On.

Am I wrong? Seriously, if you disagree let me know why. But I would appreciate a rational discussion and not merely online virtue signaling.

The question: how is driving BC Hands-Free safer than driving BC Hands-On with a torque weight?

 

[ZuleMME]

Whether BC Hands-Free is enabled or not, the eyeball sensor is now live 100% of the time, correct? So a weight that applies a bit of torque to fool the overly-sensitive hand nanny doesn’t seem to make anything material unsafer. The eyeball sensor remains active and you’ve got to watch the road regardless.

Likewise the BC Hands-Free doesn’t have any better Lane Centering than BC Hands-On.

Am I wrong? Seriously, if you disagree let me know why. But I would appreciate a rational discussion and not merely online virtue signaling.

The question: how is driving BC Hands-Free safer than driving BC Hands-On with a torque weight?

You're exactly right. The only difference from a weight to make it always hands-free and bluecruise at this point is the fact you won't owe $200 a year for the weight (and it'll work everywhere!). Both have the same eye-nanny now. Both in my opinion are just as un-safe. But in general you're still circumventing a method of control so it's a conscious choice which signs your doom if you don't pay attention and get into an accident. Watch everything, don't trust anything. Then it's all good.

 

[ctenidae]

Seems like a terrible idea in general.
Maybe you can get a package deal - torque weights, a generator, and a gas can for four easy payments!

 

[Blue highway]

Whether BC Hands-Free is enabled or not, the eyeball sensor is now live 100% of the time, correct? So a weight that applies a bit of torque to fool the overly-sensitive hand nanny doesn’t seem to make anything material unsafer. The eyeball sensor remains active and you’ve got to watch the road regardless.

Likewise the BC Hands-Free doesn’t have any better Lane Centering than BC Hands-On.

Am I wrong? Seriously, if you disagree let me know why. But I would appreciate a rational discussion and not merely online virtue signaling.

The question: how is driving BC Hands-Free safer than driving BC Hands-On with a torque weight?

There are a couple of reasons this is a bad idea.

1 - when lane centering disengages, there is not much of a warning, and the weight will turn the car either into the ditch or into oncoming traffic because it stops trying to center. Contrast that with what happens when BC disengages. It still lane centers in most circumstances and there is no weight biasing the steering.

2 - If there is an accident of any kind, and this is on your wheel, you will be crucified in court. This will happen because you knowingly defeated a safety system despite being aware of the risks. If you hurt someone, this will cost you everything you own.

 

[MailGuy]

My FE is also apparently in the 5% that needed a dealer trip after the OTA’s were successful. Do yourself a favor, find a dealer you trust, get a loaner from them for the few days it may take, and let them work it through the Ford Hotline. You might even find there are EXTREMELY helpful Ford employees on this very forum who will help keep things going in the right direction with the dealer. You just have to be patient. I nearly gave up multiple times, but I appreciated the car even more after being without it for three days, and got functioning BC to boot.

 

[awp0]

We can all agree it’s a terrible idea. That said, I’m pretty sure a half-full water bottle duct taped to the steering wheel would do the trick (noticed on YouTube).

 

[SebastienMachE]

We can all agree it’s a terrible idea. That said, I’m pretty sure a half-full water bottle duct taped to the steering wheel would do the trick (noticed on YouTube).

Don't like that idea of taping to the steering wheel. In case you need to act quickly, it might be in the way. I still want this to be safe

 

[HuntingPudel]

What’s wrong with resting your hand on your knee and keeping a thumb on the steering wheel? I have done this for short stretches with ACC and it’s worked fine. Being the freak that I am, I still prefer to have both paws on the wheel. ??

 

[awp0]

Don't like that idea of taping to the steering wheel. In case you need to act quickly, it might be in the way. I still want this to be safe

100% agree. Actually I felt a little guilty after posting that message last night. It just came to mind because I remember researching XC90 driver assist capabilities a couple of years ago and came across a video of someone testing this method. I agree that it's unsafe and not recommended.

 

[Mach1E]

Whether BC Hands-Free is enabled or not, the eyeball sensor is now live 100% of the time, correct? So a weight that applies a bit of torque to fool the overly-sensitive hand nanny doesn’t seem to make anything material unsafer. The eyeball sensor remains active and you’ve got to watch the road regardless.

Likewise the BC Hands-Free doesn’t have any better Lane Centering than BC Hands-On.

Am I wrong? Seriously, if you disagree let me know why. But I would appreciate a rational discussion and not merely online virtue signaling.

The question: how is driving BC Hands-Free safer than driving BC Hands-On with a torque weight?

Not sure exactly.

But I believe that the difference between Bluecruise and regular lane assist is more than just the eye nanny vs hand nanny.

 

[SnBGC]

Whether BC Hands-Free is enabled or not, the eyeball sensor is now live 100% of the time, correct? So a weight that applies a bit of torque to fool the overly-sensitive hand nanny doesn’t seem to make anything material unsafer. The eyeball sensor remains active and you’ve got to watch the road regardless.

Likewise the BC Hands-Free doesn’t have any better Lane Centering than BC Hands-On.

Am I wrong? Seriously, if you disagree let me know why. But I would appreciate a rational discussion and not merely online virtue signaling.

The question: how is driving BC Hands-Free safer than driving BC Hands-On with a torque weight?

I am not sure about the eye nanny. This is my first week with the hands free feature and have yet to see any sign of the eyeball nanny. I believe the car's ability to stay in the center of the lane is superior to what I had previously (ACC+LKA/LC). The car also fights me less when hands free is active vs hands on so there does seem to be a difference. I have seen the hold onto the steering wheel message but only when the hands on version is active.

I still have to keep a slight grip on the wheel even when hands free is active. If I remove my hands from the wheel completely then the car is a pretty poor driver. Yeah it stays in the center of the lane but with a tolerance of about 4"-6". My wife actually asked me if I was okay because my driving was getting her nauseous. Then she looked and saw my hands off the wheel and realized it was the car just trying to keep to the center of the lane.

So, I keep a slight grip on the wheel during hands free mode and help it drive more smoothly down the lane. Then when it drops to hands on mode, I grip a little more or sometimes take full control. In Phoenix, the hands free will drop out into hands on at large curves in the highway, interchanges and when lanes merge. So, it never really stays in hands free mode for very long.

Road trips might be different. Hands free might be more enjoyable I suppose. For 99% of my driving, I could care less about hands free and actually consider it a downgrade. I do miss the ability to track off center in the lane like I was previously able to do before hands free was installed.

There is zero chance I will pay for the hands free when the trial expires. In fact, I may not even wait that long. It looks like I can chose to cancel the trial period myself in Connected Services. Last thing I want is to loan my car to friends or family and that hands free icon appears and they believe the car will actually drive itself. That would be disastrous.

 

[Jonno21]

I'd love to hear the conversation with your insurer in an accident. "Did you have your hands on the wheel at the time of the accident?"

"No- I had a weight contraption thingy hanging off the steering wheel which has had no testing in the real world by any government agency".

"We're not paying out due to your negligence as you were too lazy to lightly grip the wheel". (Hilarious laughter in the background at the call centre).

 

[krafty81]

If you don’t have BC hands free, then the update is incomplete. Take it back and make them get it right.

 

[Nugatti]

As someone who lives outside the americas and probably never will have bluecruise, you just have to adjust.
For longer drives I always use an ID card lanyard similar to the one in the picture around my left leg and into the left side of the steering wheel. Just giving the wheel a little weight to the left constantly, which can be adjusted by bending or straightening the leg. The little latch is loose enough that you can grab the wheel and steer if needed, and it will break loose.
As long as the road is a highway with clear markings, you can drive hands free for long periods.

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