Need Help w/ Installing Paddle Shifter Setup!

[Hatchback Jim]

This might be a stupid question. But why didn't you get the paddle installed factory.

I have a EB 2024 premium with performance pack and the paddle are there. Or is it that 25 and 26 model don't have that option anymore?

I did not get the paddles factory installed as doing this was out of my budget at the time I ordered the car (March 2024), but I suppose I could have waited and saved a bit longer. I have the 2024 EB, which does include the option for paddle shifters from the factory. The '25 and '26 EcoBoost models no longer offer factory paddle shifters for the PP. However, as far as I understand it, the '25 and '26 EB models can still accept paddle inputs and can use a '24 wheel, but info on this is even scarcer than for '24 EB models.

I think I've only seen one comment on here or Reddit where this person said it works, but that is neither here nor there. When I first ordered it, I did not realize you could option out the car to include paddle shifters if you got the Performance Pack. This was also my first time custom ordering a car, and Ford's car builder hides some options depending on what you select during the process.

From everything that I have been able to find online, it was supposed to be plug and play, other than needing to code the car to make manual mode work as intended. To get the PP upgrade for my car would have been quite a bit more money and when I found out that you can add paddles yourself for a fraction of the cost, I had to try it. Even with the money I wasted on two wheels and having a shop install it for me (I did the second wheel myself), it still came nowhere near what a factory upgrade to the PP would have cost.

For now, I have shelved this project. I do want to revisit this at some point. My next projects are going to be quad exhaust and the official Ford tune. I'm bummed the paddles don't work, but at the same time this car is still such a joy to drive so not much is lost all things considered.

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[Will2]

Sorry to hear that man, I installed a Dark Horse steering wheel on a '25 Eco last month and it worked after making the FORScan changes. Like you, one of the FORScan changes was already there (I suspect Ford updated the default setting).

My DH wheel was made in 2023 (honestly pissed Ford Parts shipped me a 3yo wheel with stains on the alcantara and very poor fit/finish, huge gaps between trim pieces).

If it didn't work despite you trying 2 different wheels, then I really wonder what could be going on.

 

[Hatchback Jim]

Sorry to hear that man, I installed a Dark Horse steering wheel on a '25 Eco last month and it worked after making the FORScan changes. Like you, one of the FORScan changes was already there (I suspect Ford updated the default setting).

My DH wheel was made in 2023 (honestly pissed Ford Parts shipped me a 3yo wheel with stains on the alcantara and very poor fit/finish, huge gaps between trim pieces).

If it didn't work despite you trying 2 different wheels, then I really wonder what could be going on.

I started with the DH wheel and got if from CJ Pony Parts. It came flawless and I really liked it, but it was bugging me wondering if there was a wiring mismatch so I returned it and found a base GT wheel to install, which I did myself on the second try. Sorry to hear your DH wheel was in such bad shape.

Methinks it is now down to a wiring issue. Most likely something with the SCCM or clock spring. Live Data in Forscan shows SST_U & SST_D as reading "HIGH" and pressing up or down does not change states, so something is not completing a circuit somewhere along the chain. The paddles do show up so the car sees them, it just doesn't know what to do with the signal.

I had a guy DM me and he said that his local dealer (after talking with like 4 people) could program the paddles for a service fee of $250, but he felt the answers were lukewarm but told me that it sounded possible that Ford could do it if you ask. He was going to explore this further if he couldn't get his to work, of which he is having the exact same issue as me.

Getting into the wiring is beyond my pay grade, so if Ford could do it if I asked, I'll pay it. The cost up to this point would still be cheaper than adding the PP upgrade when I ordered my car.

 

[sportcolbs]

It’s a 24 model and changing wheel is easy, but I am unable to remove the back cover on new Dark Horse wheel in order to replace left hand buttons from my old steering wheel.

 

[Hatchback Jim]

It’s a 24 model and changing wheel is easy, but I am unable to remove the back cover on new Dark Horse wheel in order to replace left hand buttons from my old steering wheel.

Double-check to make sure you took out the screws holding the faux carbon fiber trim piece on the front. If I remember correctly, there are some screws on the backside of the wheel that need to come out in order for that plastic piece on the front to pop off. It actually does to take some force to pop it off so don't be afraid to crank on it just little. Start prying on the edges where the buttons would be and then move to the bottom section. That's how I got mine off. Don't be too hard on it of course. Just be sure you have all the necessary screws out before you really pull on it as that piece did feel like it could crack if you apply too much force.

There may have been screws on the inside too, but my memory is a little fuzzy since I did this late December last year.

 

[sportcolbs]

I carried the wheel by Marshall Mize Ford in Chattanooga. They were nice enough to disable the Dark Horse back cover off the wheel and remove controls for no charge while I waited.

Double-check to make sure you took out the screws holding the faux carbon fiber trim piece on the front. If I remember correctly, there are some screws on the backside of the wheel that need to come out in order for that plastic piece on the front to pop off. It actually does to take some force to pop it off so don't be afraid to crank on it just little. Start prying on the edges where the buttons would be and then move to the bottom section. That's how I got mine off. Don't be too hard on it of course. Just be sure you have all the necessary screws out before you really pull on it as that piece did feel like it could crack if you apply too much force.

There may have been screws on the inside too, but my memory is a little fuzzy since I did this late December last year.

thank you!
Bill

 

[Allanrock59]

I did not get the paddles factory installed as doing this was out of my budget at the time I ordered the car (March 2024), but I suppose I could have waited and saved a bit longer. I have the 2024 EB, which does include the option for paddle shifters from the factory. The '25 and '26 EcoBoost models no longer offer factory paddle shifters for the PP. However, as far as I understand it, the '25 and '26 EB models can still accept paddle inputs and can use a '24 wheel, but info on this is even scarcer than for '24 EB models.

I think I've only seen one comment on here or Reddit where this person said it works, but that is neither here nor there. When I first ordered it, I did not realize you could option out the car to include paddle shifters if you got the Performance Pack. This was also my first time custom ordering a car, and Ford's car builder hides some options depending on what you select during the process.

From everything that I have been able to find online, it was supposed to be plug and play, other than needing to code the car to make manual mode work as intended. To get the PP upgrade for my car would have been quite a bit more money and when I found out that you can add paddles yourself for a fraction of the cost, I had to try it. Even with the money I wasted on two wheels and having a shop install it for me (I did the second wheel myself), it still came nowhere near what a factory upgrade to the PP would have cost.

For now, I have shelved this project. I do want to revisit this at some point. My next projects are going to be quad exhaust and the official Ford tune. I'm bummed the paddles don't work, but at the same time this car is still such a joy to drive so not much is lost all things considered.

About the performance pack, you are right. It cost me 6500.00$ Cdn. But it was worth it. From 0 to 60 the difference between the GT and mine is less then 1 second. The real difference is after 60 (100km) you see the difference.

For the forscan, maybe try to find someone who has an EB and the paddle and copy his setting so you can try it on yours. I would do it but I don't have the equipment and not planning on buying it.

As for the tune up. Try this one Tuned by Ryan – EMS Custom Tune | 2024+ S650 EcoBoost Mustang (HP Tuners RTD4 + 4 Credits Required) – Engineered Motorsport Solutions .

It was a post on this forum that I got the info ( (26) Is it worth it to tune an ecoboost 2024 performance pack? | Mustang7G - 2024+ S650 Mustang Forum (Dark Horse, GT, EcoBoost, GT500, GT350, Mach 1) ). I spoke with him and he says that with this tune you can get 100+hp and about the same for torque.


The ford tune will cost you roughly the same but the gain is about 50% less.

Good luck.

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