Lightning Software Updates using FDRS

[Zzebro]

Call your service advisor this morning and ask them to check your OTA dashboard and read out to you the history that they see for the last 60 days. If there is no history, that's your first clue that you have a problem that needs further diagnosis (by a tech in person). If there is a history of any sort and it says that OTAs have been attempted but failed, ask the service advisor what the reasons were for the failures are/were according to what the system reported. That will also be a clue as to what might be holding you back.

You do have an APIM update showing as available but I'm not sure what would happen if the tech attempted it using FDRS. There may be something else at work here like what happened to @#1 Scuba . But it's not clear yet that this is the case.

so I actually talked to the OTA help line. They said it tried pushing an OTA to the vehicle 4 times in the past few months but failed due to low battery and it is now expired. Guess I’m in limbo?

 

[Mike G]

so I actually talked to the OTA help line. They said it tried pushing an OTA to the vehicle 4 times in the past few months but failed due to low battery and it is now expired. Guess I’m in limbo?

Well you're not in limbo if that's the case. It will probably get offered again.

I would do the reset of the BMS learned values routine and then go for a drive to fully recharge your 12V battery cause it sounds like your charging threshold is low enough that your 12V battery never fully achieves a complete charge. This happens a lot to vehicles that sit for long periods (like at the dealer's lot or at home in a garage, even if they stay plugged in).

 

[Mike G]

I recommend holding off on updating FDRS until they fix the session log issue that started with 37.4.3, and wasn't fixed by the panic release of 37.4.4 the next day (yesterday).

It makes your session logs look like this:

Stay on 36.4.8 until the all clear is sounded.

I did get a response from the FDRS "Report a Problem" team that said that they could not reproduce the problem (above).

However one of the canned response solutions that they suggested actually did solve the problem and I have now updated to 37.4.4.

The key was the need to "Remove all user data" during the uninstall of the older version so that 37.4.4 starts off fresh with no cached data.

Works now, just so you know.

 

[chillaban]

I have a '22 Lariat ER that has gotten all of the most recent OTA updates including the recent DC-CHG3 one on Aug 29th. I decided to get a Mongoose + FDRS after my local dealerships were unhelpful with the BlueCruise wandering TSB, and it was affecting my drives pretty significantly.


FWIW even though my truck was getting timely OTA's, there were still many pending updates, including:

• WACM (wireless phone charger): I heard this helps with the Pro Max sized phones not charging. I gave it a brief try and honestly didn't notice any improvement. Not a big deal.
• APIM: This brought my APIM version to 913, not noticing any major changes. It also seemed to bring the Bluecruise Maps expiration to December 2073 instead of Oct 2073. Maybe that's coincidence
• PSCM: As expected, this was pending and the module mentioned in the BC lane keeping TSB. After applying, took for a test drive and found that BlueCruise tracked lanes noticeably better than before. It was much less prone to slightly drifting left and right at 70mph and it even followed some more sharp curves in the city. However, this is not magic, and it will not track very curvy roads without occasionally over/under correcting.
• BECM (HV battery?)
• PCM/BCM seemed to update together in a pair. Don't know what it does.
• FHCM (Front Hatch Control Module) -- had to manually shut the frunk lid after this one.

Does anyone know what the BECM, PCM, BCM, and FHCM updates were for?

 

[mattskr]

I have a '22 Lariat ER that has gotten all of the most recent OTA updates including the recent DC-CHG3 one on Aug 29th. I decided to get a Mongoose + FDRS after my local dealerships were unhelpful with the BlueCruise wandering TSB, and it was affecting my drives pretty significantly.


FWIW even though my truck was getting timely OTA's, there were still many pending updates, including:

• WACM (wireless phone charger): I heard this helps with the Pro Max sized phones not charging. I gave it a brief try and honestly didn't notice any improvement. Not a big deal.
• APIM: This brought my APIM version to 913, not noticing any major changes. It also seemed to bring the Bluecruise Maps expiration to December 2073 instead of Oct 2073. Maybe that's coincidence
• PSCM: As expected, this was pending and the module mentioned in the BC lane keeping TSB. After applying, took for a test drive and found that BlueCruise tracked lanes noticeably better than before. It was much less prone to slightly drifting left and right at 70mph and it even followed some more sharp curves in the city. However, this is not magic, and it will not track very curvy roads without occasionally over/under correcting.
• BECM (HV battery?)
• PCM/BCM seemed to update together in a pair. Don't know what it does.
• FHCM (Front Hatch Control Module) -- had to manually shut the frunk lid after this one.

Does anyone know what the BECM, PCM, BCM, and FHCM updates were for?

Isn't it super frustrating how the dealers either act completely ignorant or just refuse to help you when you know what the issue is and have to do it yourself?

They really should do a recall for the power steering TSB since I dunno...it controls how the vehicle STEERS itself and could be a safety issue. That would at least force dealers to do the update.

This is exactly why I went the FDRS route myself. Dealers wanted to hold my truck for a WEEK just to do the modem update that fixed the Fordpass issue. Cost me the Mongoose plus a few $50 FDRS passes but to me that's worth it compared to the time wasted with dealers.

 

[chillaban]

Isn't it super frustrating how the dealers either act completely ignorant or just refuse to help you when you know what the issue is and have to do it yourself?

They really should do a recall for the power steering TSB since I dunno...it controls how the vehicle STEERS itself and could be a safety issue. That would at least force dealers to do the update.

This is exactly why I went the FDRS route myself. Dealers wanted to hold my truck for a WEEK just to do the modem update that fixed the Fordpass issue. Cost me the Mongoose plus a few $50 FDRS passes but to me that's worth it compared to the time wasted with dealers.

Yup I don’t love buying $500 cables and would rather have a dealership take me seriously when I complain that the charging pad cooks my iPhone or BC wanders like a drunk driver on a straight road.

and FWIW today I confirmed in driving that both of those issues are greatly improved by the update.

One thing that I liked as a Tesla owner is that EVERYTHING was OTA updated on the car, not just a haphazard subset of functions. There was no situation where you had to go into service and all they did was flash software with a cable. This is still something that I think traditional auto needs to learn and improve on. Please stop holding meaningful improvements behind oddly specific TSBs that a bunch of dealerships don’t even care to do even if you show them the TSB.

 

[GDN]

Yup I don’t love buying $500 cables and would rather have a dealership take me seriously when I complain that the charging pad cooks my iPhone or BC wanders like a drunk driver on a straight road.

and FWIW today I confirmed in driving that both of those issues are greatly improved by the update.

One thing that I liked as a Tesla owner is that EVERYTHING was OTA updated on the car, not just a haphazard subset of functions. There was no situation where you had to go into service and all they did was flash software with a cable. This is still something that I think traditional auto needs to learn and improve on. Please stop holding meaningful improvements behind oddly specific TSBs that a bunch of dealerships don’t even care to do even if you show them the TSB.

This is the huge difference when you design something in house vs Ford's cobbled together modules from 20 different companies. Word is the new Ford truck will be integrated and designed from the ground up for the modules to work together.

Truly it is so bad with Ford vehicles that they exclude by name software updates in their extended warranty plans. They sell you on all they cover and how good they are, but they know the SW and update process is so bad they call it out and exclude it. Makes you feel good about what we are driving doesn't it.

I miss Tesla and the SW and updates, plus the added bonus they bring and continue to enhance and add functionality.

 

[Mike G]

13 Sep 23 and this morning a set of Powertrain updates showed up for my '22. This follows a previous pattern of releasing updates on a Wednesday for Lightnings. (Mach Es seem to be on Fridays most of the time).

I've checked VINs on two '23 models and they got these updates in their list as well.

I do not have an ABS in this list but it will be there for some folks, it is part of the powertrain coordinated group of modules for the purposes of updates, and will be scripted to update in the pre-defined sequence after you select the PCM and hit "Run".

For those who don't know, all these are what's called 'coordinated' updates. Selecting the PCM kicks off a scripted update of all the modules you see here. You just sit in the seat and hit the "OK" button when appropriate most of the time. These are all CAN bus updates and will require a powersupply to be used.

Expect things like your guess-o-meter to be reset because the learned values will get wiped out by the update. Happens on ICE vehicles too.

Remember to do a CMDTC view and "Clear and Retest" both before starting updates and then again after you're done so that everything is "green" when you are finished and ready to disconnect.

Finally, I don't know what these powertrain updates are intended to correct or enhance. Powertrain updates generally come out once or twice a year (or more) and generally bring refinements.

EDIT: It looks like the BECM at least is tied to the CSP 23B57 program. It will enable a reduced power limp home mode in the event you have a battery issue (bad cell, or cells).

 

[TaxmanHog]

Hmmmmmm, I wonder if the pendency of this set of updates is associated with resumption of the production line on 7/31? Maybe they decided to hold all those trucks until this was out, then shipping can begin, and the field service tech's might help the factory by applying theses as they arrive at the rail yards or for PDI at the dealerships?

Remember the rollout of 22's with the tire pressure issue.

Could you check these three July'23 VIN's
1FT6W1EV2PWG22853
1FT6W1EV0PWG25007
1FT6W1EV1PWG22567

 

[Mike G]

13 Sep 23 and this morning a set of Powertrain updates showed up for my '22. This follows a previous pattern of releasing updates on a Wednesday for Lightnings. (Mach Es seem to be on Fridays most of the time).

I've checked VINs on two '23 models and they got these updates in their list as well.

I do not have an ABS in this list but it will be there for some folks, it is part of the powertrain coordinated group of modules for the purposes of updates, and will be scripted to update in the pre-defined sequence after you select the PCM and hit "Run".

For those who don't know, all these are what's called 'coordinated' updates. Selecting the PCM kicks off a scripted update of all the modules you see here. You just sit in the seat and hit the "OK" button when appropriate most of the time. These are all CAN bus updates and will require a powersupply to be used.

Expect things like your guess-o-meter to be reset because the learned values will get wiped out by the update. Happens on ICE vehicles too.

Remember to do a CMDTC view and "Clear and Retest" both before starting updates and then again after you're done so that everything is "green" when you are finished and ready to disconnect.

Finally, I don't know what these powertrain updates are intended to correct or enhance. Powertrain updates generally come out once or twice a year (or more) and generally bring refinements.

So to wrap this up now that it's all done and dusted, here's my session log from doing those updates. You can see that it doesn't take that long really. (Of course your dealer would have charged a couple of days to do this)

The GFM2 was the last module updated and because of that, I guess, it didn't initially clear off the software list afterward. I tried the Rerun Network Test button once and that didn't clear it, so I then turned the truck completely on (not just Accy mode) and cleared and retested all CMDTCs and then hit the Rerun Network Test button again and it dropped off the list. All green, all good.

 

[Mike G]

Hmmmmmm, I wonder if the pendency of this set of updates is associated with resumption of the production line on 7/31? Maybe they decided to hold all those trucks until this was out, then shipping can begin, and the field service tech's might help the factory by applying theses as they arrive at the rail yards or for PDI at the dealerships?

Remember the rollout of 22's with the tire pressure issue.

Could you check these three July'23 VIN's
1FT6W1EV2PWG22853
1FT6W1EV0PWG25007
1FT6W1EV1PWG22567

1FT6W1EV2PWG22853, 31 Jul '23 build date.

1FT6W1EV0PWG25007, 1 Aug '23 build date.

1FT6W1EV1PWG22567, 3 Aug '23 build date.

Dealer techs do not apply updates during PDI unless there's a "Stop-Sell" or recall. They do nothing more than check OASIS for any messages that would tell them what they are required to do and then just take the truck out of transport mode. That's pretty much it.

 

[chillaban]

@Mike G do you know what those updates are for? I assume the BECM/PCM/OBCC trio go together and either bring over Mach E style HV contractor diagnostics or something about DCFC reliability.

Those were pending on my truck via FDRS despite receiving all 3 PU’s OTA for DCFC.

 

[invertedspear]

Hmmmmmm, I wonder if the pendency of this set of updates is associated with resumption of the production line on 7/31? Maybe they decided to hold all those trucks until this was out, then shipping can begin, and the field service tech's might help the factory by applying theses as they arrive at the rail yards or for PDI at the dealerships?

Remember the rollout of 22's with the tire pressure issue.

Could you check these three July'23 VIN's
1FT6W1EV2PWG22853
1FT6W1EV0PWG25007
1FT6W1EV1PWG22567

This might be the best explanation for the mystery hold I've heard so far.

1FT6W1EV1PWG22567, 3 Aug '23 build date.

Seeing these kind of updates pending for my truck does give me some hope that we'll see a factory release soon. Not sure what's contained in the updates, but those are some important modules and I could see them wanting to have them perfected before launching off the new line so the line itself doesn't take the blame with some buggy software.

 

[Mike G]

@Mike G do you know what those updates are for? I assume the BECM/PCM/OBCC trio go together and either bring over Mach E style HV contractor diagnostics or something about DCFC reliability.

Those were pending on my truck via FDRS despite receiving all 3 PU’s OTA for DCFC.

On the Lightning the modules that are included in the "powertrain" group are the PCM, BECM, SOBDM, SOBDMB, SOBDMC, GFM2, ABS. When there is an update to the powertrain group, some but maybe not all, of those modules will be updated at the same time. It's my understanding that the Lightning got similar HVJB update code about two months after the recall powertrain module updates went out for the Mach-E. So that would have been a powertrain update from mid-summer of '22 for the Lightning. But even on the Mach-E the powertrain has received updates at least 5 times since the set that went out for the recall. I assume when they do updates it's fine tuning.

OBCC is responsible for DC fast charging (only)

 

[Mike G]

This might be the best explanation for the mystery hold I've heard so far.



Seeing these kind of updates pending for my truck does give me some hope that we'll see a factory release soon. Not sure what's contained in the updates, but those are some important modules and I could see them wanting to have them perfected before launching off the new line so the line itself doesn't take the blame with some buggy software.

It's very likely you'll have even more available updates the day you get your truck. And the dealer service advisor will look at your OTA dashboard and say "Nope, you're completely up to date".

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