Lightning Software Updates using FDRS

[chl]

People in other countries where Ford is not supported use FDRS by going through a VPN to trick FDRS into thinking they are in the US. This works for x amount of time before their account gets suspended. So they have some measures in place to detect this.

It is also easy enough to code FDRS into raising a red flag on their side if a VIN from another country is ran through FDRS using a US based account. Or, as @B177y mentioned, an above-average amount of VINs are ran through a single FDRS account.

What I don't understand is: Wtf do they care? They can see everything that is done. FDRS records every single key-stroke. The truth is, we can't use FDRS for anything that would constitute a nefarious activity or to experiment with software on our vehicles. That's what FORScan is for, which IMO, is infinitely superior to FDRS in function. FDRS is easy in the sense that it does everything for you, but let's be honest: It is slow, unstable and very demanding of a computer's resources.

It's about copyright and perhaps patent laws which are territorial.
So for example, software, movies, whatever, may be licensed and protected from copying in the US but not in other countries.

The intellectual property owner has a duty to protect their right or they could lose them. And publicly traded companies have a fiduciary duty to their shareholders to do the same.

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[Scorpio3d]

Picked up a 2 day license and got most of my updates caught up. Had a PCM, ABS, PSCM, SOBDMC, RFA, ACM, TRM, BECM, GFM2, SOBDM, SOBDMB, DDM and PDM available. I was able to run all of them successfully except the RFA which errored out (below). Has anyone seen this error before and/or knows how to get around it?

I did do the rotary shift mod, but I don't think that would be related to this. I did try to do a PMI on the GSM to see if it would work on the rotary shifter, but it errored out with "invalid hardware". I tried stating I didn't have the original module and then again stating I did. I was able to do a VIN Write successfully.

EDIT: Temporarily put the original shifter back in and it made no difference. Tried a PMI on the RFA as well. I'll next try a PMI on the ACM like rugedraw suggested below.

RFA error while doing update:

RFA error in vehicle history:

Hey Steve, if your license is out and you want to try again I have a year license which is still good for a few more months. I can loan you my stuff just sent me a PM.

 

[mr.Magoo]

Shortly after doing that, I got another email saying my account was again suspended.

Did you ever find out what the reason was this time?

 

[Maineiac12]

I purchased the 2-day license yesterday and was able to successfully update the ACM, BECM, DDM, IPMA, PCM, PDM, PSCM, SOBDM, SOBDMB, SOBDMC, and TRM.

After I was done I had a “911 assist not working” error, a “Stop safely now” message on the dash, and a “high voltage battery warning” message on FordPass.

I pulled the negative cable on the battery for 10 minutes and the errors all went away after I powered back up. Is that normal when updating those modules?

I also noticed that my truck no longer makes a single beep when pressing the on/off button like it used to. Anyone else have that happen before?

Everything went ok on my 30 mile drive to work this morning but now I’m paranoid. lol

 

[B177y]

I purchased the 2-day license yesterday and was able to successfully update the ACM, BECM, DDM, IPMA, PCM, PDM, PSCM, SOBDM, SOBDMB, SOBDMC, and TRM.

After I was done I had a “911 assist not working” error, a “Stop safely now” message on the dash, and a “high voltage battery warning” message on FordPass.

I pulled the negative cable on the battery for 10 minutes and the errors all went away after I powered back up. Is that normal when updating those modules?

I also noticed that my truck no longer makes a single beep when pressing the on/off button like it used to. Anyone else have that happen before?

Everything went ok on my 30 mile drive to work this morning but now I’m paranoid. lol

Did you perform the "clear all errors" (or something like that) step between each module update?

I forget exactly what it's called, and it has been a while since I've done updates, but I seem to remember there is a step that you have to perform in between each module update to clear errors.

 

[Maineiac12]

Did you perform the "clear all errors" (or something like that) step between each module update?

I forget exactly what it's called, and it has been a while since I've done updates, but I seem to remember there is a step that you have to perform in between each module update to clear errors.

I did not do that. I read through the FDRS instructions and didn’t see that. I can plug it back in tonight and do that if I can figure out how.

I also realized that I didn’t do the “power door window initialization” after updating the DDM and PDM. I should probably do that as well.

 

[21st Century Truck]

I did not do that. I read through the FDRS instructions and didn’t see that. I can plug it back in tonight and do that if I can figure out how.

I also realized that I didn’t do the “power door window initialization” after updating the DDM and PDM. I should probably do that as well.

I suggest You go back into FDRS and go to the Toolbox and run the "clear all DTCs" function. I'd include the checkbox for permanent DTCs. if You do this correctly, You'll see three clock-like "windows" completing a 360 degree routine while this function runs.

 

[Maineiac12]

Welp, this happened as I was leaving work today.

Credit to my dealer, they got me right in so I didn’t have to risk driving 30 miles home tonight.

No idea if I broke something with updates or if it’s just coincidence. I heard of some people having module failures right after updates before. Fingers crossed it’s something simple…

 

[BSEE SPARKY]

Welp, this happened as I was leaving work today.

Credit to my dealer, they got me right in so I didn’t have to risk driving 30 miles home tonight.

No idea if I broke something with updates or if it’s just coincidence. I heard of some people having module failures right after updates before. Fingers crossed it’s something simple…

Drats

 

[rugedraw]

Welp, this happened as I was leaving work today.



Credit to my dealer, they got me right in so I didn’t have to risk driving 30 miles home tonight.

No idea if I broke something with updates or if it’s just coincidence. I heard of some people having module failures right after updates before. Fingers crossed it’s something simple…

These are the codes that triggered the hard fault. The SSM referenced by the code is of no help (see attached).

It also reported this new code. The TSB referenced is also attached.

However, it seems to be the first codes that seemed to have triggered the hard code on the dash.

 

[Maineiac12]

These are the codes that triggered the hard fault. The SSM referenced by the code is of no help (see attached).

It also reported this new code. The TSB referenced is also attached.

However, it seems to be the first codes that seemed to have triggered the hard code on the dash.

Thanks! It’s interesting because those codes are time stamped from last night but it didn’t throw the wrench icon until around 4pm central time today.

 

[rugedraw]

Thanks! It’s interesting because those codes are time stamped from last night but it didn’t throw the wrench icon until around 4pm central time today.

Interesting. The codes were there today, too.

 

[Maineiac12]

Interesting. The codes were there today, too.

Dealer just called. Said the GSM needs to be replaced and the part won’t be here until Monday. Guess I’ll be rocking the loaner for a few more days.

Glad it wasn’t any of the modules I updated that caused the problem. Weird coincidence, though.

 

[Hank42]

.... FDRS put the files in the USB and then you follow the directions to do them. All the other modules will be done with the cable with the vehicle off and inhibited......

I have FDRS working with a pass-through cable, and am able to update (all but the BCM). Just curious about this USB stick update method you mention. Is there an option or something in FDRS to tell it to place the files on the USB? (I have a blank formatted USB in my PC FWIW).

Also, anyone know if it's possible to update the BCM using the "USB" method?

 

[rugedraw]

I have FDRS working with a pass-through cable, and am able to update (all but the BCM). Just curious about this USB stick update method you mention. Is there an option or something in FDRS to tell it to place the files on the USB? (I have a blank formatted USB in my PC FWIW).

Also, anyone know if it's possible to update the BCM using the "USB" method?

Only the APIM, GWM TCU and IPC can be updated via USB. The others are all done with the cable. The BCM cannot be updated via USB.

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