OTA - Getting the latest software update -- a FIX for stuck downloading process

[telrod11]

Posting this for any of you who might experience the same.

My 23 Lightning Platinum had been stuck on "Getting the latest software status, this may take a minute or so" for the past 10 days.

I made a couple of calls to Ford OTA support, and they were stumped, and suggested I take it to the dealer for a modem check.

I had tried pulling Fuse 32 (modem?)....
I tried charging the 12V battery....

Against the advice of OTA help, I decided yesterday to disconnect the negative from the 12V battery for about ten minutes. After doing this I saw an immediate message, that a software update (10.1.1) had failed.

This morning, I got the message that a software download was in progress; 30 minutes later, I now have 10.1.1!!

A couple of caveats to watch for when doing this:
Don't have your tailgate down, and don't (inadvertently) hit the emergency release button on the frunk. I had issues getting both those back in sync, after I reconnected my battery.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Glad to see you resolved the problem.

 

[HOTAS]

Good to know, and glad it worked.
I still need to set mine up for Auto updates !

 

[1Jetpilot]

well, if I would have known this, I would have kept my Lightning and not traded it for an ICE F150. My software updates were stuck on 6.8.1 for a yr and Ford didn't have any answers for the problem other than "It's based on VIN #s". Really? All the way back to 6.8.1? And please be patient.....

 

[rugedraw]

This is caused as a side-effect from a recent GWM update. If when you check for updates, you get the spinning circle thing and it gets stuck there and does not go anywhere, then the correct fix is to pull the negative cable from the 12v for 20 minutes or so. Once you go check for updates again, the spinning circle will eventually tell you no updates pending, or if you do have an update in queue, it will allow the update to go through.

 

[mb0220]

I have heard of pulling the negative cable off the 12v battery to resolve issues, but not until now did I see the recommendation to leave it disconnected for 10-20 minutes. I have only tried 2 minutes. Could this be why I'm not seeing results?

 

[Nick503955]

Is there a need to reset the BMS after disconnecting the 12V?

 

[bmwhitetx]

Is there a need to reset the BMS after disconnecting the 12V?

No. Unless you put in a new battery at the same time.

 

[Nick503955]

No. Unless you put in a new battery at the same time.

Interesting. I was doing the battery disconnect often a year ago to reset the modem. I experienced numerous 12V error messages until the dealer reset the BMS upon my request.

 

[ZSLC]

well, if I would have known this, I would have kept my Lightning and not traded it for an ICE F150. My software updates were stuck on 6.8.1 for a yr and Ford didn't have any answers for the problem other than "It's based on VIN #s". Really? All the way back to 6.8.1? And please be patient.....

I just got 6.8.0 this month. Every time I called Ford or went to the dealer they said I just need to be patient. Then finally while doing some regular maintenance they broke my heating and in the process of troubleshooting that they noticed my gateway was too far out of date to connect (or something, they were very light on details). Since then I received one other update.

 

[Jim657]

So, as long as the vehicle says there are no updates available, everything is working correctly? The issue is only when it continuously spins, right? I have a 2023 Lariat and still have the old UI. My last update was two months ago, but I’m worried there might be a problem because a bunch of Canadian 2023 models got updated a couple of months ago with the new UI, Charge Assist while driving, and YouTube. I just find it odd that my vehicle was skipped.

 

[ZSLC]

See my previous comment. Mine said there were no updates for 18 months. I knew that had to be wrong but I had given up on going the rounds with Ford. I've said similar things elsewhere on this forum but basically, while I love my truck, when it comes to the software rollouts I would not trust the system / process at all. Until Ford publishes release notes with traceability back to your vehicle it's all smoke and mirrors. They have the data, I cannot wrap my head around why this stuff is not listed in our accounts somewhere.

 

[Warren]

I heard or read somewhere, that updates are only downloaded when the battery is at 85 percent or more. I recently changed my charging settings to 90 percent, and have gotten two updates in the last ten days. I also do not have Internet service at my house, and not sure if that affects it either.

 

[ZSLC]

I heard or read somewhere, that updates are only downloaded when the battery is at 85 percent or more. I recently changed my charging settings to 90 percent, and have gotten two updates in the last ten days. I also do not have Internet service at my house, and not sure if that affects it either.

It's an interesting thought, and I know there used to be (and probably still are) limits around charge for the Low Voltage System but I would be surprised if you need to be at 90% on the HVB. Many folks primarily charge away from home (my office has chargers) so we will rarely be at 90% when the update window hits.

 

[bmwhitetx]

I heard or read somewhere, that updates are only downloaded when the battery is at 85 percent or more. I recently changed my charging settings to 90 percent, and have gotten two updates in the last ten days. I also do not have Internet service at my house, and not sure if that affects it either.

What you read was around the 12V battery SOC. This was a very common issue for failed "inhibit" updates (these update when the truck is off). The BMS replacement helped that issue a lot. When an inhibit update starts (at your schedule time or via "Update Now"), the truck looks at the LVB SOC and health and compares that with the electrical requirements needed to perform the update including possible rollback.

If there's not enough juice in the 12V battery, the update will immediately fail.

I have gotten updates at all levels of HVB. But routinely got failures when 12V battery was below 85-90%.

By charging your HVB to 90% (longer charge), this engages the DC-DC charger longer which charges the 12V longer and better chance it is at a proper SOC.

This only applies to the inhibit updates like 6.8.0.
Non-inhibit updates like 10.1.x and ECG-24.2.5.x seemingly have no dependence on either battery SOC.

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