ECU module programming guide using FDRS

[betathalguy]

Can someone tell me which updates I will need and which to accomplish first?
VIN 1FTFW1ED2MFB24154
I finally ordered all of my supplies:
128gb USB 3.0 Drive
Mongoose Plus Cable from ford
Prologix 20A charger

Since I have all macs, I broke down and purchased a refurbished HP laptop on Newegg for $218. https://www.newegg.com/hp-elitebook-840-g3/p/N82E16834271969?Item=N82E16834271969

Core i5
16gb RAM
SSD 256gb
Windows 10

Im hoping this refurbished computer works. Kind of scary, but Ive already spent a lot of money on this stuff.

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[Bigjim2]

of course a battery charger/booster. If nothing goes wrong, maybe. But you might also have multiple APIM updates stacked up that each take quite a bit of time.

Yes, and don't cheap out on a 10 amp and only go with a 20 amp charger. I try to use my 10 amp charger this week updating eight modules and it took a total of 10 plus hours over the weekend because I had to get to 80% charge (twice) to proceed forward on the GWM update.

Even with a 10 amp new technology charger, it struggled with the truck being an accessory mode for such a long time

 

[JScaro]

Yes, and don't cheap out on a 10 amp and only go with a 20 amp charger. I try to use my 10 amp charger this week updating eight modules and it took a total of 10 plus hours over the weekend because I had to get to 80% charge (twice) to proceed forward on the GWM update.

Even with a 10 amp new technology charger, it struggled with the truck being an accessory mode for such a long time

POWER SUPPLY OPTION is what your looking for. A power supply provides constant voltage which is needed for programing.
You use a battery charger to "charge" you battery. Yes, a 20amp battery charger will work if you have a new, fully charged battery but we all know the issues we have with the charging system in these trucks, well most.

Charge you battery the night before.
When programming, Turn off you interior lights, HVAC, Radio and any other electronics you may have on. Make sure you lights are off and check every time you key cycle.
Most importantly, BE PATIENT! If you don't have the time to dedicate yourself to this task, than do it another time.

Enough with my rant

 

[RickBullotta]

POWER SUPPLY OPTION is what your looking for. A power supply provides constant voltage which is needed for programing.
You use a battery charger to "charge" you battery. Yes, a 20amp battery charger will work if you have a new, fully charged battery but we all know the issues we have with the charging system in these trucks, well most.

Charge you battery the night before.
When programming, Turn off you interior lights, HVAC, Radio and any other electronics you may have on. Make sure you lights are off and check every time you key cycle.
Most importantly, BE PATIENT! If you don't have the time to dedicate yourself to this task, than do it another time.

Enough with my rant

Also, when you're doing tasks in FDRS such as downloading content from Ford's servers or copying stuff to a USB drive for an APIM update, which are the monster sized updates, it's (generally) perfectly OK to have the truck running.

 

[Jmeo]

Can someone tell me which updates I will need and which to accomplish first?
VIN 1FTFW1ED2MFB24154
I finally ordered all of my supplies:
128gb USB 3.0 Drive
Mongoose Plus Cable from ford
Prologix 20A charger

Since I have all macs, I broke down and purchased a refurbished HP laptop on Newegg for $218. https://www.newegg.com/hp-elitebook-840-g3/p/N82E16834271969?Item=N82E16834271969

Core i5
16gb RAM
SSD 256gb
Windows 10

Im hoping this refurbished computer works. Kind of scary, but Ive already spent a lot of money on this stuff.

Come on in, the waters fine!

I am still working on the best solution for a Windows computer (also Mac user). I have access to a small (8x8) Dell desktop that I was going to use, but I discovered it is protected by IT, so I cannot install anything on it.

 

[Snakebitten]

Splurge on Mongoose, license, power supply/charger, USB sticks, and the truck itself. Not to mention probably $1000 for the smartphone and MORE for the Mac.

But then cheap out on....... and "cross your fingers" ?

Sorry, just can't resist.
We are an entertaining species.

 

[betathalguy]

Check out that link I posted. That is a great deal and meets all the specs for the computer. it’s refurbished but I figured it was worth the risk.

 

[erixgix]

Can someone tell me which updates I will need and which to accomplish first?
VIN 1FTFW1ED2MFB24154
I finally ordered all of my supplies:
128gb USB 3.0 Drive
Mongoose Plus Cable from ford
Prologix 20A charger

Since I have all macs, I broke down and purchased a refurbished HP laptop on Newegg for $218. https://www.newegg.com/hp-elitebook-840-g3/p/N82E16834271969?Item=N82E16834271969

Core i5
16gb RAM
SSD 256gb
Windows 10

Im hoping this refurbished computer works. Kind of scary, but Ive already spent a lot of money on this stuff.

Nice, both feet full in

Fwiw, if they haven’t shipped that laptop yet I’d suggest the addon upgrade to the 512gb ssd and i7 processor since it’s only a whopping difference of $25 ($243).

The processors aren’t significant, but having twice the drive space for only $25 is worth it alone, the marginally quicker processor is just a bonus (while you’re there)

 

[betathalguy]

Nice, both feet full in

Fwiw, if they haven’t shipped that laptop yet I’d suggest the addon upgrade to the 512gb ssd and i7 processor since it’s only a whopping difference of $25 ($243).

The processors aren’t significant, but having twice the drive space for only $25 is worth it alone, the marginally quicker processor is just a bonus (while you’re there)

I understand the logic, and might have done it if I paid more attention, but the reality is that this will get used once or on the rare occasion we need windows for something. My younger son might bring it to school after, we’ll see.

 

[PFXLT]

Hey y’all
I’m getting ready to complete my updates in the next week or two. Question is, do I revert all my modules back to original as builts before updating those modules? If so, I’ll back up what I currently have as modified. Then once complete, is it safe to dump the modified as built back into those modules?
Thanks yall

 

[dolsen]

Hey y’all
I’m getting ready to complete my updates in the next week or two. Question is, do I revert all my modules back to original as builts before updating those modules? If so, I’ll back up what I currently have as modified. Then once complete, is it safe to dump the modified as built back into those modules?
Thanks yall

Someone else mentioned on here (maybe jesse) that some updates will add additional as built addresses so it’s not a good idea to just dump the old data back into the modules. Manually go back through and change the values again

 

[roadPilot]

Question is, do I revert all my modules back to original as builts before updating those modules?

I didn't, but I only had two FORScan mods on this particular truck before applying a bunch of SW updates, and only one of the two modules those changes were made in (using FORScan) was updated by FDRS (BCM).

Guess I'll have to check to see if the "Disable double horn honk" mod needs to be reapplied ... LOL.

 

[Ajzride]

I do not think it is necessary to revert anything before updates. about a year ago we had thought IPC changes were causing issues but we have since learned that was a red herring. depending on the state of sync between your truck and the mothership you may lose some
forscan changes and have to reapply them.

Edited because I have been corrected. by wiser members.

 

[Jmeo]

The changes I made in Forscan only two weeks ago are now showing up as my As-Built file. Does this mean if I updated, or restored any module using FDRS As-Built’s that my Forscan changes are now considered my new factory settings?

 

[JEB]

I do not think it is necessary to revert anything before updates. about a year ago we had thought IPC changes were causing issues but we have since learned that was a red herring. depending on the state of sync between your truck and the mothership you may lose some
forscan changes and have to reapply them.

Not true. It wasn’t a red herring. It just turned out not to be widespread because not all FORScan changes caused problems—only certain changes to certain modules. I know @Bob_Mac had problems with some of the FORScan changes he made to the APIM and IPC causing FDRS updates to fail at the configuration stage and he had to revert the FORScan changes to complete the update. See Post #2628. So, although the problem was limited and it was easily fixed by reverting, completing the configuration, and then redoing the FORScan changes, it was real.

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