ECU module programming guide using FDRS

[JohnTrigger]

Maybe asked before and my apologies in advance to Post Patrol.

Can all or some of the updates available via FDRS be downloaded to a USB stick to install thereby negating the need for the Mongoose Thingy?

Nope doesn’t work that way.

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[Sig Oris]

Nope doesn’t work that way.

So I'm curious then, what are the folks updating using USB sticks?

On my MY22 Ranger, then SYNC and MAPS updates were done via USB.

 

[JohnTrigger]

Some of the updates on FDRS download to a USB to update the specific truck that was attached via the Mongoose cable for that specific update.

The capability to update directly from Ford Sync website to USB went away with Sync 4. Now you‘re stuck waiting for sporadic OTA updates, or doing the Mongoose cable with FDRS (or talking your dealer into doing it, lol).

 

[poopy_pants]

So I'm curious then, what are the folks updating using USB sticks?

On my MY22 Ranger, then SYNC and MAPS updates were done via USB.

There are dozens of modules/computers in these vehicles that need updates periodically (Engine, transmission, Sync, HVAC, ABS, telematics, etc). Some of them support USB and others the traditional cable method. I'm not sure of the exact logic Ford uses but it could be based upon both size of the update and which communication protocol the ecu uses.

 

[Kanuck]

FDRS also reports to the Ford servers when an update is installed as well as if was successful or not. Some updates are chained together and have to be done in a certain order.

 

[poopy_pants]

Also bear in mind, Ford doesn't really intend for owners to update their vehicles every time there's a new patch released. FDRS wasn't designed to be used by owners, but rather dealers and independent service shops with tools, training and support by Ford.

 

[Kanuck]

I think Ford sees FDRS as a revenue generating tool and a cost cutting option when we, the owners, can update our trucks so Ford doesn't have to pay the dealers under warranty claim. I think alot of us owners, who do our own updates, have bypassed a warranty claim correcting little bugs in the software as Ford makes them available. Ford's explanation of the bug fix needs to be greatly improved.

 

[farmtruckman]

@Spiffy @Kanuck @m_bt54 @HammaMan thank you folks for your inputs. Ended up buying a new USB (3rd one for the day) and this one worked. But APIM update failed - that is a story for another day (known issue on this side of the world). Appreciate your help.

For anyone who is keen, the APIM update downloaded is around 13GB (opposed to the expected 6GB) and I get a USB error as below. SoC looks decent on the battery and is a relatively new battery (~6 months old).

 

[poopy_pants]

I think Ford sees FDRS as a revenue generating tool and a cost cutting option when we, the owners, can update our trucks so Ford doesn't have to pay the dealers under warranty claim. I think alot of us owners, who do our own updates, have bypassed a warranty claim correcting little bugs in the software as Ford makes them available. Ford's explanation of the bug fix needs to be greatly improved.

Well I don't work for Ford so at least my opinion is speculation, but I don't think Ford is looking to cut out dealers in favor of owners. I think it's quite the opposite and they simply tolerate the tech savvy owners who decide to fix stuff themselves. Ford is mandated by law to open up access to dealer tools/software to independent, non-dealer repair shops. Owners like us sort of just slip through the cracks. If they really wanted everyone doing their own updates, they'd make the tools cheaper or open source and subscriptions would be more obtainable. The price is set the way it is so that it's cost prohibitive for most end user, non-professionals to mess with. Just my opinion.

 

[Snakebitten]

I would love to be a fly on the wall at any Ford meeting regarding the fact that FDRS is the catalyst for this juggernaut forum thread.

No doubt there are folks present with both points of view towards us?

I personally think they SHOULD see the benefits, because they far outweigh the objections.

 

[breadnbutta]

Currently trying to update my APIM and I’m sporadically getting these messages for different binary files.

Is this normal? The first time it did it I hit retry and it seems like it pushed through. It’s just done it a second time for this binary file, I hit retry, and then it popped up again referencing the same binary file.

 

[Snakebitten]

Currently trying to update my APIM and I’m sporadically getting these messages for different binary files.

Is this normal? The first time it did it I hit retry and it seems like it pushed through. It’s just done it a second time for this binary file, I hit retry, and then it popped up again referencing the same binary file.

Just curious. How much lag/latency with your internet service from the laptop?

The FDRS program has a log file and if you are tenacious about finding the line in it regarding the failed download, you might see a hint to the reason for the download failure.

If your latency gets too high, the file will be reported as its size NOT matching expected size. It's a bug, in my opinion, in FDRS. But that's another story.

 

[breadnbutta]

Yeah so I hit retry and it started the download again with an expected time of over 100,000 minutes. That gave me the clue that maybe I wasn’t getting enough WiFi speed out in the driveway. I moved my WiFi extender from inside the home to out by my truck, which is just on the other side of the window of my office where the modem/router is. I’m now getting around 120 download speed according to Ookla. Still not great considering I normally get around 500 download but hopefully it will suffice. Changed the connection type to 5ghz and made sure my laptop was the only device on the WiFi extender.

 

[rugedraw]

Yeah so I hit retry and it started the download again with an expected time of over 100,000 minutes. That gave me the clue that maybe I wasn’t getting enough WiFi speed out in the driveway. I moved my WiFi extender from inside the home to out by my truck, which is just on the other side of the window of my office where the modem/router is. I’m now getting around 120 download speed according to Ookla. Still not great considering I normally get around 500 download but hopefully it will suffice. Changed the connection type to 5ghz and made sure my laptop was the only device on the WiFi extender.

You can also try restarting the laptop whenever FDRS gets hung up on some BS.

 

[breadnbutta]

You can also try restarting the laptop whenever FDRS gets hung up on some BS.

Cancelling an update or just backing out of FDRS won’t cause issues when I go back to try to update again?

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