2021 Owners - What is your OTA Version?

[Snakebitten]

I hate to be stupid here, but I've been that way my entire life. I bought an owners manual and have been poking around trying to find update information. I did push a screen button to check for updates. It came back to me that I am updated.

How do I know I am updated and what updates I have? This seems like rocket science to me.

You aren't stupid.
And neither is your question.
And it CAN feel like rocket science when you first confront it.

First thing you should know is that the title of the thread, and the question itself, is misleading. Because it presents itself as though the truck is running one version of one software program.
Like what version of IOS is your IPhone running?

But my truck, for example, has 42 modules onboard. (insane, when you think about it. My 2012 F150 has 7 modules)

Each of those 42 modules is running on a specific software version. And all these software updates you are reading about, like "6.14" for example, is a software update for just ONE of those 42 modules. So, you see? You can't really ask or declare what version of software is your truck on.

As for clicking that button on your sync screen to "check for updates"?

Talk about misleading! That button is in no way an indication of what it implies. Ford should just remove that from Sync. ??

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[Eighthtry]

Thank you for the explanation. That was very helpful. I was thinking we were still in the 20's for number of computers.

For some reason I was thinking Ford was programming all their software to work together. Kind of like Windows. I expected a natural flow. All warm and fuzzy and happy with one another.

But as I think about it, each program is probably written by different groups, takes care of the job it was written to perform, then someone has to figure out how to weave these programs together to communicate with Mama and a few others. Probably just like Windows, duh.

I'm guessing this is the beginning of life question. I bought mine a few months ago from an Iowa dealer. It has mostly sat as I recover from living. After driving it home, I am on only the second 36 gallon tank of gas in about 6 months, and it is less than half gone. So not much activity.

Every three to five weeks I hook up the trickle charger and let it run until it regains its charge, then unhook it. So my battery is staying charged. I trickle charge on occasion all my cars unless I am out driving them. I own six, drive five, and the wife drives the other one. Hers does not need trickle charging. Now you know why I must trickle charge fleet, some of which I will be disposing of soon.

But I am intrigued as to when that truck might get an upgrade. My truck is parked in the garage and linked in with the home network. 100% signal. How and under what circumstances does Ford push these updates out? I checked with my truck and it says up to date. So it is either updating while I am driving, sleeping, or drinking, or hasn't had an update since I have owned it.

I still wonder how everyone seems to know what updates they have and what updates they need.

So this raises another question. We have tons of battery problems in this thread. Is that because Ford is pushing while we are sleeping? My battery is either fully charged or close enough to easily start after a week or three of sleep with no trickle. I realize I am not in upper Minnesota sitting on a lake for three weeks in February, but I bet it would start after three weeks.

I was roaming around in options as I am still learning this truck. The battery complained after about 40 minutes, so I shut it all down and tried to immediately start it as an experiment. It clicked/stuttered, but could not start. I have no reason to blame that on a battery, I think, if it is running 42 computers. But it trickle charged right up. It does make me think that an H8 is a necessary replacement at some point.

 

[Snakebitten]

The only accurate way to know how far behind your truck is on receiving available updates, is to either login to PTS, or login to FDRS, and present your VIN.

Since your truck communicates with the Motorcraft Cloud almost daily, the cloud knows what version of software every single module in the truck is running on. It also knows what software is therefore available for any of your modules NOT running the latest version available.

It then renders those updates that are available for your VIN as a list (FDRS), or an indicator next to the Module acronym (PTS)

PTS also keeps a record of all OTA activities for the previous 60 days. So that's a powerful tool for discerning if your truck is communicating successfully with the cloud, and if OTA updates have been attempted, successfully or not.

PTS access will cost you about $21 for 72 hours, I believe.
FDRS access is $50 for about 48 hours.

PTS is loaded with interesting data about your truck. PTS is also just a website.
FDRS is primarily for performing procedures on your truck. And of course FDRS is a Windows based application. Free to download, but requires the $50 license to access the cloud.

 

[Eighthtry]

I suspect I will need to spend a substantial amount of time trying to figure out how to use it. Do you have a favorite? What does PTS and FDRS stand for? I assume both are independent from the Ford website?

 

[Snakebitten]

I suspect I will need to spend a substantial amount of time trying to figure out how to use it. Do you have a favorite? What does PTS and FDRS stand for? I assume both are independent from the Ford website?

You purchase the license/access to either of them from Motorcraft website.

https://www.motorcraftservice.com/

PTS = Parts and Technical Service
FDRS = Ford Diagnostic Repair System

My suggestion to break the ice and see for yourself what your truck looks like from Motorcraft/Ford's point of view, is just spend the $26 for 72 hours of access to PTS. Then ask questions here regarding what you find.
Go to the website link above. Create an account. And then purchase what you see here:

https://www.motorcraftservice.com/Purchase/ViewProduct

 

[PatchManager]

I suspect I will need to spend a substantial amount of time trying to figure out how to use it. Do you have a favorite? What does PTS and FDRS stand for? I assume both are independent from the Ford website?

Another option is to direct message @rugedraw with your VIN and ask him to look up what module updates you have pending. If you have a lot of updates pending, then you can take further action if you choose. Like @Snakebitten, he is extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and very gracious in providing this information.

 

[Snakebitten]

Kind words, but Rugedraw is on complete other plane on these OTA updates, than I am.

He can look at an update name, like PUxxxxxxx and tell you what module and what vehicle it is intended for.

Me? All I know is I got that update or not, and regardless of what it actually is, all it means to me is that it won't be in the SWupdate list next time I license up for FDRS. ?

Admittedly a year or more ago I was paying far more attention than today. But eventually the truck (and the car) became so stable and predictable that I have no complaints. Or put another way, I'm not jaded enough to forget just how much different the truck I drive today is compared to the 2021 I drove home from the dealership years ago. It's far more like the trucks being delivered today!

These fellas showing up now as second owners of 2021 (and 2022) trucks are my favorites on the forum now. It's fun to watch them discover what they might not have ever considered about their second hand truck, and then quickly accomplish what the original owner apparently had no clue of.

It's why this forum continues to be is so valuable to so many.

 

[yamahadrtrdr]

Where's all the '21 folks at on OTAs and APIM/Sync versions?

Few weeks ago did the FDRS approach and landed on 23291_product Rev 1049, which I think is OTA 6.4.0

 

[rugedraw]

Where's all the '21 folks at on OTAs and APIM/Sync versions?

Few weeks ago did the FDRS approach and landed on 23291_product Rev 1049, which I think is OTA 6.4.0

24127 is the latest version, but Ford has not released it for all VINs yet. So, even with FDRS, you cannot fully update it until Ford releases it for you. No idea why they do things this way, but it is what it is.

 

[Mash150]

Well, back in the day my truck was updated . ?‍ That’s been it for sync.

 

[Langer18]

At this point I have basically given up on updates for this truck. I am on 6.3 but the truck thinks 6.1 wasn't installed for some reason. It has been months too. I think Ford hates me at this point. Worst update process I have ever seen.

 

[Kanuck]

This is my opinion.....
My last OTA was a year ago. I have a Mongoose and keep my truck updated. I know you're going to say " Why should we spend all that coin and have to do it ourselves when Ford brags about OTA's? " My personal take is that I wasn't going to wait for Ford to remember my truck existed and send out updates. I wanted the latest software in my truck for my enjoyment as I travel.

I am at Sync 24127 after April 9th FDRS updating.

 

[Langer18]

The Mongoose works great until your truck is so far behind you can only update so far until you get stuck again. The last time I tried to push updates to my truck it stopped at 6.3 and I couldn’t go any farther. The only way you can tell if your truck has a new update sitting in FDRS is to spend $50 on a license. That could be $50 completely wasted because Ford hasn’t pushed an update to FDRS for you. Not to mention dealerships charge you to send updates to the truck even under warranty. Hopefully Android Automotive happens sooner rather than later for Ford.

 

[rugedraw]

The Mongoose works great until your truck is so far behind you can only update so far until you get stuck again. The last time I tried to push updates to my truck it stopped at 6.3 and I couldn’t go any farther. The only way you can tell if your truck has a new update sitting in FDRS is to spend $50 on a license. That could be $50 completely wasted because Ford hasn’t pushed an update to FDRS for you. Not to mention dealerships charge you to send updates to the truck even under warranty. Hopefully Android Automotive happens sooner rather than later for Ford.

You or anyone can just message me and I will check for you. No need to spend the $50.

 

[Kanuck]

The Mongoose works great until your truck is so far behind you can only update so far until you get stuck again. The last time I tried to push updates to my truck it stopped at 6.3 and I couldn’t go any farther. The only way you can tell if your truck has a new update sitting in FDRS is to spend $50 on a license. That could be $50 completely wasted because Ford hasn’t pushed an update to FDRS for you. Not to mention dealerships charge you to send updates to the truck even under warranty. Hopefully Android Automotive happens sooner rather than later for Ford.

I have used FDRS 5 times in the last 4 years and evey time I used FDRS, my truck was fully updated to the latest and current level.

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