Another OTA Fail Victim / APIM Requires replacement

[speedracercjr]

I would be surprised if the NHTSA or any federal group would do anything for a truck that’s not getting updates. It wasn’t that long ago that you got what ever software that was installed on the vehicle for life, no updates.

I’m not saying Ford shouldn’t fix the problem, but it’s not impacting the drive ability or safety if it doesn’t update. There’s way more drivers that have no clue, and will never care, what version they’re on than those that do.

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[rugedraw]

With all due respect I know that some folks find it hard to understand that some of us just want a functioning truck. We might possibly not have the desire or want to spend the time in doing these updates ourselves. Different people have different interests and priorities in life. I’m not putting down nor is it my intention on offending anyone who chooses to want to spend the time etc. doing this themselves. I for one don’t care to.

The way I see it: I paid $71k for a truck that is supposed to have options a, b and c. Ford promised me I would get said options via the OTA process. That did not happen and would not have happened without some kind of intervention. I went to three different dealers, and none of them were able to update my truck to get me the features I was missing.

At that point, I decided to take matters into my own hands. After spending $71k on a truck, spending another $600 to get what I paid for and future-proof myself against further OTA issues was a bargain. Bearing some kind of catastrophic mechanical failure, I can do everything a dealer can do without leaving the comfort of my home. I need an update? No dealer visit required. I need to calibrate my cameras after leveling my truck? No dealer visit required. I removed the factory air dam and need to clear the DTC code? No dealer visit required.

Sure, I spent 13 hours updating my truck way back when. However, this tool has saved me from having to go to the dealer a few times since I got it, so I got my 13 hours back and then some. Not to mention, the countless people locally and around the country I have been able to help with my Mongooses.

 

[Dadofjax]

So we're supposed to spend $700-800 on hardware for updates because Ford is effed up and can't/refuse to do it?!

That is the Ford way or they just go with "it's normal".

Incompetence from Top to bottom at Ford.

 

[Dadofjax]

The way I see it: I paid $71k for a truck that is supposed to have options a, b and c. Ford promised me I would get said options via the OTA process. That did not happen and would not have happened without some kind of intervention. I went to three different dealers, and none of them were able to update my truck to get me the features I was missing.

At that point, I decided to take matters into my own hands. After spending $71k on a truck, spending another $600 to get what I paid for and future-proof myself against further OTA issues was a bargain. Bearing some kind of catastrophic mechanical failure, I can do everything a dealer can do without leaving the comfort of my home. I need an update? No dealer visit required. I need to calibrate my cameras after leveling my truck? No dealer visit required. I removed the factory air dam and need to clear the DTC code? No dealer visit required.

Sure, I spent 13 hours updating my truck way back when. However, this tool has saved me from having to go to the dealer a few times since I got it, so I got my 13 hours back and then some. Not to mention, the countless people locally and around the country I have been able to help with my Mongooses.

Now you just have to go to the post office twice a week to send your mongoose to other Ford owners ??

 

[rugedraw]

Now you just have to go to the post office twice a week to send your mongoose to other Ford owners ??

lol Yes, but that I do by choice. I like to think I am the Robin Hood of updates.

 

[sbi]

That is the Ford way or they just go with "it's normal".

Incompetence from Top to bottom at Ford.

OR - you can be a senior Ford tech getting caught lying on dashcam that "even though there is no update he's gonna write as if he did update it otherwise he won't get paid" (of course there are updates, he was either too lazy to do them or has no clue how to force them, so that's a double lie).

 

[rugedraw]

OR - you can be a senior Ford tech getting caught lying on dashcam that "even though there is no update he's gonna write as if he did update it otherwise he won't get paid" (of course there are updates, he was either too lazy to do them or has no clue how to force them, so that's a double lie).

This has been going on for years. You don't need video evidence. Anything done with FDRS gets recorded in PTS. When I say everything, I mean everything. Every button pressed is recorded. Any update attempted will show whether it was successful or not. Ford just has their collective heads up their asses. If they were to audit warranty claims and cross-check what they are being billed for against PTS, dealers would be getting charge-backs in the tens maybe even hundreds of thousands of dollars. I have caught dealers lying about what they say they did more times than I can count or care to admit. It's really bad.

 

[sbi]

This has been going on for years. You don't need video evidence. Anything done with FDRS gets recorded in PTS. When I say everything, I mean everything. Every button pressed is recorded. Any update attempted will show whether it was successful or not. Ford just has their collective heads up their asses. If they were to audit warranty claims and cross-check what they are being billed for against PTS, dealers would be getting charge-backs in the tens maybe even hundreds of thousands of dollars. I have caught dealers lying about what they say they did more times than I can count or care to admit. It's really bad.

I don't know what PTS is but this was a big shock to me.

 

[fordtruckman2003]

PTS is the Ford website behind service. Even non-dealers like me can see the history of what someone else did with my VIN. Not that it matters I don't think anyone ever audits the history. They would see all the owners on this forum using FDRS to self update trucks on a regular basis.

It would make for interesting conversation pulling up PTS on laptop hotspot and showing them if they claim they did something.

 

[rugedraw]

I don't know what PTS is but this was a big shock to me.

PTS stands for Professional Technician System. It is a very powerful tool that imo, most dealers do not use to its full extent. Apparently, neither does Ford.

PTS is the Ford website behind service. Even non-dealers like me can see the history of what someone else did with my VIN. Not that it matters I don't think anyone ever audits the history. They would see all the owners on this forum using FDRS to self update trucks on a regular basis.

It would make for interesting conversation pulling up PTS on laptop hotspot and showing them if they claim they did something.

I've done it. The service director at my local dealer hides when he sees me. lol I've called them out on their bull sh*t several times.

Mind you: I used to work there. They know I have PTS. They still try to BS me.

 

[sbi]

PTS is the Ford website behind service. Even non-dealers like me can see the history of what someone else did with my VIN. Not that it matters I don't think anyone ever audits the history. They would see all the owners on this forum using FDRS to self update trucks on a regular basis.

It would make for interesting conversation pulling up PTS on laptop hotspot and showing them if they claim they did something.

PTS stands for Professional Technician System. It is a very powerful tool that imo, most dealers do not use to its full extent. Apparently, neither does Ford.



I've done it. The service director at my local dealer hides when he sees me. lol I've called them out on their bull sh*t several times.

Mind you: I used to work there. They know I have PTS. They still try to BS me.

OK, now I am intrigued, how do I get on PTS?

 

[rugedraw]

OK, now I am intrigued, how do I get on PTS?

You would have to be a Ford employee. In my case, I am a former Ford employee with friends in the industry that allow me access. You can buy PTS access on a monthly or yearly basis, but I am not sure what the cost is.

 

[fordtruckman2003]

You can buy a short subscription 2-3 days for around $20. It is same website where you buy a subscription to FDRS. It's called Motorcraft service or something like that.
You can't see OTA details as a non-dealer account like rugedraw can without getting a code. You request code to vehicle owner then enter code online. I could never get that to work correctly when I was playing with it. Website is not the greatest. I would get my code for my truck emailed to me but it would not get past the code entry screen.
You can see all the history of who clicked on what both in PTS and FDRS and you get all the service info like TSB fixes and wiring diagrams. It's useful stuff I just randomly bought it to poke around on it with the short subscription.

 

[rugedraw]

You can't see OTA details as a non-dealer account like rugedraw can without getting a code.

Interesting. That I did not know.

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