ECU module programming guide using FDRS

[Handle]

My BC is definitely bias to being closer to the right side of the lane which is an uncomfortable feeling so hopefully @tonesto7 is on to something good ?

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[abd79]

True for me too, but you still have all the features of Bluecruise if lane-keeping is activated with adaptive cruise. Of course you won't have the hands-free option, but I'm not exactly a hands-free convert regardless.

As far as I can tell the lane-keeping logic is the same for Bluecruise and Hands-on.

My BC works on single lane non divided highway’s. I think it all comes down to where Ford has mapped and how well the area is mapped. There is one section of mapped road where I live where two sharper corners always ask me for hands on, but then quickly go back to hands free right after them. Kinda weird in my opinion.

 

[Mike G]

That's fine with me, I'd just as soon they concentrate on updates that improve the driving of the truck instead of worrying about adding games.

Yeah, it's a bit of a head scratcher....You can't play games while the vehicle is moving....not sure you want to spend a lot of time sitting in your vehicle playing tetris (Blocks) after you get home.

I'm not entirely sure why anybody thought this was a great idea in the first place, nor do I understand who the target audience is supposed to be. The kids you left in your car?

Maybe it's to keep you entertained while your DCFC?

That's got to be it.

 

[jerryllah]

For what it is worth Ford finally sent me a survey for my service visits, I got to give my opinion on some things. Made me feel better but probably will do no good.

 

[Ajzride]

Maybe it's to keep you entertained while your DCFC?

That's got to be it.

That is exactly it, and the lack of games was a big complaint on the Mach-E Forums since day one.

 

[Ajzride]

As far as I can tell the lane-keeping logic is the same for Bluecruise and Hands-on.

The logic for BlueCruise and hands-on lane centering is exactly the same. I have tested it on the exact same stretch of road with a 75 mph speed limit (about 1 mile with a slight s curve in it) at 80 mph (BlueCruise) and 82 mph (Hands-On), and it behaves exactly the same way.

Edit: It is extremely dissapointing to me that the logic is exactly the same. In my opinion the technology exists for BC to far more predictive than LC. My analogy is that LC should be like driving on a dark curvy road for the first time ever, you are purely reacting to the stripes on the road and staying between them. BC should be like driving a dark curvy road you have taken home every day for the last 20 years. You know all the curves and are adjusting your speed and steering proactively to every one for a "perfect lap" (Ford vs Ferrari reference).

 

[YACO]

I bought a used 21 Lariat PB but OTA update never worked (GWM stuck per SSM 49826). There were over 30 updates needed to be done, including 4 of those massive APIMs. It took me all day (about 15 hours straight) but I finally don't have any updates left.

I have a few tips that I haven't seen mentioned when using FDRS to update your firmware:

1. If you have updates that require USB install, it's best to go into settings and turn off 911 Assist, Bluetooth, Wifi and all Sharing of info before starting the updates. If you don't do this, you'll end up having a bunch of popups on your screen... you might end up dismissing an important message (like "update finished" and "restart your vehicle") if they popup right before you were dismissing a different notice.

2. For USB updates, I used a 16GB usb... (even though FDRS said a 32GB but it was all i had in hand) but it worked without any issues (might not work for larger updates in the future).

3. Also, make sure FORMAT (exFAT) the USB before every update BUT make sure to use a different name for every update. I used APIM1, GWM2, APIM2, APIM3, etc... This helps the truck reindex the USB and start installation just a few moments after you plug it in.

4. Also, when the truck (not FDRS) asks you to "Restart" your vehicle to finish the update (after a USB update), first CLOSE that dialog and then turn OFF the vehicle with the USB stick in it but don't turn it back on. The final part of the update is installed while your vehicle is off. The lights on your dash, right below the screen, will keep turning ON/OFF while the update is running on the background. I used a camera (Wyze cam) inside the vehicle so I could monitor it while inside the house. Some updates take up to 40 min for the dash lights to stop coming back on (some are like 5min). Once the lights stop coming back on, you can go ahead and turn the vehicle back ON and about 30s later it will tell you the update finished and you can remove the USB stick and you can continue the process in FDRS. I did this for all the USB updates (about 8 or 9 of them) and every single one gave me "Update finished, it's safe to remove the USB" after following these steps.

Hope this helps

 

[Paul Neubauer]

I bought a used 21 Lariat PB but OTA update never worked (GWM stuck per SSM 49826). There were over 30 updates needed to be done, including 4 of those massive APIMs. It took me all day (about 15 hours straight) but I finally don't have any updates left.

I have a few tips that I haven't seen mentioned when using FDRS to update your firmware:

1. If you have updates that require USB install, it's best to go into settings and turn off 911 Assist, Bluetooth, Wifi and all Sharing of info before starting the updates. If you don't do this, you'll end up having a bunch of popups on your screen... you might end up dismissing an important message (like "update finished" and "restart your vehicle") if they popup right before you were dismissing a different notice.

2. For USB updates, I used a 16GB usb... (even though FDRS said a 32GB but it was all i had in hand) but it worked without any issues (might not work for larger updates in the future).

3. Also, make sure FORMAT (exFAT) the USB before every update BUT make sure to use a different name for every update. I used APIM1, GWM2, APIM2, APIM3, etc... This helps the truck reindex the USB and start installation just a few moments after you plug it in.

4. Also, when the truck (not FDRS) asks you to "Restart" your vehicle to finish the update (after a USB update), first CLOSE that dialog and then turn OFF the vehicle with the USB stick in it but don't turn it back on. The final part of the update is installed while your vehicle is off. The lights on your dash, right below the screen, will keep turning ON/OFF while the update is running on the background. I used a camera (Wyze cam) inside the vehicle so I could monitor it while inside the house. Some updates take up to 40 min for the dash lights to stop coming back on (some are like 5min). Once the lights stop coming back on, you can go ahead and turn the vehicle back ON and about 30s later it will tell you the update finished and you can remove the USB stick and you can continue the process in FDRS. I did this for all the USB updates (about 8 or 9 of them) and every single one gave me "Update finished, it's safe to remove the USB" after following these steps.

Hope this helps

Whenever I got the "Restart Vehicle" notification, I just shut it off and waited for the dash to go dark and restarted. It was only about 5 seconds until I restarted each time and the screen would display everything was completed and return the usb drive to the computer.

 

[YACO]

You might be right and it's unnecessary to wait for the dash lights to turn off. I could 100% tell the vehicle was doing something while it was off... for some updates, even the screen came on (with a light brightness but nothing on it), eventually it'd stop doing something and all the lights would be off. For some updates it was indeed very quick, others too a while... either way doesn't hurt to wait a bit.

 

[Mike G]

I had been operating on the previous tribal wisdom of getting out, locking the car and taking the key outside of the car's hearing range, and taking a 15 minute break before returning to finalize the update in FDRS with the USB stick. That's worked for me so far.

 

[Dinozero]

Has anyone keeping up with this figured out if fully loaded 302A trucks are getting cams at motion yet?
I was stuck on 2.3.0 forever but have gotten 3 updates and I’m on 2.7.3 now and still no cams.

Hopefully it comes soon.

 

[JEB]

I had been operating on the previous tribal wisdom of getting out, locking the car and taking the key outside of the car's hearing range, and taking a 15 minute break before returning to finalize the update in FDRS with the USB stick. That's worked for me so far.

I use a slight variation on this procedure. I turn off the truck, open and close the door and go in the house to get the transponder away from truck. Then I periodically go out without the transponder and look through the window at the LED halo around rear seat USB ports. When that halo goes dark, I know the truck has shut down and I can proceed with the update procedure.

 

[Kanuck]

I have PCM, ABS, ACM and SCCM to be updated. Do I require the USB stick to complete these updates? What order should the updates be done? Correct me if I am wrong, but there is no way of knowing if there are updates BEHIND the ones showing?

 

[Mike G]

I have PCM, ABS, ACM and SCCM to be updated. Do I require the USB stick to complete these updates? What order should the updates be done?

Start with the PCM.

If it chains others then fine.

If not then just do them one at a time in whatever order.

But start with the PCM.

And the update itself will tell you if you need the USB stick at the time and you just want to make sure it's completely reformatted and stuck into the laptop before you start the next module update, so you're ready in case it is needed for that update. That's the easiest way to do it. That way you're always ready.

Remember on USB updates, to go to the lower right corner of the task bar and select the "safely eject" command for the USB stick after you've downloaded the files for whatever module you're doing. You don't want to stick a "corrupted' USB drive that you took out of the computer before it was ready to be ejected into your trucks USB port to do an update. Might not go well.

Mike

 

[Snakebitten]

You might be right and it's unnecessary to wait for the dash lights to turn off. I could 100% tell the vehicle was doing something while it was off... for some updates, even the screen came on (with a light brightness but nothing on it), eventually it'd stop doing something and all the lights would be off. For some updates it was indeed very quick, others too a while... either way doesn't hurt to wait a bit.

First of all, congratulations on the new-to-you truck and your decision to make it a far better truck than the previous owner unwittingly experienced.

And I personally think your suggested work-flow is a very sound approach for those who aren't likely to digest this whole thread before they attempt to update their truck themselves. Sure, there are variations to the procedure that have worked for others, but you have provided a sound and successful one in a single clear and consise post.

Well done in my book.

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