ECU module programming guide using FDRS

[TJSparky]

***SHORT UPDATE***
I installed a new HLC module, and the DRL and low beams are again operational. Will tackle the reason that high beams are not actuating on the subject (drivers side) headlight later this afternoon (perhaps need to reload the post-update FORSCAN values).

Which part number did you end up getting? JX7Z13C788N ????
Did you have to take the whole front grill assembly off or where you able to access it from underneath?

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[JDPEagle]

Which part number did you end up getting? JX7Z13C788N ????

I did.

Did you have to take the whole front grill assembly off or where you able to access it from underneath?

I tried to get to it from underneath at first. I got all four screws removed, but removing the the wiring harness just seemed too risky to try. I went ahead and removed the grill and bumper trim… really not a big deal. Had the whole thing swapped out in about an hour (really taking my time).

 

[Jesse-Infotainment]

@JDPEagle

neither side high beam is working or only the driver side high beam is not working after the replacement?

 

[JDPEagle]

@JDPEagle

neither side high beam is working or only the driver side high beam is not working after the replacement?

Only the driver’s side high beam (which had the module replaced).

 

[Jesse-Infotainment]

Only the driver’s side high beam (which had the module replaced).

Ok. Did the dtc clear also



the high beams are controlled via linbus.

Possible you need to a do a linbus initialization

 

[TJSparky]

I was gonna say the line bus option in FDRS under BCM might help.

Thanks for the info. I’m still waiting for my module to get here.

 

[Jesse-Infotainment]

Note the linbus initialization only works if no dtc exist in bcm

 

[Jesse-Infotainment]

I’ll take a look at the DTC’s as soon as I get back. How/where do you go about the linbus initialization?

when you select bcm in fdrs you’ll see it in the list of options

 

[JDPEagle]

BCM Update – Driver's Side Headlight InOp – RESOLVED (kind of)

After returning to the truck, confirming that the only DTC from the BCM was for an uninitialized module, and running the linbus initialization in FDRS, the headlamp is once again fully operational. Not discounting that a future software fix may resurrect the disabled headlamp, replacing the headlamp module (JX7Z-13C788-N) on my 2021 Ford F-150 XLT 302(a) brought the headlamp back to life following the (MUCH regrettably applied) BCM update.

I hope that this may have simply been a software crippling of the HLC module (which will be curable through the software in the near future), but if you're affected, and you're in a pinch to be "street legal," replacing the module will get you back up and running.

I learned a BIG lesson here (that many of you already know)... research these updates (especially BCM) before jumping in. This was 100% avoidable with knowledge this forum already published. Many, many, many thanks to @Jesse-Infotainment. Your knowledge and helpfulness is far beyond that of anyone I have interacted with at the FoMoCo. You kept this family's holiday plans intact. Cheers to you!

 

[Eric55AMG]

Hi all ... Long time lurker here. I've read all 534 pages of this thread and really appreciate the learning it's provided. Hoping I may be able to contribute some small data points that may help help investigating the headlight issue.

I have a 21 Tremor 402A, so may not be totally relevant. I was fully "up to date" other that the latest APM and BCM updates which I did today.

My BCM went from:
Engineering: MU5T-14B476-KAH & Software: MU5T-14C184-AAH
Engineering: MU5T-14B476-KAJ & software: MU5T-14C184-AAJ

I also noticed my HCM (Headlamp Control Module) software changed.
ML34-14D063-AE to LC5A-13B626-AK. Engineering stayed the same ... ML34-13C148-AE.

I did make sure when I was doing the update I had the headlights in the off position before clicking each step (they turn on automatically when cycling the "key" on and off).

I also did have a weird experience in that I had to run the BCM update twice.
the first time I ran it ... the wipers turned on during the process ... and the interior LED lights faded on and off.
when the process was done ... and I refreshed everything ... FRDS still showed the BCM update.
I shut everything down (truck / FRDS) and waited 10 minutes for the truck to go to sleep.

I then re-ran the update ... same exact process, only this time, no wipers, and no interior light issues.

Everything seems to be good to go ... headlamps included.
I did FORScan changes back in June ... turning on "Bambi" mode and also activating "Glare Free", but haven't made any changes since (my online as built aligns to the truck configs).

Edited to add ... I've not had an OTA update in at least 60 days (history shows nothing) ... so my only updates have been via FRDS

 

[TJSparky]

BCM Update – Driver's Side Headlight InOp – RESOLVED (kind of)

After returning to the truck, confirming that the only DTC from the BCM was for an uninitialized module, and running the linbus initialization in FDRS, the headlamp is once again fully operational. Not discounting that a future software fix may resurrect the disabled headlamp, replacing the headlamp module (JX7Z-13C788-N) on my 2021 Ford F-150 XLT 302(a) brought the headlamp back to life following the (MUCH regrettably applied) BCM update.

I hope that this may have simply been a software crippling of the HLC module (which will be curable through the software in the near future), but if you're affected, and you're in a pinch to be "street legal," replacing the module will get you back up and running.

I learned a BIG lesson here (that many of you already know)... research these updates (especially BCM) before jumping in. This was 100% avoidable with knowledge this forum already published. Many, many, many thanks to @Jesse-Infotainment. Your knowledge and helpfulness is far beyond that of anyone I have interacted with at the FoMoCo. You kept this family's holiday plans intact. Cheers to you!

AWESOME! Glad everything is working and you're good to go! I'll be doing this as well as soon as the part arrives next week. I may hit you up in case I run into any snags.

YES! Jesse deserves many KUDOS as well for taking his time to help us all troubleshoot this. Thanks-again Jesse!

I think Ford may have there hands full if this update gets out over OTA

 

[Jesse-Infotainment]

BCM Update – Driver's Side Headlight InOp – RESOLVED (kind of)

After returning to the truck, confirming that the only DTC from the BCM was for an uninitialized module, and running the linbus initialization in FDRS, the headlamp is once again fully operational. Not discounting that a future software fix may resurrect the disabled headlamp, replacing the headlamp module (JX7Z-13C788-N) on my 2021 Ford F-150 XLT 302(a) brought the headlamp back to life following the (MUCH regrettably applied) BCM update.

I hope that this may have simply been a software crippling of the HLC module (which will be curable through the software in the near future), but if you're affected, and you're in a pinch to be "street legal," replacing the module will get you back up and running.

I learned a BIG lesson here (that many of you already know)... research these updates (especially BCM) before jumping in. This was 100% avoidable with knowledge this forum already published. Many, many, many thanks to @Jesse-Infotainment. Your knowledge and helpfulness is far beyond that of anyone I have interacted with at the FoMoCo. You kept this family's holiday plans intact. Cheers to you!

Im glad you got it fixed quickly. I am not happy it cost you money. I still have no explainination. The linbus for the headlamps is the same line.. THey share it. So how one side is blown and not the other is beyond explination.

Im sorry. I wish I would have known. I had the three of us do it withno issue. Me, Livinitup and tonesto. We all ahve different engine types but all the same headlamps, SO I wouldnt have dreamed this was a possibility. Software issues I can fix. This I cant.

So it is possible the headlamp module got a bad linbus config. I dont know. Maybe swap module to the other side and run the linbus config.

Its a pain to take the front apart.

Anyways Ford really will have a mess on their hands with this one for sure. Once dealers start performing this update and blowing up modules.

 

[itsdchz]

Ford doing update tonight or server down/updating? Performed Bronco all updates, just fine, all this st 5-7 PM- Working on F150, had a few flash errors, but went through seemingly ok, didn’t see issue. Ran some small updates and issues seemed to start on seconStarted at about 10:00-10:15 PM errors began to happen, FDRS quit, couldn’t get data from F150, see pic below- FDRS stated work offline, many errors in IPMA, and others, couldn’t get a good read on F150, and stated couldn’t read info. Tried a few times. Seems fine to start and no DTCs setting CEL. Saturday night server updated/backup perhaps? @Snakebitten @Jesse-Infotainment @TJSparky thought?

 

[Snakebitten]

Not too unusual to get time periods where FDRS is offline on weekends.
I don't even try to work with it if I can't get 3 greens down there.

 

[RickBullotta]

BCM Update – Driver's Side Headlight InOp – RESOLVED (kind of)

After returning to the truck, confirming that the only DTC from the BCM was for an uninitialized module, and running the linbus initialization in FDRS, the headlamp is once again fully operational. Not discounting that a future software fix may resurrect the disabled headlamp, replacing the headlamp module (JX7Z-13C788-N) on my 2021 Ford F-150 XLT 302(a) brought the headlamp back to life following the (MUCH regrettably applied) BCM update.

I hope that this may have simply been a software crippling of the HLC module (which will be curable through the software in the near future), but if you're affected, and you're in a pinch to be "street legal," replacing the module will get you back up and running.

I learned a BIG lesson here (that many of you already know)... research these updates (especially BCM) before jumping in. This was 100% avoidable with knowledge this forum already published. Many, many, many thanks to @Jesse-Infotainment. Your knowledge and helpfulness is far beyond that of anyone I have interacted with at the FoMoCo. You kept this family's holiday plans intact. Cheers to you!

TBH there was a lot of confusion regarding the safety of this BCM update. I went with my gut feeling that it was problematic. In the future, I will NEVER install a BCM or other critical module update without a SPECIFIC list of the changes and what it fixes and confirmation that it is safe based on a significant number of successful installs *on the same year, and job#, and type of truck*.

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