FDRS Intimidation and Fear

[FirstFord]

My '22 Lariat is - and always has been - lagging behind most of the other trucks out there when it comes to receiving OTAs. This, in and of itself, doesn't really bother me, as I seem to eventually get them - or at least the ones that seem to be more important and/or matter more. I'm not worried about having "the latest" update - but then again, my ownership experience has been relatively painless as I have not experienced the same kinds of issues that others have had that were apparently remedied by an update. So, life is good..... except.....

I've made a few mods in FORScan, that I am very happy with and have made the truck even better, at least for this owner. But there is one more mod that I would really like to make in FORScan ( having the side-view mirror cameras come on when the turn signal is used when towing). But this mod requires the latest IPMA update, which it appears that I do not have. I am of the understanding - realistically speaking - the best way (only way???) to get it is through the use of FDRS. It has been theorized by @rugedraw that some day the IPMA update could come via OTA, but that is 1) conjecture / educated guess, and 2) if the theory was true, there is no timeline known. Thus, I say "realistically", I need to go the Mongoose cable/FDRS route. And there lies the problem.... I think I am intimidated to go that route - maybe even scared to death. After reading in this forum of several (numerous?) truck owners having difficulties with FDRS to such a degree that cries for help were made, sending out a S.O.S. to the FDRS gurus, requiring a deep-dive into the situation, and taking days or longer to remedy (and by people who really know what they're doing with this stuff), that I fear I'd be a nervous mess doing this. It also appears that frequently(?) when doing updates through FDRS, it opens up additional "cans of worms" that now need to be addressed that were fine before the FDRS update. And then there's the added factor that (apparently) FDRS itself can be tempermental (and I sure as hell DON'T NEED THAT!). I'm not intimidated or fearful of technology per se - and for an old geazer, I get around fairly well with my laptop, but this just strikes me as a different animal, and there is A LOT at stake! I don't want to brick a truck that cost as much as this thing did. I fear that I could get in way over my head pretty easily and quickly - and this isn't the kind of task where you have a coach right there to guide you through it.

Interested in thoughts and comments (talk me down off of the ledge?).

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[rugedraw]

If something goes wrong, we can help you fix it. @sswalters did it last night. His laptop crashed and died in the middle of the IPMA update and it bricked the IPMA and corrupted the CMR. He had to run to office depot to buy a new laptop to get everything fixed. This is pretty much the worse thing that can possibly happen. It is virtually impossible to cause irreversible damage with FDRS.

 

[sswalters]

Wow! Didn’t even know this thread existed. I was in complete and total panic mode when my laptop crashed in the middle of an update. @rugedraw is the absolute man.

My truck was throwing alarms. Cameras stopped working. Complete shitshow.

But..

The mongoose adapter and the FDRS are absolutely solid. Just get a battery charger on the truck. Set your computer to not sleep (this was not my issue) and let the system go to work. I learned a lot about having to reinstall all new modules from scratch, but this should really never even happen to someone. I just purchased a crappy refurb laptop from Amazon which crashed at the worst possible moment.

The instructions on the first page of the FDRS are great and I couldn’t appreciate more the help you get when you ask for it. The willingness of people to help and walk you through things is incredible

I’m fearless now; and looking forward to the Forscan portion next.

I’ll say it again. @rugedraw is the man.

 

[rugedraw]

Wow! Didn’t even know this thread existed. I was in complete and total panic mode when my laptop crashed in the middle of an update. @rugedraw is the absolute man.

My truck was throwing alarms. Cameras stopped working. Complete shitshow.

But..

The mongoose adapter and the FDRS are absolutely solid. Just get a battery charger on the truck. Set your computer to not sleep (this was not my issue) and let the system go to work. I learned a lot about having to reinstall all new modules from scratch, but this should really never even happen to someone. I just purchased a crappy refurb laptop from Amazon which crashed at the worst possible moment.

The instructions on the first page of the FDRS are great and I couldn’t appreciate more the help you get when you ask for it. The willingness of people to help and walk you through things is incredible

I’m fearless now; and looking forward to the Forscan portion next.

I’ll say it again. @rugedraw is the man.

Credit goes to this forum and the people on it as I've learned everything I know from it and the people on here.

 

[FirstFord]

I was in complete and total panic mode

Yep... ^ that ^.....

I hate panic - detest it. I've seen me do it. Not good... This is one of the aspects that I fear.

I appreciate that @sswalters issue was ultimately diagnosed as deadbeat laptop, and not something that I anticipate (although my RAM is 8GB, not the recommended 12 - but I've read much has been successfully installed utilizing 8GB machines), but it doesn't necessarily calm the nerves. I don't like being dependent on other people, and yet I would be heavily dependent on others in this case. People have busy lives. They have better things to do than to help out a scaredy cat numbskull. Still, I can't say that I've ruled it out. I still very well might get on the Mongoose borrow list yet. I know once I take the first step down this road, it's a commitment!

 

[sswalters]

Yep... ^ that ^.....

I hate panic - detest it. I've seen me do it. Not good... This is one of the aspects that I fear.

I appreciate that @sswalters issue was ultimately diagnosed as deadbeat laptop, and not something that I anticipate (although my RAM is 8GB, not the recommended 12 - but I've read much has been successfully installed utilizing 8GB machines), but it doesn't necessarily calm the nerves. I don't like being dependent on other people, and yet I would be heavily dependent on others in this case. People have busy lives. They have better things to do than to help out a scaredy cat numbskull. Still, I can't say that I've ruled it out. I still very well might get on the Mongoose borrow list yet. I know once I take the first step down this road, it's a commitment!

I'll just say I had non stop support from people on the thread on a Sunday at 11:00 am until well past midnight. Crazy. Never waited more than 5 minutes for a response. Maybe let folks know when you plan to start.

 

[Snakebitten]

You'll come around

The thread itself is you dipping your toes in the inevitable. Matter of time.

Unless you sell or trade the truck first, of course. ?

 

[fordtruckman2003]

I suspect the 10.x updates will bring the IPMA update to the masses but that is just my own thoughts on it. They announced the 10.x series of updates in the spring planning to hit in the fall. That was on the old support forum Ford killed.

Mongoose for the improved cruise is 100% worth it to me going from old 2021 version to the newest. Lane centering/keeping and overall adaptive cruise performance is much better. Bluecruise people say the same thing.

 

[FirstFord]

I'll just say I had non stop support from people on the thread on a Sunday at 11:00 am until well past midnight. Crazy. Never waited more than 5 minutes for a response.

That. Is. Awesome.

With that kind of support, this thing might be do-able. ^ That might have won me over....

The thread itself is you dipping your toes in the inevitable.

You are correct, sir!

Unless you sell or trade the truck first, of course. ?

I tend to hang onto things until they are used up. This is my first new vehicle in quite awhile, and my first new truck since 2000. That, in part, may be why I find the technology almost overwhelming. There has definitely been a learning curve.

 

[FirstFord]

I suspect the 10.x updates will bring the IPMA update to the masses but that is just my own thoughts on it. They announced the 10.x series of updates in the spring planning to hit in the fall. That was on the old support forum Ford killed.

Yeah, in a different thread, @rugedraw implied something similar (or, at least that was my take on it...). So, I could wait, but it is still speculation.

 

[rugedraw]

Yea, it'll come OTA. Someday. I don't know what they're waiting for any more.

 

[sswalters]

Let's just put this to rest. If you are in fear, go for it! I did it!!!!! I just did the updates and the FORScan changes (which were very few) and took it out on a close by BlueCruise capable road and WOW, was it smooth. No jerky corrections. Like I was driving myself. And the auto lane change was incredible. Just flash the turn signal. Didn't get to check the lane centering, but I'm just amazed. And thankful for everyone's help. And proud of myself for grinding. THANK YOU!

 

[FirstFord]

You may regret this @rugedraw , but I'm going to dig up the Mongoose borrow thread and put my name on the list.

 

[Sojourner]

I'm one step behind @FirstFord; not even comfortable with FORSCAN yet.

So I'm thrilled to be reminded of the forum member support presence discussed in this thread.

This forum is AWESOME. I'm a member of quite a few Ford forums and I've found this F140gen14 forum and the Ranger5g forum to be top o' the charts. Helpful, funny, rarely dick-ish (unlike, for example, the Bronco6g forum where too many of the forum members squash conversation because they are busy touting the length of their personal members and whipping others with them, as it were).

I really appreciate y'all (or y'uns). I can see getting involved with FORSCAN and FDRS in the near future. Because I've come to realize that the support is here.

Muchas gracias, amigos.

 

[poopy_pants]

I think the answer is both tools have their place and you should use the one best suited for each job. FORScan is great for making config changes/mods to settings as you've already figured out. FDRS is a better troubleshooting, diagnostics and firmware update tool ... it's an OEM tool designed to do exactly that. FORScan can technically upgrade firmware but seems to lag behind on versions and complete module support based on my experience. It's also harder to figure out whether you really need an update. In FDRS, you just click the sw updates tab and it shows everything you need to update and you mash the run button. It's pretty hard to screw up. The only 3 things I don't like about FDRS are the price, you still have to subscribe to another service get workshop and wiring diagrams and lastly FDRS is a bit of a "snitch". It logs everything you do to Ford backend servers ... like literally every button click.

If you don't want to spring for the Rotunda, Cardaq or Mongoose interfaces, you can also use a VXDiag VCX FD. It's about $200 with the Ford/Mazda license and you can also add licenses for other OEM's if you want. I updated my 2024 truck this week because it wasn't getting OTA and had some TSB's I was dealing with.

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