OTA Power Up Updates FIX!! [Triggering an OTA Update]

[JediNut]

Coincidence? I don't know, but my last update was 3.5.4, received on Jan 31, 2023.
Since then, nothing. Last night, I went out for a drive and when I got back I:

- Turn lights to OFF
- Set parking brake
- Set update time 15 minutes after when I parked it.

Lo and behold... I woke up to a FordPass message saying that I received 4.2.1 last night.

I am leaning toward coincidence... but who knows.

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[rugedraw]

Coincidence? I don't know, but my last update was 3.5.4, received on Jan 31, 2023.
Since then, nothing. Last night, I went out for a drive and when I got back I:

- Turn lights to OFF
- Set parking brake
- Set update time 15 minutes after when I parked it.

Lo and behold... I woke up to a FordPass message saying that I received 4.2.1 last night.

I am leaning toward coincidence... but who knows.

I would lean hard in that direction, too. This update does not require the vehicle to be inhibited, so it will install regardless of you setting an update schedule or not. You can have auto-updates off and it will still download and install.

 

[Wolverine7]

Yes, I have seen their reports on the router logs. I still won't say with 100% confidence that no update has ever downloaded via a wifi connection. That goes way beyond my scope of knowledge.

I'm debating turning the WiFi back on, just to prove that it works. In theory, they still owe me the .3 and .4 updates, so the expectation is that I know more are imminent.

I also have a router that logs unusual in/out activiity and I get reports. Seems the TCU is a registered network device on the WiFi and it periodically sends data to www.cloud-sync.ford.com. However, that's only a couple MB at a time, usually when shutting off the truck, etc. I was also thinking about whether any firewall settings could prevent Ford from sending data inward and whether this needed any special port settings. I suspect that's why they are using the cell signal for now.

 

[rugedraw]

I'm debating turning the WiFi back on, just to prove that it works. In theory, they still owe me the .3 and .4 updates, so the expectation is that I know more are imminent.

I also have a router that logs unusual in/out activiity and I get reports. Seems the TCU is a registered network device on the WiFi and it periodically sends data to www.cloud-sync.ford.com. However, that's only a couple MB at a time, usually when shutting off the truck, etc. I was also thinking about whether any firewall settings could prevent Ford from sending data inward and whether this needed any special port settings. I suspect that's why they are using the cell signal for now.

Months upon months ago, someone mentioned that firewall settings could prevent OTA's from coming in. I don't remember who said it or what he/she said, but whoever it was seemed to know what they were talking about based on the verbiage used.

 

[rpold150]

Months upon months ago, someone mentioned that firewall settings could prevent OTA's from coming in. I don't remember who said it or what he/she said, but whoever it was seemed to know what they were talking about based on the verbiage used.

Firewalls typically allow outgoing traffic and restrict incoming traffic. So your truck could initiate communication to www.cloud-sync.ford.com and might be able to then download the update. But it would be highly unlikely that cloud-sync.for.com would be able to initiate communication to your truck inside your firewall.

 

[Wolverine7]

Right, in theory the truck could check in and essentially do a "do you have anything for me?" request, which should work.

I'm wondering if the current OTA situation is more of an outbound cell signal (or like satellite radio activations) where there is a pulse sent out periodically and received by the listening node. That would also explain the 2 week expiration window, etc. Would be more problematic with firewalls.

 

[JeffC57]

After about a 3 month pause in OTAs, I got 4.2.1 while in the Taco Bell parking lot today. The engine was running so I wasn't doing anything listed by the OP. This OTA is a slight scenario variation of prior updates that were recieved while driving to the liquor store. Assuming OTAs aren't clogged up in your truck (or you don't have battery problems), I think they come when it's your turn.

 

[adt1982]

No parking brake set. Lights on auto. Windows down. Tank below a half.

I parked the truck after work and the went out and this popped up after I turned it to accessory so I could put the windows up.

 

[jwisniew33]

No parking brake set. Lights on auto. Windows down. Tank below a half.

I parked the truck after work and the went out and this popped up after I turned it to accessory so I could put the windows up.

Wow I didnt think ford was giving 2021 the 4.x.x updates. I have a 2021, im still stuck on 2.7.4 since october .

 

[m_bt54]

No parking brake set. Lights on auto. Windows down. Tank below a half.

I parked the truck after work and the went out and this popped up after I turned it to accessory so I could put the windows up.

I call bullshit. there’s no way that you were able to get an update with less than a three-quarter full tank and certainly not without your windows up ?

 

[speedracercjr]

Got 4.2.3 just now. Auto lights and doors unlocked, debunks that myth

 

[bigwyo]

Wow I didnt think ford was giving 2021 the 4.x.x updates. I have a 2021, im still stuck on 2.7.4 since october .

I’ve been stuck on 2.7.4 since 6/2022!

 

[Tuffram1996]

My suggestion is two fold.

1. Just breath. Wait. Be patient. (10 ways to say the same thing)

Or?

2. Get your hands on a Mongoose adapter and catch up yourself.

I just got done doing this. It's amazing how many updates were available for a 2021 truck. Took approximately 8 hours of constant updates to get everything updated.

 

[gkwizman]

I hadn’t received updates since last October also. Read in the forums about doing the same thing, did exact as above except for tuning of Wi-Fi, received one update within an hour and a second one two days letter.

 

[pavementends]

Add me to the list of (skeptical) people who set their parking brake and set lights to OFF and had an OTA install within an hour. My truck sat for a week until today as I was out of town. I drove it to the gym - a 10 minute drive - remembered this thread and for the first time ever set the parking brake and set lights to off and boom, got 4.2.1

Maybe the Ford OTA Help desk phone fluffers aren't so full of shit after all ??

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