OTA Update Frustrations

[nsbreeding]

I have a 2021 3.5 Ecoboost that I purchased in Sept 2021. I don't believe I have ever received an OTA update.

I had it in June of last year and I thought one of the recalls was going to fix it, it didn't, life happened, and it was Nov. before I brought it back, and they talked to Ford HQ, spent time on it, and got it to run updates (I was told), although none of the features I've heard like (full screen carplay, turn by turn on the dash, rear camera) have ever showed up.

More so, if i go in and scheduled it to check for updates at a certain time/date, it doesn't remember the schedule. I've told them this month, but I swear the server manager's eyes glaze over as soon as I say OTA update.

I dropped it off this morning, and he just called me to ask what was it that it wasn't doing? I don't know what to tell him, other than the OTA schedule isn't remembering the schedule and it still doesn't look like I'm getting any updates.

Anyone have any suggestions on what to tell them? It would be nice if there was a simple "what version you are on" screen, but that might make too much sense?

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[rugedraw]

Post or PM me your VIN.

 

[nsbreeding]

Sure, my VIN 1FTFW1E81MFB62283

 

[rugedraw]

Your truck has never received an OTA and you are on Sync 20301 which is a red flag your truck is in OTA limbo. Without dealer intervention (or you investing the money for the tool needed to fix it), your truck will never get an OTA. If this issue is new to you, then I can tell you that you are not alone. There are countless trucks affected by this issue. Your dealer needs to manually update your APIM to get it out of it's current state, or diagnose it as faulty and replace it with a new one. The software on your truck is from 2020.

 

[nsbreeding]

Thanks so much! How did you find this out (so I can tell them how they can find it out??)

 

[rugedraw]

PTS which is the software your service advisor uses. You just have to know what you're looking for. Sadly, they aren't trained to look for these things and usually don't know any better.

 

[nsbreeding]

I summarized what you said and dropped it off when I went to lunch, we'll see what happens, thanks for the help!

 

[nsbreeding]

So I go to pick it up, at least the service manager said he wanted me to show the Technician what I was seeing, because according to the Technician the screen was showing it was "up to date." I was going to ask to talk to him, so at least I didn't have to do that.

I guess he didn't understand the information I dropped off, I showed him how I couldn't toggle the autoupdates to on, and that when I put in a schedule (which he had done) that it was blank (which it was, so he saw that it didn't remember the schedule. Of course then he showed me that it was saying no updates were needed (on the screen).

I asked him if he could tell me what the current Sync was, since it started at Sync 20301. He went and got his computer and couldn't find it (I think), he did go in and try to manually update.

45 minutes later, it said some had failed, but he said it looked like some worked. But it was asking him to transferred the update to a USB stick and said it is saying it needs 10 minutes to install from the USB stick, if I can leave the truck running that long and bring back the usb stick in the morning and let him know. He would probably order a new APIM anyway since it seems I'm having issues.

An hour and 15 later still no change (I didn't expect one, or for it to work). I dropped the USB off this morning and talked to him again, he said he would order a new APIM.

Thanks Javier! You gave me enough information to at least ask the right questions to get some results.

 

[rugedraw]

I see no updates modules in your history. They did hook up the truck to FDRS and perform a network scan to check for modules with pending updates, but he never actually tried to perform an update. I see he clicked the APIM update that popped up, but it didn't record he did anything. It literally says "the tool was opened and closed with no results".

With that said, the APIM is one of the things you that require FDRS downloading files onto a USB drive to install on the truck that way, so while there is some merit to what he told you, I don't see that he actually used FDRS to get the files needed to try the update.

When you inserted the USB in your truck, did you see anything on the screen that said "USB Indexing" or "System Updating"?

 

[Bullett]

I’m in the same limbo as you. My dealer finally installed a new APIM in my truck on Monday. Prior to this APIM, my OTA schedule wouldn’t save or allow me to toggle the auto updates on/off. Now it does but I’m thinking it’s still not up to date as a few features others are reporting they have I don’t.
Subscribed for updates

 

[nsbreeding]

I see no updates modules in your history. They did hook up the truck to FDRS and perform a network scan to check for modules with pending updates, but he never actually tried to perform an update. I see he clicked the APIM update that popped up, but it didn't record he did anything. It literally says "the tool was opened and closed with no results".

So I think the 45 minutes was it downloading stuff, not actually updating?

When you inserted the USB in your truck, did you see anything on the screen that said "USB Indexing" or "System Updating"?

It did not show anything on the screen, which is why I wasn't surprised it didn't work. ha.

 

[rugedraw]

I’m in the same limbo as you. My dealer finally installed a new APIM in my truck on Monday. Prior to this APIM, my OTA schedule wouldn’t save or allow me to toggle the auto updates on/off. Now it does but I’m thinking it’s still not up to date as a few features others are reporting they have I don’t.
Subscribed for updates

For sure it is not up to date. Ford will not pay dealers to install updates and the process takes hours. With the APIM replacement, you will now start getting OTA's whenever Ford pushes one to your truck.

 

[bassaway]

If you have time, can you check my VIN for update activity? Thanks!

1FTFW1E81MKD72213

 

[rugedraw]

If you have time, can you check my VIN for update activity? Thanks!

1FTFW1E81MKD72213

3.5.3 was sent to you for a second time 3 days ago. It is again trying to download the files it needs for the update. Good luck.

 

[sbi]

In the same boat, and TBH I am not sure I want to mess with it or the dealer mess with it. I read too many horror stories of "after APIM replacement". Know on wood truck is working perfect now (I hope I don't jinx it).
Not to mention, leave the truck at the dealers for days. No, thank you.

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