OTA Update issues 2021 F150 Lariat

[HammaMan]

I took a look at this VCI on the manufacturer’s website. Very interesting. Four questions: (1) have you tested it yourself and, if so; (2) does it work in FDRS simply by selecting VCM3 directly in the VCI Manager (no weird drivers/patches or emulations modes); (3) is it as fast as the OEM Rotunda VCM3 (or at least faster than the Mongoose, which is comparable to the VCM II); and (4) have you confirmed no as-built data corruptions like we saw with the VCX Nano?

If this thing checks out (and at $170, I remain a little skeptical), it could break the Mongoose monopoly as the low-cost leader.

Yes
Yes
Didn't put it neck and neck but compared to mongoose didn't really see a difference.
I've been using it since it showed up about 8mo ago.
Wired only -- don't listen to 'wireless' nonsense. Use it just like mongoose but using VCM3 proto

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[Ajzride]

@Willtray

There is a mongoose loaning thread, you don't have to buy one.

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/thr...mming-vehicle-interface-lending-thread.13145/

 

[JEB]

Yes
Yes
Didn't put it neck and neck but compared to mongoose didn't really see a difference.
I've been using it since it showed up about 8mo ago.
Wired only -- don't listen to 'wireless' nonsense. Use it just like mongoose but using VCM3 proto

Thanks.

Just to confirm, no issues with the as-built data?

 

[VRFlyer]

My advice is buy a mongoose cable from Amazon (30 day return window), and a frds license for a week. Return the cable once you’re up to date.

Folks, please don't be that "shitty person."

 

[rugedraw]

Thanks.

Just to confirm, no issues with the as-built data?

Here's my take on this and I say this will all due respect to @HammaMan because I know he knows more about this stuff that the average person......me included.

The thing I have learned on several forums I'm on is that these cheaper cables work great until they don't; and when they fail, it always ends up in the person scrambling for a Mongoose to fix the problem. I am sure there is a huge profit margin on the Mongoose for Opus and I am sure some other company can clone it and sell it for much less. Maybe this product is legit, but the only way to know for sure is to buy one, use it repeatedly (like he has) and hope nothing bad happens. The thing about him is that he is very resourceful and knowledgeable, so if that cable bricks something, he can most likely fix it with FORScan if Jesse or I (or anyone else with the resources) get him the files to side-load the firmware. However, the average Joe would be screwed if this cable bricks a module for them.

 

[JEB]

Here's my take on this and I say this will all due respect to @HammaMan because I know he knows more about this stuff that the average person......me included.

The thing I have learned on several forums I'm on is that these cheaper cables work great until they don't; and when they fail, it always ends up in the person scrambling for a Mongoose to fix the problem. I am sure there is a huge profit margin on the Mongoose for Opus and I am sure some other company can clone it and sell it for much less. Maybe this product is legit, but the only way to know for sure is to buy one, use it repeatedly (like he has) and hope nothing bad happens. The thing about him is that he is very resourceful and knowledgeable, so if that cable bricks something, he can most likely fix it with FORScan if Jesse or I (or anyone else with the resources) get him the files to side-load the firmware. However, the average Joe would be screwed if this cable bricks a module for them.

I don’t disagree with you—which is why I had a few follow up questions. But this is intriguing for a few reasons. Price is only one of them. More interesting to me is that this is not strictly a J2534 device, like the Mongoose, so it can be used with IDS. Then you can get your own calibration files if something goes wrong and not have to rely on others to fix problems. There’s nothing mysterious about “side-loading.” It’s a basic function of FORScan Beta that anyone with a paid FORScan license has access to. The trick is getting access to the calibration files. Much less of a problem if this VCM 3 clone actually works.

I think it’s worth exploring. As @HammaMan correctly noted above, it would be unreasonable to presume that the Chinese would just sit on their hands and not make inroads into this market. Maybe this is that inroad, maybe it’s just another VCX Nano that worked, until it didn’t. But it’s certainly worth watching.

 

[rugedraw]

I don’t disagree with you—which is why I had a few follow up questions. But this is intriguing for a few reasons. Price is only one of them. More interesting to me is that this is not strictly a J2534 device, like the Mongoose, so it can be used with IDS. Then you can get your own calibration files if something goes wrong and not have to rely on others to fix problems. There’s nothing mysterious about “side-loading.” It’s a basic function of FORScan Beta that anyone with a paid FORScan license has access to. The trick is getting access to the calibration files. Much less of a problem if this VCM 3 clone actually works.

I think it’s worth exploring. As @HammaMan correctly noted above, it would be unreasonable to presume that the Chinese would just sit on their hands and not make inroads into this market. Maybe this is that inroad, maybe it’s just another VCX Nano that worked, until it didn’t. But it’s certainly worth watching.

Case in point: Look at this message I got earlier today:

He had updated 20 modules with no issues until he got to the IPMA and it bricked it. Asked him which cable he was using and he sent me this link:

https://www.obd2eshop.com/wholesale/vnci-vcm2-ford-mazda-scanner.html

#teamMongoose

......this house is clear.

Btw: I am not singling or calling you out. Just putting the info out there.

 

[Ajzride]

https://www.obd2eshop.com/wholesale/vnci-vcm2-ford-mazda-scanner.html

Boy that looks familiar.

 

[HammaMan]

Boy that looks familiar.

I'm not going to defend it one way or another in terms of that link, but quite clearly we can see that link is for the old VCM2 device. I've had my VCM3 clone for many months and performed all sorts of updates including the IPMA.

Caveat emptor. I've tried everything under the sun to break my vehicles. The second I stop trying to break them, they'll break themselves. I've had this VCM3 clone for many many months have performed all sorts of things with them.

Don't install any software at all, this works under ford's VCM3 FDRS/IDS driver. Don't try and do wireless shit, use it with USB like you would a mongoose. I bought one from one particular seller, I see others that look the same and when it comes to chinese, assumptions will bite you in the ass. The link I've shared is from a particular seller, but that doesn't mean his supply hasn't changed. There are US companies selling these for $200 if you want one faster.

Rule #1
DON'T INSTALL ANY SOFTWARE FROM THESE PEOPLE.
If they tell you to install software, see rule #1

edit -- it will break the IPMA but you can load the files in w/ forscan as FDRS downloads them to your machine.

 

[Ajzride]

I'm not going to defend it one way or another in terms of that link, but quite clearly we can see that link is for the old VCM2 device. I've had my VCM3 clone for many months and performed all sorts of updates including the IPMA.

I'm just needling you

 

[HammaMan]

I'm not afraid to break my shit so take that as you will

 

[roadPilot]

Wireless Version !!! Please tell me more or point me in the right direction.....just curious to better understand. I will go ahead and keep the cable I have as well.

IMHO, the best (wireless) FORScan approved adapter is the OBDLink MX+. I like the wireless version because I use it with FORScan for programming and with FORScan Lite (and other software) on a tablet to make dashboards and monitor custom PIDs while driving.

 

[roadPilot]

If you're spending $60K-70K-80K or more on a truck and you balk at $575 for a Mongoose Plus to program it, perhaps you should have bought a less expensive truck.

 

[JEB]

Case in point: Look at this message I got earlier today:

He had updated 20 modules with no issues until he got to the IPMA and it bricked it. Asked him which cable he was using and he sent me this link:

https://www.obd2eshop.com/wholesale/vnci-vcm2-ford-mazda-scanner.html

#teamMongoose

......this house is clear.

Btw: I am not singling or calling you out. Just putting the info out there.

I don't take this as calling me out. I'm a tremendous fan of the Mongoose. I've been using it on my truck longer than you have. But it would be extremely myopic not to even consider new options that have emerged in the three years since the Mongoose took the place of the failed VCX Nano as the go-to for these trucks. There is no question that an OEM VCM3 absolutely blows away the Mongoose. It had better for $2,000. If this VCM3 clone has promise, it would be crazy not to at least look into it, particularly if you have a Mongoose in stand-by.

I'm not overly concerned about the horror anecdote you point to. It was for a VCMII clone, and the stories are legion about clones of that particular unit (and there are a lot of them out there) being unreliable. Russian roulette to play around with those. But that doesn't mean that every clone of every unit will always be a failure.

Don't get me wrong--I still retain a healthy skepticism for clones, generally, and I don't recommend just anyone running out and buying one. But this particular clone is intriguing--it uses Ford's own drivers and requires no third-party software--and at least one person has had success with it on this truck's most demanding modules.

 

[EricR]

I don't take this as calling me out. I'm a tremendous fan of the Mongoose. I've been using it on my truck longer than you have. But it would be extremely myopic not to even consider new options that have emerged in the three years since the Mongoose took the place of the failed VCX Nano as the go-to for these trucks. There is no question that an OEM VCM3 absolutely blows away the Mongoose. It had better for $2,000. If this VCM3 clone has promise, it would be crazy not to at least look into it, particularly if you have a Mongoose in stand-by.

I'm not overly concerned about the horror anecdote you point to. It was for a VCMII clone, and the stories are legion about clones of that particular unit (and there are a lot of them out there) being unreliable. Russian roulette to play around with those. But that doesn't mean that every clone of every unit will always be a failure.

Don't get me wrong--I still retain a healthy skepticism for clones, generally, and I don't recommend just anyone running out and buying one. But this particular clone is intriguing--it uses Ford's own drivers and requires no third-party software--and at least one person has had success with it on this truck's most demanding modules.

@HammaMan is a leader.

How do you tell who the leaders are?

They are the dead ones on the side of the trail with bullets in their chest. ?



Thanks for taking many for the team, Hammaman!

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