Safety Recall 22S41 - 2021-2022 Mach E - HVBJB Recall [high voltage battery main contactors may overheat]

[Secret Sauce]

My guess would be modules at the plant may be programmed prior to or right at installation by a tech who also tests the module. I think that may be a different process than what will have to take place with OTA updates so the OTA software is not yet available. Unfortunately that is just a guess and your thought that there is no logical reason to be not updating the cars on arrival may be accurate. However, at $60k a pop I do think Ford would want to get them sold sooner than later.

Why would the dealerships be installing this software OTA? I assume they would not since they should have the equipment in their service departments to install it directly onto the cars. This method should be a lot quicker than OTA. This is one of the most perplexing aspects of what Ford has said so far about the remedy. They talk only about OTA updates being rolled out starting in July, but that should only be for the cars already on the road. About the cars being delivered to dealerships and held on the stop sale, they've said nothing. This seems peculiar, since those are the customers who are the most impacted by the recall, and as you've pointed out, they should have all the incentive they need to make this happen sooner rather than later.

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[KevinS]

Why would the dealerships be installing this software OTA? I assume they would not since they should have the equipment in their service departments to install it directly onto the cars. This method should be a lot quicker than OTA. This is one of the most perplexing aspects of what Ford has said so far about the remedy. They talk only about OTA updates being rolled out starting in July, but that should only be for the cars already on the road. About the cars being delivered to dealerships and held on the stop sale, they've said nothing. This seems peculiar, since those are the customers who are the most impacted by the recall, and as you've pointed out, they should have all the incentive they need to make this happen sooner rather than later.

I think you must be misreading the comment. There was no suggestion in the comment that dealers would be doing this OTA. They'll of course be using FDRS to do it.

 

[FLmac]

Very well said!
In addition they did not think/design well the towing procedures for bricked cars.
Hopefully they learnt a lot from MME, and their next EVs will be easier to service.

The silver lining of this is at the age of 40 I’m finally learning how to back my car into a parking spot!!! I feel relatively confident that my SR is less likely to have an issue, but figured I’d take this as a learning opportunity! Lol ?

 

[AKgrampy]

Why would the dealerships be installing this software OTA? I assume they would not since they should have the equipment in their service departments to install it directly onto the cars. This method should be a lot quicker than OTA. This is one of the most perplexing aspects of what Ford has said so far about the remedy. They talk only about OTA updates being rolled out starting in July, but that should only be for the cars already on the road. About the cars being delivered to dealerships and held on the stop sale, they've said nothing. This seems peculiar, since those are the customers who are the most impacted by the recall, and as you've pointed out, they should have all the incentive they need to make this happen sooner rather than later.

I am not a mechanic but my guess is the software the dealer pushes will be similar if not exactly the same as the OTA software but as you state a bit faster. I do not know how they program modules in Mexico but I assume it is a different process. If you think about it why would they delay if this was not the case? Of course I do not know either. As for myself I would like it to be as smooth as possible when the time comes and there will be a difference in skill level between my dealer who will have to do maybe 6 Machs and the plant where they probably do 100’s a day.

 

[Guss-E 2021]

Run your VIN at the NHTSA website. You’re on the list.

No need, I believe you.

 

[Fixbear]

Fuses blow out and contactors wear out. That is a given. So how did anyone sign off on putting that component in a space that had no easy way to it to change those parts??? Shouldn't there have been an access panel on the top of the battery cover and another under the back seat to get to this?
Mechanic (ie. Techs today) have been asking that question since the mid seventies when looks became more important than function.





Next item: The OTA implementations have not gone all that well, at least for me. I have yet to have a successful OTA installation go correctly. My car always ends up at the dealership at the request of a Ford tech calling me back on my case #. And then my car is gone for days at a time. So what makes all of you think the OTA will download and install perfectly this time?

Do you have a good wi-fi system that the car can log into for updates? Cell systems tend to vary strength in some areas.

 

[Secret Sauce]

I think you must be misreading the comment. There was no suggestion in the comment that dealers would be doing this OTA. They'll of course be using FDRS to do it.

Not sure what comment you believe I am misreading. My point was the messaging from Ford addresses only OTA updates starting to roll out in July and throughout the rest of the third quarter, which would seem to apply only to current owners. What they will be doing for cars being delivered to dealerships now and when, they have said nothing at all. Zero! We can surmise or assume all we like, but it doesn't answer the question people in my position are asking.

I am not a mechanic but my guess is the software the dealer pushes will be similar if not exactly the same as the OTA software but as you state a bit faster. I do not know how they program modules in Mexico but I assume it is a different process. If you think about it why would they delay if this was not the case? Of course I do not know either. As for myself I would like it to be as smooth as possible when the time comes and there will be a difference in skill level between my dealer who will have to do maybe 6 Machs and the plant where they probably do 100’s a day.

As I said above, we're in a totally information-starved environment on this from Ford. They could be telling us (or at least the dealerships) when they expect to push out the updates to dealers so these cars can be sold, but they aren't. Sometime in the "third quarter" simply does not cut it, and so far that exactly all we are being told. The fact that they're saying nothing more specific suggests that the news is not good. This situation is feeling like a repeat of the prevarications Bolt owners got from GM over the battery replacement.

 

[AKgrampy]

Not sure what comment you believe I am misreading. My point was the messaging from Ford addresses only OTA updates starting to roll out in July and throughout the rest of the third quarter, which would seem to apply only to current owners. What they will be doing for cars being delivered to dealerships now and when, they have said nothing at all. Zero! We can surmise or assume all we like, but it doesn't answer the question people in my position are asking.


As I said above, we're in a totally information-starved environment on this from Ford. They could be telling us (or at least the dealerships) when they expect to push out the updates to dealers so these cars can be sold, but they aren't. Sometime in the "third quarter" simply does not cut it, and so far that exactly all we are being told. The fact that they're saying nothing more specific suggests that the news is not good. This situation is feeling like a repeat of the prevarications Bolt owners got from GM over the battery replacement.

Last comment - Ford stated consumers can either do the OTA or go to their dealer. So both will happen at the same time. Whether that takes place shortly after July 18th who knows for sure but both will be taken care of. I think Ford is clear - software is in new cars built after 5/24 and OTA’s (and dealers) after letters roll out July 18th will install software in cars built prior to 5/25.

 

[KevinS]

Last comment - Ford stated consumers can either do the OTA or go to their dealer. So both will happen at the same time. Whether that takes place shortly after July 18th who knows for sure but both will be taken care of. I think Ford is clear - software is in new cars built after 5/24 and OTA’s (and dealers) after letters roll out July 18th will install software in cars built prior to 5/25.

Was just typing exactly the same thing.

When the update hits dealers via FDRS, it will definitely become news here.

 

[Secret Sauce]

Last comment - Ford stated consumers can either do the OTA or go to their dealer. So both will happen at the same time. Whether that takes place shortly after July 18th who knows for sure but both will be taken care of. I think Ford is clear - software is in new cars built after 5/24 and OTA’s (and dealers) after letters roll out July 18th will install software in cars built prior to 5/25.

Who knows being my exact point. Those of us who've been waiting for a long time for delivery already deserve a better answer from Ford than who knows.

Was just typing exactly the same thing.

When the update hits dealers via FDRS, it will definitely become news here.

It should be obvious but it seems it needs to be restated for some reason that buyers who haven't taken delivery of their cars don't have the OTA option, so we are completely dependent on whatever arrangements and timing Ford sets up with the dealerships. About this they have told us exactly nothing. It's all well and good to say that we'll be taken care of, some day, but it's hardly good enough if your delivery is already two months behind what was represented by Ford originally and now could be as much as three months more. Maybe this is just a theoretical issue to those of you who are driving your MMEs already, but it's hardly theoretical for those of us aren't. This is the point I'm trying to get across, unsuccessfully it seems.

 

[AKgrampy]

Was just typing exactly the same thing.

When the update hits dealers via FDRS, it will definitely become news here.

I think the only thing anyone should be apprehensive about is will software impact performance. Personally I am not concerned about it. Of course any further delays would also be bad! I am hoping we get some feedback as soon as the post 5/24 cars begin to be delivered assuming they beat out the OTA.

 

[KevinS]

Maybe this is just a theoretical issue to those of you who are driving your MMEs already, but it's hardly theoretical for those of us aren't. This is the point I'm trying to get across, unsuccessfully it seems.

We're just trying to help you have all the knowledge we do, and yet you want to just whine back. Good luck, chief.

 

[rcechinel]

Maybe this is just a theoretical issue to those of you who are driving your MMEs already, but it's hardly theoretical for those of us aren't.

Not a doubt that the group of almost owners who can't take delivery yet got the shortest stick in this circus.

 

[Secret Sauce]

Not a doubt that the group of almost owners who can't take delivery yet got the shortest stick in this circus.

Thanks for getting it. Not a lot of it about, unfortunately.

 

[FordMachEGo]

De-energizing the battery makes sense if you have to remove the battery pack from the vehicle for safety reasons. My point is that the HVBJB should not have been placed in a location where the battery pack needs to be pulled from the car for service to a part that could need regular maintenance. Like I said, fuses blow and contactors wear out. If the HVBJB NEEDS to be in the battery compartment, then it should have been designed with an access panel somewhere for servicing.

Yes, but IF, for safety reasons, the HV battery needs to be de-energized prior to removing and replacing the HVBJB, then an access point would do no good - because you have to drop the battery pack anyway to discharge it. Again, I say IF - but I can't imagine how one would remove the HVBJB without discharging the battery pack first to avoid the risk of electrocution.

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