The Complete DIY Guide to Updating Your Mach-E with FDRS

[camdenlake]

PSA for the DIYers: A member here @camdenlake had his car at the dealer and they tried updating the IPMA and it got stuck; dealer claims module needs to be replaced. A member on the Lightning forum reported the dealer was updating modules for him and the truck also got stuck on the IPMA module where it needs to be replaced, as well. Dealer tried updating several times and running a PMI and nothing worked. Two EV's in two days is too much of a coincidence, IMO. If it happens at the dealer, warranty will cover it, but if it happens on your driveway, well.......you know.

Thank you. No eta on parts. Anyone aware of back orders on this?

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[generaltso]

If it happens at the dealer, warranty will cover it, but if it happens on your driveway, well.......you know.

We do? Why wouldn't it be covered under warranty? FDRS isn't some hack. It's software that's sanctioned by Ford and licensed to us to install Ford sanctioned updates. If there's a problem with one of the updates that causes an issue with the car, I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be covered.

 

[rugedraw]

We do? Why wouldn't it be covered under warranty? FDRS isn't some hack. It's software that's sanctioned by Ford and licensed to us to install Ford sanctioned updates. If there's a problem with one of the updates that causes an issue with the car, I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be covered.

As much as I would love to agree with you, I'm not sure if that's the case. I'll call one of my contacts at the Ford store I used to work at to see what I can find out on Monday. Whether warranty covers it or not, it's a potential headache. Just found out it happened to ICE truck yesterday, too, so it seems to be a potential issue across the board. Strange since so many people have applied the update and is only in the past few days that these issues started being reported.

 

[bshaw]

As much as I would love to agree with you, I'm not sure if that's the case. I'll call one of my contacts at the Ford store I used to work at to see what I can find out on Monday. Whether warranty covers it or not, it's a potential headache. Just found out it happened to ICE truck yesterday, too, so it seems to be a potential issue across the board. Strange since so many people have applied the update and is only in the past few days that these issues started being reported.

Right to repair laws make it so Ford has to let independent repair shops have access to dealership tools like FDRS. Running from your driveway is a version of that, it’s fully allowed by Ford.
The modules are also very resilient in terms of failed programming. When I first started with FDRS, the whole program crashed in the middle of writing to a module. I was able to use a different version of FDRS to rewrite the module and recover it. Each module is slightly different, so there may be exceptions to that.

 

[rugedraw]

Right to repair laws make it so Ford has to let independent repair shops have access to dealership tools like FDRS. Running from your driveway is a version of that, it’s fully allowed by Ford.
The modules are also very resilient in terms of failed programming. When I first started with FDRS, the whole program crashed in the middle of writing to a module. I was able to use a different version of FDRS to rewrite the module and recover it. Each module is slightly different, so there may be exceptions to that.

Makes good sense to me. I'm going to reach out to my old service director to appease my curiosity, but the main purpose of my post was to warn people of a potential issue with the IPMA/PSCM update. Whether warranty covers it or not, most people don't have the expertise or resources to recover a botched module.

 

[Mike G]

The IPMA updates are the most demanding on resources. You need a good power supply, fast internet, and a stable laptop, and you need to use a Mongoose + adapter.

If the update should fail and for some bizarre reason the module can't be recovered using FDRS, then making an appointment with your dealer service advisor and telling them that your lane-keeping system is not working (along with whatever other errors show up on the IPC) should be enough to get the ball rolling.

Personally, I'm more concerned when doing a BCM update. Those seem to have unintended consequences more often than other updates. Again, only my personal experience.

 

[CarGuy11]

No new updates, but a new procedure appeared, seems like Active Park Assist kits might finally be available soon:

Anyone have more details about this? Wondering if I could install the board myself and activate via Forescan? Can someone pull the parts list?

 

[voerman]

PSA for the DIYers: A member here @camdenlake had his car at the dealer and they tried updating the IPMA and it got stuck; dealer claims module needs to be replaced. A member on the Lightning forum reported the dealer was updating modules for him and the truck also got stuck on the IPMA module where it needs to be replaced, as well. Dealer tried updating several times and running a PMI and nothing worked. Two EV's in two days is too much of a coincidence, IMO. If it happens at the dealer, warranty will cover it, but if it happens on your driveway, well.......you know.

Ford came out with two new version of FDRS in the last few days: 39.6.2 on Jan 31 and 39.6.3 on Feb 2. Perhaps 39.6.3 addressed something related to the IPMA update problem caused by 39.6.2.

Pure speculation on my part.

Lou

 

[rugedraw]

In regards to warranty covering a bricked module while someone performs an update themselves: I spoke to the service director at my old store and he was not sure. He had never been in a situation where he had to submit a warranty claim for a situation like this. I asked him if he knew about the IPMA update causing problems and he said he had an ICE truck there with the same situation. I am going to call Ford myself and find out. Mostly to appease my won curiosity.

I can also tell you that if this happens, the IPMA module is recoverable if you know what you're doing. The IPMA does not need to be replaced. However, at the dealership level, that is most likely what will happen.

Edit: On the phone with Ford customer relations for the second time. The first person I spoke to told me it would NOT be covered should something happen while updating the vehicle myself. I called again and spoke to a second rep who put me on hold and asked someone from the "escalation team" and a supervisor. She was specifically told that even using FDRS and a Ford-approved VCI, the warranty will NOT cover a bricked module. The warranty will only be honored if the update is being done by a Ford technician at a Ford dealership.

 

[Mike G]

In regards to warranty covering a bricked module while someone performs an update themselves: I spoke to the service director at my old store and he was not sure. He had never been in a situation where he had to submit a warranty claim for a situation like this. I asked him if he knew about the IPMA update causing problems and he said he had an ICE truck there with the same situation. I am going to call Ford myself and find out. Mostly to appease my won curiosity.

I can also tell you that if this happens, the IPMA module is recoverable if you know what you're doing. The IPMA does not need to be replaced. However, at the dealership level, that is most likely what will happen.

Edit: On the phone with Ford customer relations for the second time. The first person I spoke to told me it would NOT be covered should something happen while updating the vehicle myself. I called again and spoke to a second rep who put me on hold and asked someone from the "escalation team" and a supervisor. She was specifically told that even using FDRS and a Ford-approved VCI, the warranty will NOT cover a bricked module. The warranty will only be honored if the update is being done by a Ford technician at a Ford dealership.

If I worked for Ford, I would have said the same thing.

I think this one falls under the “first rule of fight club…”

 

[kennelh]

If I worked for Ford, I would have said the same thing.

I think this one falls under the “first rule of fight club…”

"The first rule of FDRS Club is..."

 

[Silentmache]

Job 1 (may21) started with these updates

Now I am here
BECM and SOBDM both failed

Ipma ran almost 12 hours and got stuck configuring module so eventually I aborted it.

I also did ACM successfully.
What should I do next?

 

[Mike G]

Job 1 (may21) started with these updates

Now I am here
BECM and SOBDM both failed

Ipma ran almost 12 hours and got stuck configuring module so eventually I aborted it.

I also did ACM successfully.
What should I do next?

Clear and retest the modules so that you are starting programming with all "green" on the board. You can't program a module that is showing a DTC before you ever start.

Make sure to do a clear and retest with the car fully on.

Let me know what happens next.

 

[Silentmache]

Clear and retest the modules so that you are starting programming with all "green" on the board. You can't program a module that is showing a DTC before you ever start.

Make sure to do a clear and retest with the car fully on.

Let me know what happens next.

Updates to latest 39.6.3 all DTCs cleared minus IPMA (I believe my coax cable needs replacing but TSB 23-2137 was introduced after I crossed 36k miles so bluecruise has been inoperable ever since)

 

[21st Century Pony]

Updates to latest 39.6.3 all DTCs cleared minus IPMA (I believe my coax cable needs replacing but TSB 23-2137 was introduced after I crossed 36k miles so bluecruise has been inoperable ever since)

Re: the camera coax cable - there's a good thread somewhere here about checking alignment of the coax right inside the black trim piece above the center rear mirror. Many appear to not have been correctly routed, including mine when I checked a year ago, resulting in errors. I believe the thread author was Mach-Lee. If / when you get a new cable, or now with the current cable, this is the place to check first. Good Luck!

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