2021-2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E Will Get Sync 4A Update

[Garbone]

Heard tell it puts a useless gray car in the middle of the center screen so it will have symetry with the dash display.

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[21st Century Pony]

The system Ford uses is called "Semantic Versioning". It is widely used across a very wide number of software systems and has been for decades. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_versioning (scroll down to semantic versioning). 6.14 > 6.2.0 because 14 > 2. 7.1 > 6.15 because 7 > 6. This is common in software because linear systems (like tesla uses) fail in the face of more complex systems where you need to execute minor changes on important field-released versions (eg, someone with 6.2.0 will take 6.2.1 for a safety issue but doesn't like the UI changes in 6.8 and won't take the latest).

If you use a cell phone, you've got semantic versioning. "Android 14" is 14.something, and you can continue to get security updates even if you don't move to Android 15. Same thing with IOS - Apple has several release trains running at the moment, and executing patches and minor updates across their entire version system. It also makes hardware changes harder - like if there's a new generation of in-car CPU but it only runs recent, and you need to apply safety patches to older cars. You'll end up with 2.x for some cars, and 3.x for newer cars.

Tesla, being Tesla, appears to have ignored software best practice and used linear. Linear has some advantages, and is actually in use more and more (Microsoft Windows uses it for sections of their code). While it seems easier to you, and is simpler, it restricts both developers and users, which is why decades of software systems have used semantic versioning. Linear is easier *if you don't have a complex range of hardware and a big product line* - leading to faster developer velocity and faster patch releases - but leading to eventual failure because the business as a whole doesn't scale (eg, would Tesla Trucks be on the same release as Tesla Cars? Or would you need two teams replicating exactly the same functionality, one for Tesla Trucks and one for Tesla Cars, even if a number of components are the same and some are different?)

Perhaps all those millions of developers aren't dumb, and maybe Ford did a good thing by staying with industry standard practice?

Very useful explanation - thanks from all of us poli sci majors ?

 

[Tomatoboy]

I'm personally waiting for the update that lets Android Auto read the battery SoC for trip planning. This update isn't very important to me.

Side note, we’ve noticed an amusing behavior with CarPlay’s version of this feature. Works great in the Mach-E…but…If we switch to our ICE F-150 from the Mach-E and don5 disable the feature on the phone itself, it keeps giving battery SoC updates...but we have no idea what they correspond with, as they’re not the F-150’s current 12V SoC, not the Mach-E’s current SoC, etc. It appears to just be making one up.

 

[Aubury]

Side note, we’ve noticed an amusing behavior with CarPlay’s version of this feature. Works great in the Mach-E…but…If we switch to our ICE F-150 from the Mach-E and don5 disable the feature on the phone itself, it keeps giving battery SoC updates...but we have no idea what they correspond with, as they’re not the F-150’s current 12V SoC, not the Mach-E’s current SoC, etc. It appears to just be making one up.

Fuel level, maybe?

 

[stevebaker]

This has been a very informative thread - thanks for the info. My 2021 Mach E GT is still rockin' Sync 4 (not 4A) and runs version 4.0.23031, per the "FORD SYNC® AND NAVIGATION UPDATES" website page.

Given the news about 2021-23 Mach Es getting the latest 4A update (e.g., version 6.14 I believe?) will I need to take mine to the dealer? For a while there I'd been receiving updates, but nothing in quite a while (since before the Tesla supercharger announcement, I believe).

The auto-update switch is enabled and I triple checked that its wifi connection to the house is solid. Plus I have the extra $10/month for the data services thing (but I'm pretty sure that's not related to Sync updates; it's more like for Alexa, watching videos, and stuff like that).

Put another way, should I continue to be patient or make an appointment?

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

My 2021 Mach E GT is still rockin' Sync 4 (not 4A)

If you’re driving a Mach-e you have sync 4a. Sync 4a is not a version number. Sync 4 has landscape oriented screens with either 8 or 12 displays built into the dash. Sync 4a has portrait oriented screens up to 15.5 inch size.

 

[enhost]

https://fordauthority.com/2024/05/2021-2023-ford-mustang-mach-e-will-get-sync-4a-update/

"What’s great about our vehicles having the ability to receive software updates is that the work our team does to incorporate customer feedback into the latest model year vehicle can be shared with owners of previous model year vehicles. We created a system that’s more intuitive, making
apps and functions easier to find and access."

That is if you ever get an update whatsoever. I am running on a PowerUp version from Nov 2023. I called Ford and they have no idea how to help, or what to do, except rebooting my modem. They are useless, except for suggesting to go to the dealer and for wasting 30 mins of my time. So much for OTA updates. lol. I am really regretting letting go of my Model 3. Some panels might have been mildly misaligned, but I dont get to see those when I am operating the car. On the other hand, software is the soul of the car and Tesla has nailed the software to perfection. It is something they did't mediocrely produce and release, unlike Ford.

 

[stevebaker]

If you’re driving a Mach-e you have sync 4a. Sync 4a is not a version number. Sync 4 has landscape oriented screens with either 8 or 12 displays built into the dash. Sync 4a has portrait oriented screens up to 15.5 inch size.

Ah, brilliant -- thanks very much! That makes sense. So, is the version number that I have (4.0.23031) something that I should pay attention to?

Again, thanks!!

 

[Tomatoboy]

Fuel level, maybe?

Amusingly, doesn’t appear to correspond with fuel level either. lol

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Amusingly, doesn’t appear to correspond with fuel level either. lol

Flux capacitor charge status. It’s also an indirect reading of the Mr Fusion fuel level. Duh.

 

[pcaw2003]

Same here. 2023 AWD Premium Job 2, purchased in early March 2024.

Yep, my last update was March 8 which was 23-PU1113-UNX-DC "Refinements have been made to help improve connectivity". Then radio silence....

 

[Aubury]

Amusingly, doesn’t appear to correspond with fuel level either. lol

Does the value change at all? In a consistent way or is it a value that makes sense? I wonder if it's just pulling from arbitrary memory for the SoC value since it has to make something up.
seems like a good bug worth reporting to Apple or Ford. CarPlay is designed to be moved between cars so it's supposed to be able to handle the transition between running on an EV and an ICEV.

 

[Tomatoboy]

Does the value change at all? In a consistent way or is it a value that makes sense? I wonder if it's just pulling from arbitrary memory for the SoC value since it has to make something up.
seems like a good bug worth reporting to Apple or Ford. CarPlay is designed to be moved between cars so it's supposed to be able to handle the transition between running on an EV and an ICEV.

It does change, but not in any manner that makes sense. Sometimes it goes up a few percent during the driving session, sometimes goes down, it isn’t similar when the vehicle restarts (I’ve seen it be 80 something after a restart where it was previously 60 something), and more often than not I get a message that my battery information may not be accurate. What’s really weird is my wife’s phone, running the same hardware and an identical version of iOS, doesn‘t display battery information at all when moved to the F-150, correctly recognizing that it’s not in an EV anymore, whereas to get my phone to stop I have to turn off the setting manually.

 

[Dysan911]

I have really become super reliant on that Apple Maps SOC% in how it updates while you travel to a destination. I'm spoiled with that from my previous Tesla. Why Ford omits that from their active Nav is beyond me. You have to jump through a few places in the Ford nav to see Arrival SOC%.

Anyway there are times where my Apple maps will not be reflecting accurate SOC%. Like in the morning it might show my trip to work will arrive at 52%. and I know that's way off because I usually arrive around 77 or 78%. I've tried rebooting Sync, my phone, Stopping and starting carplay and I can't for the life of me to figure out a solid way to get that data to update. If anyone knows please share!.

 

[HuntingPudel]

"What’s great about our vehicles having the ability to receive software updates is that the work our team does to incorporate customer feedback into the latest model year vehicle can be shared with owners of previous model year vehicles. We created a system that’s more intuitive, making
apps and functions easier to find and access."

That is if you ever get an update whatsoever. I am running on a PowerUp version from Nov 2023. I called Ford and they have no idea how to help, or what to do, except rebooting my modem. They are useless, except for suggesting to go to the dealer and for wasting 30 mins of my time. So much for OTA updates. lol. I am really regretting letting go of my Model 3. Some panels might have been mildly misaligned, but I dont get to see those when I am operating the car. On the other hand, software is the soul of the car and Tesla has nailed the software to perfection. It is something they did't mediocrely produce and release, unlike Ford.

Post over on the FDRS thread. Someone there should be able to look up your OTA history and current versioning. That should help them figure out what needs to be done to get your car’s OTAs going again. ??

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