Dealer Excuse: Mache updates break things

[MrLoganRoss]

As I have been pushing the dealer to complete an ever growing number of updates available for my car, they always say “we only fix symptoms because updates can break things”

Has anyone experienced or does anyone recall anyone else reporting that properly done SW updates based on VIN number created an issue?

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[BMT1071]

As I have been pushing the dealer to complete an ever growing number of updates available for my car, they always say “we only fix symptoms because updates can break things”

Has anyone experienced or does anyone recall anyone else reporting that properly done SW updates based on VIN number created an issue?

Not widespread enough that they should be scared, but it does happen. If it actually happened at that dealer one time they may be gun shy.

 

[BigMach-E]

Unlikely. This is what you are going to run into at almost all dealerships. The reason why is because it’s not completely easy to run the updates, or at least it is time consuming. If not all of the proper conditions are met and maintained for the update via FDRS, they could brick your car, or have to recover a module, which is a huge deal in terms of time. Heck, I would be surprised if at most dealerships they have more than four techs with four rigs who also know how to. They have overhead, this takes up one of their service bays for a long time, which they could be using to do oil changes, or actual repairs. I’m just looking at it from both sides of the coin. The reason why they don’t is that it loses them revenue, and if it “ain’t broke” they won’t “fix it”.

 

[BigMach-E]

Also, here is another thing, if you were to pay them to do it: for the going hourly rate at a dealership service department for their time to update a few modules, you could buy your own update rig, save yourself the trouble of dealing with them, and do it yourself, and learn a valuable skill.

 

[MrLoganRoss]

Right. But this thread is less about having the dealer do it and more about whether updates are legitimately risky. It sounds like risk is low.

 

[Mach1E]

Right. But this thread is less about having the dealer do it and more about whether updates are legitimately risky. It sounds like risk is low.

The whole point of updates is to fix stuff.

The risk is extremely low.

It’s like someone arguing not to wear a seatbelt because the 1 rare time NOT wearing it might have saved a life.

You definitely want the dealer to update all available modules whenever you can.

FWIW, the tech at my local dealer said it’s SOP to just update every car every time they come in for service.

 

[azerik]

When they say they break things, it’s usually another module in the chain. This module update doesn’t play well with this other module unless that module is rewritten after which could cause some other to freak out etc.
I understand the dealers desire to not go near it. 1 update can lead to many more and the OTA updates that take a couple minutes in the car are laptop updates that could take hours. It’s stupid that they can’t launch the OTA update at a car via local wifi and cut all this crap out.

 

[stealthytolkien]

What is broken? Or are you just anxious because FDRS detected outdated modules?

 

[generaltso]

FWIW, the tech at my local dealer said it’s SOP to just update every car every time they come in for service.

So if you bring your car in for a tire rotation, they may spend 8 hours doing software updates? I sure hope nobody is stuck in the waiting room when that happens.

 

[danielcb]

Because of that stupid dealership behavior I had to live with a car that didn’t do L2 charging for about a year and had to really push back the dealers and demand they fixed it after taking the car for repairs a third time about the issue.

It turned out that there were three modules that needed to be updated in order to fix it and they just did that update now (while I’m waiting for parts for my HVBJB recall).

IMO, this problem only happens because Ford is incompetent of providing tools and procedures that have the proper safeguards against issues during module updates and from a legacy mindset, specially in Dealerships, that don’t known how to deal with computer on wheels like EVs are now a days.

In legacy cars there might be only a few modules and I concur that it would be the best to have this mindset of: if ain’t it broken, don’t mess with it.

This can’t do it anymore and both Ford and Dearleships need to wake up for the new reality.

 

[benk016]

This is the mentality that most dealers have.

They were pushed to not do updates on older vehicles unless specified as those vehicles never got updated once they left the factory unless there was a reported problem. Unfortunately because of this, they also will refuse to do them if you have an issue too just saying they can't reproduce the issue.

At the moment, Ford will not pay the dealers to do those updates unless they are fixing an issue under warranty.

 

[BMT1071]

This is the mentality that most dealers have.

They were pushed to not do updates on older vehicles unless specified as those vehicles never got updated once they left the factory unless there was a reported problem. Unfortunately because of this, they also will refuse to do them if you have an issue too just saying they can't reproduce the issue.

At the moment, Ford will not pay the dealers to do those updates unless they are fixing an issue under warranty.

Not saying it never happens, but I can't recall seeing any reports of dealers refusing to perform updates if the customer can demonstrate that their car is experiencing an issue that an update is designed to fix. ?‍

 

[benk016]

Not saying it never happens, but I can't recall seeing any reports of dealers refusing to perform updates if the customer can demonstrate that their car is experiencing an issue that an update is designed to fix. ?‍

I see it all the time on here, dealer just clears codes and gives the car back without doing anything.

 

[BMT1071]

I see it all the time on here, dealer just clears codes and gives the car back without doing anything.

A history code stored in a module is not "duplicating the concern". Virtually every diagnostic procedure begins with "Clear DTCs and operate the vehicle to see if the DTC passes".
There are without question way too many bad dealers out there. That said, the vast majority of customers do not understand the service business, nor the constraints of manufacturer warranty policies.

 

[RickMachE]

As I have been pushing the dealer to complete an ever growing number of updates available for my car, they always say “we only fix symptoms because updates can break things”

Has anyone experienced or does anyone recall anyone else reporting that properly done SW updates based on VIN number created an issue?

Right. But this thread is less about having the dealer do it and more about whether updates are legitimately risky. It sounds like risk is low.

The updates to put on BlueCruise in Spring of 2022 bricked many Mach-Es and Lightnings. And, as stated, dealers don't get paid to update vehicles.

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