Forscan and FDRS recommendations.

[N1naz]

Total newbie at this so…
I'm thinking of getting into using Forscan and need some advice.
Is an FDRS account required?
Recommendations on the hardware and cabling, if any, needed? Laptop requirements, I have an iCar Pro 2s from Vgate Bluetooth scanner will this work, or is the requirement to be hard wired to the ODB2 port?

Any other advice? (and “DON’T do it you’ll brick your car” is not an option?) Can’t be any harder than burning firmware into other e-hardware I have done countless or times in the past, or is it.


George

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[Pioneer74]

FDRS and FORSCAN are two different things. What are your goals? To update the cars modules or tweak features that already are on the car?

 

[Blue highway]

There are two significant expenses and one minor expense to use FDRS

• Power Supply (not a battery charger) capable of >40A continuous
• Mongoose cable

the minor expense is a short term FDRS license (~50 bucks)

It's not any harder than flashing most firmware, but there are lots of modules in the car to do.

 

[RickMachE]

FORScan is software created by a person in Russia that has nothing to do with Ford.

FDRS is Ford Diagnostic and Repair System, which is a product used by Ford dealers (and others buying a subscription).

The two have no interrelationship, nothing to do with each other.

I use an OBDLink BT adapter just fine. You need a Windows PC for FORScan. Always backup all modules, and your Ford As Built, before starting. I document my changes in writing.

There are multiple threads on FORScan.

 

[N1naz]

FDRS and FORSCAN are two different things. What are your goals? To update the cars modules or tweak features that already are on the car?

Mostly update, but some tweaking.

 

[JJR]

Total newbie at this so…
I'm thinking of getting into using Forscan and need some advice.
Is an FDRS account required?
Recommendations on the hardware and cabling, if any, needed? Laptop requirements, I have an iCar Pro 2s from Vgate Bluetooth scanner will this work, or is the requirement to be hard wired to the ODB2 port?

Any other advice? (and “DON’T do it you’ll brick your car” is not an option?) Can’t be any harder than burning firmware into other e-hardware I have done countless or times in the past, or is it.


George

I have used Forscan via the OBD2 port to turn off the “car on double beep” and to enable the automatic rear lift gate since the module was installed but not activated.
I have also used Forscan to debug error messages on my F150 which turned out to be a faulty rear wheel sensor that I was able to replace.

 

[rugedraw]

Any other advice? (and “DON’T do it you’ll brick your car” is not an option?) Can’t be any harder than burning firmware into other e-hardware I have done countless or times in the past, or is it.

Love the attitude! Based on your other post that you're interested in mostly updating and some tweaking, the Mongoose is the right tool for what you want to accomplish. You'll need a 40amp minimum power supply for the larger updates that have to be CAN'd in, but you do not show any pending updates for the few modules that take a long time to update. Your car seems to be heavily favored by the OTA process (found your VIN in the VIN lookup thread). You are not very far behind at all. You got 10.1.0 so you're on the latest Sync software available, you got the BC 1.3 OTA, so imo, the updates you show pending are not going to give you any ground-breaking feature that you can't live without.

As much as an advocate as a I am for the Mongoose, I see very little you will gain from it at this point. Having a Mongoose is a great tool to have in your toolbox for many reasons, but based on the current software state of your vehicle, I would not have high expectations that fully updating your car is going to greatly improve your ownership experience. At least not right away.

 

[N1naz]

Love the attitude! Based on your other post that you're interested in mostly updating and some tweaking, the Mongoose is the right tool for what you want to accomplish. You'll need a 40amp minimum power supply for the larger updates that have to be CAN'd in, but you do not show any pending updates for the few modules that take a long time to update. Your car seems to be heavily favored by the OTA process (found your VIN in the VIN lookup thread). You are not very far behind at all. You got 10.1.0 so you're on the latest Sync software available, you got the BC 1.3 OTA, so imo, the updates you show pending are not going to give you any ground-breaking feature that you can't live without.

As much as an advocate as a I am for the Mongoose, I see very little you will gain from it at this point. Having a Mongoose is a great tool to have in your toolbox for many reasons, but based on the current software state of your vehicle, I would not have high expectations that fully updating your car is going to greatly improve your ownership experience. At least not right away.

Well, what you say is mostly true however, I have the "continue to charge after reaching set level" issue", also the "drops out of unbridled while driving issue". So, these are a bit of a pain.

No further updates since the 15th yes, I know some haven’t had any for months if not years. Waiting for the OTA to take care of these is like hit or miss, these should all come out constantly not what seem like on a whim, and no idea of when!

 

[MoonRiver]

I’m interested in one too but where is the OBD port to pug into?

 

[markboris]

I’m interested in one too but where is the OBD port to pug into?

Under the dash on the drivers side right above the lever to open the Frunk.

 

[MoonRiver]

Sounds like just like other ICE cars.

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