Several Mach-E Service Actions [Resumed] - Powertrain Software Issue

[AlphaGK]

Picked up my 2021 MME today, only a handwritten note "Bluecruis INOP" is written on it.
Nothing about 1PD. Ford did the 23B50 recall updates on Friday, BEFORE they saw the note from Ford
(I'm in the Eastern Time Zone)

I test drove it:
- I enabled 1PD, and it slowed me down when I removed my foot from the "gas pedal"

- I push the button, to activate BlueCruise, it flicked on and off after a few seconds.
- I pushed it a minute later, it activated and stayed on (I was on the Interstate at that point)

So, I don't exactly trust BlueCruise yet, but I'm hopeful ford will extend my subscription to overcome the uncertainty about whether it's safe to use it or not.

What's NOT working (as far as I tested it, which wasn't much) was the pre-Collision assist
I'll have to figure out a safe way to test that.

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[hartmms]

The Ford service department my GTPE '23 is at said my HVBJB would be replaced and done as soon as they get the part in stock in the next couple of days. So that implies my service of this is not impacted by this service hold advisory.

 

[avdonr]

The Ford service department my GTPE '23 is at said my HVBJB would be replaced and done as soon as they get the part in stock in the next couple of days. So that implies my service of this is not impacted by this service hold advisory.

They won't be able to complete the installation. It requires a PMI procedure on the BECM via FDRS to pair the module to your car. Those functions are disabled as far as I'm aware.

 

[hartmms]

They won't be able to complete the installation. It requires a PMI procedure on the BECM via FDRS to pair the module to your car. Those functions are disabled as far as I'm aware.

Well, according to @Mach-Lee, there is still a chance they can complete the HVBJB service.

It appears HVBJB failures (Service Vehicle Soon or Stop Safely Now message active) will be handled on a per-case basis. The service engineers will likely determine if your powertrain software level is recent enough to accept the new HVBJB as-is, and if so they can proceed with the HVBJB replacement while skipping the software update portion of the repair. Most vehicles will fall into this category unless you're way behind on OTAs. Vehicles with very outdated software might need special intervention to flash a non-affected version.

 

[avdonr]

Well, according to @Mach-Lee, there is still a chance they can complete the HVBJB service.

Yeah, they could technically manually program in the VIN and leave it like that but it’s not a proper “pairing” to the vehicle. Unless I’m mistaken, a PMI will still eventually need to be completed to have the new hardware show up as paired to the vehicle in the backend.

There is also the option of submitting a request to the service desk to unlock the powertrain programming for specific VINs. Dealerships may opt to do this too, as well as a manual flash of the old software.

In my mind I don’t see why a dealership would go through this extra effort when there is a hold order in effect. It also requires the techs to follow modified steps from engineering.

 

[Mach-Lee]

There is also the option of submitting a request to the service desk to unlock the powertrain programming for specific VINs.

This is what should happen with a failed HVBJB/Service Vehicle Soon situation.

 

[hartmms]

@Mach-Lee and @avdonr for the details. It's nice to have insiders who can help my technically detailed engineering brain understand what's going on with my car. Despite my attempts to talk low level details to indicate to the experts I have done my research, I typically never get them to spill the details to me. I get it. I'm in the 0.01% of folks who can understand these details in a meaningful manner. Also, no one wants a nosy customer poking into your business.

Maybe by the time the part shows up tomorrow and they do the work Friday, the official module fix for 1 pedal will be out. I'll hope for either of these 2 situations to occur so I can be back driving it by the weekend. I've been missing my beast since last Thursday.

 

[avdonr]

@Mach-Lee and @avdonr for the details. It's nice to have insiders who can help my technically detailed engineering brain understand what's going on with my car. Despite my attempts to talk low level details to indicate to the experts I have done my research, I typically never get them to spill the details to me. I get it. I'm in the 0.01% of folks who can understand these details in a meaningful manner. Also, no one wants a nosy customer poking into your business.

Maybe by the time the part shows up tomorrow and they do the work Friday, the official module fix for 1 pedal will be out. I'll hope for either of these 2 situations to occur so I can be back driving it by the weekend. I've been missing my beast since last Thursday.

No problem. Software engineer myself so I’m also the same way.

Here’s hoping for the fix soon. The timeline they gave was “early May”, so likely next week if not this week.

 

[Nikzee]

Yep. I’m traveling for work this week and got my GT in the shop on Monday for the recall to be completed by Friday, but I received a call mid-week and was told they had to immediately stop the service. I‘m returning the loaner when I’m back in town, so I asked if they would at least rotate my tires and do a checkup while they have my ride and they agreed to do it for free as a courtesy. Not to bad of a deal, but I’d like to get this recall over and done with. I’ve had my GT since early 2022 and work close to home so I rarely have to fast charger. This was the first time I’ve ever needed to send it to the shop.

 

[4sallypat]

Ford corporate software hiring needs to stop hiring ex-Boeing MCAS programmers.

 

[dcheng]

Not sure where to ask this question, but I think there is some overlap:

1) I had to take my car in to the dealer for some other items, but they told me that 23B50 needed to be applied. I mentioned that I didn't want to have it applied. Has there been a change to this directive?
2) I checked my car on Ford.com, and the Charge Level now shows as 0%. Does this mean that they tried doing an update and didn't connect the car to a power supply? I can still access the car through Fordpass. Or is this no longer the proper way to check the 12V battery?

 

[avdonr]

Not sure where to ask this question, but I think there is some overlap:

1) I had to take my car in to the dealer for some other items, but they told me that 23B50 needed to be applied. I mentioned that I didn't want to have it applied. Has there been a change to this directive?
2) I checked my car on Ford.com, and the Charge Level now shows as 0%. Does this mean that they tried doing an update and didn't connect the car to a power supply? I can still access the car through Fordpass. Or is this no longer the proper way to check the 12V battery?

The indicated charge level on the website is still for your 12V battery (misleading I know). So your 12V is either dead or your vehicle hasn’t reported its status in a while.

Doesn’t necessarily mean that they tried to do an update, could just be a loss of connection with the server for some time or a bug in the website.

If you DM me your VIN (or reply here if you’re comfortable), I can check the vehicle logs to see if they did an update.

 

[dcheng]

The indicated charge level on the website is still for your 12V battery (misleading I know). So your 12V is either dead or your vehicle hasn’t reported its status in a while.

Doesn’t necessarily mean that they tried to do an update, could just be a loss of connection with the server for some time or a bug in the website.

If you DM me your VIN (or reply here if you’re comfortable), I can check the vehicle logs to see if they did an update.

Thanks for the response. I'm not too worried yet, since I can still see the car in the app, but it was a little concerning.

The VIN is 3FMTK2R79NMA30813

 

[avdonr]

Thanks for the response. I'm not too worried yet, since I can still see the car in the app, but it was a little concerning.

The VIN is 3FMTK2R79NMA30813

So looks like they are just performing every module update on your vehicle. It would partially explain why you don’t have a reliable status available. They have been at it for the last 4 hours. Currently still going.

Congrats, at least you’ll have bluecruise 1.4 when you get it back!

 

[Mach-Lee]

Not sure where to ask this question, but I think there is some overlap:

1) I had to take my car in to the dealer for some other items, but they told me that 23B50 needed to be applied. I mentioned that I didn't want to have it applied. Has there been a change to this directive?
2) I checked my car on Ford.com, and the Charge Level now shows as 0%. Does this mean that they tried doing an update and didn't connect the car to a power supply? I can still access the car through Fordpass. Or is this no longer the proper way to check the 12V battery?

They hooked up the power supply wrong if it’s at 0%.

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