Stop Safely Now (HVBJB): Mach-E Owners Biggest Fear - Facts and Info Thread

[dtbaker61]

Well, it looks like OTA 2.4.2/2.7.2 included a SOBDMC update, so it's possible that a lot of cars already have the fix. From the recall info, it sounds like the SOBDMC update is what's supposed to prevent the issue from happening by monitoring contactor temperature (and reducing power if necessary). The BECM update sounds like it's more about detecting damage that has already occurred by monitoring resistance.

The software might be ready, but is there a Contactor temp sensor ? and/or resistance Sensor ?

I don't think there is in the original HVBJB; I don't recall seeing any such temp sensor data in the CarScanner data fields available anyway... which is probably why Ford started with the 'dumb' 5-second cap.

Once we get beefier HVBJB hardware, hopefully including added sensors, the software updates can use that data for 'smarter' limiting only when actually needed..... we hope.

 

[FLmac]

If the software update is already being rolled out at the factory, what is the hold up of rolling it out to the cars sitting on dealer lots? I’m dumb when it comes to this stuff, but why can’t they just send it out to everyone at once?

 

[WyldStallyn]

Apologies if this has been discussed. I searched the active threads but did not find anything.

The software version numbers referenced in the recall notice do not match GT and GTPE versions. Should we expect another recall notice for the GT's with a hardware and software fix or do the GT's not meet the risk level required to trigger a formal recall? The date of the recent software updates suggest the software fix is already available and published to FDRS for GT's on 5/24.

GTPE:
BECM LK98-14C197-CF (Updated from -CE on 5/24 using FDRS)
SOBDMC LK98-14G069-CL (Updated from -CK on 5/24 using FDRS)

 

[Xweb]

I found this similar looking recall/service update for the 2019 Chevy Bolt. I wonder how similar these issues are?

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/MC-10171419-9999.pdf

 

[Mach-Lee]

If the software update is already being rolled out at the factory, what is the hold up of rolling it out to the cars sitting on dealer lots? I’m dumb when it comes to this stuff, but why can’t they just send it out to everyone at once?

That would be too simple. Once software is ready for release Ford’s current OTA strategy requires 1-3 months of testing, manager approvals, and staged rollouts until the “release to all button” is allowed to be pressed. With any sign of trouble, the process is halted and starts over again. Hopefully this can be reduced to a reasonable time in the future. Tesla is currently able to release software in a matter of days, Rivian can in about a week.

 

[MadLaserist]

That would be too simple. Once software is ready for release Ford’s current OTA strategy requires 1-3 months of testing, manager approvals, and staged rollouts until the “release to all button” is allowed to be pressed. With any sign of trouble, the process is halted and starts over again. Hopefully this can be reduced to 1-2 days in the future. Tesla is currently able to release software in a matter of days, Rivian can in about a week.

Is it too positive to think that all this time that they have been silent, they have been diligently working on the issue to come to this resolution. To meet the customer satisfaction level we deserve. After all they already have the new part and software numbers listed. Maybe, the " Release to All" button is just around the corner already....
Maybe??

 

[Mach-Lee]

Apologies if this has been discussed. I searched the active threads but did not find anything.

The software version numbers referenced in the recall notice do not match GT and GTPE versions. Should we expect another recall notice for the GT's with a hardware and software fix or do the GT's not meet the risk level required to trigger a formal recall? The date of the recent software updates suggest the software fix is already available and published to FDRS for GT's on 5/24.

GTPE:
BECM LK98-14C197-CF (Updated from -CE on 5/24 using FDRS)
SOBDMC LK98-14G069-CL (Updated from -CK on 5/24 using FDRS)

Those aren’t the updated versions mentioned at the end of the NHTSA document, the fixed software isn’t available yet.

 

[MadLaserist]

Those aren’t the updated versions mentioned at the end of the NHTSA document, the fixed software isn’t available yet.

Ahh

 

[Mach-Lee]

Is it too positive to think that all this time that they have been silent, they have been diligently working on the issue to come to this resolution. To meet the customer satisfaction level we deserve. After all they already have the new part and software numbers listed. Maybe, the " Release to All" button is just around the corner already....
Maybe??

They have been working on the issue since April but I know how slow things move. End of July is the expected notification/release date in the NHTSA doc unless there are further delays. So hopefully we will have the update applied by the end of August.

 

[cbcasas]

Well, it looks like OTA 2.4.2/2.7.2 included a SOBDMC update, so it's possible that a lot of cars already have the fix. From the recall info, it sounds like the SOBDMC update is what's supposed to prevent the issue from happening by monitoring contactor temperature (and reducing power if necessary). The BECM update sounds like it's more about detecting damage that has already occurred by monitoring resistance.

Can confirm I'm running SOBDMC software version -BBG already

 

[FLmac]

Those aren’t the updated versions mentioned at the end of the NHTSA document, the fixed software isn’t available yet.

But wouldn’t it technically be available since it’s rolling out on cars from the factory right now? Sorry if these are dumb questions.

 

[ElectrifyCLT]

But wouldn’t it technically be available since it’s rolling out on cars from the factory right now? Sorry if these are dumb questions.

Just because it's being loaded at the factory doesn't mean it's pushed live to the tooling (FDRS) that a dealer would use to update a car away from the factory. OTAs pushed wirelessly to the car are a totally different ballgame than even that.

 

[Mach-Lee]

But wouldn’t it technically be available since it’s rolling out on cars from the factory right now? Sorry if these are dumb questions.

From past experience the latest software always goes into factory vehicles first, but then takes another month or two to be made available for dealers in FDRS and OTA updates. If they tried to release it OTA today it would probably brick a lot of cars because of dependencies and mismatched software versions on different cars. They have to program the update to deal with all that and the OTA process is likely way more complicated than the changes made in the software.

 

[DevSecOps]

According to Jim Farley, Ford CEO -

No one on this forum ever had failure. It was just DEMO units. You know, those demo GTs that never existed based on the timeline.

This is getting comically stupid.

 

[Neil4Real]

According to Jim Farley, Ford CEO -

No one on this forum ever had failure. It was just DEMO units. You know, those demo GTs that never existed based on the timeline.

This is getting comically stupid.

So they’re doubling down publicly that it is just a software update. What a shame, based on the FAQ even, you think it needs a new part but they’re playing the “variance in manufacturing” card it seems like, as if there is no way to ensure they can get a mass produced part that doesn’t have this issue. The only solution is to limit max power and lower the peak charging rate. Wow.