The Complete DIY Guide to Updating Your Mach-E with FDRS

[Mike G]

Make sure you reformat the USB drive before attempting to run the update.

64GB (recommended)
ExFat
Default allocation size

...with a very short name on the drive (like "Sync" or "FDRS")

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[wildcatjw97]

I’m using a 256gb flash drive. Just reformatted and made the name fdrs. It worked with the GEM update so I think the drive is fine. But trying again.

 

[wildcatjw97]

Will a USB A drive work? I’m using my only available USB C drive at the moment.

 

[Mike G]

I’m using a 256gb flash drive. Just reformatted and made the name fdrs. It worked with the GEM update so I think the drive is fine. But trying again.

Okay...sounds like that should be fine...especially if it already worked to do the GWM. Not sure what's going on...I have had some APIM updates take a few times to get installed though, so I know what you're going through.

 

[Mike G]

Will a USB A drive work? I’m using my only available USB C drive at the moment.

A C doesn't matter...as long as it's got a MBR partition (not GPT) and meets the other criteria.

 

[Mike G]

But like I said...if you already did the GWM update with that same drive, and you reformatted before trying the APIM it should've worked.

 

[wildcatjw97]

Thanks for the support. Just scared that I’m going to brick my son’s car, so it definitely is helpful.

I’m trying again. I sure wish the car gave you some type of info on its progress. How long do you suggest I let it run before realizing I have a problem?

 

[wildcatjw97]

It worked! Took less than thirty minutes to say it was complete. So it must have copied most of the files the first time.

No more updates show! Whew! I’ll have my son drive it for a couple weeks and then check again to see if anything else shows up.

Appreciate everyone’s contributions to this forum. I couldn’t do this without you!

 

[Mike G]

It worked! Took less than thirty minutes to say it was complete. So it must have copied most of the files the first time.

No more updates show! Whew! I’ll have my son drive it for a couple weeks and then check again to see if anything else shows up.

Appreciate everyone’s contributions to this forum. I couldn’t do this without you!

You can always post to the VIN lookup thread and either I or somebody else will check your available software before you spend the money on a 2-day....

Glad it all worked out!

 

[rugedraw]

Tried that but on restart it still shows as updating. The Stnc version still shows as the same as before (23352 revision 1122).

What should I do now?

When you restart it, is this the message you're seeing? Is it stuck on a loop here?

 

[Orb7]

I’d like some clarification regarding the role of the OBD II cable during the installation process. My understanding is that, in USB-based installations, the cable is primarily responsible for module detection specific to my car and authorizing the installation.

Once my laptop receives the necessary information, it simply downloads the update to the USB drive. I then plug the USB into my car to complete the installation.

Given this process, wouldn’t a basic OBD II cable be sufficient for this task? Or is there still a need to use the J2534 Interface?
Thanks!

 

[rugedraw]

I’d like some clarification regarding the role of the OBD II cable during the installation process. My understanding is that, in USB-based installations, the cable is primarily responsible for module detection specific to my car and authorizing the installation.

Once my laptop receives the necessary information, it simply downloads the update to the USB drive. I then plug the USB into my car to complete the installation.

Given this process, wouldn’t a basic OBD II cable be sufficient for this task? Or is there still a need to use the J2534 Interface?
Thanks!

That only pertains to the 4 modules that are updateable with the USB. All the other ones are flashed with CAN.

I'm not a software engineer and lack the terminology to explain why a J2534 is necessary, but it absolutely is. Also, not just any J2534 will suffice. I have countless stories I can tell you of people using something other than an adapter officially approved by Ford to update modules and bricking a module and having to buy a mongoose to recover it.

My advice and many others will agree: Use a Mongoose or better and save yourself the headaches.

 

[Orb7]

That only pertains to the 4 modules that are updateable with the USB. All the other ones are flashed with CAN.

I'm not a software engineer and lack the terminology to explain why a J2534 is necessary, but it absolutely is. Also, not just any J2534 will suffice. I have countless stories I can tell you of people using something other than an adapter officially approved by Ford to update modules and bricking a module and having to buy a mongoose to recover it.

My advice and many others will agree: Use a Mongoose or better and save yourself the headaches.

I understand your point and have no intention of breaking anything, just wondering if anyone has experience with installing only the USB-based modules, as I am mainly interested in APIM updates (the others are less relevant to me).

 

[Snakebitten]

I understand your point and have no intention of breaking anything, just wondering if anyone has experience with installing only the USB-based modules, as I am mainly interested in APIM updates (the others are less relevant to me).

You still have to use an OBD interface that FDRS can get a successful scan from. But yeah, there are cheaper than Mongoose adapters that might get you a clean scan if FDRS recognizes it.

 

[Mike G]

I’d like some clarification regarding the role of the OBD II cable during the installation process. My understanding is that, in USB-based installations, the cable is primarily responsible for module detection specific to my car and authorizing the installation.

Once my laptop receives the necessary information, it simply downloads the update to the USB drive. I then plug the USB into my car to complete the installation.

Given this process, wouldn’t a basic OBD II cable be sufficient for this task? Or is there still a need to use the J2534 Interface?
Thanks!

My understanding is that it needs to be a J2534 compliant adapter to even be used with FDRS...so I'm not sure you could even get FDRS to work with something like an OBDLink MX device..(not that I've tried).

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