I don't know why the USB updates worry you so much. FDRS puts the files on the USB drive, you put the USB in your truck and start it and wait for it to tell you to turn the truck off. At that point, you walk away from the truck and leave the door open and come back 10 minutes later. Start the truck and wait for the message that says it is safe to remove the USB. Rescan with FDRS and move on to the next one. That's it. The modules that can be updated with USB are because it is faster than doing it without the USB. In the case of the APIM, it must be USB for more complicated reasons, but it's not that big a deal.

 

I just don’t want to brick an $80K truck that I then have to pay a clueless dealership $300/hour to fix because it falls outside of warranty…. Call me crazy, but my experience with the whole Ford sw update process has not been great…. I know you are the master at this, but it isn’t comfortable for all of us to run that risk…. Just trying to go in eyes wide open if I go that route…

 

lol I'm just a car salesman, brother. FDRS guides you step-by-step on what to do. Anyone that can read and follow basic directions can do it, but I digress. Either way, until BC 1.3 drops, you aren't missing out on anything with the 6.x.x. updates.

 

Ya, I know it is probably not overly complicated. I see the lists of modules with updates, but wonder if it makes a difference as to the order in which they are applied, or which do or don’t require using the USB drive, etc, etc.

I have been hoping Ford would get over the OTA-process hump and start getting quicker at the rollout of each update. Unfortunately that doesn’t seem to be the trajectory we are on at this point in time, and is why I am asking the newbie questions as I prep for potentially doing them myself.

When using FDRS, can the hood be open to allow the charger to be connected, or are all of the same OTA pre-conditions required to be met? I have the Clore, but have not had to use the power supply mode which would probably require the hood to be open. I assume the charger is still connected to the BMS terminal and not directly to the battery post…? It’s little details like this that make me hesitant to dive in and risk getting something half way updated then crapping the bed and leaving the truck operationally FUBAR…

 

Has there been any people reporting that their trucks were bricked due to failed updates? Other than failing to provide an external power source?

 

You always want to do GWM, APIM and TCU first in that order if any of them are showing.

Yes, you can leave the hood open. Updating OTA and FDRS are totally different animals. I connect the positive terminal on to the positive post on the battery, and the negative I ground it directly to the chassis of the truck. If you ever decide to do it, I'll send you my number and I'll guide you through it.

Very VERY rare. Most times that something bad happens with FDRS is because the update itself was bad. It happened a while ago with a BCM update that caused problems on trucks with the quad-headlights. This is why I never install updates as soon as they come out. I let others be the test mules.

Coincidentally, Ford just released another BCM update that is doing the same thing. To anyone with FDRS that sees this: Do NOT install the BCM update that just came out in FDRS.

 

After an update my truck received on 8/12/23, I no longer have cruise control, forward collision warning, or automatic headlights. Truck's been to the dealer three times now and they've replaced several modules. Ford engineers are now involved. Trying various things with no luck. Due back at the dealer for the fourth time on 12/18 to try yet another thing suggested by engineers to get it back up.

 

They have had a VERY hard time programming the new IPMA to your truck. Do you have a Mongoose/FDRS?

Edit: You have two OTA's pending in your queue now. 23-PU0813-DOR-UP2 and 6.5.0.

 

A couple of questions for the thread....

@rugedraw Are you aware of Ford releasing any OTA's (outside of 2.8.1) that give 2021 F150 Job 1's the ability for Pro Trailer Backup Assist to use the checkered stickers instead / in addition to yaw rate sensors? I had issues with 2.8.1 installing when it was originally sent out. I received the Cameras In-Motion portion of 2.8.1 when 4.3.4 was successfully installed but I never saw Ford re-release the Pro Trailer Backup Assist portion that was part of 2.8.1 via a later update.

And then another general question for the thread.... When one connects their truck to FDRS does the software only show updates that have not already been applied to your truck? If I were to connect my truck to FDRS today would I see the ability to update my Pro Trailer Backup Assist without having to re-update my Camera's In Motion? I get worried about processing an OTA update that is so old that it would revert my truck back in time.

Thanks guys!

 

Everything was fully up to date in MAY and I do remember getting a number of OTAs between then and JAN . I think I just did them manually because I was tired of waiting on the last few updates to get some new features ... full screen AA, maybe?