Sponsored

What does the update schedule actually do?

Maineiac12

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 14, 2024
Threads
35
Messages
513
Reaction score
641
Location
Iowa
Vehicles
2024 F-150 Lightning Flash 312A
My understanding was that the “update schedule” option was a time for the truck to install updates that require the vehicle to be unavailable for the duration.

Do I have that right?

I’m reading through other threads on the topic and some people seem to think that the truck also checks for updates during that time but I didn’t think that was the case.
Sponsored

 

TaxmanHog

Moderator
Moderator
First Name
Noel
Joined
Jan 19, 2022
Threads
205
Messages
14,972
Reaction score
16,501
Location
SE. Mass.
Vehicles
2022 Lightning Lariat-ER & 2024 HD Road Glide CVO-ST
Occupation
Retired
Do I have that right?
Yes!!!

The truck does a check during Push to Start {Key On}, if one is available it commences with downloading to a cache for install immediately if it's non-drive-inhibit, otherwise holds it for alloted time on designated schedule, if no schedule, it NAG's you that it's ready to install at your command.
 
OP
OP

Maineiac12

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 14, 2024
Threads
35
Messages
513
Reaction score
641
Location
Iowa
Vehicles
2024 F-150 Lightning Flash 312A
Yes!!!

The truck does a check during Push to Start {Key On}, if one is available it commences with downloading to a cache for install immediately if it's non-drive-inhibit, otherwise holds it for alloted time on designated schedule, if no schedule, it NAG's you that it's ready to install at your command.
So if I’m concerned with getting updates faster my best bet is to drive the truck more often because it checks for updates when started, not when sitting. Thanks! ?
 

TaxmanHog

Moderator
Moderator
First Name
Noel
Joined
Jan 19, 2022
Threads
205
Messages
14,972
Reaction score
16,501
Location
SE. Mass.
Vehicles
2022 Lightning Lariat-ER & 2024 HD Road Glide CVO-ST
Occupation
Retired
So if I’m concerned with getting updates faster my best bet is to drive the truck more often because it checks for updates when started, not when sitting. Thanks! ?
Or switch it on 24 times a day while it's sitting in the driveway, no need to wear out your tires.

I'm joking......... but seriously, it will come when The Ford decides you shall have an update.
 
OP
OP

Maineiac12

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 14, 2024
Threads
35
Messages
513
Reaction score
641
Location
Iowa
Vehicles
2024 F-150 Lightning Flash 312A
Or switch it on 24 times a day while it's sitting in the driveway, no need to wear out your tires.

I'm joking......... but seriously, it will come when The Ford decides you shall have an update.
That’s my biggest gripe with Ford. This update process makes no sense. I get staggered releases for NEW updates, but at this point there’s no reason why any lightning should be on 4.XX at this point.
 

Sponsored

rugedraw

Well-known member
First Name
Javier
Joined
Dec 14, 2021
Threads
4
Messages
1,656
Reaction score
2,006
Location
Miami
Vehicles
2021 Ford F150 Platinum FX4 EB/2023 Bronco Sport Badlands/1991 Mustang 5.0 coupe
Occupation
Auto Sales
So if I’m concerned with getting updates faster my best bet is to drive the truck more often because it checks for updates when started, not when sitting. Thanks! ?
No, that's not how it works. You can drive it until the wheels fall off and that will not do anything in terms of getting a update to be sent to you. When the server queues up a non-inhibit update, starting the vehicle is what allows the OTA trigger to activate and move to the next step. I did a write-up of how the OTA process work in the link below. Long read, but hopefully it will give you more clarity on how these things work.

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/thr...p-by-step-breakdown-of-the-ota-process.20875/
 
Last edited:

16cards

Well-known member
First Name
Brandon
Joined
Jul 8, 2023
Threads
3
Messages
99
Reaction score
185
Location
North Carolina
Vehicles
MY23 Lightning Lariat ER
That’s my biggest gripe with Ford. This update process makes no sense. I get staggered releases for NEW updates, but at this point there’s no reason why any lightning should be on 4.XX at this point.
I've begun to wonder if there is an accounting incentive to stagger vehicle software updates. Remember when Apple used to charge for macOS updates. Or those few years when iPod Touch iOS updates cost money. Or when FaceTime cost a nominal $0.99 on Snow Leopard?

Those were in response to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and Apple was striving to comply with new laws that required charging for software that made non-subscription based hardware gain new additional features. iPhones could get free updates, but Macs and iPods could not. When Apple released Wifi 802.11n compliant chips before the actual standard was released, it required a $0.99 "unlock" fee. Not because Apple was greedy, but because that was Apple's lawyer's interpretation of the law.

Since then, we don't see these types of practices trickle down to consumers. Accounting methods have improved and court interpretations of how Sarbanes-Oxley Act should be applied to software enabling new features on hardware have become a bit more loose.

Nevertheless, I wonder if, in addition to allowing vehicle software updates to roll out slowly to catch issues early, there is also an rollout schedule by volume in how Ford wants to account for the costs of developing and evolving the software.

My software development team keeps track down to 15 minute increments in order to capitalize labor associated with developing intangible assets. Perhaps there is an accounting trick taking place within Ford of when they recognize costs that puts pressure on how they release software updates.
 
OP
OP

Maineiac12

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 14, 2024
Threads
35
Messages
513
Reaction score
641
Location
Iowa
Vehicles
2024 F-150 Lightning Flash 312A
No, that's not how it works. You can drive it until the wheels fall off and that will not do anything in terms of terms of getting a update to be sent to you. When the server queues up a non-inhibit update, starting the vehicle is what allows the OTA trigger to activate and move to the next step. I did a write-up of how the OTA process work in the link below. Long read, but hopefully it will give you more clarity on how these things work.

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/thr...p-by-step-breakdown-of-the-ota-process.20875/
Thanks for the link. I didn’t explain myself perfectly but what I meant by driving more often to get updates was just starting the truck so it would trigger the communication with the mothership to see if I’m worthy of an update. I’ve read that these update triggers can expire too.
 

Grumpy2

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 23, 2022
Threads
20
Messages
952
Reaction score
997
Location
Central Oregon Coast
Vehicles
23 F150 Pro SR
Occupation
Retired Hvy Construction
The truck does a check during Push to Start {Key On}, if one is available it commences with downloading to a cache for install immediately if it's non-drive-inhibit, otherwise holds it for alloted time on designated schedule, if no schedule, it NAG's you that it's ready to install at your command.
Is it only during a "Push to Start" event? Will setting a departure time each day provide for those updates to happen without any special attention?
 

TaxmanHog

Moderator
Moderator
First Name
Noel
Joined
Jan 19, 2022
Threads
205
Messages
14,972
Reaction score
16,501
Location
SE. Mass.
Vehicles
2022 Lightning Lariat-ER & 2024 HD Road Glide CVO-ST
Occupation
Retired
Nevertheless, I wonder if, in addition to allowing vehicle software updates to roll out slowly to catch issues early, there is also an rollout schedule by volume in how Ford wants to account for the costs of developing and evolving the software.

My software development team keeps track down to 15 minute increments in order to capitalize labor associated with developing intangible assets. Perhaps there is an accounting trick taking place within Ford of when they recognize costs that puts pressure on how they release software updates.
They're minimizing the cost of negative impact of a flawed release being slammed on 100% of the driver population, warranty repair costs straight out of FoMoCo pockets to the dealers and soured good will on the customer base, it's a damned if you do / damned if you don't situation.

IMHO, they're metering the release to balance that risk.
 

Sponsored

TaxmanHog

Moderator
Moderator
First Name
Noel
Joined
Jan 19, 2022
Threads
205
Messages
14,972
Reaction score
16,501
Location
SE. Mass.
Vehicles
2022 Lightning Lariat-ER & 2024 HD Road Glide CVO-ST
Occupation
Retired
Is it only during a "Push to Start" event? Will setting a departure time each day provide for those updates to happen without any special attention?
I'm not sure about that, but even that would be limited to two events before you had to physically get in the truck in finger the button.
 

TaxmanHog

Moderator
Moderator
First Name
Noel
Joined
Jan 19, 2022
Threads
205
Messages
14,972
Reaction score
16,501
Location
SE. Mass.
Vehicles
2022 Lightning Lariat-ER & 2024 HD Road Glide CVO-ST
Occupation
Retired
I’ve read that these update triggers can expire too.
Correct some have a short life span ~5 days, other a couple of weeks, I think Javier covers that in one of his explainers.
 

rugedraw

Well-known member
First Name
Javier
Joined
Dec 14, 2021
Threads
4
Messages
1,656
Reaction score
2,006
Location
Miami
Vehicles
2021 Ford F150 Platinum FX4 EB/2023 Bronco Sport Badlands/1991 Mustang 5.0 coupe
Occupation
Auto Sales
Is it only during a "Push to Start" event? Will setting a departure time each day provide for those updates to happen without any special attention?
I'm not sure how departure times work since I don't have an EV. What I can tell you is that unless departure time fully turns on the vehicle to where the IPC is lit up and the touchscreen is fully booted, then that would be the equivalent of a remote start on the ICE vehicles and that would not work to allow the OTA to move to the next step.
 

16cards

Well-known member
First Name
Brandon
Joined
Jul 8, 2023
Threads
3
Messages
99
Reaction score
185
Location
North Carolina
Vehicles
MY23 Lightning Lariat ER
They're minimizing the cost of negative impact of a flawed release being slammed on 100% of the driver population, warranty repair costs straight out of FoMoCo pockets to the dealers and soured good will on the customer base, it's a damned if you do / damned if you don't situation.

IMHO, they're metering the release to balance that risk.
But that can't possibly take more than a year. I still don't have updates that were reported in January 2023.
 

TaxmanHog

Moderator
Moderator
First Name
Noel
Joined
Jan 19, 2022
Threads
205
Messages
14,972
Reaction score
16,501
Location
SE. Mass.
Vehicles
2022 Lightning Lariat-ER & 2024 HD Road Glide CVO-ST
Occupation
Retired
But that can't possibly take more than a year. I still don't have updates that were reported in January 2023.
Have you shared your VIN with one of our experts?
They can confirm if anything is pending for you.
Sponsored

 
 







Top