Lightning Software Updates using FDRS

[TaxmanHog]

That wasn't the only issue, actually. Since I was using the 'Legacy' type login based on the 20 character license code that was still effective till early next year....that was supposed to have been converted by somebody at the Rotunda helpdesk...and I was never emailed and told about that either. But that got done yesterday.

So I sent the email this morning saying I would no longer check VINs on vehicles I was not in the presence of physically...and my account has been turned back on.

I won't be able to check your VINs for you anymore. And that's the real sadness here.

That's very disappointing!!!

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[02Reaper]

Word of caution for those using IDS/FDRS:

On the 20th of October my FDRS stopped working and I got an email saying my account had been suspended. I posted about that earlier.

But later after I complied with the instructions to completely remove FDRS, VCI manager, and delete the Ford Motor Company folder in the Program Files directory and then reinstall everything I still couldn't log in and kept getting a failure that looked like this:

(no, that's not my actual login info)...
So if you see the "Too many attempts..." error, you've probably been blocked is the point of this message.

I submitted yet another response telling the help desk that I had complied with their instructions on the 21st and nothing...zero, zip, nada......crickets.

So yesterday morning early I created a ticket to the Bosch helpdesk instead asking if someone there could help get my account re-enabled and shortly after that I got an email with a short message that said:

We show that you a performing remote diagnostics which is not allowed. You must always be present with the vehicle. Please respond stating you will no longer perform remote diagnostics, and we can re-enable your account.

So...looking up VINs to see what software updates are available is considered 'remote diagnostics'.

Just so you know.

That wasn't the only issue, actually. Since I was using the 'Legacy' type login based on the 20 character license code that was still effective till early next year....that was supposed to have been converted by somebody at the Rotunda helpdesk...and I was never emailed and told about that either. But that got done yesterday.

So I sent the email this morning saying I would no longer check VINs on vehicles I was not in the presence of physically...and my account has been turned back on.

I won't be able to check your VINs for you anymore. And that's the real sadness here.

At least you have it back working hopefully. I wonder why looking up someone's vin is such an issue here with Ford?

 

[PJnc284]

I would tell them you're not doing diagnostics, you're just telling them how far they are behind on updates because Ford sucks.

 

[Mike G]

I would tell them you're not doing diagnostics, you're just telling them how far they are behind on updates because Ford sucks.

Doesn't matter what I tell them. And they just put you on 'ignore' anytime they want to. When I sent the email saying I'd agreed not to look up VINs for vehicles I was not in the presence of....you'd think that they'd respond and tell me my account was now enabled...right?

Nope. No email response at all.....so after about an hour I just tried the login for IDS and that let me in...so I tried it on FDRS and it also let me in. They still...as I write this, haven't told me my account has been re-enabled.

As for whether viewing a list of available module updates for a specific VIN...which is devoid of any personally identifiable info about the owner or location of the vehicle constitutes "remote diagnostics'......It's their rules, and they can change them and reinterpret them any way they want to.

You either go along with it or you don't get to use the software.

It's analogous to having to sign an NDA...without actually signing an NDA.

 

[rugedraw]

Like I said in the gen14 forum: Going forward, anyone who buys a 2-day license will have to volunteer to check for people before it expires (or gets banned) once they do everything they need to do with their license. The VIN checking party is officially over.

 

[21st Century Truck]

Word of caution for those using IDS/FDRS:

On the 20th of October my FDRS stopped working and I got an email saying my account had been suspended. I posted about that earlier.

But later after I complied with the instructions to completely remove FDRS, VCI manager, and delete the Ford Motor Company folder in the Program Files directory and then reinstall everything I still couldn't log in and kept getting a failure that looked like this:

(no, that's not my actual login info)...
So if you see the "Too many attempts..." error, you've probably been blocked is the point of this message.

I submitted yet another response telling the help desk that I had complied with their instructions on the 21st and nothing...zero, zip, nada......crickets.

So yesterday morning early I created a ticket to the Bosch helpdesk instead asking if someone there could help get my account re-enabled and shortly after that I got an email with a short message that said:

We show that you a performing remote diagnostics which is not allowed. You must always be present with the vehicle. Please respond stating you will no longer perform remote diagnostics, and we can re-enable your account.

So...looking up VINs to see what software updates are available is considered 'remote diagnostics'.

Just so you know.

That wasn't the only issue, actually. Since I was using the 'Legacy' type login based on the 20 character license code that was still effective till early next year....that was supposed to have been converted by somebody at the Rotunda helpdesk...and I was never emailed and told about that either. But that got done yesterday.

So I sent the email this morning saying I would no longer check VINs on vehicles I was not in the presence of physically...and my account has been turned back on.

I won't be able to check your VINs for you anymore. And that's the real sadness here.

Thanks a MILLION for all the checks You've done for me since 2022, Mike G!

 

[PJnc284]

People will have to splurge and get a PTS subscription. $26 or whatever for 3 days isn't too bad especially if you just want to check and aren't planning to update any modules. Sure they'll bump that one up too before long if they haven't already though.

 

[mr.Magoo]

At least you have it back working hopefully. I wonder why looking up someone's vin is such an issue here with Ford?

Most likely because the same people then run to their dealer and demands their software to be updated and then those dealers complain back to Ford that they're being inundated with people asking for updates that they (the dealers) are not being paid to perform.

That or something similar have at least happened often enough to where VIN lookups have become a problem for Ford and they're addressing it.

 

[mr.Magoo]

Like I said in the gen14 forum: Going forward, anyone who buys a 2-day license will have to volunteer to check for people before it expires (or gets banned) once they do everything they need to do with their license. The VIN checking party is officially over.

Question is though, do they ban the account or the license ? If it's the license, then sure that would be a feasible way forward.

If its the account I suppose people can start registering throwaway accounts.

But sadly, the next step would be to only allow business accounts or similar restrictions as what they did to the BCM updates in which case we're all screwed.

 

[RLXXI]

It's not surprising Ford is doing this, all they have to do is look in this thread alone and see how many unqualified people are monkeying around with the software. I wonder if it's because they are being invited into this thread by users asking @F0rd d0t c0m to join in by tagging them.

Imagine all the other Ford forums with the same thing on public display. This should fall under RTR (right to repair) however only 6 states currently have laws on the books for this matter.

That's my best edumukated guess.

 

[PJnc284]

They're not dumb. Sure they're well aware of those using FDRS and FORScan and have been for some time.

 

[RLXXI]

They're not dumb. Sure they're well aware of those using FDRS and FORScan and have been for some time.

Exactly.

 

[Mike G]

Question is though, do they ban the account or the license ? If it's the license, then sure that would be a feasible way forward.

If its the account I suppose people can start registering throwaway accounts.

But sadly, the next step would be to only allow business accounts or similar restrictions as what they did to the BCM updates in which case we're all screwed.

Your login account is your license now. They've gotten rid of the 20 character license code altogether. So if your login gets blocked....you're blocked.

 

[Mike G]

That's very disappointing!!!

 

[ytwytw]

Mike has not been able to get his account back yet. It's a sh*t-show.

Wednesday morning and still no response from pts
Considering a chargeback now, it's damn 183CAD dollar

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