Lightning Software Updates using FDRS

[Mike G]

Oh my gosh, I got in....

But I had to sign in with my Ford OEM credentials and not the Motorcraft ones. The 2FA prompt actually went though this time and FDRS showed updating software...I am now at user settings and I can see the Measurement Toolbox in back.

What the?

Welcome to the wonderful world of FDRS.

It shouldn't give you any further issues logging in now going forward.

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[Mike G]

You did install the VCI manager right?

 

[digitaldad]

@Mike G replying to your last posts.

1. Yes, I received an email for the license purchase. The same email happens to be the same for both my ford and the motorcraft (but they have different passwords). The one that went through was my password for my Ford account and not the motorcraft one.

2. Yes, installed VCI right after FDRS and before attempting to log in.

3. Called 800-rotunda and very helpful soul extended my license by one day to help me out.

 

[Mike G]

GWM, APIM, TCU, IPC first before updating anything else (all are USB-based updates).

Then PCM if it's in the list.

Cruise control related updates would be after powertrain, in this sequence if available; SCCM, CMR, IPMA/PSCM.

Everything else should be able to be done in whatever sequence you like.

 

[digitaldad]

Thanks buddy. I have quite a few that rugedraw had given me before the CSP front sensor dealer visit updated. Though they didn't do the BCM for me (bummer).

 

[Pioneer74]

For those of us who do these updates ourselves, I wanted to post this TSB here specifically as a kind of reference to use when trying to decide what modules to update in what order. It reinforces the sequence that's often been repeated here in this thread.

That TSB says it is recommended to use a 64gb flash drive, but a 32gb is said to be recommended by people here. Does it matter? I'm thinking of buying the equipment to do my own updates and want to get it right the first time.

 

[21st Century Truck]

That TSB says it is recommended to use a 64gb flash drive, but a 32gb is said to be recommended by people here. Does it matter? I'm thinking of buying the equipment to do my own updates and want to get it right the first time.

In mu usage, either size should work.

FYI a portable SSD with a USB C dongle is significantly faster than a USB thumb drive. About $40 or so at MicroCenter.

 

[Mike G]

That TSB says it is recommended to use a 64gb flash drive, but a 32gb is said to be recommended by people here. Does it matter? I'm thinking of buying the equipment to do my own updates and want to get it right the first time.

I really don't know why they say to use the 64GB since the largest APIM update I've ever seen was 15GB...but if that's what current guidance says ?‍

Sandisk changed their lineup sometime last year so the really fast USB drives (32 and 64GB) I bought years ago aren't available now. They're selling a drive in the same packaging but now it's 128GB and costs 31$ on Amazon.

I've taken a used 1TB NVMe drive I swapped for a larger size on a relative's computer, and put it into a USB enclosure and formatted it with a MBR partition and I've used that as well sometimes. Works great and NVMe drives are fast.

 

[Mike G]

I want to re-emphasize though...if you do go with the NVMe drive in an enclosure...Windows sees that as a 'fixed' drive, not a USB drive.

USB drives are MBR partitioned by default, but 'fixed' drives are GPT partitioned and the vehicle won't recognize a GPT partitioned drive.

So make sure if you do go the NVMe route that you change the partition to MBR so that it will be recognized by the vehicle.

 

[digitaldad]

I guess after the dealer did most of the heavy lifting with the front sensor CSP, these didn't take that long.

Only one USB update for me, GWM.

These three are the only left in the SW Updates list:

BCM - need dealer or OTA

RFA & ACM - upgraded but will not leave the list (I read to expect RFA but add ACM to my experience).

 

[Mike G]

Just saw this today. So I guess it's a bit more important to update to the latest than usual.

 

[Mike G]

And I guess now we know why the DDM and PDM updates were released.

 

[Kansan]

GWM would be the one that may kick off more.

I’m sitting in my truck with the USB inserted waiting for a pop-up or some indication that the GWM update is happening. I formatted to exFat and think I’ve followed the process exactly. It’s been about 15 minutes with no indication that it’s recognized the USB. The truck is on and I have 15v. So now I have questions:

- Is there something I can do to determine if it’s working?
- How long do I wait?
- What’s my next step?
Thanks for any guidance you can give.

 

[rugedraw]

I’m sitting in my truck with the USB inserted waiting for a pop-up or some indication that the GWM update is happening. I formatted to exFat and think I’ve followed the process exactly. It’s been about 15 minutes with no indication that it’s recognized the USB. The truck is on and I have 15v. So now I have questions:

- Is there something I can do to determine if it’s working?
- How long do I wait?
- What’s my next step?
Thanks for any guidance you can give.

When you inserted the USB, did you see "USB indexing" on the top left and then a message on your touchscreen saying "Do not remove USB blah blah blah"?

 

[Kansan]

When you inserted the USB, did you see "USB indexing" on the top left and then a message on your touchscreen saying "Do not remove USB blah blah blah"?

No - no indications at all. Is it possible that I missed it? Or does it stay on the screen?

Also, I just logged into Ford Service Info and see that the same GWM update I'm attempting has started OTA on 2/27/25. It shows Update Status VIL Generation.

When I look at the Software Updates screen on the truck's screen, it shows the GWM Update with status Not Completed.

Would the truck inhibit USB updates while it has an OTA update in progress?

Now it's been about an hour.

Thanks.

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