Looking for info from our resident Ford techs.

[tock13]

My bronco has been at the dealer since last Wednesday. 300 miles on it. Had leaking axle seals and they replaced the gateway module.

They can’t get the computer programmed, it keeps failing. I guess they are working with Ford engineering or something. Dealer says they have never programmed a 2023 because they are so new. Hmmm….Fords ramping up for 2024s so I wouldn’t think a 2023 is ‘new tech’ any longer.

Anyway…are these gateway modules really that hard to program and get working in a Bronco? Seems like it should be far easier than a 4 day job….maybe they are still in dialup?

Guess I’m looking for something positive out of this mess.

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[Ducati1098]

Usually there isn’t a day that goes by when something programming related works correctly.
It’s something that dealerships/technicians have been dealing with for a while now.
Almost every time I try to program something it either can’t download the necessary files, fails to download the files or completely screws something up after the programming. All you can do is hang in there and wait for Ford to pull their heads out of their asses and fix the issue.

 

[Bmadda]

There's all kinds of FDRS routines that are just plain broken. It's part of life. Nothing "hard" or "easy" about it, it either works or it doesn't. "Working with Ford engineering" basically consists of reporting the problem, then putting the car outside and doing something else. What was wrong w/your gateway module? Will it still run w/the old one? I would go that route, or buy another vehicle. Stop back in a few months maybe FDRS will be fixed (they do fix it eventually, but they don't ever tell anyone they did, so you just gotta check periodically)

 

[tock13]

Usually there isn’t a day that goes by when something programming related works correctly.
It’s something that dealerships/technicians have been dealing with for a while now.
Almost every time I try to program something it either can’t download the necessary files, fails to download the files or completely screws something up after the programming. All you can do is hang in there and wait for Ford to pull their heads out of their asses and fix the issue.

That must be frustrating to have to deal with! I appreciate your response though, makes me feel better it’s not my dealer being confused!!

 

[tock13]

There's all kinds of FDRS routines that are just plain broken. It's part of life. Nothing "hard" or "easy" about it, it either works or it doesn't. "Working with Ford engineering" basically consists of reporting the problem, then putting the car outside and doing something else. What was wrong w/your gateway module? Will it still run w/the old one? I would go that route, or buy another vehicle. Stop back in a few months maybe FDRS will be fixed (they do fix it eventually, but they don't ever tell anyone they did, so you just gotta check periodically)

They said the old one was constantly losing connection with other systems. I got like 6 red boxes pop up on the dash one right after the other so I just turned it off. One was for hill assist and one for collision avoidance ( or whatever ford calls it). I didn’t see the others because I just shut it off. I started it up and it drove fine to the dealer. They looked at my Bronco and saw a dozen or so other system errors and kept it to troubleshoot. Guess they decided I needed a new one.

I live 6 miles from the dealer and I’m stuck with a DSL connection so I truly hope they have a better internet connection than that!!!!

 

[tock13]

Just talked to the service manager and they have not gotten any help from Ford engineering for the last 3 days. The Bronco did not update overnight again. I’m told it’s radio silence from Ford and until the tech can get Fords help they are stuck.

Is there and way for me to contact ford to try to get someone there to give two shits about this? Wasn’t sure if it’s just the same cord char I used to track my order when it was being built.

 

[Buck N Bronc]

It's not just Ford. I work on European cars for a living and software downloads are always a gamble. Had a Land Rover today that wouldn't reload the ECM until the interface software was updated, but go to update the interface software and it shows no update available. Gotta love it.

 

[tock13]

It's not just Ford. I work on European cars for a living and software downloads are always a gamble. Had a Land Rover today that wouldn't reload the ECM until the interface software was updated, but go to update the interface software and it shows no update available. Gotta love it.

I’ll tell you, until joining this forum and reading through the posts I had no idea being an auto tech was so full of this kind of crap. I have nothing but total respect for what you all go through in a day working on these computers on wheels.

 

[mpeugeot]

Shockingly today FDRS performed flawlessly... It's almost never that easy, I was able to fully program 3 steering racks in about 45 mins.

As I dig into this further, I believe that I will be able to use FORSCAN for module programming soon... I need to purchase a used gateway module and a used BCM soon, because I believe that will be enough for bench programming modules. First I have to actually wait for my retirement pay to show up (I am not spending any discretionary money until I am sure that I have a steady income).

As others note, the FDRS servers can be hit or miss. Right now my ABS module is partially borked thanks to FDRS (but it still functions enough not to throw codes, but won't reprogram).

 

[mpeugeot]

My bronco has been at the dealer since last Wednesday. 300 miles on it. Had leaking axle seals and they replaced the gateway module.

They can’t get the computer programmed, it keeps failing. I guess they are working with Ford engineering or something. Dealer says they have never programmed a 2023 because they are so new. Hmmm….Fords ramping up for 2024s so I wouldn’t think a 2023 is ‘new tech’ any longer.

Anyway…are these gateway modules really that hard to program and get working in a Bronco? Seems like it should be far easier than a 4 day job….maybe they are still in dialup?

Guess I’m looking for something positive out of this mess.

Tell them that you want any replaced parts... LOL then you can sell me the gateway module and I can attempt to revive it!

 

[tock13]

Tell them that you want any replaced parts... LOL then you can sell me the gateway module and I can attempt to revive it!

I will absolutely ask for the old module and see what they say.

Not sure if there is some core value to them or since it’s warranty coverage maybe they will refuse to won’t part with it. If I can get it and you could use it to figure out something thst could help anyone else in the same boat as me, I’ll send it your way for sure!

 

[Bmadda]

I will absolutely ask for the old module and see what they say.

Not sure if there is some core value to them or since it’s warranty coverage maybe they will refuse to won’t part with it. If I can get it and you could use it to figure out something thst could help anyone else in the same boat as me, I’ll send it your way for sure!

If it's warranty the gotta turn it in to the parts dept. If Ford asks for it, then they ship it back to Ford. You would have to ask thier parts mgr, which is a little like asking a ball peen hammer, as far as expecting someone to get back to you (my money would be on the hammer if you asked both at the same time)

 

[mpeugeot]

If it's warranty the gotta turn it in to the parts dept. If Ford asks for it, then they ship it back to Ford. You would have to ask thier parts mgr, which is a little like asking a ball peen hammer, as far as expecting someone to get back to you (my money would be on the hammer if you asked both at the same time)

The answer is no if you don't ask. The worst they can say is no.

 

[Art Bell]

Usually there isn’t a day that goes by when something programming related works correctly.
It’s something that dealerships/technicians have been dealing with for a while now.
Almost every time I try to program something it either can’t download the necessary files, fails to download the files or completely screws something up after the programming. All you can do is hang in there and wait for Ford to pull their heads out of their asses and fix the issue.

There's all kinds of FDRS routines that are just plain broken. It's part of life. Nothing "hard" or "easy" about it, it either works or it doesn't. "Working with Ford engineering" basically consists of reporting the problem, then putting the car outside and doing something else. What was wrong w/your gateway module? Will it still run w/the old one? I would go that route, or buy another vehicle. Stop back in a few months maybe FDRS will be fixed (they do fix it eventually, but they don't ever tell anyone they did, so you just gotta check periodically)

This is why I disabled ALL Updates w our Broncos
& disabled Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
& never connected to any phone, and never will

Yes it either works or it doesn't.
If it doesn't then prob sell it or go lemon law. Cause Ford is pretty lousy at fixing any problems w software / programming

 

[Bmadda]

This is why I disabled ALL Updates w our Broncos
& disabled Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
& never connected to any phone, and never will

Yes it either works or it doesn't.
If it doesn't then prob sell it or go lemon law. Cause Ford is pretty lousy at fixing any problems w software / programming

OTA updates are a completely separate deal from FDRS programming, but I hear ya! We live in an age where a completely functional vehicle can be turned into a lawn ornament via the internet...hard to trust this tech!

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