Software updates

[Brian_B]

Hmm, maybe the battery is junk. Will drive it some and see what happens.

It's possible.

That said, all these AGM batteries are a bit finicky, and it doesn't help that the Bronco has the dynamic BMS charging system, so it doesn't always charge at a steady rate either. The BMS could be holding back from charging due to low/high temps or other reasons that aren't entirely clear.

I'm all for going out and driving your Bronco, and hopefully that works for you. But really the best thing for the battery is to get a $40 AGM-capable trickle charger / maintainer, since the BMS doesn't always do what you want it to do. And there's a boat load of stuff the Bronco does even when your vehicle is not running - like running cooling fans for the headlights, and all those clicks and whizzes the engine does after it's shut down, the computer that runs security listening for your keyfob and FordPass commands, and running the computer and modem to be able to download and install those updates.

It's programmed that way to try and give the battery a long life while still being able to do all these things that are considered modern conveniences. And I guess for the most part it does, but it doesn't always do what ~you~ want it to do, and it doesn't tell you what it's doing or why it's doing it.

All the computers and electric-driven things on these Broncos (well, almost all modern cars really) just place a lot more load on a battery than they have ever had before, and it needs way cleaner power than just the old starter motor and halogen headlights and a cigarette lighter required.

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[rugedraw]

I have no idea what they meant by secondary battery lol
But it looks like the issue was indeed because of the battery state of charge:

@Severum17 To add to what @Ducati1098 said: The issue is the state of the 12v battery. Last time the OTA trigger pinged your truck, the SoC was at 63% which is below threshold, capacity at 60 of 70 which is fine, and voltage at 11v which is also below the threshold. Your truck only has 1,800 miles in the 6 months you've owned it, so the battery being under the required specs is of no surprise. This particular update will require the vehicle to be locked and go into inhibit mode while it installs....it is not one of the ones that installs while the truck is on.

Personally, I am not a fan of the 1am updates schedule. All that does it let the vehicle sit for hours while the LVB loses juice waiting for the update schedule to kick in. I would recommend hooking up your 12v battery to a charger (if you have one) until the battery is fully charged. Then start the truck, check for updates and install it manually right then and there. It says 38 minutes inhibited, but it will really take maybe half that long to install.

If you don't have a battery charger, take it for a 20-30 minute drive and leave the a/c fan speed on at least 5 the entire time (this forces the battery charging system to charge the LVB regardless of the battery's state of charge) and then try to install it manually when you park after you've let the alternator charge the battery back up.

 

[NC_Oak]

We should all have chargers. I have a schumacher 10a / 3a that I use pretty frequently for various charging or tending (have too many vehicle thingies) and people are always borrowing it too.

 

[Sojourner]

My Bronco is on a NOCO Genius 2D soon as I get out of it and until I get back into it. Have never had an issue with updates, SOC, etc.

Annoying in one respect to have to act like this is an EV, but glad not to have update issues, wondering whether the AGM battery is having a bad day, etc.

In fact, I have this set up on all my vehicles.

 

[Brian_B]

Kind of a shame that the Bronco comes with a really small kinda cheap inverter, but doesn't come with a built-in maintainer.

My Bronco is on a NOCO Genius 2D soon as I get out of it and until I get back into it. Have never had an issue with updates, SOC, etc.

Annoying in one respect to have to act like this is an EV, but glad not to have update issues, wondering whether the AGM battery is having a bad day, etc.

In fact, I have this set up on all my vehicles.

I don’t do this every day, but usually when I'm doing an oil change or think I should have got an update and haven’t. I have had 1 deep sleep notice since i had it, and thats when i got the maintainer. My average commute to work is about 120 mi round trip, I very rarely go anywhere less than 30 miles on it. I don't leave ASS on to see that.

My wife’s Sport is about every 3 months - when she notices it isn’t ASSing any more. She does a lot of trips to the bus stop for the kid - just a couple of miles a day, and maybe one trip a week into town - about 30 miles.

 

[Severum17]

I have no idea what they meant by secondary battery lol
But it looks like the issue was indeed because of the battery state of charge:

Drove it around and now its able to update. Too much computer garbage on these new cars. Thanks for the help and info.
Nice bike you have, I have an old Norton Commando 750

 

[Severum17]

Kind of a shame that the Bronco comes with a really small kinda cheap inverter, but doesn't come with a built-in maintainer.


I don’t do this every day, but usually when I'm doing an oil change or think I should have got an update and haven’t. I have had 1 deep sleep notice since i had it, and thats when i got the maintainer. My average commute to work is about 120 mi round trip, I very rarely go anywhere less than 30 miles on it. I don't leave ASS on to see that.

My wife’s Sport is about every 3 months - when she notices it isn’t ASSing any more. She does a lot of trips to the bus stop for the kid - just a couple of miles a day, and maybe one trip a week into town - about 30 miles.

I really hate that ASS and thats a great name for it. I always turn it off.

 

[Severum17]

It's possible.

That said, all these AGM batteries are a bit finicky, and it doesn't help that the Bronco has the dynamic BMS charging system, so it doesn't always charge at a steady rate either. The BMS could be holding back from charging due to low/high temps or other reasons that aren't entirely clear.

I'm all for going out and driving your Bronco, and hopefully that works for you. But really the best thing for the battery is to get a $40 AGM-capable trickle charger / maintainer, since the BMS doesn't always do what you want it to do. And there's a boat load of stuff the Bronco does even when your vehicle is not running - like running cooling fans for the headlights, and all those clicks and whizzes the engine does after it's shut down, the computer that runs security listening for your keyfob and FordPass commands, and running the computer and modem to be able to download and install those updates.

It's programmed that way to try and give the battery a long life while still being able to do all these things that are considered modern conveniences. And I guess for the most part it does, but it doesn't always do what ~you~ want it to do, and it doesn't tell you what it's doing or why it's doing it.

All the computers and electric-driven things on these Broncos (well, almost all modern cars really) just place a lot more load on a battery than they have ever had before, and it needs way cleaner power than just the old starter motor and halogen headlights and a cigarette lighter required.

So, I have an older battery charger and also tenders that I use on my bike and Camaro because they sit for long periods. Does an AGM battery need a different charger or tender?

 

[Severum17]

@Severum17 To add to what @Ducati1098 said: The issue is the state of the 12v battery. Last time the OTA trigger pinged your truck, the SoC was at 63% which is below threshold, capacity at 60 of 70 which is fine, and voltage at 11v which is also below the threshold. Your truck only has 1,800 miles in the 6 months you've owned it, so the battery being under the required specs is of no surprise. This particular update will require the vehicle to be locked and go into inhibit mode while it installs....it is not one of the ones that installs while the truck is on.

Personally, I am not a fan of the 1am updates schedule. All that does it let the vehicle sit for hours while the LVB loses juice waiting for the update schedule to kick in. I would recommend hooking up your 12v battery to a charger (if you have one) until the battery is fully charged. Then start the truck, check for updates and install it manually right then and there. It says 38 minutes inhibited, but it will really take maybe half that long to install.

If you don't have a battery charger, take it for a 20-30 minute drive and leave the a/c fan speed on at least 5 the entire time (this forces the battery charging system to charge the LVB regardless of the battery's state of charge) and then try to install it manually when you park after you've let the alternator charge the battery back up.

Thats great info and pretty much what I figured to do. We are retired now and dont drive all that much anymore. Love this Bronco but not a fan of many of the computer functions it does. ASS is the worst. I shut it off. I got spoiled working for the GM dealer 45 years, and always had resources and techs for advice. On my own now. First new car in a very long time.

 

[Greg2060]

Whatever charger/tender you use needs to be compatible with an AGM battery. If it doesn't specifically say it is, I would be hesitant to use it.

 

[Brian_B]

So, I have an older battery charger and also tenders that I use on my bike and Camaro because they sit for long periods. Does an AGM battery need a different charger or tender?

If you are just charging up the battery for a few hours and taking it off right after you are done, it will probably be ok.

But if you want to leave it on overnight, or for days at a time - yeah, AGM runs at a slightly different voltage range than standard lead acid, and I would get one that has specific AGM support. These maintainers are meant to just plug into a battery and leave them for days/weeks/months at a time, targeted for infrequently used vehicles, to keep the batteries fresh and ready to go.

You don't need high amps - you aren't looking to jump start a dead battery - I've used a 1A trickle charger meant for ATVs and garden tractors before and it worked just fine - just takes longer. The one I have now for cars is 10A, and it can usually top off a battery in about an hour or two.

A lot of folks (including myself) have had good luck with the Noco brand, but they are absolutely not the only good brand out there.

 

[Go_UL_Cards]

I've had my 2024 since September and have yet to see an update or any update history. I have a trickle charge for the RV that I'll grab this weekend but don't know if it has a setting for ACM. Here's my vin if someone that has access can pull the info I would appreciate it. I would like to know if I have any updates out there. Modem is on and wifi connected to my house.
1FMDE8BH9RLA91328
thanks

 

[rugedraw]

I've had my 2024 since September and have yet to see an update or any update history. I have a trickle charge for the RV that I'll grab this weekend but don't know if it has a setting for ACM. Here's my vin if someone that has access can pull the info I would appreciate it. I would like to know if I have any updates out there. Modem is on and wifi connected to my house.
1FMDE8BH9RLA91328
thanks

Connectivity in your truck is fine. Your truck being a 2024 with a build date of 5 months ago was built with most of the software the previous model years needed via OTA. Your truck is only showing 4 pending module updates: ACM, APIM and the door modules.....that's it. You aren't getting updates because there isn't much to be updated on your truck. The OTA this thread is about is the one that updates the door modules. Were you to get this one, you would only have two modules left to be fully up to date.

 

[Go_UL_Cards]

Thanks for checking. Any way to force the updates?

 

[rugedraw]

Thanks for checking. Any way to force the updates?

No way to force an OTA to be sent to your vehicle by us mere mortals. The only way to install updates is with FDRS which would take a financial investment in the tools needed to do so. In your case, it is not worth spending the money.

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