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You Can Reboot Your Computer; Why Not Your Car?

Forbes -- Owners of late-model Ford and Lincoln brand vehicles recently received something unusual in the mail: a thumb-sized USB flash drive.

Ford Motor mailed more than 250,000 of the tiny data storage devices to its customers in response to widespread criticism of the company’s MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch dashboard entertainment system. Each memory stick contained a much-needed software update to fix bugs and make the system faster and more user-friendly. Owners simply plug the device into their car’s USB port and follow the prompts on the dashboard screen (or have a dealer do it).

Of course, there are a couple of hitches: To install the new software, the car needs to be running for about an hour. And you can’t use the radio. (Gee, that’s not inconvenient.)

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Submitted Apr 16, 2012 By: eromitlab

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EXTREMESNOW Champion Author Medford Posts:8,910 Points:1,821,540 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:42:20 AM Ignore EXTREMESNOW Report Abuse Said it before, the more a car has to offer the more that can go wrong.
mattymattmatt All-Star Author Scranton Posts:889 Points:362,590 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:42:04 AM Ignore mattymattmatt Report Abuse If it's an improvement then hey, why not? There are always updates to software, so why not car software, too? Kinda sucks that the car has to be for an hour though.
Don20 Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:9,662 Points:2,617,680 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:41:59 AM Ignore Don20 Report Abuse Of course, there are a couple of hitches: To install the new software, the car needs to be running for about an hour. And you can’t use the radio. (Gee, that’s not inconvenient.) Every new thing has a down side, now I remember why I haven't purchased a new Ford....
stevencr Champion Author Ohio Posts:5,641 Points:1,431,840 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:41:39 AM Ignore stevencr Report Abuse Neat, except for the running for an hour part.
tutaw Champion Author Kentucky Posts:3,585 Points:840,570 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:41:17 AM Ignore tutaw Report Abuse ok
Jizme Champion Author Lincoln Posts:9,871 Points:2,903,525 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:40:53 AM Ignore Jizme Report Abuse I'm glad I don't have a Ford.
gasman50 Champion Author Portland Posts:8,834 Points:2,407,535 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:40:13 AM Ignore gasman50 Report Abuse Go Ford...........
MarAzul Champion Author London Posts:3,766 Points:677,535 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:40:07 AM Ignore MarAzul Report Abuse OK.
twinfanMN Champion Author Minnesota Posts:1,619 Points:454,250 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:39:05 AM Ignore twinfanMN Report Abuse The jury may still be out on whether all this technology in cars is a good thing. Do you bring it to a auto mechanic or a computer repair place when it breaks down?
Hugo40 Champion Author Kentucky Posts:7,619 Points:1,615,580 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:38:20 AM Ignore Hugo40 Report Abuse What a surprise! More vehicles with problems.
Goody2317 All-Star Author Wilmington Posts:680 Points:617,755 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:37:10 AM Ignore Goody2317 Report Abuse Letting the dealer install this will cost you a day at the dealership. My Ford Escape needs the same thing and the dealership told us we would have to leave it in order to have the download installed. This is in case there is a problem with the download and they have to reboot everything.
BCM1 Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:1,859 Points:782,020 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:37:09 AM Ignore BCM1 Report Abuse There is no magic. How we long for the old days when you could service your own car.
GAS1251 Champion Author Texas Posts:5,138 Points:1,624,280 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:36:49 AM Ignore GAS1251 Report Abuse Maybe the instructions tell you if you have any problems with this get an 8yr old to help.
repeater1 Champion Author Topeka Posts:8,293 Points:2,363,870 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:36:22 AM Ignore repeater1 Report Abuse More parts to go bad....
mh44s Champion Author Madison Posts:4,379 Points:1,688,015 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:35:03 AM Ignore mh44s Report Abuse Hackers will have a new target now.
METEOR49 Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,162 Points:452,525 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:34:29 AM Ignore METEOR49 Report Abuse it won't be long before it will be too complicated to change your own oil.then they wiii have driven you into the dealerships where they want you, and your wallet.
darraghON Sophomore Author Ontario Posts:173 Points:240,785 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:32:41 AM Ignore darraghON Report Abuse neat now how do we reboot gas prices!!!!
gvan Champion Author Chicago Posts:21,512 Points:2,834,300 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:32:32 AM Ignore gvan Report Abuse "Owners simply plug the device into their car’s USB port and follow the prompts on the dashboard screen (or have a dealer do it)." I would let the dealer do it.
TXHUNTER1 Champion Author Austin Posts:2,711 Points:294,610 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:32:21 AM Ignore TXHUNTER1 Report Abuse I think I like my old truck.
doncNJ Champion Author New Jersey Posts:7,511 Points:1,503,145 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:31:51 AM Ignore doncNJ Report Abuse What's next, rebooting your brain.
FocusGuy Champion Author Seattle Posts:7,047 Points:1,410,805 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:31:37 AM Ignore FocusGuy Report Abuse FORD rocks.
NotmeuQc Champion Author Montreal Posts:5,646 Points:1,131,325 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:31:32 AM Ignore NotmeuQc Report Abuse Good for Ford. What will they think of next?
SirLancelot1 Champion Author Kentucky Posts:1,298 Points:159,350 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:31:24 AM Ignore SirLancelot1 Report Abuse sounds shadey
techque Champion Author St. Louis Posts:8,645 Points:2,418,430 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:30:22 AM Ignore techque Report Abuse without all that cr8p, my car doesn't need to be rebooted.
generok Champion Author Atlanta Posts:1,123 Points:408,520 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:30:14 AM Ignore generok Report Abuse I had to install a patch to my tires once.
sydb7 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:3,550 Points:1,917,990 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:30:12 AM Ignore sydb7 Report Abuse ok
MightyDude Champion Author Minnesota Posts:10,340 Points:2,646,795 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:30:02 AM Ignore MightyDude Report Abuse what do you think it does every time you shut the engine off? this is a software upgrade (bug fix) so...
ds531 Champion Author Texas Posts:2,866 Points:590,780 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:29:53 AM Ignore ds531 Report Abuse MMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmm
daquanabe Champion Author Houston Posts:1,813 Points:372,925 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:28:12 AM Ignore daquanabe Report Abuse Now if I could only download an ap to fix my oil leak.
deerchaser All-Star Author Lincoln Posts:792 Points:1,252,960 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:28:03 AM Ignore deerchaser Report Abuse cntl/alt/delete
slgas Champion Author Houston Posts:6,020 Points:1,560,590 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:26:29 AM Ignore slgas Report Abuse This is really neat...leading edge. I bet soon this feature might eliminate some physical trips to the dealer to correct certain types of recall notices.
BigZ1959 Champion Author Denver Posts:3,748 Points:1,461,275 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:26:27 AM Ignore BigZ1959 Report Abuse crash
kst8er Champion Author St. Louis Posts:2,876 Points:1,044,595 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:26:19 AM Ignore kst8er Report Abuse might as well, sometimes i think that's all the dealer does
jorobins538 Champion Author Chicago Posts:4,727 Points:637,345 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:25:59 AM Ignore jorobins538 Report Abuse ok
blueBMW480 Champion Author Nashville Posts:818,391 Points:838,790 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:25:59 AM Ignore blueBMW480 Report Abuse Ok
billk44077 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:3,167 Points:629,605 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:25:14 AM Ignore billk44077 Report Abuse Dealers want to upsell service
Michaels2011 Champion Author Florida Posts:2,141 Points:106,005 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:25:12 AM Ignore Michaels2011 Report Abuse Wait till a hacker gets into all of these on board computers at once. Gee won't that be fun.
ModelWarships Champion Author Missouri Posts:5,784 Points:1,230,135 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:25:02 AM Ignore ModelWarships Report Abuse just wait until your car starts getting a virus and your display is spamming ads at you.
fatfed Champion Author San Antonio Posts:2,855 Points:474,465 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:24:55 AM Ignore fatfed Report Abuse Auto indestry need the money for repairs
snorkels Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:7,856 Points:1,590,535 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:24:28 AM Ignore snorkels Report Abuse Road trip!
bjdorval Champion Author Quebec Posts:2,249 Points:1,132,980 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:23:46 AM Ignore bjdorval Report Abuse Does Ford include a voucher to pay for the gas required to run the car for the hour?
GaSrt8 Veteran Author Georgia Posts:331 Points:397,580 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:23:03 AM Ignore GaSrt8 Report Abuse I agree with Miklamb. I would be happy if they could just email the software update.
Joeski1 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:9,984 Points:1,739,885 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:22:19 AM Ignore Joeski1 Report Abuse I'd like to reboot a Ford Mustang GT that gets 12 MPG to get 49 MPG. is that possible? otherwise.. I'd give the mustang the boot.
VomVom Champion Author Calgary Posts:3,857 Points:1,627,080 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:22:19 AM Ignore VomVom Report Abuse The issues with MyFord Touch and Sync have caused Ford to drop quite a number of spots in the JD Power initial quality survey. What happens to doing it right the first time?
30mpg80 Champion Author Lexington Posts:10,007 Points:1,484,930 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:21:57 AM Ignore 30mpg80 Report Abuse Need to do that, but does not have to be so difficult
TKAP Champion Author North Carolina Posts:1,415 Points:410,235 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:21:50 AM Ignore TKAP Report Abuse I don't have this problem-don't have Ford or Lincoln
mustangdaver Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,581 Points:756,925 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:21:30 AM Ignore mustangdaver Report Abuse Glad to see Ford is continiously working to improve their product and maintain it for their customer base.
2gjh Champion Author North Dakota Posts:3,174 Points:2,447,600 Joined:Nov 2003	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:20:48 AM Ignore 2gjh Report Abuse Fix Or Repair Daily
redhornet Champion Author Minnesota Posts:1,744 Points:886,075 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:20:09 AM Ignore redhornet Report Abuse You can.
rhail2 Champion Author Kentucky Posts:1,452 Points:287,485 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:19:38 AM Ignore rhail2 Report Abuse you can
PrinceLH Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,682 Points:536,095 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:19:38 AM Ignore PrinceLH Report Abuse Why not?
blitzntj Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:4,664 Points:941,155 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:19:27 AM Ignore blitzntj Report Abuse Whatever