Ford SYNC Version & Update

I finally got around to doing my Sync updates on both my 14 Expy Ltd. and 13 Escape SEL and things went fairly smoothly, but definitely required some patience. Through an online chat with Ford support I found that my Expy has Sync1 (and hadn't been updated since 2013, lol!) while my Escape has Sync2. One would think that the Sync versions would follow the model years in at least some way but apparently not with Ford... my 13 Escape has a newer version of Sync than 14 Expy. Wow.

Anyway... the Expy update for Sync w/ Nav was an upgrade all the way to ver. 4.X. I asked if I needed to do any intermediate upgrades and was told no so I proceeded to load up my USB drive. I'm using Windows, formatted the 16 gig 2.0 drive with FAT32, opened the downloaded zip file (which was 111 mb) in Windows Exploder, then dragged the files on to the drive for copying. I turned off my iPhone's Bluetooth (the instructions on the Ford site are all over the place depending on your version so I did this just in case it actually mattered for Sync1), fired up the Expy (the radio was already on) and plugged the drive into the port. Sync found the drive and thus the process began. It only took about 25 minutes or so and everything seems to be working... I did have to reconnect my iPhone to the unit, which was expected.

The Escape was different and took a LOT longer. While the process was basically the same as above, the downloaded zipped file was 562 mb. The process started normally with a reboot or two and then got to a section where the screen read "installing file... (X of 10)". It churned through the first 3 (of 10) pretty quickly but once it got to 4 it seemed that everything stopped. I waited for nearly an hour then finally called Ford tech support... turns out everything was fine I just needed to let it do its thing but patience isn't always my strong suit. It ended taking a couple of hours or so.

Hello, thank you very much for posting your experience, I have looked for the info, and downloaded the driver (SYNC system will be updated to SYNC v4.6), with file name "DR3T-14D544-AG.zip", size of 110,929,188 bytes . I have not done the installation yet, I always try to document myself well before performing processes of this type and I find your laborious task carried out very useful. My truck is the 2011 Expedition Eddie Bauer Limited, I am looking at the sunroof repair shop, after they do that I will ask them for the update and see what changes, or what is gained with the update. According to that I see if I update Sync or install a new Soundstream VRN-DD7HB radio dvd gps. Again thank you very much, given the little information, these post are appreciated.
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So I'm stuck trying to do this update. My problem is that my Sync system is so laggy that I cannot do anything at all. I have a 2013 with what appears to be SYNC I with MyFord Touch, although Ford's identification website conveniently has no screens that look like mine. I appear to have exactly what @dcsang has. Anyway, when I start the vehicle, I can use all of the hard buttons on each side of the screen, but the touch screen buttons are a different story. When I first start it up, I get to touch ONE touch screen button, it beeps, and then you have to wait......and wait....and wait, and finally you'll get the result of the screen button you touched. After that, you are done. The screen will not recognize any further touches at all. Hard buttons still work fine, but you're completely locked out of the touchscreen.

I assume a Master Reset might help, but it's impossible to do one. I can go to the Media screen, and my one-shot is to then touch the Settings screen button. 30 or so seconds later, I'll get the screen with the Master Reset option (along with the Install option to install the v4.6 that I have put on a jump drive), but of course, neither of these options is actually available, because my screen is now unresponsive. I also tried pulling fuses, namely 3, 28 and 39. That certainly stopped the screen from coming on, but when I replaced the fuses and started it again, nothing changed (it still knew exactly where it was playing in the song before pulling the fuses). Next up, I disconnected the battery, but that gives basically the same result--when I reconnect and start it up, nothing has changed--all of the radio stations are still programmed, it knows where it left off on the song, etc. Basically neither of those approaches seems to truly disconnect the system from power--must be some kind of aux battery or capacitor somewhere.

The result of all of this is that I simply cannot get to the two options that would likely provide a fix, namely Master Reset and Install to install my SYNC update. Hours of searching on the internet has been useless, because there are so many generations of SYNC, with so many different head units, in so many different models, that nothing I can find applies directly to my vehicle. Frustrating.

Anybody got any suggestions?

Sounds like a trip to the dealer is in your future. If there’s no way to operate the device, my guess is you’ll need a new APIM.

UPDATE: I discovered that, if I wait about 15 minutes, I am then able to hit another touch screen button. So, push, wait, push, wait... painful.

Anyway, finally got to the master reset option and ran it. It appeared to complete the process, except that it didn't actually reset anything. Then did the update to 4.6, which appeared to run successfully (got a "success" message and everything), but nothing changed-- clearly still the old software afterwards.

So, off to the dealer I went. Haven't heard anything from them yet, but it's been Thanksgiving week.

I find the Sync on my 2014 very useless and will probably go the aftermarket head unit route. I have a Kenwood from my old TBSS that i’ll likely swap. Hate that the stock headunit doesn’t “talk” to my iphone and the interface is pretty bland lol

SECOND UPDATE: Dealer has confirmed it needs a new APIM. Quoted $1,550 out the door for the parts and installation.

Is that a fair price, and thoughts on whether I should do that?

My dealer said the same thing only it was $1000. Luckily, mine just started working again last week after 2 months of silence. Sometimes it's good to procrrastinate

I think I've decided that $1550 is too much to spend to just go back to 2013 technology. I'm going to explore an aftermarket unit. It looks like the chassis is a standard double-DIN, so fitment will be easy, it's just integration with steering wheel controls, backup camera, and the headrest screens that I would have to worry about.

Anybody else replaced the entire head unit with aftermarket, and were you able to get all that stuff integrated?