SYNC 3 - upgrade costs

[rubyinla]

Thanks...  When the package left Incheon, a major battle site during the Korean War, it was 6pm west coast time last night.  Flight times are between 10 and 12 hours, depending on the winds, so it should be here, unless they stopped in Anchorage along the way.  Anchorage is a major airport for cargo.   https://tinyurl.com/yybmpecf

 

Do you do the stock market?  That takes up a lot of time and makes some bucks ?

 

[rubyinla]

Weeee....  It's out for delivery this morning!!  I was right, they stopped in Anchorage.  Only took 4:19 hours from Incheon to LA.  Crazy with the time zone changes.

 

https://www.alaskapublic.org/2020/11/17/new-cargo-project-led-by-former-top-permanent-fund-official-is-latest-proposal-for-booming-anchorage-airport/

Edited January 15, 2021 by rubyinla

[rubyinla]

HaHaHa....  "Out for delivery" at 9:30 am....  The package showed up around 7pm !!  Guess the Christmas rush isn't over ?

I stand corrected!!  The package was left on my door step at 4:49pm.  Stealth delivery.  Never heard the door bell.

 

After reviewing the surveillance tape the package showed up at 5:49pm.  Guess they are still working on Standard time ?

 

Edited January 18, 2021 by rubyinla
time corrected

[rubyinla]

Has FoMoCo on the processor.  Tried posting the API photo but I ran out of the 10MB's.

 

At least I have a 3 day weekend to see if it all works!  Instructions are included about how to use the EL527 programing gizzmo if features are missing.  Just remember, if you are in Chicago, and it's noon, it's 3am in china !    https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html?iso=20210115T180000&p1=64&p2=509

 

 

 

[rubyinla]

Alright folks, the adventure continues.  Everything is here.  It all fits. 

Slight problem....  The Sync 2 brackets are not compatible with the Sync 3.  Who'da thought?

 

Message sent off to china with photos.  Wonder if anybody will be in tomorrow because of the weekend?  It's 3am Saturday there now.

In the mean time I'll connect the electrics back up, but not reinstall all the trim and such.

At this point it's still better than spending $1900.  Besides, I'm retired and have some free time ?

Edited January 17, 2021 by rubyinla

[rubyinla]

Response back from the seller.  Not bad considering we're 14 hours and 6000 miles away.

 

"Dear friend, sorry for any inconnvenience caused. The bracket need to be cut for MKZ model. The bracket needs to be cut off with a cutting machine as shown in the photo. Please separate the apim and the screen from the mounting bracket and combine them again after installation. Hope the problem can be solved as soon as possible. Waiting for your good news. Best wishes."

 

They sent a couple of photo's showing how to modify the bracket.  Looking through youtube and the bracket for the MKZ has got to be the most difficult of all of them.  Most just have two screws on the edge of the touch screen. 

‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‌

[rubyinla]

Found a vendor on eBay who has the correct adapters, including the screws and shipping for $25.  While I could "adapt" the current adapters I'd prefer not to.take apart the current screen / apim.

 

So this is one of those things that all the videos and all the talking heads never mentioned out there in internet-land.  With this information in hand before ordering the Sync 3 I could have also have sourced the adapters.  It would have been a 2 hour project.  I do remember reading a post, after the fact, from some fellow who used a Dremel tool and "adapted" his.  When he got to the double sided tape part I moved on. ?

Still, it's a whole lot cheaper than getting them already attached for $1900.  And we all have more time than money these days.

 

After the parts show up I'll post a couple of things that were different during the rip-and-tear of my 2016 that differed from 4Dtech's video.

[rubyinla]

It Breaths !!!  The bracket showed up 2 days early and away we went.

 

The 4Tech video helped a lot with the disassembly and reassembly.  Biggest pains were the Rubics Cubes of electrical contacts.  4Tech made them all look soooo easy.  Not.  Hardest one was the USB cable for for the new USB ports.  4D had you reassemble the cup holder assembly and then do the USB module.  Thankfully I didn't because it left me with better access to the stupid clip holding the plug in.My first hour with it went pretty good.  The Android Play does require a USB cable for mine.  The navigation maps work.  The Parallel parking works !!  The only thing that I have found is when changing the radio volume the big circle that pops up on the screen does not show the volume level.  That I can deal with.  Over the next few days I'll see if anything else needs to be updated while I get use to a whole new menu system.

The date on my APIM was April 12, 2019.  Most of the used ones I have seen on line are circa 2015 and 2016 build dates.

 

My bracket came from this guy.  He answered the questions I had and had the brackets in the mail first thing after the holiday.: https://www.ebay.com/i/143834493425?rt=nc&_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20160908110712%26meid%3D8e5f73ece25644359897f38dad9f1262%26pid%3D100677%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D30%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D303845109139%26itm%3D143834493425%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2386202%26algv%3DDefaultOrganic%26brand%3DUnbranded

Got the kit from these guys.  https://www.ebay.com/str/techmichigan?_bkw=sync+3    Pretty sure they all get their components from the same place.  I went with them because of their time on eBay and feedback numbers.  They even got my VIN correct in the APIM.  Email responses were pretty good, considering the time zones as mentioned in an earlier post.

 

All in all it wasn't that hard.  Most of the time used was being overly cautious and those damn electrical connectors  Fear of breaking tabs and hearing loud snaps and bangs ?   I used 2 small blankets I had from Harbor Freight and they worked great.  A magnetic dish for the screws was great.  Always nice to know that you didn't lose any and at the end of the job you don't have any left over ?

 

[kramf411]

nice work ???

[bbf2530]

Hi ruby. Yes, very nice work. And thanks for the information and photos. They certainly will help others who wish to perform the same SYNC upgrade in the future.

 

Keep us updated with any other things you find along the way.

 

Good luck.

 

EDIT - Oooops...I should have thought to "Pin" your post, as drolds1 just did. ?

Edited January 25, 2021 by bbf2530

[drolds1]

Yes, nice work and thanks for posting.  It's now pinned.

[17MKZ3.0TT]

Excellent, thanks for the pix and descriptions. I'm sure you'll make several people very happy when they consider doing it ?

[rubyinla]

One of the feature I wanted to use was Android Auto.  I down loaded iHeart radio and it works fine.

But, iHeart sent me an email with their features.  At the bottom of the page I clicked on Privacy... omg....

 

"Identifiers: We may collect your name, e-mail address, telephone number, mobile phone number, mailing address, date of birth, social media account handles or usernames, and iHeartMedia account usernames and passwords. We may collect your Social Security Number if you are the winner of a promotion or contest. You may create a personal iHeartRadio Code by enabling this feature through the settings in the Apps; the iHeartRadio Code is connected to a unique identifier that ties back to your iHeartRadio account and the information associated with your account. You may also submit photos and videos. "

 

And it continues.  Read the fine print folks.

https://www.iheart.com/content/privacy-and-cookie-notice/?sc=email&pname=national&cid=programming&keyid=Day%202%20Radio%20Local%203&campid=Email#optout

 

[rubyinla]

See this fellow's post on how he modified his Sync 2 mount to work with the Sync 3

 

[rubyinla]

Dang, iHeart radio is incredibly intrusive.  It's all over my phone and emails.  I've uninstalled it.  May put it back on later, but for now it's gone.

 

Meanwhile, I hooked up with china last night and I'm thinking that their "mechanic" was very experienced at this.  The only things that were missing in my case were the Seat Heat / Cooling and the Audio Volume control circle.  Parallel parking, navigation, etc. seem to be working as advertised.  Once connected it only took 15 minutes or so.

 

What I'd do in hindsight?

Suggestions and Observations:

1.  All of the web sites or programs listed on their "instructions" were out of date. 

2.  Give your vendor your personal or throw away email address and get theirs.  Going through eBay is a pain in the butt.  Some trial and error I went through was, I'm sure, because i had the VPN running.  Because of that they tried a couple of different remote control programs to work  Lot of wasted time and lots of chinese writing on their links.

3.  Turn off your VPN when working with their programs.  We were sending emails back and forth saying they couldn't connect with me and offering other remote control programs.  Wasted a bunch of time because of the VPN blocking the programs for whatever reason.  We finally hooked up with "Sunlogin"  At least they didn't give up and kept trying until we succeeded.

4.  Arrange an appointed time to hook up.  We are, roughly, 12 hours out of sync (pardon the pun... ha ) with them.  Check my time zone link above and tell them what times you are available.  Make sure they know your time zone and UTC time.

5.  You'll need your laptop connected to the internet (dohhh) and the dongle included connected to your OBD11 port and your laptop.  After you are connected to china, turn on the car.

6.  They download ForeScan, in chinese, to your laptop and opened a note pad window to communicate with you.  Kind of fascinating watching the mouse highlight your comment and an answer, in good english, returned.  You know they have put it through their translator.   Still, worked fine.

7.  My guys were very polite but a little late.  He forgot to tell the "mechanic" what time we were connecting...  people are people, the world over.  I put a small heater in my car while I waited ? 

 

Out for a drive this afternoon and everything seems to be working as advertised.  It's faster than Sync 2 but will take a little while to get used to the menus.  First impression is there is more button pushing and voice commands are better.

 

I'm sure there's more, but that's all that comes to mind at the moment.  YMMV

 

[kelshaer]

Hi @rubyinla,

I have MKZ 2016

I installed the upgrade kit that I bought from ebay Simply Michigan seller and I have the heat/cool seats controls showing and functioning on the screen but the seats are not heating or cooling.

Do your heating/cooling seats controls work properly?

Edited February 2, 2021 by kelshaer

[rubyinla]

Quote

I installed the upgrade kit that I bought from ebay Simply Michigan seller and I have the heat/cool seats controls showing and functioning on the screen but the seats are not heating or cooling.

Do your heating/cooling seats controls work properly? 

 

Yes sir.  The vendor I used hooked me up with their "mechanic".   See my comments about my experience connecting with them.

They downloaded ForeScan onto my machine, in chinese, and fixed my seats and radio volume conrol.   Once connected it took, maybe, 10 minutes.

I'd suggest emailing your vendor about them fixing it and any other missing features.

 

[kelshaer]

I already have the controls on the screen and I can switch them on and off. however the seats don't heat or vent accordingly.

[SUGAR 3.0TT AWD]

On 9/30/2020 at 3:55 PM, jm98 said:

Greetings,

 

Looking to upgrade my 14 Mkzh SYNC 2 to newer 17+ SYNC 3.  

 

I seen SYNC 3 kit prices between $670 up to $1300.  Any experiences with cheaper one from Chyna?   Some kits now sell for $900 range not sure if it's going to go down any further.  My current budget is $500 and under due to age of my vehicle.  Please post here any deals here.

Go here https://www.4dtech.com/  pinch in the make and model it's a 1700 dollar cost for one that's programmed to my car. The Lincoln dealer wants 3600 bucks I have a 2016 with navigation and 

[Slee_Stack]

I suggest becoming comfortable with Forscan before doing an upgrade.  You will need either a wired or bluetooth OBD dongle.  I use an OBDLink MX BT dongle.  It works fine on Windows and Android.

 

Used APIMs are relatively cheap and features can be 'added back or deleted' if you get an APIM that came out of a differently equipped vehicle.

 

I went from a Sync 2 Nav APIM to a 2018 MKZ Sync 3.0 non-Nav unit.  On a side note, the brackets that came with it fit perfectly to my old style FCIM.

 

After changing the APIM, I had to enable cooled seats, the heated steering wheel, and ambient lighting on the new unit.   This was all done with Forscan.  If you backed up all your 'as-built' settings before changing the APIM (and you should back-up!), then you just need to let Forscan 're-scan' your car and then you can change the new APIM settings fairly easily.

 

I also updated it to Sync 3.3 via the Cyanlabs tool and a 16gb USB drive.  I stopped short of going to Sync 3.4 because I prefer the brown color theme of 3.3 vs the gray one of 3.4.

 

I don't use an Apple so I even still have my original USB hub installed. AA works fine although supposedly the old port only charges at 500ma.  Newer ones charge at 1 amp.

 

The new Sync will chastise me occasionally about not have a proper apple-chip equipped USB hub.   Its mildly annoying, but dismissable.  At some point I'll get a proper hub in.  Dang PITA apple products!  Even when you don't use one, they still get you...

 

As to costs...if you just do the APIM/Screen swap (no FCIM)...and are OK with learning the (free) Forscan app...you can do it all-in for as low as $250.  A wired OBD adapter is <$50 and a new GPS cable ($10) is all you really need.  Obviously you have to find a functional APIM...preferably from an MKZ...but there are a lot out there from many junkyards...on ebay...etc.

 

 

Edited February 15, 2021 by Slee_Stack

[blumagic]

Rubyinla, I want to thank you for the info that you posted about upgrading your system to the sync 3, and the pictures are a great help as well, I ordered those same brackets from ebay myself, and my new system should be here tomorrow, what you have posted makes it much easier during my install, and also know who to contact if something is not working, thanks again...

[rubyinla]

The journey continues...   My 3.4 unit came with revision 19200 installed.  Since we now have 20282 out there my guy genes have kicked in and I'm feeling compelled to update my unit.

 

Not feeling super confident about using CyanLabs I got on https://www.ford.com/support/sync-maps-updates   As luck would have it, Ford still thinks I have 2.3 installed, and has a cool update for me based on my VIN.  The folks at Ford said they couldn't change my as-built to my 3.4 to go along with my new 3.4.  Said I'd have to get the dealer to do that.  Well, I've called 3 dealers and left 4 messages on successive days and still have not received a call back.  Lincoln guy want's $200 to do the update, but wasn't the sharpest pencil in the stack so I'm not trusting his mumbling.  Hopefully, this week, I can get through to a "service" advisor to get a price to just change my "as built" to show 3.4.

 

My other option is to find a '19 or '20? and "borrow" their VIN for the exercise / exorcism ?

 

One of the caveats for the CyanLabs update was a caution about doing this with 2020 year vehicles.  Being a 2016 vehicle and a 2019 screen that should not be a consideration.

 

To be continued....

[bbf2530]

15 hours ago, rubyinla said:

The journey continues...   My 3.4 unit came with revision 19200 installed.  Since we now have 20282 out there my guy genes have kicked in and I'm feeling compelled to update my unit.

 

Not feeling super confident about using CyanLabs I got on https://www.ford.com/support/sync-maps-updates   As luck would have it, Ford still thinks I have 2.3 installed, and has a cool update for me based on my VIN.  The folks at Ford said they couldn't change my as-built to my 3.4 to go along with my new 3.4.  Said I'd have to get the dealer to do that.  Well, I've called 3 dealers and left 4 messages on successive days and still have not received a call back.  Lincoln guy want's $200 to do the update, but wasn't the sharpest pencil in the stack so I'm not trusting his mumbling.  Hopefully, this week, I can get through to a "service" advisor to get a price to just change my "as built" to show 3.4.

 

My other option is to find a '19 or '20? and "borrow" their VIN for the exercise / exorcism ?

 

One of the caveats for the CyanLabs update was a caution about doing this with 2020 year vehicles.  Being a 2016 vehicle and a 2019 screen that should not be a consideration.

 

To be continued....

 

Hi ruby. A few thoughts: First, if your self-installed upgrade to SYNC 3.4 is working properly and you can overcome your "guy genes", stick with your current SYNC version and don't worry about updating. There is nothing new in the updates other than bug fixes, and you won't gain any new features because there are none.

In fact, the last update or two were instituted to fix things that the previous one or two updates broke.//LOL

So if everything works now, the best advice would be to leave it alone.

 

Next: You will need to rely on third party (i.e. CyanLabs) sources, or bootleg versions of the software to update. Neither Lincoln/Ford nor a Lincoln/Ford Dealer can/will update your "as-built" information.

My guess is that even the Lincoln Dealer that told you they would do it for $200 did not really understand what you were asking them to do, and think you just want a vehicle that was factory equipped with SYNC 3.4 to be updated to the latest version of SYNC 3.4. 

 

I realize our "guy genes" are difficult to contain, but if everything is operating correctly, leaving things alone so an unnecessary update doesn't break anything would be the best course of action. There are no new features in the latest updates. Only bug fixes.

 

Let us know how you make out and good luck.

Edited June 27, 2022 by bbf2530

[rubyinla]

On 6/27/2022 at 9:44 AM, bbf2530 said:

 

Hi ruby. A few thoughts: First, if your self-installed upgrade to SYNC 3.4 is working properly and you can overcome your "guy genes", stick with your current SYNC version and don't worry about updating. There is nothing new in the updates other than bug fixes, and you won't gain any new features because there are none.

In fact, the last update or two were instituted to fix things that the previous one or two updates broke.//LOL

So if everything works now, the best advice would be to leave it alone.

 

Next: You will need to rely on third party (i.e. CyanLabs) sources, or bootleg versions of the software to update. Neither Lincoln/Ford nor a Lincoln/Ford Dealer can/will update your "as-built" information.

My guess is that even the Lincoln Dealer that told you they would do it for $200 did not really understand what you were asking them to do, and think you just want a vehicle that was factory equipped with SYNC 3.4 to be updated to the latest version of SYNC 3.4. 

 

I realize our "guy genes" are difficult to contain, but if everything is operating correctly, leaving things alone so an unnecessary update doesn't break anything would be the best course of action. There are no new features in the latest updates. Only bug fixes.

 

Let us know how you make out and good luck.

 

Thanks for the advice.  I have a feeling you are correct, but I'll give the Ford route a try...  Interesting that I've talked to 2 guy service writers who quoted me prices to update the 2.?? software.  Lady I just talked to, who's not a service writer, is the first person to understand my request.

 

Interesting that the updates are to fix updates, not surprising, but interesting ?

 

Obviously, from all the recommendation I've read CyanLabs seems legit.  I'm just reluctant to wade into a sea of acronyms and serial numbers that I know nothing about.

 

If this Ford / Lincoln "as-built" can't be changed I'll just sit on my hands and be happy that it runs and isn't a red brick ?

 

Thanks... I'll post what happens

 

 

[rubyinla]

This may all be a moot point.  I stopped by the Lincoln dealership and talked to a service writer on Saturday.

 

All his Lincoln tech's were gone so he promised he'd check on 7-5 and call me.

 

Then I asked his him if the shop rate was $110 an hour.  Nope, it's $240 !!!! an hour.  No wonder folks keep leasing and selling cars after the warranties expire!

 

Happy 4th of July !!