Cannot update from 1.0 to 3.0!

Was just at the dealer, voice recognition quit working, and they said I needed an update. They plugged in a flash drive and 3 times, it failed due to file size.

Now what?!

Sync 3? We'll, have them figure it out. It's a strange error - I have done these upgrades without any issues via a USB. Some people had to futz with various other approaches. No rhyme or reason, it seems. But, having said that I don't really know if there's any meaningful difference between these versions -- "Bug fixes and performance improvement"...

Ford's updating system is a miserable failure in my opinion, both over Wi-Fi and using a USB drive. There are threads all over this forum and around the internet for other Fords detailing people's difficulty in trying to update.
In my particular case after a failed Wi-Fi update, my voice recognition quit working. My dealer tried to update the car using a USB drive, and was unable to. After two efforts they eventually got some error message that told them that the APIM, the Sync 3 control module, was bad. They then got approval from Ford to give me a new APIM on warranty. Afterwards they were able to update to version 3.0 using a USB drive, everything works fine now. I'm not suggesting every failed update means that the APIM is bad, just wanted to give you the benefit of my experience and lay out one possible cause.

You gave me some helpful advice after I posted about my difficulties in updating, which I really appreciate. My concern about staying with version 1.0 would be that at some point, like any old program, it might just quit working properly. This happens with Windows operating systems, but might not apply to Sync 3.

For Ford, this is almost an afterthought. In fact, my view is NOT to upgrade, unless there are palpable and useful improvements. So, moving to SYNC 3 hardware from my SYNC 2 factory unit was a no brainier because of the Android Auto. But software upgrades? I did them, but I don't think that they added anything - maybe ability to play Pandora from the factory GUI, but because I use AA, it's a moot point.

So, unless you change hardware components, I don't believe you are in jeopardy of things crashing. It's not like running DOS 2.1 on a 7th gen Intel chip...

Yeah I'm out of warranty. I had a warranty repair done ayb34k miles and the voice recognition wasnt working then, I wonder if I can call Ford and raise a little hell and say that they neglected to check the systems in the car..

The cost of an APIM module is not prohibitive, thankfully - under $200 on most junkyards. That's your fallback position. But, it's annoying. Does it work if you use AA or CarPlay?

I havent gotten the hub yet. They said I need to update before it will work?

Had my '16 in a month ago before warranty expired. No voice like yours, they replaced it with a new one with version 3. I finally have Android apps and Google maps. Never could update mine so I was glad the voice died and I got a new one.

Now I'm confused. Are you upgrading SYNC 3 to the software version 3.0? Or are you trying to upgrade the hardware to sync 3? Or you have already upgraded the hardware, but not the USB hub?

I have Sync 3, software version 1.0 upgrading to 3.0

If I am not mistaken, my 2016 needs the updated USB hub for AA and CP

Ok. My understanding is that SYNC 3 factory equipped cars already have the new hub. Mine is MY 2015, and I replaced the hub when I switched to SYNC 3 - but, I didn't have to, because the old hub (the one that has an AUX input and an SD card slot) would work for AA (not for the Apple devices). It kept producing an error message about the ostensibly incompatible device plugged into the USB, but the AA functionality was not impacted.

I just got tired of seeing this bs message and upgraded to the 2 USB new hub.

Huh, interesting, when my wife plugs in her iPhone, I just remembered that the icons and stuff change... interesting..

One way to update your non-nav sync3 to 3.x is to free up some memory by installing the voice pack from the nav update. Then you can update with the regular non-nav files. Details here: https://www.f150forum.com/f118/sync-3-technical-discussion-399837/

You don't need a new hub for android - I believe it's only for crapple.




DEss

Makes me wonder. I ended up with a NAV APIM from a donor - maybe that's why I never had any issues updating.

Try calling Customer Care, Ford promised us Android apps when updated. They never could update a 2016 non-nav due to low memory. They should replace your unit, tell them you kept waiting for the auto-update to fix it.

(grabbing a bag of popcorn...)

Stay tuned! Maybe I can talk them into a NAV unit haha

Reading between the lines it sounds like they *do* replace them with NAV apims due to the extra memory allocation. I'm not sure, but it kinda sounds like it. It would make sense to use an "off the shelf" part that already exists vs. engineering and manufacturing a non-nav with extra memory.

I have to go back to the dealer, and if I'm told that I need to buy the part, I will raise hell with Customer Care. I fail to see how these are warranty items. Their software is failing, it has never been tampered with, and its rejecting their software.