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Gentlemen, I have been in dealing with this PITA for several months now. I have a 2019 F-150 running Sync 3 - 3.4 I have experienced all the things you guys have had going on as well. Try this...
I may have figured out how to fix this GD issue with the Sync 3.4 software not being able to Master Reset and always completely glitching out, back up camera stuck on while driving forward, FM 540 station coming on with complete static at every ignition, Sync 3 remembering previously connected Apple Car Play devices and remembering old phones that have been previously deleted or no longer paired. Follow my steps below and see my phone screenshots in the link below on how I deleted all the extra apps within my iPhone's CarPlay settings allowing for a Master Reset of Sync 3. Comment below and let me know how it works for you.
Follow my attached link with imagery and screenshots on my phone and how I fixed the CarPlay settings with it my paired to truck .
1 - Go to your iPhone system settings
2 - Gereral
3 - CarPlay
4 - My Car...Sync 3
5 - Customize
6 - Delete All Extra Added On Apps
7 - Turn vehicle ignition to the On accessories only position
8 - Connect iPhone to vehicle
9 - Go to the Ford Sync App on the vehicle screen
10 - Go to CarPlay and delete the All Phones Listed
11 - Go to General Settings within Sync 3....You should now be able to perform a Master Reset. Wait 5 to 10 mins for Sync to reboot be patient, screen goes black for a bit then will return the the Ford emblem, your software should now be back to normal.
I believe removing the unnecessary apps frees up memory or removes some incompatibility with Sync 3 and allows for a complete Master Reset to perform. I hope this works for you.
Well My son stopped over. I tried the downgrade USB and it resarted after about 30 secs. so nogo.
Gonna have to do the jailbreak method.
Well an edit!!!
last ditch effort. I tried remove gracenotes from cynlabs.. Did this and then tried downgrade USB. It loaded and went down to 3.3. Did a master reset and tried loading 3,4,23088 It would not start . Tried my old usb 3.4.22251 and it would not start.
Did a master reset again and when Updates screen popped up I hit yes. and then it started to update. I hit dont update after the downgrade. Well removed the 3.4.22251 stick and inserted 3.4.23088 usb and it started and showing reformat in process. Keep you all posted.
Edit--- UPdate completed to Sync 3.4.23088
I turned off auto updates for now. Unitl confirmed no otehr issues. Dont need this happening again on 4 vechicles.(well 2 fixed so far. 2 more to go) The reformat takes some time.
not sure if I got lucky or. what.
I used cynlabs
Created removed gracenotes USB ...did procedure
Then mater reset and turn on updates.
Inserted downgrade USB from cynlabs next. Reverted back to 3.3(this only took about 10-15 mins)
Master reset and the inserted full 3.4.23088 with reformat. (this took about 45 mins. Actaully trk turned off due to batt saver. So let it idle and it took off right from reformat process(was scared there for a sec) I was in the house and came out and everything was off. . Few mins earlier it was only about 50% done so knew it failed. but it continued once I started the trk.
let it idle untiul complete.
Also have maps 22 my street now displays.
Hopefully this will work for others. I did not jailbreak etc...
these 2 trks had all the same symtons....delays , no memory, back up camera problems, asking to tun on updates each time.
one more trk to fix, I will post back if goes good or bad.
Doing a follow up.
I was able ot fix one of the last rrucks I upgraded(2017 f150)
I was able to master reset. Just trying to install the Sync downgrade. It would fail mem err.
DId master reset and thenb allowed updates. Inserted Downgrade USB(from Cynlabs). maybe 5 mins or so. It restarted to sycn 3.3. Then did another master reset and allowed updates and inserted Sync 3.4.2088 from cycnlabs with full format option. (This takes about 30-40 mins)
Back up and running !!!
Turned off updates for now until more clarification comes along.
Hopes this helps a few others out there. Had all the Fmod filles(tools) to Jailbrake but didnt have to on 3 of the 4 trks I have upgraded(family & firends) The one odd trk had 3,4,22020. <- this didnt seem to be affected. only the 3.4.22251 appears to have the memory issues.
I helped Zenk with his setup, they just opted for a reformat install, so if you are familiar with the Cyanlabs utility, it's the same files/output/process that someone else mentioned earlier in the thread. I just prefer to build my installs by hand because I like to understand what is in them vs. trusting a 3rd party utility to do it for me. 20 years of working on computers will learn you to not blindly trust software just because it has an easy button .
Until a time when Ford maybe admits there's an issue and produces an official utility or update to address it, fixing it will either be via a reformat process or the jailbreak process, so it's kind of up to the individual on how they want to approach it. MY20 and newer would have to jailbreak because reformatting will make their setup unusable.
Since the installs I compiled contain Ford proprietary binaries, I prefer not to post them publicly, but if someone wants them instead of using the Cyanlabs utility, feel free to shoot me a PM and I'll send the info over.
I figured I'd take some time to do a write up that I could post that doesn't share any file links since it doesn't really help everyone to have to PM me for a link. I will not be providing links to the files needed, so you'll need to use the Google to find them yourself based on the info below. With that being said, I'll no longer be responding to PMs requesting the package now that everything needed is below.
Again, as mentioned previously, this is the same end result that using the Cyanlabs utility will do, just manually doing the process without a third party app. This is also the same reformat process outlined in the large "upgrade to Sync 3.4" thread in this section, so it's nothing special or new.
This does 3 things, which have been pretty standard practice since this whole process became public knowledge:
1. Removes Gracenotes to free up some space on the APIM.
1. Downgrades Sync to version 3.3.19052 that allows the reformat utility to run
2. Runs the reformat utility and loads the new packages onto the APIM, which includes Sync 3.4.23088
**For MY19 and earlier Sync 3 ONLY!!**
Process:
Format a USB drive (at least 16GB, recommend USB 3.0) so that it's formatted exFAT.
On the drive, create a new file named autoinstall.lst with the below contents. The easiest way to create this file is to open Notepad (Windows) and go to File -> SaveAs and navigate to your USB drive. In the "Save as type" box near the bottom of the save window, drop that down and choose "All files", then make sure the file name is only autoinstall.lst, NOT autoinstall.lst.txt. If it has .txt at the end, you need to remove that or it won't work.
Contents of autoinstall.lst for NAV enabled units:
; Sync 3.4.23088 NA and NA 22 Maps
Follow the same process as above (Notepad) to create a file called reformat.lst with the following contents.
Contents of reformat.lst for NAV units:
VOICE=5U5T-14G391-CS_1660783942000.TAR.GZ
GRACENOTES=4U5T-14G423-CC_1615429225000.TAR.GZ
APPS=NU5T-14G381-AC_1682460957000.TAR.GZ
MAP=4U5T-14G421-CJF_1682462901000.TAR.GZ
MAP=4U5T-14G421-CHF_1682462859000.TAR.GZ
MAP=4U5T-14G421-CFF_1682462169000.TAR.GZ
MAP=4U5T-14G421-CGF_1682462518000.TAR.GZ
MAP=4U5T-14G421-CEF_1682461522000.TAR.GZ
MAP=4U5T-14G421-CDF_1682463264000.TAR.GZ
MAP=4U5T-14G421-CCF_1682461368000.TAR.GZ
MAP=4U5T-14G421-CBF_1682461295000.TAR.GZ
MAP=4U5T-14G421-CAF_1682461100000.TAR.GZ
VOICE_NAV=4U5T-14G422-CCM_1682463747000.TAR.GZ
VOICE_NAV=4U5T-14G422-CBM_1682463581000.TAR.GZ
VOICE_NAV=4U5T-14G422-CAM_1682463335000.TAR.GZ
MAP_LICENSE=4U5T-14G424-CF_1682464057000.TAR.GZ
Contents of reformat.lst for Non-NAV units:
VOICE=5U5T-14G391-CS_1660783942000.TAR.GZ
GRACENOTES=4U5T-14G423-CC_1615429225000.TAR.GZ
APPS=NU5T-14G381-AC_1682460957000.TAR.GZ
Follow the same process as above (Notepad) to create a file called DONTINDX.MSA. This file has no contents, just create it and save it in the "root" of the USB drive with the correct .MSA extension.
In the "root" of the drive, create a folder named SyncMyRide. Copy or move all of the necessary files that you should have downloaded into this folder.
When you are done, you should have a USB drive, formatted exFAT, with the following files in the "root" of the drive: autoinstall.lst, reformat.lst, DONTINDX.MSA. You should also have a folder in the "root" of the drive named SyncMyRide. Inside of the SyncMyRide folder, you'll have all of the files listed in the autoinstall.lst and reformat.lst file that you obtained.
I recommend hooking up a battery tender/charger or leaving your truck running/idling while doing this process so it doesn't shut off in the middle of it. Plug the drive into to your truck and it'll start doing it's thing. It takes roughly 35-50 minutes for the Nav reinstall depending on the speed of your USB drive, probably quite shorter for Non-Nav - even if you receive a normal Sync update message that states "update complete, remove USB", keep the USB plugged in. The reformat process will bring the screen into a mode that looks a bit odd - it'll have a basic progress bar and cycle through some various backgrounds (one has a Mustang, etc.). The progress bar/status will tell you when it's done. At that point, unplug the USB as the process is now done, and it should auto reboot. If not, shut off/turn on truck and it should boot up into the reformatted Sync.
Give it ~5 minutes on that first boot to work itself out. You might notice the Nav/maps load a little slow the first couple of key cycles, that's normal.
Also note that you'll need to re-pair any phones you might have linked via Bluetooth, and re-enter any saved addresses you have in the Nav config, as well as redo any settings customization you might have, in case you want to take note of anything before you reformat.
Last edited by barrytone; Jun 29, 2023 at 08:19 AM.
Gentlemen, I have been in dealing with this PITA for several months now. I have a 2019 F-150 running Sync 3 - 3.4 I have experienced all the things you guys have had going on as well. Try this...
I may have figured out how to fix this GD issue with the Sync 3.4 software not being able to Master Reset and always completely glitching out, back up camera stuck on while driving forward, FM 540 station coming on with complete static at every ignition, Sync 3 remembering previously connected Apple Car Play devices and remembering old phones that have been previously deleted or no longer paired. Follow my steps below and see my phone screenshots in the link below on how I deleted all the extra apps within my iPhone's CarPlay settings allowing for a Master Reset of Sync 3. Comment below and let me know how it works for you.
Follow my attached link with imagery and screenshots on my phone and how I fixed the CarPlay settings with it my paired to truck .
1 - Go to your iPhone system settings
2 - Gereral
3 - CarPlay
4 - My Car...Sync 3
5 - Customize
6 - Delete All Extra Added On Apps
7 - Turn vehicle ignition to the On accessories only position
8 - Connect iPhone to vehicle
9 - Go to the Ford Sync App on the vehicle screen
10 - Go to CarPlay and delete the All Phones Listed
11 - Go to General Settings within Sync 3....You should now be able to perform a Master Reset. Wait 5 to 10 mins for Sync to reboot be patient, screen goes black for a bit then will return the the Ford emblem, your software should now be back to normal.
I believe removing the unnecessary apps frees up memory or removes some incompatibility with Sync 3 and allows for a complete Master Reset to perform. I hope this works for you.
I just tried this as my system has been getting worse by the day, when i tried the Master Reset it just sat there for over 30 minutes... I gave up... tried it twice.
I am still under warranty on my 2020, so I will bring it in, too afraid of doing a jailbreak just yet.
Still issue free since the dealership replaced the APIM. Hopefully not jinxing anything ...
You should be good to go. New APIM will have plenty of space in the memory. For those of us past the warranty we need to clean the memory of our existing APIMs
I figured I'd take some time to do a write up that I could post that doesn't share any file links since it doesn't really help everyone to have to PM me for a link. I will not be providing links to the files needed, so you'll need to use the Google to find them yourself based on the info below. With that being said, I'll no longer be responding to PMs requesting the package now that everything needed is below.
Again, as mentioned previously, this is the same end result that using the Cyanlabs utility will do, just manually doing the process without a third party app. This is also the same reformat process outlined in the large "upgrade to Sync 3.4" thread in this section, so it's nothing special or new.
This does 3 things, which have been pretty standard practice since this whole process became public knowledge:
1. Removes Gracenotes to free up some space on the APIM.
1. Downgrades Sync to version 3.3.19052 that allows the reformat utility to run
2. Runs the reformat utility and loads the new packages onto the APIM, which includes Sync 3.4.23088
**For MY19 and earlier Sync 3 ONLY!!**
Process:
Format a USB drive (at least 16GB, recommend USB 3.0) so that it's formatted exFAT.
On the drive, create a new file named autoinstall.lst with the below contents. The easiest way to create this file is to open Notepad (Windows) and go to File -> SaveAs and navigate to your USB drive. In the "Save as type" box near the bottom of the save window, drop that down and choose "All files", then make sure the file name is only autoinstall.lst, NOT autoinstall.lst.txt. If it has .txt at the end, you need to remove that or it won't work.
Contents of autoinstall.lst for NAV enabled units:
; Sync 3.4.23088 NA and NA 22 Maps
Follow the same process as above (Notepad) to create a file called reformat.lst with the following contents.
Contents of reformat.lst for NAV units:
VOICE=5U5T-14G391-CS_1660783942000.TAR.GZ
GRACENOTES=4U5T-14G423-CC_1615429225000.TAR.GZ
APPS=NU5T-14G381-AC_1682460957000.TAR.GZ
MAP=4U5T-14G421-CJF_1682462901000.TAR.GZ
MAP=4U5T-14G421-CHF_1682462859000.TAR.GZ
MAP=4U5T-14G421-CFF_1682462169000.TAR.GZ
MAP=4U5T-14G421-CGF_1682462518000.TAR.GZ
MAP=4U5T-14G421-CEF_1682461522000.TAR.GZ
MAP=4U5T-14G421-CDF_1682463264000.TAR.GZ
MAP=4U5T-14G421-CCF_1682461368000.TAR.GZ
MAP=4U5T-14G421-CBF_1682461295000.TAR.GZ
MAP=4U5T-14G421-CAF_1682461100000.TAR.GZ
VOICE_NAV=4U5T-14G422-CCM_1682463747000.TAR.GZ
VOICE_NAV=4U5T-14G422-CBM_1682463581000.TAR.GZ
VOICE_NAV=4U5T-14G422-CAM_1682463335000.TAR.GZ
MAP_LICENSE=4U5T-14G424-CF_1682464057000.TAR.GZ
Contents of reformat.lst for Non-NAV units:
VOICE=5U5T-14G391-CS_1660783942000.TAR.GZ
GRACENOTES=4U5T-14G423-CC_1615429225000.TAR.GZ
APPS=NU5T-14G381-AC_1682460957000.TAR.GZ
Follow the same process as above (Notepad) to create a file called DONTINDX.MSA. This file has no contents, just create it and save it in the "root" of the USB drive with the correct .MSA extension.
In the "root" of the drive, create a folder named SyncMyRide. Copy or move all of the necessary files that you should have downloaded into this folder.
When you are done, you should have a USB drive, formatted exFAT, with the following files in the "root" of the drive: autoinstall.lst, reformat.lst, DONTINDX.MSA. You should also have a folder in the "root" of the drive named SyncMyRide. Inside of the SyncMyRide folder, you'll have all of the files listed in the autoinstall.lst file that you downloaded.
I recommend hooking up a battery tender/charger or leaving your truck running/idling while doing this process so it doesn't shut off in the middle of it. Plug the drive into to your truck and it'll start doing it's thing. It takes roughly 35-50 minutes for the Nav reinstall depending on the speed of your USB drive, probably quite shorter for Non-Nav - even if you receive a normal Sync update message that states "update complete, remove USB", keep the USB plugged in. The reformat process will bring the screen into a mode that looks a bit odd - it'll have a basic progress bar and cycle through some various backgrounds (one has a Mustang, etc.). The progress bar/status will tell you when it's done. At that point, unplug the USB as the process is now done, and it should auto reboot. If not, shut off/turn on truck and it should boot up into the reformatted Sync.
Give it ~5 minutes on that first boot to work itself out. You might notice the Nav/maps load a little slow the first couple of key cycles, that's normal.
Also note that you'll need to re-pair any phones you might have linked via Bluetooth, and re-enter any saved addresses you have in the Nav config, as well as redo any settings customization you might have, in case you want to take note of anything before you reformat.
Nice summary of the steps required to solve the APIM problems so many are having! It is great to see someone step up and offer a solution, give advice and coach others. These forums are filled with good people who understand so many different aspects of our vehicles. Thanks for taking the time to provide the information and sharing your expertise!
I dont get how i havent ran into any of these issues. Ive got 1 2018 and my wife has a 2019 Explorer sport with now 3.4 sync. Both updated with cyanlabs
Sync 3 Problems Solved!
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