On 7/7/2021 at 12:25 AM, unofix said:

I would try downloading the whole Sync3.4 / F10 update from CyanLabs and doing it again. CyanLabs updates often seem to fix stuff that the Ford updates have screwed up.

https://cyanlabs.net/tutorials/windows-automated-method-update-to-3-4/#

Give it ago, its not like it can make your satnav more broke than it is now.

This looks interesting thanks. Do you know if it will affect the warranty? Can it be easily restored to Ford software?

The files at CyanLabs are the real Ford files, just much easier to update with. Once installed on your car there is zero difference between what you get from Ford and what you get from CyanLabs (although CyanLabs files are normally more up to date than Fords own site).

The last F10 updates to my car I did from CyanLabs after 2 failed installs from Ford. Also since then my car has done a small update via Wifi direct from the Ford site and it didn't seem to cause a problem.

I am aware of the CyanLabs updater but I am a touch concerned that if I try it, and it doesn't fix it, if later down the line ford release an update to actually fix it, would the new update then apply and work ok?

There seems to be a commonality reported here that its something to do with the 68 plate cars (Early Mk4 i'd guess) that have this issue .. so hopefully they might actually get around to fixing it.

My guess would be something to do with the real time clock in the APIM as when I turn my car on sometimes the time is initially incorrect by several hours and (I suspect but cannot prove) the date could also be wrong.  It quickly updates (i'm guessing from the radio or DAB).

If the date and time are wrong then this would have a knock on effect on the "QuickGPSFix" (which the system uses based on the time and date to predict where the GPS satellites are and lock on to them quickly rather than the 3 / 4 minutes of scanning the entire sky of old) and because its not finding them within a set limit, its then timing out trying to locate them and gives up.  Its a common trick to use QuickGPSFix to locate satellites quickly, garmin, fitbit, tomtom etc all use it.  If however, the date and time are incorrect in the unit, it will never find them because its looking in the wrong place in the sky.

The flip side of this is of course that the QuickGPSFix file may be corrupt but this is unlikely as it would affect everyone.

The QuickGPSFix may also be somehow incompatible with something in just the 68 plate cars which was changed on the later APIM's...

Good luck to all who have taken them in to the dealers, mine is still under warrantee until December so if that is the solution, then that is what I will do if people report back with a successful outcome.  If not, then I will try CyanLabs.

Thanks,

Slick2097.

Ok. Garage has called and it appears that the update file bricks a chip on the sync module. A new one will need to be ordered and fitted. Glad my car is still under warranty, although with global chip shortage, getting hold of one might be more challenging. 

So are they going to replace the APIM module or some other module ? Sounds like a very expensive screw-up by Ford. I guess they will have to do the work free on all cars that have this problem.

3 hours ago, unofix said:

So are they going to replace the APIM module or some other module ? Sounds like a very expensive screw-up by Ford. I guess they will have to do the work free on all cars that have this problem.

I didn’t ask. The call came at work so I will see if they will furnish me with more details when I pick the car up. I doubt it and I’m sure they will want to keep this quiet. It could be hundreds of cars. 

Affecting ‘68 plates. 🤔 GPS or multi link suspension 🤔 

If you could only have one or the other? 
 

Suspension all day long for me! 

 

I just registered to say that I got the same exact problem. I just bought a 69 plate focus and after updating sync to 3.4 I lost GPS signal. There are 0 satellites. Drove for hours and nothing. Also, the clock has wrong time until I start the engine.

 

13 hours ago, HarryK said:

I just registered to say that I got the same exact problem. I just bought a 69 plate focus and after updating sync to 3.4 I lost GPS signal. There are 0 satellites. Drove for hours and nothing. Also, the clock has wrong time until I start the engine.

 

Get it booked in at a dealer. The more of us do this, the more likely they are to get it fixed.  They really should pull the update file tbh

Same issue, 19 plate focus I have had for 3 weeks, updated sync software over wifi, and no gps, map frozen, speed limits only showing up on dash when I pass a sign now, and time is wrong for a bit until either dab radio or phone corrects it.  Still under warranty, booked in at dealer 20th July.

Hello from Greece. Unfortunately i have the same issue , after the upgrade to sync 3.4 , i get no gps sign and wrong time until i start the engine . I am disappointed to hear that the update may have damaged (bricked ?) something in my car's unit , as i hoped that a reflash , or maybe a new update from Ford , would solve the problem . I am also under warranty , so i ll take it to the workshop to see if something can be done  , not earlier than September though.

John

12 hours ago, Jus1973 said:

Get it booked in at a dealer. The more of us do this, the more likely they are to get it fixed.  They really should pull the update file tbh

I have had it at the dealer two times already. They though it might be the antenna so they replaced it, but that didn't fix it. Next week is booked for third time. I hope they admit it is because of the software update this time and do something about it.

On 7/8/2021 at 11:29 AM, Slick2097 said:

.The QuickGPSFix may also be somehow incompatible with something in just the 68 plate cars which was changed on the later APIM's...

Good luck to all who have taken them in to the dealers, mine is still under warrantee until December so if that is the solution, then that is what I will do if people report back with a successful outcome.  If not, then I will try CyanLabs.

Thanks,

Slick2097.

It appears this is spreading to 19, and even 69 plate cars.  Perhaps it could be down to other factors.

2 minutes ago, Jus1973 said:

appears this is spreading to 19

Its COVID19 for cars, some recover but for many its terminal. Don't upgrade "Protect the Ford Dealership" and stay at home so no need to know the satnav is poorly.

To update on my situation which is the same as others here - Updated over USB and now no gps and the time is out by a few hours when I initially turn on the car then it sets to the correct time and sometimes it's out by a few hours when it turns off too.

I checked the screen for updates the other day and it said no updates available. I then did a soft reset (holding seek up and audio power button) and now it wants to update but I haven't been able to sit in my car long enough for it to download. I checked on the ford update page again and it said I had the latest version, however Cyanlabs has a newer version. Currently I have 3.4 build 21020.

Also I tried to update the maps twice and the screen didn't like it. Looking at the install instructions it should have certain files on the USB but it is missing one... so another fail from Ford in my book.

 

If I didn't have warranty I would try Cyanlabs. I will be ringing Ford today hopefully.

Cheers

I spoke to my dealer today, and whilst they are all separate companies and franchises, they have a method of communicating with Ford Europe.  I’ve let them know that a number of us are having this issue with the latest update, and they will be examining if there is a ‘dodgy’ batch of sync units or if there is something more afoot.  I was advised by the service manager not to install the update on my wife 67 plates Fiesta for at least 2-3 months, until Ford finds out more.

17 minutes ago, Jus1973 said:

I spoke to my dealer today, and whilst they are all separate companies and franchises, they have a method of communicating with Ford Europe.

I'm not sure smoke signals count as a modern method of communication LOL

7 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

I'm not sure smoke signals count as a modern method of communication LOL

Now now Stephen, too much sacasm 🤣

Old Henry Ford is doing his best, just as soon as he's worked out how to make a bonnet opener that doesn't break he'll be right on the case of all this black magic stuff.

Just dropping a little update here.

Car was with the dealer all day.  They fitted the new module, however it ‘failed to take the software’ apparently.  Now the cynic in me thinks that basically they fitted the module, and installed the software and it got killed, just like the original, but the assure me not.  They’re ordering a second new module, and will try again when that arrives.

Interestingly, they’ve had a second customer in with the same issue now, which for a smallish town, is probably the first of maybe a handful. 

15 hours ago, Jus1973 said:

They fitted the new module,

Did they ? or did they think they could just reload the software on the original (again) and now they are going to really change the module. Do you know which module is involved is it the apim ?

1 hour ago, unofix said:

Did they ? or did they think they could just reload the software on the original (again) and now they are going to really change the module. Do you know which module is involved is it the apim ?

They already tried to reload when they had it first time. They didn’t tell me which module and the service clerk didn’t know.  It’s going to a long old road to a solution here I think. 

I just got it back from the dealership, third time lucky. They replaced the APIM, old part number started with 3U5T.. and the new one starts with 5U5T.. The GPS is working again and the device is much faster than before.

41 minutes ago, HarryK said:

I just got it back from the dealership, third time lucky. They replaced the APIM, old part number started with 3U5T.. and the new one starts with 5U5T.. The GPS is working again and the device is much faster than before.

Well that’s at least encouraging for us all.  Nice one

47 minutes ago, HarryK said:

I just got it back from the dealership, third time lucky. They replaced the APIM, old part number started with 3U5T.. and the new one starts with 5U5T.. The GPS is working again and the device is much faster than before.

Interesting and that may help others. Mine was built in May 2019 and the APIM starts with 4U5T so your one must have been an earlier build. FORScan shows 5UST as the latest build. My car took the updates without any problems, so it may be the earlier builds that are causing the problems.

The other thing about the last update was that shortly after it was released Ford pulled the update and then released it again about a week later. Luckily I did not install the original update, I waited for the newer version. I wonder if the people with the problems installed the first version.

On 7/15/2021 at 7:02 PM, Tizer said:

The other thing about the last update was that shortly after it was released Ford pulled the update and then released it again about a week later. Luckily I did not install the original update, I waited for the newer version. I wonder if the people with the problems installed the first version.

Unfortunately my car is set to install updates over the air, presumably from either the dealer, or previous owner, and TBH I didn’t even think to check before everything went wrong.  Good info on the APIM module code.  How do you find out yours?  Do you have to use forscan or something similar.  I don’t have any of those.