Seriuosly though, there's software and there's software - I think - on my Ford.

I have Sync3, and I have the software modules that control the car.

The former is the fancy screen on the dash.

The latter is the stuff I can change to some extent via the steering controls, and the parameters for which can be seen, and tweaked to some extent, via Forscan.

Questions...

Are they two separate things?

If I turn on auto-updating in Sync3, does this include the car control software?

If I do the update-via-usb, is this Sync3 only or the car control software as well? (I mean this lot update via usb)

If they are separate, how do I get updates for the car control software - do I need to go to the dealer or is there a link somewhere?

Thanks - Richard

Modern cars are a network of computers not just one.

There are probably 20 or more different computer modules in the car and that doesn't include all the small microcontrollers with firmware on them, just the main modules.

The auto update on sync will only update the software of the in car entertainment and sat nav maps that you see on the centre screen. The module is called APIM. It will not update anything else.

All the other software generally requires a Ford dealer, or independent with access to FDRS (Ford's systems). However there are unofficial ways around it. But even then as Ford dealers will do, if it isn't broken don't fit it. It's not like updates to your phone or PC. The telematics module will also keep itself up to date, via its cellular connection.

 

Thanks Alex, I thought that might be the case but information is, as ever, better than guesswork!

What it does mean is that if I have auto updates for Sync3 switched on (which I am about to trial to see how it behaves), I won't get any changes to the software for the car control modules coming through that I might not want. What happens when it goes in for its (under warranty) service is another question.

About the only thing I might do is the battery SOC etc. settings if the dealership hasn't fixed that particular problem long-term (which I suspect they probably haven't) and are unable or unwilling to do so.

Thanks again - Richard