Have downloaded (at last!) the latest map update, some poster said it could take up to 2 hours to install from the memory stick onto motor, does the engine need to be running to instal it ,or is it ok just to have the ignition on ( the only 2 hour run i do is in the summer hols!) ?

You either need the engine running or the car hooked up to a charger. The system will shutdown on battery alone. 

Even with a charger I think the Sync system and/or the Ignition may switch themselves off after 15 or 30 minutes.

Other people on this Forum have said that if you leave the USB stick in then it will pick up where it left off if the whole thing downloaded in one go but it may take a several days or weeks to complete.

The Engine may also switch itself off after 30 minutes as well if left running with no one in the car.

21 minutes ago, Tizer said:

The Engine may also switch itself off after 30 minutes as well if left running with no one in the car.

Correct. I can time mine almost to the minute. Left running on it's own it will switch off the engine and turn off the ignition after 20 minutes of not detecting anyone in the car. There is meant to be an option to disable the auto shut down but even with it selected to 'not' shut down it still does.

1 minute ago, unofix said:

Correct. I can time mine almost to the minute. Left running on it's own it will switch off the engine and turn off the ignition after 20 minutes of not detecting anyone in the car. There is meant to be an option to disable the auto shut down but even with it selected to 'not' shut down it still does.

I think the Engine shut off is also a safety thing relating to Start/Stop.

It may be an urban myth but there was a story about someone in America driving into their integral garage one night, S/S kicked in and they forgot to kill the Engine. It started itself when the Battery started to loose power and they ended up getting poisoned because their Bedroom was above the Garage. 

Thanks all for the good info 👍🏻
Just how long does the instal really take, or is that asking " how long is a piece of string" , Ford chat line say 40 mins,  but i doubt that as the Sync3 software update took that 🤔

(Just a thanks also to you guys who take the time to help us owners with straightforward info, its a quagmire out there looking for it !)

1 hour ago, 24008943 said:

Thanks all for the good info 👍🏻
Just how long does the instal really take, or is that asking " how long is a piece of string" , Ford chat line say 40 mins,  but i doubt that as the Sync3 software update took that 🤔

(Just a thanks also to you guys who take the time to help us owners with straightforward info, its a quagmire out there looking for it !)

The 23gb map update takes about 2-2.5hrs.

59 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

The 23gb map update takes about 2-2.5hrs.

As Alex says expect at least 2 plus hours.

The folder contains many files and so long as you leave the USB in the car until it is totally finished you do not need to install the whole thing in one go. Once the update starts it will install one file at a time, if you switch off the ignition during the install the file that is currently being installed will be cancelled and it will start again next time the ignition is turned on. Files which have been fully installed will be unaffected and will not be installed again. The overall time to do this will be longer as some part files will be restarted over each time the process is interrupted, but that is not usually a concern as the Sync system remains available during the update.

A word of caution regarding the message saying 'Key Cycle Required'. This does not mean the installation is complete. When finally the update is finished you will get a message telling you to remove the USB. The new files and maps don't become active until the car has been fully powered down and locked, (don't know why, it's just the way it is).

3 minutes ago, unofix said:

As Alex says expect at least 2 plus hours.

The folder contains many files and so long as you leave the USB in the car until it is totally finished you do not need to install the whole thing in one go. Once the update starts it will install one file at a time, if you switch off the ignition during the install the file that is currently being installed will be cancelled and it will start again next time the ignition is turned on. Files which have been fully installed will be unaffected and will not be installed again. The overall time to do this will be longer as some part files will be restarted over each time the process is interrupted, but that is not usually a concern as the Sync system remains available during the update.

A word of caution regarding the message saying 'Key Cycle Required'. This does not mean the installation is complete. When finally the update is finished you will get a message telling you to remove the USB. The new files and maps don't become active until the car has been fully powered down and locked, (don't know why, it's just the way it is).

Locking the car and leaving it for 10 mins means the Sync APIM shuts down and will boot back up with the new software.

Many thanks you guys 🙂🙂

I did mine via USB the last couple of days.

just left the USB in, and drove my usual commute. maps were Finished in a couple of trips. No dramas!

software update only took 20 mins! 

Thanks guys, did the update in approx 30-40 mins , was F8 now F11 so it was well outdated !

So to clarify ...

1) the engine needs to be running continuously (ignoring being connected to battery charger) in order to update the maps (which genius came up with that one?  Climate change/global warming anyone?)

2) you can do the update whilst driving - so a long trip (say 2-3 hrs) would be enough to complete the update?

A question.

If you ask a dealer to update the maps (at a cost of around £80 I believe), how long does that take?

Cheers,

Zaph

1 hour ago, Zaphod_B said:

at a cost of around £80 I believe

That's cheap for a Ford dealer.