I have a 2014 Ford Focus Titanium Navigator, which I think uses Sync 1.  I've never updated the maps for the built-in satnav, which is now starting to become a bit of a problem as they are getting  out-of-date.  Apparently the only way to update the maps is to buy a new SD card (image of my current 10 year old SD card attached).  But when I enquired about this at my Ford dealer they wanted to charge me £300 for it!

It looks like appropriate cards can be bought from eBay for around £30-£50, but I'm a little concerned about whether they could mess my car's system up if they are not legitimate.  So I was wondering if anyone knew:

• Does the new SD card actually perform a software update, or does it simply contain the map data?
• Where is a good source other than Ford themselves to get hold of an official up-to-date card that won't be dodgy?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

The latest and the last version to be produced (no more updates) is the 2022 v12 SD card. Ford never made the maps/software. It was a Bosch system and I believe the maps are TomTom

On 2/8/2024 at 6:44 PM, Anthony42 said:

Where is a good source other than Ford themselves

eBay !!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225970410003?

Thanks!  I'll give one of those a try.

Is it simply a case of swapping the cards and the satnav reads whatever maps are on the inserted card?  Or does it install updated Sync software from the new card?  In other words, if for some reason it doesn't work, can I just swap back to the old card and go back to how it was?

 

check in your instrument cluster menus if its really a 2014 car - they have sync 1.1 and there are BIG software updates to the headunit (bug fix and security stuff) - thread below how to fight the files via USB stick to go on the car - worth doing first then put the maps in - she got new features after the later maps were on the car - do u have speed limits in the corner of the display ?  even if already there at least all the 20 and 60 now 40 limits will be correct when you do the second part below the picture

 

the Nav map card goes in horizontally  -  look carefully as you remove the card and FORCE the new one back in the exact same way !!!  - on my sisters they have somehow made it want to slide in at 45 degrees, three times is went in easily and clipped in wrong and refused to work - ONLY after I had to be quite forceful to get it to go back in the way it had come out, could I get it to see the card !!!!   Her car was from new and no one had ever removed it - so it wasn't damage - I suspect its a ford trick to try and make it dealer only

2 hours ago, Anthony42 said:

Is it simply a case of swapping the cards and the satnav reads whatever maps are on the inserted card?  Or does it install updated Sync software from the new card?  In other words, if for some reason it doesn't work, can I just swap back to the old card and go back to how it was?

In some instances there is newer software included on the card which will be loaded when you insert the SD card. However if for whatever reason you decide to go back to the previous old SD card it will not affect the use of it.

Over the years I've changed both the DVD versions and the SD versions and not had any issues with any of the new versions.

Thanks both, very helpful.

I can't find anything in the menus that shows the Sync version in my car.  It's the Sony unit, with the SD card slot above the screen.  The system info screen has 4 pages of letters and numbers that mean nothing to me (images attached).

The description for these cards from various sources show they are compatible with:

Quote

Focus   -  from  01.2011 to 11.2014

But my car was apparently registered in December 2014 (64 reg).  When I enter my VIN on Ford's site https://www.ford.co.uk/support/sync-maps-updates#/ I see:

Quote

2014 FORD FOCUS (2010)
SYNC Current Version

SYNC Generation
SYNC 1

SYNC Version
5.3

SYNC Updates
Update Available
5.10

SYNC UPDATES

SYNC UPDATE AVAILABLE
DEALER UPDATE REQUIRED
Your SYNC update must be completed at a Ford Dealership. Please contact your Ford Dealer to schedule an appointment. Charges may apply.

NAVIGATION UPDATES

PLEASE UPDATE SYNC TO SEE MAPS UPDATES
Before updating Maps please confirm your SYNC is up to date. Only vehicles with navigation installed are eligible.

There is nothing to download.  When I contacted the dealer, they told me all I needed was the latest SD card, which I needed to buy from them for £300.  I'm a little confused now.  Will I need to update Sync before I can use the updated maps?

I'm nervous about doing a software update from a 3rd party SD card.

1 hour ago, Anthony42 said:

I'm nervous about doing a software update from a 3rd party SD card.

Then I'm afraid your only option is pay the Ford dealer the £300 and let them plug the new SD card in.

site crash

site crash

good news and bad news - they are LYING about dealer only - but where can you get the files

Just checked the MORONS are saying my sisters is sync 1 when it was a sync 1.1 and now too they say her old car is dealer only - LIES - I kept an eye on the updates on the ford site from about 2018 to 2022 they NEVER did any more updates and their own site still fails to know she had five eleven on hers even after you used to be asked to report back if it went on OK...  which I did twice

check the icon on the LEFT side of the screen in the photo of the update post above - it has the version display at five eleven (5.11), yet the icon on the left appears to be the top of the list - whereas your photos seem to be three icons down - is it a different menu set ?

on the ford site it says your car is on, five three (5.3) so 7 versions out of date... the fun is the files are 750 meg of noise - if you read that thread above all the way .... two files were built incorrectly,

Phil21185   

worked it out - the update couldn't ever run - and stayed like that all the way till they took them down from their site ...the USB stick method works in about 20 minutes if you get the points made in the post above and fix those two messed up files, shifting code comments on to separate lines, so we don't have a mix and match with physical code and comments arguing in these two. 

install.lst
autoinstall.lst

as she threw the car in a skip 2 years ago, sill cow - only needed a rear bumper off ebay ! you can have her chassis number to double check vs what ford say for yours - its was the Sony DAB headunit with Nav she had - as per any of my posting in the update thread above all relate to me updating her car

Quote

VINWF0KXXGCBKES17974

SYNC GenerationSYNC 1

SYNC Version5.1

Update Available5.10

DEALER UPDATE REQUIRED

Your SYNC update must be completed at a Ford Dealership. Please contact your Ford Dealer to schedule an appointment. Charges may apply.

I would NOT do the bodge where some say to leave various bits out, or use a mix of new and old files - it reboots and you may miss that near the very end, and you don't want to stop early and confuse it - so after 15mins sit and waste life watching the cluster

 

 

Thanks again for the info.

I still can't find anything in the menus that shows the software version screen that your image shows.  I suspect my version is different from yours and doesn't show the software version in the same place, if at all.  If I go to Menu, then Sync settings, then System Info, it shows the 4 images in my post above.  It starts with CCPU on the first page (scrollbar position at the top), whereas your images seem to show the software version appearing above it (scrollbar position at the top) and then CCPU on the next page (scrollbar position further down).  I just don't see that on mine.  You also have solid scrollbars on the right, whereas mine are divided into little sections.

Maybe I've missed something - could there be somewhere else that shows the software version?

4 hours ago, Botus said:

check the icon on the LEFT side of the screen in the photo of the update post above - it has the version display at five eleven (5.11), yet the icon on the left appears to be the top of the list - whereas your photos seem to be three icons down - is it a different menu set ?

I don't think so, unless I missed something.  The highlighted icon on the left in my photos is for USB media, which was what I had selected at the time.  The icon at the top is for radio.  I tried selecting different modes just now, but my system info menus show the same content regardless of which mode I'm in.

So now I'm wondering, if I don't have the latest Sync v5.11 (and I'm guessing I don't) will the latest maps from a new SD card work?  That other thread seems to suggest the software update is done via USB and is separate from the maps on the SD card, but I don't know if updated maps require updated software.

I guess the version info is a feature of the later software.....   I have a photo before and after her update for the CPU one

nice spot on the notches versus smooth scroll bar on the right, check picture here - 100% these below are hers, before and after (I presume her car was OLDER than yours, which is also why the site said hers was 5.1 vs your 5.3 - you have her chassis number you can take a look)

I can't quite believe I threw all the files away (I was finding some space on an old machine !!!)  might have backed up on a NAS drive but that would take me time to fight and I don't use scum drive or google spy 

 

 

check the post directly above - confirm 'the menu fun, position and the scroll bar style' - re read my post with the two photos from this morning a bit slower....  then take a brave pill - I would get the files and do the system update via USB stick (engine running) - then I'd buy hooky maps on an SD card and load them on the unit as two distinct separate operations

the files on the SD card I believe are Linux OS, not MS Windows, hence why stuff seems strange when you try to play with a card on a PC

 

FYI read your info bit on the left of each post - that's what hers was a Titanium Navigator - so you got the funny auto parking feature !!! its brilliant....      I hope u use it

I thought I'd give a final update on this for anyone who might have the same questions as me in the future.

I bought one of those £30 SD cards and gave it a try.  In short, success!

On 2/9/2024 at 1:22 PM, unofix said:

In some instances there is newer software included on the card which will be loaded when you insert the SD card.

That was the case here, I was prompted to update the software when I first inserted the card.  I had to insert the card while the system was switched on, if I switched it on after inserting the card I just got a card data error.  Once I selected to start the update it took about 5 minutes, continually cycling between "erasing", "programming" and "downloading".

There was a scary moment after it reported that the update had been successful.  When I first selected navigation, it told me "navigation not available".  This continued for several seconds, with the same error popping up every time I tried to start navigation, making me think I had broken it with the update.  I assume it was just still loading the new maps though, because eventually it just started working properly.  It worked fine after that.

Everything is working as before, all my stored locations are still there and maps are working accurately.  The version info seems to show I now have maps that are 2 years old instead of 10 years old, which should hopefully be much better.

On 2/10/2024 at 8:43 PM, Botus said:

I would get the files and do the system update via USB stick (engine running) - then I'd buy hooky maps on an SD card and load them on the unit as two distinct separate operations

I decided against doing the USB Sync update as it looked like a hassle and I'm happy with Sync as it is now.  It doesn't appear to be necessary in order to update the satnav software and maps.

Thanks for your help.  All sorted for £270 cheaper than Ford's quote!

On 2/10/2024 at 8:43 PM, Botus said:

FYI read your info bit on the left of each post - that's what hers was a Titanium Navigator - so you got the funny auto parking feature !!! its brilliant....      I hope u use it

Unfortunately I don't have that.  I bought my car nearly new but second hand, so I wasn't able to configure it and it didn't have this optional extra.  It does look good though, if I buy a new Focus I'd be very tempted to get it!

yes - but its not updated the car - just a bit of the nav and the maps - the bugs and security risks to the car / your personal data are still there

I only wanted the updated maps.  I was just a bit concerned that the latest SD card wouldn't work without updating Sync first, but it does, so I'm happy.  The satnav software did get updated from the card, but it appears the two things are separate.  I always thought it was strange that the satnav had a different voice to the rest of the Sync functions.

Out of interest, what are the bugs and security risks fixed in the latest version of Sync?

this is the fun - they can't tell us what was wrong or what they are changing for many reasons - for instance

1) they might be adding back-doors from our overlords mandating new secret scumware vulnerabilities

2) the nice way to think, is if Ford tell us what is broken it might give hackers info on what to try and attack (especially as no one ever updates - so whilst a manufacturer eventually make the effort to remove a few nasty bugs and mask as best they can massive security flaws in the appalling code they threw together), publishing the risk is going to make things worse

3) the car might have safety problems, which could be a risk as is, or hackers could use to try and cause all sorts of hell, and if we ever knew you'd have ammunition to pursue litigation against the manufacture for why all your family got killed

4) the reality will be in the middle - dangerous issues would depend upon how the systems on the car interact, and if it needs an external attack to trigger, how sophisticated do you have to try to exploit them.  If the car is vulnerable, whilst its possible it / they could make the car do something strange, what happens is unclear and the accountants certainly won't be making them own up...

In the good old days an attack probably wasn't against a 8 year old car driven by a poor person and a sensible driver would override by putting your foot on the brake and parking safety.  But once how to exploit is on TikTok, today's children will do it all the time for kicks, and whilst you might brake, the same car coming the other way might have the driver in a panic. 

Other stuff say the ESP failing to perform exactly as designed every time, will be more like 90% its always right, but sometimes its a bit scruffy when a strange canbus bug in the cars systems muddles up data flow. 

But usually the biggest issue a user comes across, will be the in car entertainment does something odd when you press the nav button, the radio cuts out and then comes back normal, or it doesn't display the list of music on the USB stick correctly...

the likely vulnerabilities they are patching will be errors in Bluetooth that let scum do stuff - like in a traffic jam hoodies could hack your telephone and get at personal or banking info

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BlueBorne_(security_vulnerability)

 

 

 

 

which part of Bucks r u in...  I live 1/2mile from the bottom bit - just found the files on my NAS drive

 

 

There's a lot of paranoia in this thread (quite frankly, worrying!) and a lot of misinformation and going way too far into detail that isn't necessary.

The SD cards contain maps and navigation software only, they do not interact with the rest of the infotainment whatsoever. The latest maps do not require the latest Sync, and the latest Sync does not require the latest maps.

To further compound things, the car might not necessarily have Sync at all!

On the MK3 Pre-facelift there were three different variations of the Bluetooth/Audio system - BVC, Sync 1, and Sync 1.1. It does not necessarily follow that the later the car, the later the system.

Module Part Numbers:

AM5T - Sync 1.0

D1BT/E1BT - Sync 1.1

The only versions you can update yourself via USB is Sync 1.1.

If you have separate steering wheel controls similar to the cruise control on the opposite side of the wheel, you likely have BVC, which can't be updated.

If the steering wheel controls are the right hand D-Pad on the wheel, then it's likely to be Sync.

If you have Sync, and are streaming audio from your phone via Bluetooth, and DO NOT see the current track information on the display then you have a Sync 1 APIM which cannot be updated. If you DO see the current track information on the display then you have Sync 1.1 which CAN be upgraded via USB.

The latest and last version of Sync 1.1 is v5.11 - the download from Ford is bugged but there are mirrors of the software on other Ford forums.

https://www.reddit.com/r/FordFocus/comments/y43mnh/fix_sync_10_11_511_update_found_for_people_with/

You can upgrade Sync 1 to Sync 1.1 by replacing the APIM module behind the heater controls with an appropriate module. Any "E1BT-14D212" or "D1BT-14D212" module is sufficient, then upgrade the software to 5.11 via USB.

1.0 to 1.1 adds track information and AppLink functionality

5.X to 5.11 adds Siri Eyes Free functionality

There were no publicised safety vulnerabilities in the software updates and the only reason for them is bug fixes and feature improvements - at the time that these modules were coming out these were likely tweaks to the bluetooth stack to support features introduced in iOS and Android at a time when these platforms were immature.

1 hour ago, dontpannic said:

There's a lot of paranoia in this thread (quite frankly, worrying!) and a lot of misinformation and going way too far into detail that isn't necessary.

Agreed.

Your write up should help quite a lot of people. Of course there will still be those that have to be told a half a dozen times, and will still decide it's too dangerous to try encase the car bursts into flames 🤣

1 hour ago, dontpannic said:

There's a lot of paranoia in this thread (quite frankly, worrying!) and a lot of misinformation and going way too far into detail that isn't necessary.

The SD cards contain maps and navigation software only, they do not interact with the rest of the infotainment whatsoever. The latest maps do not require the latest Sync, and the latest Sync does not require the latest maps.

 

rubbish like this post - is why all road users are more at risk and we have more crime than we could have

I presume you are one of the people aiming to take advantage of others ? or are so ignorant you believe the rubbish you put ?

the blue borne bug which is why the update was released is real - what vulnerabilities it presents will remain unknown (for the reason I proposed) - but the update is free for those sensible enough to spend 20 mins to make it less likely to inconvenience themselves - we ALL know the maps are just maps - but the owner wanted to update part of the car headunit - I just offered some further info to help them make an informed choice as its FREE and easy

you are holding owners and society back - I presume for not very nice reasons ?

4 hours ago, dontpannic said:

a lot of misinformation and going way too far into detail that isn't necessary.

If I contributed to any of that, I apologise.  I knew very little about this process and was reacting to information posted here that made me think I may need more than just the SD card to make the updated maps work.  Which, to be fair, Ford's own website unhelpfully seemed to suggest too.

I gave an account of what I actually ended up doing in my post on the 14th, which I hoped might be helpful for anyone in my situation in the future.  But, in a nutshell, all I needed was the new SD card as advised by unofix.

On 2/21/2024 at 12:51 PM, Botus said:

rubbish like this post - is why all road users are more at risk and we have more crime than we could have

I presume you are one of the people aiming to take advantage of others ? or are so ignorant you believe the rubbish you put ?

the blue borne bug which is why the update was released is real - what vulnerabilities it presents will remain unknown (for the reason I proposed) - but the update is free for those sensible enough to spend 20 mins to make it less likely to inconvenience themselves - we ALL know the maps are just maps - but the owner wanted to update part of the car headunit - I just offered some further info to help them make an informed choice as its FREE and easy

you are holding owners and society back - I presume for not very nice reasons ?

I don’t understand, especially how I’m “holding owners back”. But this is the paranoia and irrelevant information I was referring to. Somehow by advising on the cars systems I’m a bad actor who’s putting you all at risk and increasing crime statistics.

The only search results linking “blueborne” and “ford sync” is you in this thread. By no means am I suggesting that people shouldn’t be updating their devices, if that’s what you are trying to insinuate, I’m not sure where you’ve got that from as I quite clearly state the valid upgrade paths for all related components in my post?
 

Regardless, as Bluetooth connections between the phone and the car are encrypted any data that could be gained from such an attack on a Sync 1 unit is minimal as very little personal data is stored on the APIM and it is on a completely separate communication bus to the cars safety systems.

But what do I know, eh? I’ve only been a third line network engineer for the past 18 years. 
 

Anyway, life’s too short, I’m done on this one, I’ve said what I have to say in my post above. 

On 2/21/2024 at 3:07 PM, Anthony42 said:

If I contributed to any of that, I apologise.

Not at all, glad your maps SD card works 👍🏻

On 2/14/2024 at 3:17 PM, Anthony42 said:

I thought I'd give a final update on this for anyone who might have the same questions as me in the future.

Thank you @Anthony42. Yes; I'm from the future and I do have the same question, but the eBay link (which I think @unofix posted; thank you, also) is now dead, and I'm unsure of the search term needed.

Any further help, would be much appreciated.