Hello, I have a 2017 Ford S-MAX

Just after a recent MOT our Sync 3 system started behaving badly. It was incredibly slow and unresponsive, sometimes taking much longer than it should to act when I tried to press anything. Navigating the menus was painful. This was making using it very frustrating. It was even slow to show anything on the screen when I used physical buttons like changing the volume or adjusting the fan speed. I tried everything to fix it, including updated the software to the latest version and doing many soft and hard resets. This didn't work.

I feel like there could be a problem with the GPS as the navigation section is particularly unresponsive and when I use Apple CarPlay it looses the GPS signal after about 10minutes of use. When I soft reset the entire system Apple CarPlay maps start working again but the problem repeats pretty consistently after about 10mins (this is not related to my phone and I have tried with multiple phones - apparently Apple CarPlay uses the car's GPS when it's connected vs the internal iPhone GPS)

I took my car to my local official Ford garage. They assumed that the problem was with the APIM Module and replaced that entirely, ensuring that the new module was configured to the car. This hasn't helped. Does anyone have any ideas. The Ford garage don't know how to fix the problem (and have essentially given up!). I am at a loss as to what to do next. Does anyone know of any London-based garages that specialise in Sync 3 repairs perhaps?

Thanks in advance

Well, first I would take the car back and make them fit the original APIM back on and refund as it obviously wasn't faulty and they miss diagnosed.

They need to learn that you can't just keep throwing parts at cars hoping it works.

DIAGNOSE PROPERLY

There are two levels of software for APIM, the OS software and the APIM firmware. The OS is what you update on the Ford servers with USB, Firmware can only be done at the dealers or yourself (risky) using a paid license on FORScan and the correct lead

Did Ford update the firmware in both the APIM and the ACM (Radio head unit)?

That would be the first place to start

Some things you could try, beforehand, to see if performance improves

Make sure your iPhone is on the latest IOS

Make sure your iPhone storage isn't full

Make sure your iPhone has been restarted and the cache is clear

Make sure the lead that you connect with is a genuine Apple cable

Turn off Wi-Fi in your Sync Settings

Turn off Automatic updates in your Sync settings

You could try updating the OS and Maps using CyanLabs to Sync 3.4, this seems to perform much better

Follow their instructions online TO THE LETTER, installation will take about 40-50 minutes so plan to install on a long journey

If there is an issue with GPS you can unplug the standard fit connector and fit an aftermarket GPS receiver in it's place, which will work correctly

 

Thanks Dave, I really appreciate your response.

thankfully the Ford garage didn't charge me for fitting the APIM as they could see that it didn't fix the problem and so I don't need to claim for a refund! I think that I will try another official service centre as I don't feel confident going with this one again.

I will try some of your suggestions, I really don't think that the problem is with the iPhone or cable though as the sync system is so slow before I even connect anything. This wasn't a gradual decline either, one day it just stopped working properly (which makes me question that it could be solved with software) I really feel like this is hardware problem somewhere. My suspicion is that something somewhere has failed which is causing the system to spin as it tries to resolve it internally. I don't know how this all works of course but that's just what I feel.

Hi Dave,

Quick question. Is it safe for me to use CyanLabs for Sync3.4 updates on my current 2024 Puma. Am getting the usual log file problems with the Ford updates and getting nowhere with them resoliving the problem.

 

On 9/29/2024 at 4:56 PM, jsk said:

Is it safe for me to use CyanLabs for Sync3.4 updates on my current 2024 Puma.

Much as I'm personally a fan of CyanLabs, I would advise against using them on a 2024 car. If anything goes wrong (like the APIM gets turned in to a brick) then your Ford warranty will be void.

On 9/29/2024 at 3:04 PM, marcdavies said:

Thanks Dave, I really appreciate your response.

thankfully the Ford garage didn't charge me for fitting the APIM as they could see that it didn't fix the problem and so I don't need to claim for a refund! I think that I will try another official service centre as I don't feel confident going with this one again.

I will try some of your suggestions, I really don't think that the problem is with the iPhone or cable though as the sync system is so slow before I even connect anything. This wasn't a gradual decline either, one day it just stopped working properly (which makes me question that it could be solved with software) I really feel like this is hardware problem somewhere. My suspicion is that something somewhere has failed which is causing the system to spin as it tries to resolve it internally. I don't know how this all works of course but that's just what I feel.

It's not a hardware problem as you have changed the APIM

get Ford to update the firmware in the APIM and the ACM and then do the other suggestions

 

On 9/29/2024 at 5:01 PM, unofix said:

Much as I'm personally a fan of CyanLabs, I would advise against using them on a 2024 car. If anything goes wrong (like to APIM gets turned in to a brick) then your Ford warranty will be void.

Agreed

Only update pre Sync 3.4 to 3.4 using CyanLabs

On 10/1/2024 at 8:07 AM, DaveT70 said:

It's not a hardware problem as you have changed the APIM

get Ford to update the firmware in the APIM and the ACM and then do the other suggestions

 

Is there any other hardware other than the APIM? The GPS module perhaps which could be failing and as a result causing problems or something else that's causing the system to spin out. The garage spent a week installing the new APIM and then doing all of the updates you mentioned and that didn't help (and we now have to assume that the previous APIM which had worked fine for the past 6 years or so was also not to blame.) I didn't do anything software related before this broke, I did get an MOT done and the problems started directly after that and so I feel like someone poked something and broke it during the MOT.

I have had problems with my sync 3 being very slow to respond etc. I updated the sync 3 and the maps but the sync 3 was just as sluggish. Fitted a new battery and hey presto, everything was back to normal. Make sure you know the code for your sync 3 and don't forget, negative lead undo first then the positive. When refitting the new battery, positive lead connect first then the negative one. Then reset the Battery management system by flicking the left hand paddle shift 5 times and then pressing the brake pedal 3 times. If you don't rest the Battery Management System, it will think it still has the old battery connected. Once reset, the system will 'learn' the battery age and capacity of the new battery amogst other things. 

9 hours ago, DMSJagXK said:

Make sure you know the code for your sync 3 and

What code would that be?

I had a similar problem. I updated my sync 3 files including maps, took my car to Ford who said there was nothing wrong with the hardware. It turned out that my battery wasn't giving out a stable enough 12 volt suppply. When I got a new battery and reset the BMS, the sync 3 was back to normal.

2 errors I made in my original comment.

1. The Ford Mondeo does not have code that needs to be put in after replacing the car battery (it is my Jag that needs a code)

2. To reset the BMS, after putting in a new battery, press the ignition button, without starting the engine, then flick the High Beam stalk five times and then press the brake pedal 3 times. I mistakenly said originally, flick the left hand gear paddle, but it is actually the High Beam stalk that should be flicked. Apologies.

My main point was, that sluggish sync 3 can be caused by having an old, unstable battery.