Hi all,

Please put me out of my misery. I tried updating my maps a couple of years ago and had no joy. Since then I have been using Android auto but I've decided to give it another try. It's a 2017 ST3 diesel estate.

Yesterday I updated the SYNC3 software itself via USB. All seems to have gone well and I was able to upload the log file to Fords website which then made the map update available to me. I downloaded it and extracted it directly to a USB drive formatted to exFAT as per the instructions. Upon reviewing the instructions I noticed that they referenced a file called "DONTINDX.MSA". However, this wasn't present in the file downloaded directly from Ford. I tried it multiple times. In the end I contacted chat support and spoke to a live agent who advised that DONTINDX.MSA wasn't required and the update would work anyway.

Somewhat reassured I attempted to run the update fully expecting it might take up to 2 hours so decided to set out for a long drive. Within literally a minute or so the SYNC3 screen told me the update was complete. I expected that wasn't the case and returned to my computer and attempted to upload the log file to Ford but it just hung as if it was uploading for ages (it's still going now but expect it isn't actually doing anything).

I then turned to Chat GPT to try and figure out what is going on and uploaded the log file to kick off some troubleshooting. It helped me create the missing file after advising whatever Ford told me was incorrect as that file essentially tells the computer not to treat the USB like a media device. I was prompted to check the autoinstall.lst file and see what file it was pointing at - the file on the drive from the Ford download was "GB5T-14G386-AE.tar" - the full line from "autoinstall.lst" said "Open1 = SyncMyRide\GB5T-14G386-AE.tar.gz" so obviously the file did not end in .gz so once again duff files from Ford. I amended the autoinstall file to point at the correct file name GB5T-14G386-AE.tar.

I went to my car again and after inserting the USB got an immediate LST_ERR05 error. I've ruled out any issues with autoinstall.lst such as incorrect file placement. It was a fresh USB drive formatted to exFAT but I am trying another full format of it but to me it just seems the files from Ford are all over the place.

Has anyone else experienced this? It's just bugging me because I can't get the map update on. At this point I'm contemplating going down the CyanLabs route but would sooner get the legit Ford software working.

The last thing I am going to try is, rather than amending the file name in autoinstall.lst, I am going to compress GB5T-14G386-AE.tar into GB5T-14G386-AE.tar.gz and hopefully that works, I think.

Thanks for reading,

Connor.

Edited July 17, 2025Jul 17 by ST3_DERV
Added an additional line at the end about next steps

As I understand it, the CyanLabs files are from the same source as the 'legit Ford software'.

I have a 2016 Focus with SYNC3 (upgraded from SYNC2), so needed to use the CyanLabs for upgrades. I run this with Apple CarPlay.

I have never had a problem with this, and I'm currently using the latest update:

 

 

Forget the Ford update system and just use Cyanlabs.

Cyanlabs uses the exact same Ford update servers that the official Ford update system uses. The latest files are usually available on the Ford server Months before the official update is released. This is why Cyanlabs is usually much sooner to offer the latest update than the official update system.

Another major advantage is that Cyanlabs developed a much better, more user fliendly update method. On pre-MY20 APIM modules the Cyanlabs method is considerably faster and more reliable than the official Ford method.

Ford does not consider the earlier APIM modules to be suitable to run the latest SYNC 3.4 software. For these older APIM versions the SYNC 3.4 software is not offered by the official update method. These older APIM versions however are technically identical to the later versions and are perfectly capable to run the latest SYNC 3.4 software. Therefore, the Cyanlabs software does offer the latest SYNC 3.4 software for these older APIM versions.


When using Cynlabs there is no need to use the official Ford update method or upload files ever again.

As @YOG says, yes use Cyanlabs.

But I have found, on map updates, when you get the initial warning, like you did, that update is complete, pull over, turn off car, open and close driver's door, then start again.

Then it will start updating maps properly, which will take up to an hour.

But Cyanlabs works really well and will update you to 3.4 too