MHOsborn Posted September 10, 2018 Report Share Posted September 10, 2018 I have a 2017 Ford Edge Titanium with Sync 3. Current build number is Version 3, Build 18093. It shows the last time it checked for an update was on August 30th. I was curious if it really updates over WiFi or not, so I thought I'd check. I looked in Automatic System Updates, and tapped Scan For Updates Now. This results in a progress bar with a caption on top of it that reads: Downloading JR3T-14G423-CA_130684.tar.gz Ten minutes later the screen hasn't changed. No indication anything's really happening...no change in the progress bar.... I saw pretty much the same things a month or two ago in my wife's 2017 Ford Escape Titanium, also with Sync 3. (I didn't note the software version...just that nothing happens on the progress bar). So I have to wonder...is there anything happening when I see the "...Downloading..." progress bar and nothing's changing? Or is my software up to date and this is Ford's cryptic way of telling me that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alcohenusa Posted September 10, 2018 Report Share Posted September 10, 2018 (edited) My dealer had to reinstall my sync updates due to files being stuck from a failed wifi update. On the repair order, there was a statement that wifi should remain turned off as recommended by the tech support line. You will see many posts that indicate that wifi update doesnt work, though others seem to indicate some successful wifi updates. As for me, I am leaving mine turned off. Edited September 10, 2018 by alcohenusa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHOsborn Posted September 11, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2018 I will say that WiFi updating must have worked at some point to get me to Build 18093, which (I believe?) is the latest build for Sync 3 in the Ford Edge. But, for sure, I won't try another "manual" update over WiFi....and, in fact, am hoping that when I get in the Edge later today the Sync system is OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCEcoBoost Posted September 12, 2018 Report Share Posted September 12, 2018 Yes, skip the WiFi updates. Ford is promising that 2019s WITH AN EMBEDDED MODEM and on-board WiFi will solve this issue. But for pre-2019 models, well, we're screwed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHOsborn Posted September 12, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2018 I suspect that, at some level, the WiFi update functionality must work, because, as I mentioned earlier, there's no other way I'd be on Build 18093 otherwise. It would be nice, though, if someone from Ford could chime in here (I've seen them in this forum before). I'm hoping they can shed some light on this. I'd like to know, for example, whether the WiFi update works when the vehicle isn't running...and kind of just happens in the background? And also, I'd like to know if what I've seen happen with the "manual" updating over WiFi is a bug in the code, and the system did, in fact, check for an update but found nothing? Solving an issue like this shouldn't require adding a MODEM to the system. If what's been said earlier that adding modems to the system is Ford's fix to this issue, then I've got to seriously consider how much they truly care for their users/customers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCEcoBoost Posted September 12, 2018 Report Share Posted September 12, 2018 (edited) Ford did come out with a modem that can be purchased for pre-2019s earlier this year. I'm not positive since it was a while ago, but the cost was like $100 plus a monthly fee. You can search the topics in here to find it. I doubt the take rate is very high, but for those with deep pockets...should you have those... GM is the leader in embedded modems, with its OnStar. Seems like nearly every other manufacturer is scrambling this year to add them to their vehicles. My biggest gripe about Ford, having been with GM for the better part of 20 years prior, IS the lack of an on-board modem. Its a royal pain in the arse to have to do updates manually and not over-the-air automatically. Even running manual Vehicle Health Reports is a nuisance. Edited September 12, 2018 by NCEcoBoost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multitask Posted September 12, 2018 Report Share Posted September 12, 2018 I would pass on the WiFi/Modem 100 for modem and then a monthly fee JUST so that I can do updates? sheesh... I know that it also would allow for remote start, and other things, but they would be something I wouldn't use. download and flash install is better for me. 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHOsborn Posted September 12, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2018 Unless I have some basic misunderstanding of how things work, a modem simply provides an internet connection gateway...whether it's in a car or house....right? If our vehicles have WiFi capability, they ALREADY have the ability to go online (assuming they can be connected to WiFi), don't they? So why should we be tempted to upgrade our cars for a newer model containing a modem (with its additional monthly fee!) to provide functionality we should already have? Doesn't make sense! No...I think the issue here is based on poor Sync programming (most likely culprit, given the struggles Ford seems to have had over the years with their Sync (or should we call it Stink?) system. Even if the problem was something amiss on the backend (Ford's update servers), decent programming would alert us to a problem at Ford. Instead, we get a "static" progress bar that never changes, providing no user insight into what might be wrong (or right...for all I know, something's actually happening). LOL...I'm still amazed that, after all these years, Ford seems to be using summer interns to write the code for one of the most customer-facing features in their cars and trucks. RetirEd 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multitask Posted September 12, 2018 Report Share Posted September 12, 2018 It seems that way doesn't it... I can get connected to my WiFi not sure how strong, but nothing happens, no error it just says the last try was at the time I did the attempts... so I rely on Flash drive now that I have a 2018, next time I'm in for my oil change I'll see if they do the updates for free. 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCEcoBoost Posted September 13, 2018 Report Share Posted September 13, 2018 Uh, huh, good luck with that. It seems that way doesn't it... I can get connected to my WiFi not sure how strong, but nothing happens, no error it just says the last try was at the time I did the attempts... so I rely on Flash drive now that I have a 2018, next time I'm in for my oil change I'll see if they do the updates for free. 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCEcoBoost Posted September 13, 2018 Report Share Posted September 13, 2018 I agree 100% with everything you're saying. Somehow, having the vehicle being its own WiFi hotspot, however, seems to help with the issue, according to Ford. And yes, LOL, I said it first in here - summer interns DO seem to be in charge of these "fixes". I'll bet this past summer, they were spending their time on Sync4 and not dealing with Sync3 any longer. Unless I have some basic misunderstanding of how things work, a modem simply provides an internet connection gateway...whether it's in a car or house....right? If our vehicles have WiFi capability, they ALREADY have the ability to go online (assuming they can be connected to WiFi), don't they? So why should we be tempted to upgrade our cars for a newer model containing a modem (with its additional monthly fee!) to provide functionality we should already have? Doesn't make sense! No...I think the issue here is based on poor Sync programming (most likely culprit, given the struggles Ford seems to have had over the years with their Sync (or should we call it Stink?) system. Even if the problem was something amiss on the backend (Ford's update servers), decent programming would alert us to a problem at Ford. Instead, we get a "static" progress bar that never changes, providing no user insight into what might be wrong (or right...for all I know, something's actually happening). LOL...I'm still amazed that, after all these years, Ford seems to be using summer interns to write the code for one of the most customer-facing features in their cars and trucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multitask Posted September 13, 2018 Report Share Posted September 13, 2018 Sync4 will be for the Hybrid Mustang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCEcoBoost Posted September 14, 2018 Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 IF that ever makes it to production. There's been a HUGE backlash over the "Mustang-based Mach1" electric vehicle, so Ford's troubles with its "plan" are by no means over. Recent research has also revealed that most current Ford sedan customers plan to ditch Ford and not go along with buying a Ford CUV/SUV. Including me. Sync4 will be for the Hybrid Mustang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHOsborn Posted September 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2018 As I've not seen any comments from Ford here, I can only assume they are fully aware that WiFi updating is buggy at best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multitask Posted September 16, 2018 Report Share Posted September 16, 2018 I don't think anyone from Ford is here anymore.... havn't seen them interact in about a year MHOsborn 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcharriso51 Posted September 17, 2018 Report Share Posted September 17, 2018 i recently purchased a 2017 F150 with Sync 3. It came with Version 2.2 and once I enabled software updates it would regularly connect to my home WiFI and pop up a message on the top bar that the system was being updated. It would only connect if I had the truck running or in ACC mode. If I parked it and walked away it would disconnect and only reconnect thereafter for short periods. ( verified by looking at the client list/logs on my router) It seemed to be sipping data not really trying to download. However after 2 solid months of this one day a message popped up saying it had successfully upgraded to 2.3. That was a shocker. It actually worked. Feeling emboldened I tried the USB update to Version 3.0. I used a reformatted 32GB USB 2.0 thumb drive. downloaded and unzipped the update file and copied its contents to the thumb drive. I went to the truck, started it, put in the thumb drive and it would churn for about 15 minutes then give me a SIGN_ERR01 error message. I tried several times and got the same result. It was frustrating as I have read of many other people have trouble updating as well. Just for kicks I had a very old Sony 8gb USB 1.0 in a drawer. I reformatted the drive and copied the files over and stuck the drive in the trucks USB port. 15 minutes later a message popped up saying the update was complete. Same files, same process, same port, just a different (and obsolete) thumb drive. Happy day. The bottom line is that it upgraded to Ver 3.0. Not that there is much apparent difference from Ver 2.x. How do you go from 2.3 to 3.0 and just call it "Continuous Improvement" ? MHOsborn 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCEcoBoost Posted September 17, 2018 Report Share Posted September 17, 2018 Yeah, my '17 Fusion came with 2.2. But, I had to use the version 2.0 thumb drive to update to 2.3 and then 3.0. Funny that yours didn't work to 3.0. Maybe brand of flash drive? Who knows? Sync3 sure is fussy. While others in here can rattle off a list of improvements with 3.0, I agree with you and say it's basically the same. Not sure I'd bother upgrading ever again. Ford just received an award for Sync3 being the most useful infotainment system by users, so don't expect any major updates in the future anyway... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multitask Posted September 17, 2018 Report Share Posted September 17, 2018 my 18 FFH has Sync 3 17xxx Tried to update it with the new patch that is out there. So I'll be at 18xxx Got the MEM error 003 This was with a USB 2.0 drive that was used to update my previous car with no issues.... I'll have to try the USB 1.0 stick I have... it'll be VERY slow, but if it works... good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDandKitty Posted September 26, 2018 Report Share Posted September 26, 2018 Decided it wasn't possible to update sync 3 using the USB process on my 2018 fusion hybrid. Took it to ford yesterday and was told they're working on it. They realize there's a problem and for any of you that got it, congratulations, but for me they don't have any idea what I should do therefore the software that I wanted to put on will not install because it will not work with version 2.3 or less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multitask Posted September 26, 2018 Report Share Posted September 26, 2018 I was able to update to 18xxx.. and that worked... Not much to say, I don't see any diffs, must have been bug fixes as far as going from 2.x to 3.x , it should be able to... maybe they will swap out the APIM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDandKitty Posted September 26, 2018 Report Share Posted September 26, 2018 Took the Fusion back to Lexington Ford today because the backup camera quit after they tried to update SYNC 3 yesterday. Guess what?? Ford sent an updated new file (they said) for the update. This time all is well. The update went right in and now I can load some software that wouldn't work with any update but 3.0 I hope others who couldn't get it installed will see this and get the new file too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcharriso51 Posted April 3, 2019 Report Share Posted April 3, 2019 For the past month or so my 2017 F150 Sync 3.0 has been trying to update Gracenote via home WIFI with no success. This past weekend I was going on a 7 hour trip to Nashville so I enabled the hotspot on my phone, started the download and off we went. However it never completed over the entire 7 hour drive. To be fair I was running Ford-Alexa and Navigation the whole time so I suspect that Sync aborted the update. Coming back from Nashville I started the download again and kept everything off. No radio, No Nav, nothing. After about an hour into the trip home the update loaded, installed itself and rebooted. So my suggestion to anyone having a problem updating via WIFI is to take long drive and keep Sync as idle as you can. It does work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multitask Posted April 5, 2019 Report Share Posted April 5, 2019 I wonder what version of WiFi it is? 802.11(what alpha) I'd guess B and 2.4Mhz, which not much supports it anymore... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPM Posted April 16, 2019 Report Share Posted April 16, 2019 Version 3.3 is out for 2019 models only. Everyone else will get it once Ford feels it’s stable enough. 2019 models get it from the factory build Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multitask Posted April 16, 2019 Report Share Posted April 16, 2019 8 hours ago, TPM said: Version 3.3 is out for 2019 models only. Everyone else will get it once Ford feels it’s stable enough. 2019 models get it from the factory build Unless they can do stripped down version, I doubt we will see it... the new APIMs have more RAM, probbaly for more 'features' , and most of the 2019's I've seen talked about have a modem in them now... so no more WiFi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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