What?! Only one nav map download allowed? Will a reflash fix the lost voice nav?

[pwillikers]

I've got a one month old 2020 Ford Edge with "voice activated navigation". 

 

I consulted owner.ford.com and syncnavigation.com which both told me there were updates available.  I downloaded both immense update files and first applied the sync3 update and then the map update, both from a flash drive per the instructions.  After the updates, the voice navigation has ceased to function.  I surmised that something with the map update had failed.

 

I performed a master reset, re-downloaded and applied the sync3 update file all of which went fine.  Voice nav still didn't work.  Since I suspected the map files may have been corrupted, I deleted the downloaded map update file, dug up a new flash drive and went back to syncnavigation.com to re-download the map update.

 

To my surprise, I was forced to a pay $40. only option.  The download option was no longer available.  What?  What happens if something goes wrong?  This is beyond stupid.  Be forewarned.  Everything must go right with your update or you will pay the price!  

 

I called the Ford sync help line.  They told me it was impossible to provide me a new map upgrade file.  I do realize it is a separate company that provides the map but this is an absurdly restrictive policy for what is apparently a very fragile process.

 

The Ford help line told me to take it to the dealer.   I called the dealer: "Drop your car off and leave it.  Probably four or five days before we can look at it".  No option.

 

So now I must pay $40. in the hope that it was indeed a corrupt file that caused the issue OR loose the use of my brand new car for at least a week and hope Ford service can fix it?   UGH!

Edited December 4, 2020 by pwillikers
embellish

[alcohenusa]

A couple of things on updating maps....

 

First, you should have received a confirmation email when you first downloaded the map update.  That email contains a link that allows you to redownload the update at no cost.

 

Second, if the voice commands for navigation don’t work after the update, then you most likely removed the USB too early.  There are multiple ‘update complete’ messages that appear when doing the map update. You need to leave the USB connected until you get the one that says it is complete and the system no longer reboots on its own.  This issue has happened to many users.  My successful map update took just about an hour, but I have seen others says it took a bit over an hour for them.  Rerun the map update until it fully completes and you should be good.

Edited December 4, 2020 by alcohenusa

[pwillikers]

14 hours ago, pwillikers said:

 

Thank you very much for the process clarification.  It's good to know that if I am able to rerun the nav update, the voice function will likely be restored.  

 

I have found the confirmation email and am downloading the update again.   I will report back.

[bbf2530]

4 hours ago, pwillikers said:

Thank you very much for the process clarification.  It's good to know that if I am able to rerun the nav update, the voice function will likely be restored.  

 

I have found the confirmation email and am downloading the update again.   I will report back.

 

Hi pwillikers. Just to add to alcohenusa's good information: Assume the NAV maps update will take the full ~1 hour or so to properly download.

 

My experience has been that we can get one, or even several, false/premature "Your update has completed..." messages. In addition, Ford/Lincoln now mentions in the instructions that you may get these "Your update has completed..." messages before each reboot during the update process. So we need to be patient and wait to see if there is a next step to the update.

 

Therefore, my advice is...Do not remove the USB, restart the car etc., until the "Your update has completed" message has been on your SYNC screen for at least 10 minutes.  This will allow for any necessary reboots or further updating which may/will be necessary.

 

This ~1 hour time has also been the case with SYNC 3 updates, at least up until this last one, which was a small update file and only took 5 minutes for my MKZ.

 

Also, keep in mind that the messages I have in quotes above are a best-of-my-recollection approximation of the messages, not exact quotes.

 

Let us know how you make out and good luck.

[pwillikers]

Thank you both for your able guidance.  I have completed the update process and everything, including "voice activated navigation" now functions properly.

 

I include the following embellished paraphrase of your instructions for anyone who may be unlucky enough to follow the erroneous instructions displayed during the update process.

 

Ford Sync3 Navigation Map Update:

1. I downloaded the ~11GB map update file using the link in the confirmation email that was sent to me when I downloaded the file the first time.
2. I extracted the .zip file to a 64GB USB flash drive which was freshly formatted with an exFAT file system.
3. I had to move the files and directories from a sub-directory of the flash drive into the root directory which resulted in the file structure in the attached image.
4. I downloaded the license file and copied it into the SyncMyRide directory on the flash drive.
5. I started my 2020 Ford Edge and let the Sync3 screen stabilize on the map view.
6. I plugged the USB flash drive into the USB connector in the console.  The top of the Sync3 screen displayed the message "Updating System Software" (or something similar to that).
7. Over the next seventy minutes, at approximately equal intervals, it twice displayed the message "Update Completed, Shut your car off and restart" (or something similar to that) and rebooted itself.
8. I ignored these messages and did not shut off and restart the car nor did I remove the USB drive.
9. A minute or so after each reboot, the top of the Sync3 screen again displayed the message "Updating System Software".
10. After a total elapsed time of approximately seventy minutes with the USB drive in place, it displayed the final message "Update complete, remove your USB drive and after your next restart your system update will be active"  (or something similar to that).
11. I waited ten minutes just to be safe, shut off and restarted the car.
12. The update was successfully applied and everything, including voice activated navigation, now seems to be functioning properly.
13. Thanks to this forum, alcohenusa and bbf2530 for their able guidance.

 

 

 

Edited May 29, 2021 by pwillikers
clarify

[alcohenusa]

Hi pwillikers.  You’re welcome.

 

Glad to hear everything is working!

[bbf2530]

Hi pwillikers. Happy to hear it all worked out in the end. ?

 

And thanks for the nice instructional write up. It will definitely help others if they follow it.

 

Good luck.

[markn455]

These updates seem like a variety of different nightmares. Ford could really take some lessons from Tesla's playbook when it comes to updates. They just work, installation is painless, and they are free even if the car is long past warranty.

[Multitask]

Sync 4 will be that way..... or that is the plan anyway.  ?