jmr061
Explorer Addict
- Joined
- August 24, 2014
- Messages
- 2,037
- Reaction score
- 213
- City, State
- Wisconsin
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 16 Exp Sport
I have read a lot about people wanting to swap from SYNC2(MFT) to SYNC3 in their Explorers. Everyone says Ford should have put SYNC3 in the 2016 model year. There was lots of grumbling that it was produced with SYNC2. There was a rumor that SYNC3 was tested in a 2016 by Ford but they couldn't get it to work so SYNC2 was implemented.
Recently I located a used SYNC3 screen and apim unit from a wrecked 2016 Escape Titanium. It had NAV and was the right price so I purchased it to test in my 2016 Sport.
While the price was right that doesn't mean the rest would be easy. I have spent no less than 15 hours researching the as built programming data of various models of Fords and Lincolns that were SYNC2 based and switched to SYNC3. I am not going to get into fine details but SYNC2 has 8 lines of programming data and SYNC3 has 15 lines of programming data. Deciphering this is difficult if not near impossible.
So now it was time to install it. I compared wiring diagrams between SYNC2 and SYNC3 units and there did not seem to be any issues with that. No rewiring needed. The most difficult part about that physical install were the side brackets attached to the screen. The SYNC2 screen for the Explorer is shaped differently than the SYNC3 screen used in the Escape. I had to cut and drill out the Escape brackets and trial and error fit it until I got it close enough to fitting properly.
SYNC3 uses a regular GPS antenna with a blue FAKRA connector, connected directly to the APIM. It does not use a GPSM like the SYNC2 version uses. At first I didn't have a GPS antenna but ordered a $10 one off eBay and have since installed it. The GPSM should be removed. The instrument cluster needs to come out to access the GPSM which sits behind the right side of the instrument cluster just under the dash pad. This is where I placed the SYNC3 GPS antenna using velcro.
Fired things up and things seemed to work well. Only time would tell. I have tweaked some of the programming I did. Everything seems to work but I have noticed that something strange goes on with the settings in the left side of the instrument cluster. Menus such as locks, lighting, easy entry/exit will randomly grey out and become inaccessible. If the vehicle is shut off and sits for a bit they may or may not come back for a little bit. It appears SYNC3 is interfering with network communication between the IPC, BCM and possibly driver seat module. Off course that is only the stuff I can physically see. There could be more bad stuff going on behind that scenes.
I am at the point of waiting for a 2017 Explorer to hit the build point where I can pull the SYNC3 data and examine it and test it. I will likely put SYNC2 back in it.
My recommendation to everyone at this point is don't get your hopes up of adding SYNC3 to your 2016 Explorer or earlier one for that matter.
I have also just learned that there is a new version of the SYNC3 APIM that has recently come out. Why they have a new version is not known to myself at this time.
I will update (edit) this post with pics and additional information as seen fit.
2/19/16
I actually have re-installed this. I found "better" programming data and it no longer is interfering with the settings in the instrument cluster. On face value right now it seems to be functioning.
After having this back in the vehicle for about a month I found it was still interfering with the settings in the instrument cluster, just much less frequently than before. For this reason I pulled it and am running MFT. Perhaps once the 17s hit the streets and I can look at that data I can revisit this.
Recently I located a used SYNC3 screen and apim unit from a wrecked 2016 Escape Titanium. It had NAV and was the right price so I purchased it to test in my 2016 Sport.
While the price was right that doesn't mean the rest would be easy. I have spent no less than 15 hours researching the as built programming data of various models of Fords and Lincolns that were SYNC2 based and switched to SYNC3. I am not going to get into fine details but SYNC2 has 8 lines of programming data and SYNC3 has 15 lines of programming data. Deciphering this is difficult if not near impossible.
So now it was time to install it. I compared wiring diagrams between SYNC2 and SYNC3 units and there did not seem to be any issues with that. No rewiring needed. The most difficult part about that physical install were the side brackets attached to the screen. The SYNC2 screen for the Explorer is shaped differently than the SYNC3 screen used in the Escape. I had to cut and drill out the Escape brackets and trial and error fit it until I got it close enough to fitting properly.
SYNC3 uses a regular GPS antenna with a blue FAKRA connector, connected directly to the APIM. It does not use a GPSM like the SYNC2 version uses. At first I didn't have a GPS antenna but ordered a $10 one off eBay and have since installed it. The GPSM should be removed. The instrument cluster needs to come out to access the GPSM which sits behind the right side of the instrument cluster just under the dash pad. This is where I placed the SYNC3 GPS antenna using velcro.
Fired things up and things seemed to work well. Only time would tell. I have tweaked some of the programming I did. Everything seems to work but I have noticed that something strange goes on with the settings in the left side of the instrument cluster. Menus such as locks, lighting, easy entry/exit will randomly grey out and become inaccessible. If the vehicle is shut off and sits for a bit they may or may not come back for a little bit. It appears SYNC3 is interfering with network communication between the IPC, BCM and possibly driver seat module. Off course that is only the stuff I can physically see. There could be more bad stuff going on behind that scenes.
I am at the point of waiting for a 2017 Explorer to hit the build point where I can pull the SYNC3 data and examine it and test it. I will likely put SYNC2 back in it.
My recommendation to everyone at this point is don't get your hopes up of adding SYNC3 to your 2016 Explorer or earlier one for that matter.
I have also just learned that there is a new version of the SYNC3 APIM that has recently come out. Why they have a new version is not known to myself at this time.
I will update (edit) this post with pics and additional information as seen fit.
2/19/16
I actually have re-installed this. I found "better" programming data and it no longer is interfering with the settings in the instrument cluster. On face value right now it seems to be functioning.
After having this back in the vehicle for about a month I found it was still interfering with the settings in the instrument cluster, just much less frequently than before. For this reason I pulled it and am running MFT. Perhaps once the 17s hit the streets and I can look at that data I can revisit this.