I downloaded the software and three times I ran the install procedure received from Ford (below) and it goes for 3 hours, never finishing with the error message:
“Installation failed, the installation has run out of space or does not work with this version “. What am I doing wrong? Is my entertainment unit defective?




Take the loaded USB drive to your vehicle.

Start your vehicle and plug the USB drive into the SYNC USB port.

Make sure your vehicle is turned on and running.



Can't find the SYNC USB port in your vehicle?

Check your Owner's manual to see where it's located.



SYNC 3 should automatically initiate the software update installation process. Once it starts, wait for the update files to completely install.

Installing the update files to SYNC 3 should take about 30 minutes.



Do not remove your USB drive or turn off your vehicle while this update is in progress. Shortly after installation has begun, SYNC may quickly display “Installation Complete.” Ignore this message. It refers to a specific phase of the installation, not the overall update process. The system will reboot, which takes several minutes. Do not attempt to use SYNC during this time. After the system reboots, SYNC will display a pop-up requesting the owner set up Automatic System Updates, please press “Ask Me Later”.



Approximately 10 minutes later (timing may vary per update), SYNC will display “Installation Complete” and request the owner to remove the USB drive from the USB port and perform a complete ignition cycle.



It is now safe to remove your USB drive and turn off your vehicle. The vehicle is required to be completely off for at least 5 minutes.



NOTE: Once you have successfully installed the software update in your vehicle, you will need to re-pair your phone with SYNC.



When you are finished installing the software update files to SYNC, bring your USB drive back to your computer to report your successful installation.

 

I just finished the 3.0 update today and here are a few things I noticed. I have a '17 Lariat.

I used a 64Gb thumb drive. I have no idea why Ford specifies a drive of at least 32Gb since the unzipped files take up only 1.5Gb of space, but so be it.

The first time, I unzipped the files to a folder on my hard drive then copied them over to the thumb drive. The update failed with a message "Unrecognized USB Device". I deleted all the files on both the thumb drive and from the folder that I unzipped to on my PC. The second time I unzipped the files directly onto the thumb drive.

This time, nothing happened when I inserted the thumb drive. As a test, I shut off Bluetooth on my phone so that it wouldn't connect to SYNC, restarted the truck and plugged in the drive. After about 30 seconds I got the screen message "Software Update in Progress...".

Here's where it gets interesting; all of the statements in the instructions about "Installation Complete" messages and setting up automatic software updates as well as shutting off the truck and waiting 5 minutes NEVER HAPPENED. Nothing ever re-booted.

After about 20 minutes I got a message that the update was complete, would be applied at the next engine startup and that I'd have to re-pair my phone. I shut off the engine, waited 10 seconds and restarted. I when to the status screen and verified that the current version of software was 3.0 and then re-paired my phone.

Everything went well.

 

Had the same problem with my install and got the same message. Not even going to worry about it or try again. My Sync system has worked fine since day 1 so...just going to move on and not lose any sleep over it. Someone else can deal with it when I trade it in on a 2020 F250 sometime next year.

 

I believe you didn't wait long enough. When Ford told me it would take 60min, I decided to go on a short road trip. It was loading & loading and after 15 min it said upload completed. I said "Dam that was quick" ?. But before I could turn around and head back home (less than a minute) It rebooted and started loading the update again so I kept rolling along. My original goal was to hit the grocery store before heading home and as I pulled into the Parking lot, it stated that the upload was completed and I needed to turn the truck off. I parked and locked the truck up and went into the store. Came out and started the truck and checked the Sync version and it was 3.0. The uprade instructions did say something about opening the doors ? Maybe 10sec wasn't long enough ?

 

I don't think so. It shows that I'm running 3.0 and everything seems to work properly including having the heated steering wheel soft key on the main screen now. It also wrote the "successful update" file to the usb drive for uploading to Ford.

 

That's why I like the old say, "if it ain't broken, don't fix it."

 

Shortride, I agree with you on that one! I don't have the latest and greatest. I'm still running XP on my computer, It works!
TJ

 

I got you beat. Look what I still play at 72 years old.

 

I play 3 different versions of Solitary! I don't have to chase anything!