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Help....Sync 3 map update fails

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Old Oct 16, 2021 | 04:27 PM
  #1  
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Help....Sync 3 map update fails

Ford offered me map updates for 5 years at what I thought was a reasonable price. I chose to buy the Ford supplied USB stick.
I received the USB stick the other day and tried to do the install. Should be easy, but.......no.
I follow the instructions and insert the stick. I quickly get the error message "Installation error. This Sync software is not compatible with the installed Sync hardware on the vehicle."
From the included instructions, The "cause" is Sync version is 2.0. Solution is Update Sync to 3.0.
I have a 2018 F250 Lariat. I confirmed I have Sync 3. I connected to home WiFi and did "updates" It appears my software is up to date.
Of course, there is no way to get support specified in the instructions.
Yes, I could go to the Ford dealer. But I should be able to do this myself.

Any thoughts and suggestions will be much appreciated!!!
 
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Old Oct 16, 2021 | 04:34 PM
  #2  
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Go to the Sync update page and put in your VIN. My truck always says that it's up to date when checking through the Sync system even when an update is actually available.

https://help.ford.com/update-sync/usb/

 
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Old Oct 16, 2021 | 11:02 PM
  #3  
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Originally Posted by Ltripreno
Ford offered me map updates for 5 years at what I thought was a reasonable price. I chose to buy the Ford supplied USB stick.
I received the USB stick the other day and tried to do the install. Should be easy, but.......no.
I follow the instructions and insert the stick. I quickly get the error message "Installation error. This Sync software is not compatible with the installed Sync hardware on the vehicle."
From the included instructions, The "cause" is Sync version is 2.0. Solution is Update Sync to 3.0.
I have a 2018 F250 Lariat. I confirmed I have Sync 3. I connected to home WiFi and did "updates" It appears my software is up to date.
Of course, there is no way to get support specified in the instructions.
Yes, I could go to the Ford dealer. But I should be able to do this myself.

Any thoughts and suggestions will be much appreciated!!!

What version and build of sync 3 do you have ?
The latest version is 3.4.21194 and maps NA20

ZooDad
 
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Old Oct 17, 2021 | 09:00 AM
  #4  
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67L48
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Can’t help you unless you tell us what you have. You need to tell us the version and build of your Sync 3. Map version. Etc.

Without that, it’s about like asking, “I have a Ford truck that’s making a ticking sound, what’s wrong?”
 
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Old Oct 17, 2021 | 09:51 AM
  #5  
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Waste of money.
 
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Old Oct 17, 2021 | 04:36 PM
  #6  
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Originally Posted by Ltripreno
Ford offered me map updates for 5 years at what I thought was a reasonable price. I chose to buy the Ford supplied USB stick.
I received the USB stick the other day and tried to do the install. Should be easy, but.......no.
I follow the instructions and insert the stick. I quickly get the error message "Installation error. This Sync software is not compatible with the installed Sync hardware on the vehicle."
From the included instructions, The "cause" is Sync version is 2.0. Solution is Update Sync to 3.0.
I have a 2018 F250 Lariat. I confirmed I have Sync 3. I connected to home WiFi and did "updates" It appears my software is up to date.
Of course, there is no way to get support specified in the instructions.
Yes, I could go to the Ford dealer. But I should be able to do this myself.

Any thoughts and suggestions will be much appreciated!!!
Hi
I just went down that road recently and what a headache it is until you figure it out,
1st- Update your sync system to the latest version available, (a must) otherwise your map install will give you error codes.
2nd- You Must do a Master Reset on your sync. system.
3rd- after a master rest is completed, shut down and restart the system.
4th- if you have a push to start ignition, you must disable the auto off in you instrument cluster. You must keep your vehicle running the whole time. then make sure nothing else is plugged into your usb ports,
then insert your Ford Preloaded Map update USB stick then follow the instructions on the different screens .
My sync update took less than 10 min., my nav. update took over a hour, be patient and follow the screens.
I would not personally pay for the map update, I got it for free, I feel there's mush better free maps to use by connecting to IOS or Android auto.
But i guess its nice to know your system is all up to date
Good luck,
Rich,
 
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Old Oct 17, 2021 | 04:42 PM
  #7  
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Originally Posted by rcorcich
Hi
I just went down that road recently and what a headache it is until you figure it out,
1st- Update your sync system to the latest version available, (a must) otherwise your map install will give you error codes.
2nd- You Must do a Master Reset on your sync. system.
3rd- after a master rest is completed, shut down and restart the system.
4th- if you have a push to start ignition, you must disable the auto off in you instrument cluster. You must keep your vehicle running the whole time. then make sure nothing else is plugged into your usb ports,
then insert your Ford Preloaded Map update USB stick then follow the instructions on the different screens .
My sync update took less than 10 min., my nav. update took over a hour, be patient and follow the screens.
I would not personally pay for the map update, I got it for free, I feel there's mush better free maps to use by connecting to IOS or Android auto.
But i guess its nice to know your system is all up to date
Good luck,
Rich,

Why must you do a master reset on the Sync system?

I ran into the same exact issue as the OP, so have others from what I read in another recent thread. The Nav error is related to not having the most recent version of Sync. After downloading and installing the most recent version of Sync the Nav update will load.
 
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Old Oct 17, 2021 | 05:14 PM
  #8  
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Originally Posted by 4wd6.7L
Why must you do a master reset on the Sync system?

I ran into the same exact issue as the OP, so have others from what I read in another recent thread. The Nav error is related to not having the most recent version of Sync. After downloading and installing the most recent version of Sync the Nav update will load.
When I tried to update the maps without having the latest sync update installed I got two error codes which Sync support could not clear and nav maps would not load, and sync support had to escalate my case to a higher tech support which had me do a master reset of the sync system. This was ongoing for almost 2 - weeks playing phone tag and e-mails and countless attempts by sync support. Until i did a master reset by there step by stem instructions. Then then maps update loaded fine and installed. Was my case unique ? I dont know , just saying what worked. And something else to try when all else fails.
No where in there instructions do they mention that you must have the most recent version of sync. installed prior to installing the Nav. map update. That would save a lot of people a lot of headaches.
After I updated the sync system Ford sync support could not clear the error codes without doing a master reset. After the reset Nav map update loaded properly and updated,.
 
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Old Oct 17, 2021 | 05:56 PM
  #9  
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Just went through the same problem with my 2017. I was trying to load map update NA1.20 and the screen kept saying that it was incompatible with the current Sync build. I ended up going to help.ford.com and put in my VIN and it said that I needed a new Sync 3 update. I downloaded it to a thumb drive and installed in per their directions. Following that install, I retried the map update and everything worked perfectly. I did not have to do any sort of reset on the system for the map update to work.
 
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Old Oct 17, 2021 | 09:41 PM
  #10  
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I have a 2019, and I got the same message today. I thought I was all up to date on the Sync, but maybe not. I'll have to get out there on my next day off (probably next weekend), and have a look. Boy, it sure would be nice if they included all this information in the update instructions!
 
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Old Oct 17, 2021 | 09:50 PM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by edjunior
I have a 2019, and I got the same message today. I thought I was all up to date on the Sync, but maybe not. I'll have to get out there on my next day off (probably next weekend), and have a look. Boy, it sure would be nice if they included all this information in the update instructions!
An easy way to check is to use the link I posted (post #2) and put your VIN in. It will tell you whether or not a Sync update is available for your truck.
 
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Old Oct 18, 2021 | 01:51 PM
  #12  
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After you install the latest Sync update in your truck, the truck then records the fact that you did an update back onto your thumb drive. You then go back onto the website and download that record onto the website. That way, if you want to check in the future if you need an update, the website knows what the current Sync build is in your truck.
 
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Old Oct 18, 2021 | 04:10 PM
  #13  
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Originally Posted by Sailor#10
After you install the latest Sync update in your truck, the truck then records the fact that you did an update back onto your thumb drive. You then go back onto the website and download that record onto the website. That way, if you want to check in the future if you need an update, the website knows what the current Sync build is in your truck.
After one does the update with the thumb drive and even though the Ford instructions says to, there’s no need to plug the thumb drive back into your home computer to let Ford know that the update has been done.

Since the vehicle is attached to WiFi, the system will automatically update on the Ford website.
 
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Old Oct 18, 2021 | 06:42 PM
  #14  
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Gabar Not helpful. Why bother?
 
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Old Oct 18, 2021 | 06:45 PM
  #15  
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I am working on several of the suggestions presented.
Currently doing the update process from post #2

I have Sync 3.0 Version 3.0 Build 17276. Maps NA 1 16

I will be back later.
 
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