Why doesn't sync 3 play nice?
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Cross-Country
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Why doesn't sync 3 play nice?
So-If you remember my recent thread-I just bought a low miles 2020 Ford F-150 Lariat. I love the truck, but the sync 3 seems to be at best "buggy". So-I have sync version 3.4 which the truck tells me is the latest. Every so often-the truck will revert to an AM radio news station, instead of the last station (which is usually SAT radio) that I was listening to. Then of course it drops my paired phone as well.
So-again I do a master reset (program all the radio stations-AGAIN) and everything is fine until some random time when the radio decides to do it's own thing.
Has anybody figured this thing out? It's going to the dealer Friday for an unrelated manner-anything a dealer can do?
My Silverado which I traded in had transmission issues, AFM issues but the radio software was ultra reliable! LOL!
BTW-does an aftermarket radio with the proper interface fix these issues?
So-again I do a master reset (program all the radio stations-AGAIN) and everything is fine until some random time when the radio decides to do it's own thing.
Has anybody figured this thing out? It's going to the dealer Friday for an unrelated manner-anything a dealer can do?
My Silverado which I traded in had transmission issues, AFM issues but the radio software was ultra reliable! LOL!
BTW-does an aftermarket radio with the proper interface fix these issues?
Last edited by CKNSLS; Oct 18, 2022 at 08:43 PM.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
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It sounds to me like there's an issue with the radio or the wiring to it itself, which occasionally happens. If it is losing all your stations then the radio is dropping power and losing its memory. These radios have built-in batteries to maintain your station preferences and remember paired phones for a certain amount of time even with a battery being swapped out, if I recall correctly.
As for switching to an aftermarket radio, a LOT of them don't interface with steering wheel controls or most remote features of the truck, such as voice command. If that's not important to you then you're all set, otherwise you're going to want to go with a factory replacement. I won't say it 'fixes' the issues you're having but a new radio shouldn't drop power and lose its memory.
As for switching to an aftermarket radio, a LOT of them don't interface with steering wheel controls or most remote features of the truck, such as voice command. If that's not important to you then you're all set, otherwise you're going to want to go with a factory replacement. I won't say it 'fixes' the issues you're having but a new radio shouldn't drop power and lose its memory.
Logistics Pro
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From: Edmond, OK
Occasionally, my 20 F150 powers up the AM radio by itself or starts on AM as the source even though I only listen to my linked phone. So far, I haven't lost my station memory. I thought it was just a weird fluke. Reading this there might be a software update needed.
FWIW, I doubt a single or double DIN radio would interface very well with our trucks. Gone are the days of buying an adapter plate from Crutchcraft to put a Kenwood stereo in your vehicle.
BTW, my start/stop function works fine. I use it all the time.
FWIW, I doubt a single or double DIN radio would interface very well with our trucks. Gone are the days of buying an adapter plate from Crutchcraft to put a Kenwood stereo in your vehicle.
BTW, my start/stop function works fine. I use it all the time.
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Cross-Country
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Just to clear things up. I lose the radio presets when I do a master reset. The radio (sync 3) will not keep a phone paired, I have an Android and my wife has an iPhone. It won't keep either one paired, so that basically rules out the phones. The clock will always reset itself an hour ahead. and sometimes the radio will reset itself to another channel than what I was listening to when I restart the truck. This is minor and something I can live with.
So-I get in the truck-pair my phone, set the clock, and it's good until I turn it off and restart the truck. The truck was dropped off at the dealer with the above issues mentioned, because I had a warranty appointment for something else. We will see what the dealer does.
Searching the Internet-a new radio or a new APIM seems to fix the issues. Again-I don't know what the dealer will come up with.
So-I get in the truck-pair my phone, set the clock, and it's good until I turn it off and restart the truck. The truck was dropped off at the dealer with the above issues mentioned, because I had a warranty appointment for something else. We will see what the dealer does.
Searching the Internet-a new radio or a new APIM seems to fix the issues. Again-I don't know what the dealer will come up with.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 3,950
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From: Edmond, OK
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Logistics Pro
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Just to clear things up. I lose the radio presets when I do a master reset. The radio (sync 3) will not keep a phone paired, I have an Android and my wife has an iPhone. It won't keep either one paired, so that basically rules out the phones. The clock will always reset itself an hour ahead. and sometimes the radio will reset itself to another channel than what I was listening to when I restart the truck. This is minor and something I can live with.
So-I get in the truck-pair my phone, set the clock, and it's good until I turn it off and restart the truck. The truck was dropped off at the dealer with the above issues mentioned, because I had a warranty appointment for something else. We will see what the dealer does.
Searching the Internet-a new radio or a new APIM seems to fix the issues. Again-I don't know what the dealer will come up with.
So-I get in the truck-pair my phone, set the clock, and it's good until I turn it off and restart the truck. The truck was dropped off at the dealer with the above issues mentioned, because I had a warranty appointment for something else. We will see what the dealer does.
Searching the Internet-a new radio or a new APIM seems to fix the issues. Again-I don't know what the dealer will come up with.
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Cross-Country
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To update the thread. I dropped off the truck last Thursday and the dealer just got around (yea-I know) to the warranty work I originally requested today, replacing part of the center console due to a lose trim piece. As I had it in for that, I explained the radio situation and asked them to do an update on the software to hopefully fix the problems, as the radio would not update itself when I connected it to my home WIFI. Apparently while updating the software at the shop, it failed and wouldn't update correctly. The dealer thinks it's a bad APIM and has requested Ford send out another one. I guess Ford doesn't hand these out like candy-since they retail for about $1,000.00 so it has to go through a special "special order". I picked up my truck today with the console fixed-and the APIM is on request.
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From: Abilene TX.
TJ
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GlueGuy-
I would replace that battery. It's not going to go out when it's convenient. I had a battery go bad (not an F150) at State Line Nevada-in the middle of no where, had to be towed to Las Vegas.
I would replace that battery. It's not going to go out when it's convenient. I had a battery go bad (not an F150) at State Line Nevada-in the middle of no where, had to be towed to Las Vegas.
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Cross-Country
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UPDATE-
Dealer replaced the APIM today and did a full software load via USB stick. I had to wipe out my network settings to factory reset on my phone to connect-since it was connected previously but the old APIM would lose it (after I shut the truck off).-but wouldn't connect with the new APIM. After I reset the network/blue tooth settings on my phone (Pixel 3aXL) the phone connected fine-and seems to stay connected at least the couple times I ran errands on the way home from the dealership. I also had to reprogram all my radio station settings. Everything seems repaired and is working thus far.
Dealer replaced the APIM today and did a full software load via USB stick. I had to wipe out my network settings to factory reset on my phone to connect-since it was connected previously but the old APIM would lose it (after I shut the truck off).-but wouldn't connect with the new APIM. After I reset the network/blue tooth settings on my phone (Pixel 3aXL) the phone connected fine-and seems to stay connected at least the couple times I ran errands on the way home from the dealership. I also had to reprogram all my radio station settings. Everything seems repaired and is working thus far.
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