Black Screen

[nlopi]

I performed the update to 3.4. Just after beginning the screen went black.

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SYNC Region: NA

Navigation Variant: Nav

Manufacturer Year: Unknown

Install Type: OEM Replacement

Old SYNC Version: 3.0.20204

New SYNC Version: 3.4.22251

Do you have a error message, if so what is it?
Black screen, but the APIM is recognized using Forscan

Update Method: CyanLabs Syn3 Updater

Syn3 Updater Version: 2.11.5.0

Syn3 Updater Documentation Read: yes

Syn3 Updater Log File

VOICE =5UST-14G391-CS_1660783942000.TAR.GZ
GRACENOTES=4U5T-14G423-CC_1615429225000.TAR.GZ
APPS=NU5T-14G381-AB_1665525837000.TAR.GZ
MAP=4UST-14G421-CAE_1644006917000.TAR.GZ
VOICE. NAV=4UST-14G422-CCK_1644009966000.TAR.GZ VOICE NAV=4UST-14G422-CBK_1644010207000.TAR.GZ VOICE_NAV=4UST-14G422-CAK_1644007869000.TAR.GZ MAP=4UST-14G421-CHE 1644007810000.TAR. GZ MAP =4UST-14G421-CGE_1644007746000.TARGZ MAP=4UST-14G421-CJE_1644007404000.TARGZ
MAP=4UST-14G421.CFF 164400721900 TA0 67
MAP=4UST-14G421-CEE 1644007167000.TAR.GZ
MAP=4UST-14G421-CDE 1644007104000.TAR. G7 MAP =4U5T-146421-CCE_1644007033000.TAR.GZ MAP=4UST-14G421-CBE_1644006981000.TAR.GZ MAP_LICENSE-4U5T-14G424-CE_1644243346000.TAR.GZ

[SaNdMaN]

You are not giving a lot of information, but based on what you say, this seems a case of MY20/+ reformat which bricks the unit.
Since you mentioned you have a replacement UNIT and is still recognized by forscan, try pulling the model number through forscan.
Also, consider removing the unit to see its manufacture date.

Finally: I’m assuming the USB ports do not light up and the unit is 100% non-operational, right?.

[nlopi]

Sorry, the vehicle is a 2018 Mustang. It had Sync 3. It’s my son’s car and we forgot that Ford replaced the unit in 2021 when the radio stopped working. The usb ports do not light up. And the unit is not operational.

I read some threads about changing the screen to an earlier model. Would this work since Forscan sees the apim? I took a picture of the Forscan screen. Sorry about the glare.

[SaNdMaN]

@nlopi

Ford replaced the unit in 2021

Then it should be a MY20/+ unit with newer hardware.
If so, it’s dead. Would you be able to unmount the unit and check the stickers on it?.

@nlopi

The usb ports do not light up. And the unit is not operational.

A clear sign of a reformat on a MY20/+ hardware.
This is important because sometimes it could be a theme related issue, but the unit would remain operational, only showing a black screen. This is not the case, sadly.

@nlopi

I read some threads about changing the screen to an earlier model

Not really. In the early times when the community started having issues with newer hardware, there was a case where replacing the screen would do the trick.
You see, issue with the leaked reformat tool is that it lacks the video drivers for newer screens. So if you had a case of “older APIM connected to a newer screen” the APIM would not be dead, but it would display a black screen because didn’t know how to “talk” to the screen. Getting a non-MY20/+ screen would solve the issue and allow the process to complete; then you could connect the newer screen without issues.

But as time passed, now MY20/+ APIMs have a different type of hardware (eMMC specifically), which the leaked reformat tool does not tolerate. So running a reformat on these newer APIMs basically kills them.

@nlopi

I took a picture of the Forscan screen

There’s no information about the APIM’s model there, it’s just listing the modules the car has. Try going into the APIM section of forscan, we need to check the part number.
Again, if you are able to unmount the unit and gain physical access to it, take a few photos of the stickers the unit and screen have.

[F150Chief]

Look at the modules listing in FORScan…

[nlopi]

My son had to go to work for a couple days. Will try to unmount and get the label info from the APIM and screen

[nlopi]

Attached are the pics of the tags n the unit. Although it starts with a J and G, the mfg date is 2021.

[SaNdMaN]

Yep, that’s a MY20/+ unit that cannot be reformatted, so it’s dead, sadly.

About J series APIM not being MY20 originally that’s correct, but Ford started pushing J series replacement units that contain newer MY20/+ hardware.