I just want to know if the following symptoms are signs of a bricked APM.
Black screen after Ford logo
Only USB AUX works for audio(I plug my iPhone in the USB and play something/call and it works through the radio speakers with a black screen. The only buttons that work are steering wheel volume and radio knob volume, nothing else.
I am able to get activity on the USB flash drive while plugged in for reformatting/upgrading.
I master reset it and then the screen was black, after trying to use the FORD sync update the symptoms got worse. After a reformat i was able to get usb audio. I am currently still uploading the original version the car had on the USB and will try to to that and see if it works.
EDIT: uploading usb = Cyanlabs Sync3 Updater route.
Youāre trying to download the maps and install them. This requires a reformat. Did you read the documentation? You are going to brick your APIM if you have not already done so.
A 2021 Expedition has a 2020+ APIM that you cannot format. You must format to get new maps from Cyanlabs. Your only option is to use the Ford maps that you pay for.
You can still use Cyanlabs to only upgrade Sync though just not maps.
I think you may have bricked it on the previous upgrade attempt. If you just did the sync update than is should take around 15 min. The Nav upgrade with reformat takes about an hour.
You still need nav turned on in your profile. Itās during the setup that you donāt select maps and just do the Sync update.
I do find it weird that I lost the radio function and then gained it back. I am happy that I have the one station and USB Audio in the mean time of fixing it.
I see. I never messed with tuning to find a station. It just started playing music when I jumped into the car. I cannot switch from that station just randomly this time when I opened up the car and started it. It started working. Iām pretty sure I bricked it when I tried to update it using Fordās update before I found this website. Oh well now good to have some more fun. Keep yāall updated.
Iām not sure about the others, but Iām having issues understanding you. Itās almost as if you think we were by your side while you did stuff, because you havenāt provided a single piece of data thatās troubleshooting worthyā¦
So, I will ask simple questions, I expect simple and direct answers:
You said the black screen appeared after a master reset, was the master reset the only thing you did to the unit?.
Which version was the unit running when the screen turned black?
Do you have forscan and an adapter?
Provide the autoinstall.lst file for the Ford update you were trying to install.
Provide the log for the USB you created with Syn3updater.
Did you connect the Syn3updaterās USB created to the car?.
Does the rear view camera work?.
Do you see any boot / splash screen when the unit turns on?.
Sandman,
I understand that I havenāt given any usable logs or files to assist you all assist me. My question was for something that I fear is the case. Those above symptoms being that of a bricked APIM. I can currently answer a few of the questions. But the files will be a later edit. I donāt expect you to respond until those have been added to this post.
After Master reset I did a soft reset when the black screen was consistent.
I donāt know for 100% but Fords website said it was 3.4.21020 per my VIN (I took a gamble this was correct. I was wrong)
No.
Yes
Yes
If you are referring to the ford symbol then yes.
I understand at this point that the unit is FUBAR. Again, I stumbled upon this form in the 3rd attempt of what I thought was a āReflashingā using the Ford provided update file. The goal was to possibly add symptoms that might not have been mentioned by other users. Because I believe I have a weird case.
Itās time to get forscan and an adapterā¦ A brick does not give signs of life, which yours is givingā¦ plus, if you see a boot screen, the unit is doing somethingā¦
Iām not saying itās recoverable since I do now know whatās been done to the unit, all Iām saying itās not bricked yetā¦ orā¦ confirmed to be brickedā¦
Additionally, a note to more signs of life of the APIM I was able to screenshot on my iPhone. I got to see what the phone was seeing while plugged in. It displayed Apple CarPlay as normal(Maps and a suggested route per my calendar appointment). Screen is still black on the car end.
Iād like to start the system from anew, deleting all/ any files that are on it and then reloading the APIM with the software. Is this a route you believe is possible?
I am certain I tried to load maps onto it before I found this website/tool(CyanLabs).
