Bricked APIM

carlmasnec · September 2, 2024, 7:26pm

I need the following firmwares: GB5T-14G374-CA, GB5T-14G375-FA

I have converted my car to sync 3 using an ebay kit (FORD Fusion/Mendeo 2013-2019 4" SYNC1 TO SYNC3 8" UPGRADE KITS CONVERSION OEM | eBay)

All was working fine until last night. I was resolving my headlight flicker issue and used forscan to update the firmware of my BCM. All went fine with that.
Saw there was an update for the APIM when I was finished with the BCM and decided to give it a go. Well it failed, and unfortunately I did not heed to the warnings, make a backup or even take a screenshot of the software that was installed on the APIM. Turns out the APIM is a china clone.

It still communicates and attempts to take an update if I select custom, but it either hung on calibration (so I either had the wrong file, or something else was going wrong). I reached out to the company and had them provide me the VBF files, and it got further down the process, but then gave me the bricked error. If I tried auto updating, it would give me the first error that gave me a black screen in the first place and fail on the calibration file.

I believe its a china market APIM that was flashed with US software. Based on the research I have done, it appears to be a 3.0 APIM NAV Unit Firmware (Production Release, 2016-Early 2017, G thru Early H Series). The counterfit part number tag on the back says 3U5T-14G371-DEE (with a manufacture date of 06/12/2020) but it has two USB ports, and a metal fakra on the top corner for GPS. GPS did work before. Forscan reports it as a GJ5T-14G371-CFC and auto downloaded all GB5T firmwares. China supplier gave me HB5T and HU5T files.

I have tried the following:
GB5T-14G376-AA
HB5T-14G374-CA and GB5T-14G374-AF (Think I need GB5T-14G374-CB)
HB5T-14G375-EA and GB5T-14G375-CA (Think I need GB5T-14G375 but unsure which revision)
GB5T-14G379-AA
GB5T-14G379-BA

Does anybody have any tips or insight on how I can bring this unit back to life? Also, is it possible to manually download all new firmware files to load through the custom option on forscan? The auto download is what locked this thing up. Unit was functional before, onboard GPS worked, android auto worked via USB C. It had 3.4 installed.

I did screenshot the log from Forscan when it first failed, and after getting a little further in the process that I can provide if needed. Screenshots attached.

EDIT:

I opened the APIM. M3J4118410J is the part number on the main board. It is 32GB with a production date of 30-08-16

Forscan reported this before the flash
APIM - Accessory Protocol Interface Module
Part number: GJ5T-14G371-CFC
Calibration level: GJ5T-14G371-CJU
Strategy : GB5T-14G374-AF
VIN: 3FA6P0G72ER150584

SYNC Region: NA

Navigation Variant: Nav

Manufacturer Year: Pre MY20

Install Type: Retrofit

Old SYNC Version: 3.4

New SYNC Version: 3.4

Do you have a error message, if so what is it?
Unable to read current firmware p/n, use assembly p/n: GB5T-14G375-CA, 79-AA, 79BA
Operation failed, retrying.

Update Method: CyanLabs Manual Method

Rollback_Jockey · September 2, 2024, 9:52pm

Return it for a replacement, any problems then inform ebay it’s a china fake and that they should block the seller.

carlmasnec · September 2, 2024, 10:14pm

I opened it up, its a genuine board inside of a spraypainted case with the wrong part number on the outside. I’m pretty sure I can fix it, I just need to load the correct firmwares.

I need the following firmwares: GB5T-14G374-CA, GB5T-14G375-FA

Where can I download these?

bill32399 · September 3, 2024, 12:01am

Here is Ford’s site but I don’t see these files available.

FJDSSupport - FordServiceInfo.Com (motorcraftservice.com)

carlmasnec · September 3, 2024, 12:39am

Update: I was able to unbrick it. I started throwing firmwares at it to see what would stick, and what do you know, one stuck. Everything seems to be operating normally now except my dynamic parking guidelines. Logfile attached.

Any concerns of what I should do next? Is it possible to make a full backup of the firmwares via forscan in case I do it again in the future? Audio works, climate works, SWC works, nav works. Probably just need to double check the asbuilt and make sure the guidelines are enabled.

Would it be advised to run the USB update to ensure the system is stable, or revert to 19101, format and bring it back to 23188, or would that be a bad idea? I have yet to preform a master reset as all seems to operate normally.

Current sync build is 3.4 build 23188

Rollback_Jockey · September 3, 2024, 9:50am

Always perform a Master Reset after an installation.

carlmasnec · September 3, 2024, 5:56pm

Performed master reset, still don’t have dynamic parking guidelines.

Codes stored:

Code: U2100 - Initial Configuration Not Complete

Status (-0B):

DTC Present at Time of Request
Malfunction Indicator Lamp is Off for this DTC

Module: Accessory Protocol Interface Module

Code: U3000 - Control Module

Additional Fault Symptom (:41):

General Checksum Failure

Status (-0B):

DTC Present at Time of Request
Malfunction Indicator Lamp is Off for this DTC

Attached interrigator XML

Module: Accessory Protocol Interface Module
Sync_VV9F537C_3FA6P0G72ER150584.xml (10.9 KB)

Rollback_Jockey · September 3, 2024, 10:16pm

Clear DTC’s and retest.

carlmasnec · September 3, 2024, 10:28pm

Cleared DTC’s, found I had a configuration error in the asbuit and fixed that. U2100/2101 is clear now. Only have U3000:41-0B currently. I am unable to preform the rear camera calibration because DTC’s are present. Any input on how to get that U3000 to clear without reflashing the firmwares? I was barley able to get this unit to come back to life and am a little skeptical of pushing firmware to it again.

bill32399 · September 4, 2024, 2:58am

To get guidelines back you have to do a lin bus calibration.

carlmasnec · September 4, 2024, 3:06am

And Lin bus calibration will not complete because a module has a DTC (didn’t specify) APIM has a U3000 code and FCIM has a few codes for inop temp sensors/actuators. Other than that car has no codes. Tells me to run an on demand test or something then retry calibration.

bill32399 · September 4, 2024, 3:09am

What trim Fusion is this?

carlmasnec · September 4, 2024, 3:22am

Either an S or an SE, it was debadged by previous owner. It HAD manual climate and 4" non sync. Now it has sync 3 and dual climate FCIM. I have the stock sync module, FCIM and FCDIM. If needed, I could connect those back up which should clear all DTC’s and might allow for the LIN relearn. This car did not come with a backup camera, I added all the wiring to the factory locations and had it functioning on the 4" screen. I was able to do the LIN learn on the old hardware.

BUT after connecting all the new hardware, the only DTC’s I had was for the FCIM. I don’t think the FCIM and LIN networks are related, but I could be wrong. But I know for sure the camera goes through the APIM, so its probably not allowing the LIN calibration due to the U3000 code. I bet if I could get that to clear then the calibration would go through successfully. Otherwise I could put the original hardware back, but that involves unpinning a bunch of connectors and moving some wires around so the car will be happy with the old hardware, which is why I am hesitant to do so. But if thats the only way to get it back, then I may try it.

Crap. That also means I have to swap my instrument cluster back over too, because it may throw a code since its expecting the APIM and not a FCDIM on the network.

Everything worked before the failed firmware update on the APIM. But thinking about it, if the LIN calibration is stored in the BCM, then the calibration was likely lost after the BCM firmware update.

bill32399 · September 4, 2024, 3:29am

This is why I asked what trim. The HVAC module is in the FCIM so turning on Auto climate when you don’t have it will produce that DTC. You are missing an actuator that will trigger it.

You are correct the camera goes to the APIM. The LIN bus also goes to the camera from the BCM. This needs to be calibrated to bring the Guidelines back.

I have successfully run LIN bus calibrations with DTC’s though. Guidelines will only work if you have the correct steering position sensor attached to your SCCM. if you don’t have this than no guidelines.

bill32399 · September 4, 2024, 3:33am

You’re editing your message so my response may not make much sense now.

carlmasnec · September 4, 2024, 3:35am

It does. I’ll give it a shot with the original hardware and see if I can get the calibration to run, unless you think I can get rid of all the FCIM DTC’s by setting to manual. But I have a feeling it may still fail due to the code in the APIM. I’ll try it a little later and report back.

carlmasnec · September 5, 2024, 4:04am

Well I ended up reverting the car to stock and clearing all DTC’s and same problem. I did notice it stops at 8%. guess my backup camera took a crap and was still functioning with the previous calibration from when it was installed. This is with factory sync 1 hardware and factory IPC.

Not much else to do here, other than fix and clear that U3000 in my APIM.

I did notice that when I locked my car, the screen went black but the backlight stayed on for about 5 minutes then turned off. Is this normal? Never paid attention before. Screen just glowed dimly, black screen. (this is with the sync 3 system). This occurred before switching hardware back to sync 1. Am about to put everything back to sync 3 and see if it still does it.

carlmasnec · September 5, 2024, 4:37am

Put everything back to sync 3. I wanted to note that I saw the backlight issue before I pulled everything out and reinstalled all the sync 1 hardware.

Anyways.

Looks like I will be getting another OEM backup camera. Things aren’t cheap and somehow I fried mine with a BCM and FCIM update. Things happen. I am considering replacing the APIM with a different version due to the firmware issue and DTC I for the life of me can’t figure out. Below Is a list of what has changed since factory. I am curious if/when my APIM dies, which model should I try and source to replace?

My 2014 fusion is all stock EXCEPT (and timeline)
OE backup camera from ford with trunk harness sourced from 2016 titanium, wired in center console to plug in passanger footwell. Worked fine with sync 1

Swapped sync 3 kit linked in first post. Everything worked and my dynamic guidelines appeared and functioned. (Dynamic guidelines did not work on the 4" screen). Kit included dual zone FCIM which was installed. Wiring was required to regain temp control. Also swapped 2016 titanium cluster during conversion to sync 3

BCM flashed with latest firmware (to fix headlight flicker issue with LED)
Saw APIM firmware was out of date, attempted update and bricked APIM.
Sync 3 APIM brick recovered with U3000 code (also downgraded, formatted and reinstalled 3.4 via syn3updater, no change. Functions normally minus missing dynamic guidelines. Suspected failing camera will not program, lost calibration when BCM was flashed. OE replacement camera on order)

EDIT:
Took it around the block and the backup guidelines came back! I am very confused but no complaints here.

system · September 7, 2024, 4:37am

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