Ford Puma B&O rear speaker issue

Hi. :slight_smile:
I’m from Finland and i have a Ford Puma St-Line X Launch edition 2020 (Forscan Dec-19 gen 2020 MY). I was directed to CyanLabs with my issue from a Puma forum. I have a 1y extended v2.4 beta license on ForScan, Sync 3.4, F13 maps and used a bit of ForScan before on a Kuga mk1.
Currently have the OBDLink EX and have done some minor changes on the Puma, like some ab hex settings and the TCU recall, but one main issue, that seems to be very common on Fords since after 2022/2023 update for older vehicles, remains.

The issue:
I have the 10 speaker B&O (2020 version, not beosonic). The sound from the rear door speaker/tweeters and the subwoofer is very faint compared to the front. Too much sound coming from the front 5 and too little from the rear 5. I ran the speaker diagnostic and clear difference in same tone on speaker test from the rear speakers. There is also a loud POP from the rear speakers a few mins after the car has been shut down.

Done so far:
I’ve checked the fuses (2 amp fuses engine room fusebox, think i also checked the passenger footwell), the amp connections under the driver seat and tried to find info on the issue reading any possible posts i could find with a similar issue hoping for a fix to the issue. I’ve now ruled it down that it is a software/firmware issue that must be fixed by an update and either DSP or ACM module that needs to be updated. In Forscan i see there is an update to the ACM which is currently Calibration level H1BT-18K810-ZAM and latest known same but ending in -ZAU.
DSP i don’t see latest known on but that one is currently L1TT-18B849-AA.
In the list i have also three other modules that have latest known. APIM (LU5T-14G371-GKH/…-GMU), PAM (HU5T-15K866-CH/…-CJ), IPMA (L1TT-19H406-CG/ N1BT-19H406-CA?).

So…
I’ve tried to download the available firmware to Forscan, but it never starts downloading any new version of the firmware for ACM. I tried rebooting the modules, but no help.
Do i need to first of all update the APIM? (saw some nice instructions on this site specifically for that). Or should it in any case download the firmware, so even if i did update APIM it would still have issues downloading any ACM firmware? Just out of curiousity if there is an order of updating the modules that “fixes” the refusing to download issue? Could it be a server/file issue on Fords side? It seems to download the factory part more or less fine.

or…

Is it possible to get the needed module files from here from someone who has access to the firmware?

Anything specific for updating those modules that would be good to know?
(Apart from connect charger to both battery and laptop, make sure instructions followed on forscan. I’ve of course made backups of the modules prior to testing anything.)

Calibration level is the revision level not the actual files.

It is normal for the rear speakers to be lower, sometimes quite a bit, from the front in a multi-channel audio system. This is referred to as staging. However, if the rear speakers are significantly lower all of the time it could indicate an issue. The DSP will have EQ settings which can be changed to test this, but these settings also affect the surround alignment, etc., of the system.

See the DSP database here…https://cyanlabs.net/asbuilt-db/dsp2/?search=Vehicle%2520EQ%2520Selection%2520(VEQS)%2520(Vehicle%2520Specific)#database

Your value will be one of these. Make sure you save the value or the asbuilt. Change the value for the EQ to ‘00’. This should clear all equalization in the system and you should hear the rear speakers clearly. (This could be another value based on the vehicle and region EU.) If the speakers sound like the fronts when you change this value, then you have no hardware issues, it is a matter of settings. Some values will produce various results, as each vehicle is specific. The original setting would be what Ford aligned the system for. You could check this against the original asbuilt for your vehicle to verify.

1 Like

Thanks for the reply. So you’re saying ForScan can’t see if a module needs updating? I would have assumed the “latest known” on modules would be that there is an update.
Is it then possible for someone to check FDRS if there are software updates based on my VIN number, then?

The front and rear speaker levels shouldn’t be so far apart and it seems like some settings have been changed but too much and from what i read it happened in one of fords update and they released a powerup patch that fixes it but only some have got it. Puma owners with newer models haven’t been affected by this.

it’s definately an issue with the rear speakers. Not a normal EQ band but they’re almost muted. I’ll have a look again with the settings for the DSP which were on “783-xxx…” also the ACM settings and try to change to flat EQ if that will help. On F150s i read some set the first value to “1Bxx” for best sound but it’s not compatible for my model. I’ll read up on the settings more in detail and try that.

If that won’t help i’ll def need the software checked because people withthe same issue did get it fixed after an update.

i’ll get back once i’ve tried EQ settings.

Forscan can see if the module needs updating, but the files may not be available from Ford, etc. This is common. If you have the actual file numbers instead of just the revision level package number, you can check directly on the Ford service site for the files.

That is probably for a non-Sony/B&O system, and that is someone’s opinion based on what they like. Source material makes all the difference. Not saying the Ford systems are any better than anyone else’s…

Try visiting your Ford Service center and see what they say. If it is an update mistake they should fix it under warranty. Also, see if there is a TSB or SSM on this and refer to that to get your system fixed.

Ok… Just had a try on the DSP and ACM settings for flat EQ.

The DSP config for 783-02-01 Xxxx (according to link)
I had it at 783-02-01 16A3, changed to 783-02-01 0693.

Then i also set ACM 727-01-02 xXxx-xxxx-xxxx from B to 0 for flat EQ
and ACM 727-01-01-xxXx-xxxx-xxxx from 3 to 0 to enable int Amp for rear.

But the speaker problem remains. :thinking:

As result sounds weaker allround, still unbalanced front to rear like before. Also the “pop” i meantioned before, doesn’t that imply that a update is needed, similar to people that have had the same problem and got it fixed with an update?

What is the second setting for on 783-02-01 xXxx ? Should i have set that also to 0??

The F150 fix with “1B” i refered was a 8 speaker B&O fix on this post:
https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/b-o-8-speaker-sound-quality-volume-mod-using-forscan.23198/

Last year August/September i did visit the local Ford Service Center regarding both the TCU recall and the sound issue, but the customer care is appalling to say the least. It resulted in them taking 2 months, three visits and arguing until they finally realised themselves the initial matter i had told them the first time.
This is the reason i’m trying to find a solution elsewhere.

So, again. What info do i need to share apart from VIN to get help from someone to check if i have software updates to fix the sound issue (through FDRS?) or which Ford service site were you referring to and can i get access to it? Can i get the needed module firmware from here?

After the setting adjustments the sound issue remains.

Short update:
Restored the settings back to as they were before, as they didn’t help, sent a mail to a ford service in another town to see it i get better luck with them and some info on the presumably existing updates/fixes.