Interrogator - XML does not contain the expected output

Ford SYNC 3 Support CyanLabs Update Support
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1

Afternoon,

Long story short, i suspect my 2017 Ford Explorer’s Sync 3 requires an update as it does not detect my iPhone 16 Pro via USB, whenever i attempt to navigate to the Mobile Apps panel i get the error of “Apple devices must be plugged into SYNCs USB port to work with mobile apps”, i suspect due to my iPhone being USB C opposed to Lightning (which was normal back in 2017) is to be the reason for this issue.

I ran the Interrogator upon my vehicle however, the application claims that the XML provided did not supply the expected output and that it cannot determine my APIM module, i am 90% certain that the APIM module has not changed since the manufacture of this vehicle however i would like to be on the safe side before forcing an update that turns out isn’t compatible with the vehicle.

Any and all suggestions / feedback is much appreciated.

Thanks!

SYNC Region: NA

Navigation Variant: Nav

Manufacturer Year: 2017

Install Type: OEM

Old SYNC Version: 2.2.16280

New SYNC Version: (want to upgrade to this version) 3.4.26057

Do you have a error message, if so what is it?
Interrogator - XML does not contain the expected output

Update Method: CyanLabs Syn3 Updater

Syn3 Updater Version: 2.14.2.0 (Stable)

Syn3 Updater Documentation Read: yes

Syn3 Updater Log File

VIN: Redacted
APIM Model: HB5T-14G371-CCA
APIM Type: Non-Navigation
APIM Size: 0gb
APIM Free Space: Unknown
Version 2.2.16280

Partition Type = Free / Total
/dev/hd0t180 = 54710240 / 9396205568
/dev/hd0t181 = 2097120 / 634724532
/dev/hd0t177 = 2097152 / 136776704

Installed Packages:
HB5T-14G421-CD
HN1T-14G391-CC
HN1T-14G422-CA
HN1T-14G423-CA

APIM AsBuilt
DE00: AA2A05030C0208B00049A
DE01: 43410104E40200800000005
DE02: 0000000200
DE03: 0100010000B0002
DE04: 1A2C1A2C2BFC
DE05: 80
DE06: 0A0033000000001770000056568C0088
DE07: BLANK

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Disclaimer, i typed all this out manually as i could not copy-paste this due to me having to run the software in a Windows container.
2

Are you using an authentic apple cable? Also did you try both USB ports?

3

Unfortunately the authentic Apple cables I’ve been supplied with are USB C > USB C whereas the port in my car is USB A, i can dig around and try other USB cables if you believe this to be the issue.

Edit: My car only has 1 Sync USB port.

4

It has 2. The other is in the Center console under the armrest lid.

Yes you need the right cable.

5

You can also use a good quality USB A to USB C cable, it doesn’t have to be Apple.

And personally if you are trying to go to Sync 3.4 with a 2017 non-NAV APIM your best bet on a build is 3.4.21265

6

While it is true you could use aother cables, both Ford and Apple recommend an authentic cable for best results. For that reason it is all I will recommend.

7

Yup you’re correct that my car does indeed have 2, never checked under the arm rest.

Given that Apple doesn’t sell an Apple branded USB A to USB C cable but does sell Beats USB A to USB C cables would these suffice?

I suspect that due to manufacturers not properly implementing the USB C specifications by not including the necessary resistors is why they suggest OEM cables.

8

Had to put this in a second comment because I had 3 links and the CYANLABS forum did not like that.

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Also if I bought myself one of these USB hub upgrades I could just install this and have proper USB C > USB C support for my vehicle, however these seem to require v3.4 or newer which lands be back at square one on whether or not I should upgrade my vehicles firmware or not on an unknown APIM.

9

What’s your end goal?

Also, your APIM is not unknown, it’s HB5T-14G371-CCA.

10

Apple own beats so yes I am sure that would be fine.

So here is where the fun starts with the USB setup in the Explorer. Ford does not make a USB-C hub that is in the size that will fit the size of hole that your current USB port is in. All of them that do fit that are being sold are fake Ford branded ones from China and many end up giving people problems.

You also will lose the functionality of the port under the armrest as there is no other hub made that retains this as a pass through(Explorer and Mustang share this issue).

Sadly no one makes an adapter that fills the hole when you use one of the smaller USB ports that has USB-C. I am sure if someone that has a 3D printer could do this than they would sell alot of them.

11

I mean, initially to get the “Apple devices must be plugged into SYNCs USB port to work with mobile apps” issue i mentioned in the first post on this thread resolved, but now i am curious on the possibilities of upgrading my Sync 3 version from 2.2.16280 to 3.4 as well as a USB C hub that supports carplay.

@bill32399 is correct that the Explorer is in a weird situation as it needs an extra hub for the third USB port as well as the different sized port measurements, i came across this thread from folks back in 2020 accomplishing what i mentioned above about upgrading the firmware and USB hub. If what they’re saying is true than i can get myself a washer plate to sit in-between the USB hub and the car.

Edit 2: I just realized my APIM claims to be non-navigation (as it mentions it in my post above) but yet i have navigation features?

12

If the bottom bar on the screen has a nav button and the left side of the screen shows a map without a phone plugged in you have factory nav.

If you have a compass ball in the upper right you dont

Plugging in a phone and using CP or AA for say Apple Maps or Google Maps doesn’t mean you have a NAV APIM