Retrofit from 4" Sync 1 to 8" Sync 3 Black Screen Issue

Ford SYNC 3 Support Ford Update Support
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1

Hey! New here - let me know if I need to change anything. I’ll try to be as thorough as possible with my steps; the primary issue is I’m getting a black screen on the 8" display after installation.

I’ve got a 2018 F-150 XLT XTR , 5.0 4x4 with the Sync 1.1 4" screen.

I purchased an 8" bezel from a 2019 F150 and a paired 8" screen + APIM from a separate 2019 F150, both of which came from the same full service wrecker. I even got a picture of the screen / APIM running before it was pulled - better than most but not fool proof. I also grabbed the correct USB hub, and purchased a harness adapter and GPS antenna from amazon. I grabbed backups of the APIM, ACM, and the FCIM (misremembering the acronym on this one) before I started.

I disconnected the battery before disassembling and re-assembling and got everything plugged in correctly. Once the battery was reconnected, switching ignition to on I could hear the ACM whir and the 8" screen powers on - but stays completely black.

Pulling up ForScan (vLinker cable) on my W11 laptop, it pulled up the vehicle great and could see everything - including the new APIM module. I tried making a few adjustments to the APIM config but nothing changed. When rebooting the APIM however, the screen would power off and then back on - suggesting some level of communication. Under the DTC codes the APIM was spitting out u0162:00-48, if that helps.

Holding the power and forward scan button for 15-20 seconds did nothing, nor did disconnecting the battery for 5 min.

The bezel controls for the hazards, fan, temps, etc all worked perfectly - the bezel is almost the exact same as the original minus rear defrost (my truck doesn’t have it , new bezel does. BCM spits a code for this but no CEL).

My best guess is there’s no hardware faults and it’s a programming issue, but it was getting late so I reinstalled my original 4" system and called it a day. Fortunately (and somewhat expected given the original APIM programming hadn’t been touched) everything came back up fine, ready for another attempt.

My next attempt I’m thinking of grabbing the VIN off the APIM / Screen that I pulled (wrecker provided the VIN the parts came from, pretty clutch) as the pictures were of a very similarly equipped truck - and pull the as-builts from Ford. From there , copy that APIM config over and see if it works.

Anything else I should be aware of / manual coding resources I can look into?

Thanks!

SYNC Region: NA

Navigation Variant: Nav

Manufacturer Year: Pre MY20

Install Type: Retrofit

Old SYNC Version: 1.1

New SYNC Version: 3.0

Do you have a error message, if so what is it?
With everything hooked up, the APIM spits out DTC U0162:00-48.

Update Method: Official Ford

2

You’ve got a bad config in the unit, just because its from an F150 doesn’t mean it will just drop in.

Where did you source the custom cable from for connecting up the old Sync 4” to the 8” from?

Start with getting the AB from a 2018 with your options (but with the 8” etc), you can get that VIN off a used car site.

Download the AB from https://www.motorcraftservice.com/Asbuilt/ and load it into the APIM.

3

Hey, thanks for the quick reply!

Here’s the link for the harness I got:

https://a.co/d/32X3es7

I’ll give that an attempt tonight, I appreciate it.

To confirm, I’d only be uploading the as built for the APIM module, correct?

4

ForScan can only load a config in one module at a time.

While the factory AB you download has mostly all of the configs in it, ForScan will only read the relevant section for the module you’re in, if you want to do another module you have to exit the module config you are in first.

5

Beautiful - thanks!

I’ll crack at it tonight and let you know where I end up.

I imagine take a backup of the new APIM before making any more changes?

6

That is your first step. And check the screen setting in the APIM for 8" setting. Make sure the LDVS cable is fully seated and good.
Second is to change the VIN in the FCIM to yours, not the donor vehicle. The BCM might be throwing a DTC because the FCIM VIN does not match. The APIM pulls the VIN from the BCM, it does not contain a VIN in programming.

You can turn off the rear defrost in the FCIM and APIM, that will clear the DTC.

The VIN for the donor will be rather useless since your vehicle is not equipped as the donor was. Your original asbuilt will be closer. Using the asbuilt database here you can compare the settings from the original and make tose adjustments to the APIM.

That harness is fine except for the RCA cable. Wire your camera in directly.

7

This is a huge help, thank you so much.

I’m finally getting a chance to crack at it again tonight (massive cold spell recently where I am , -30 F!).

To clarify, I should load my original Sync 1.1 APIM backup into the database , and then compare that with the sync 3 template and make the required changes ?

Thanks!

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8

Okay, Ive got all the hardware installed. I added the APIM as built from the truck VIN I found online, and nothing has changed. I also updated the VIN in the FCIM, still no progress. HVAC controls all work great, but Im still getting:

“Code: U0162 - Lost Communication With Navigation Display Module

Status (-48):

  • Previously Set DTC - Not Present at Time of Request
  • Malfunction Indicator Lamp is Off for this DTC
  • Test not complete

Module: Accessory Protocol Interface Module”

In the DTC.

Any ideas from here? The LVDS cable is original to the screen and APIM, it all came paired together from the donor truck.

9

From what I can tell, the BCM / ACM can’t see the APIM. The backlight does turn on, and remains on even if ignition is turned off / key removed / door opened.

The USB hub receives power as well.

An APIM On Demand Self Test through ForScan failed, with no further info. Rebooting the APIM does cause the screen to turn off and then on again.

Definitely feeling lost at this point!

10

First thought is a firmware issue/calibration issue with the 2019 FCIM going into a 2018, but there are guys that know F150’s here better than me.

Off chance the harness you have either has a bad pin/wire

11

Could it be the conversion harness? I had a couple of issues with an extension harness I got off of Amazon for my MFT to SYNC3 conversion. The big issue for me is that they inserted the APIM connector backwards into the hooded cover. Only reason I caught that is I just about always verify the harnesses I get are wired correctly before using.

So I would verify the harness was wired correctly and that all the pins are seated well.

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12

In the FCiM make sure the Gen 2 APIm is selected.