Sync 2 to Sync 3 Upgrade on 2014 Ford Taurus, Screen goes black and is unresponsive unless battery is disconnected/reconnected

Ford SYNC 3 Support Ford Update Support
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Hi everyone. A couple months ago I bought a Sync 2 to Sync 3 conversion kit off ebay and it was working great for a couple months. However one day when I got in my car to start it, the touchscreen didn’t turn on and was stuck on a black screen. No audio, no working climate controls, no feedback from the steering wheel controls or anything.

I noticed however if I disconnect the battery or the APIM for about 10-15mins and then reconnect it. The radio will start working again but it only works for about a week before the symptom happens again. Ive used Forscan to retrieve DTC’s which it doesn’t have any and tried to reset the APIM using forscan which does nothing. The seller that I bought it from ended up ghosting me so im at a complete lost for now. Any help would be appreciated.

Old Sync 2:
Version: 3.10.16180
Navigation Application Version: 5.67.6
Map Database Version: A5

New Sync 3:
Version: 3.4 23088
Navigation maps: NA 2 23

SYNC Region: NA

Navigation Variant: Nav

Manufacturer Year: Pre MY20

Install Type: Retrofit

Old SYNC Version: 3.1 16180

New SYNC Version: 3.4 23088

Do you have a error message, if so what is it?
Black screen on startup. Head unit will only start working again temporarily if I disconnect the battery or head unit for 10-15mins and reconnect.

Update Method: Official Ford

2

Here’s a photo of the part number on the SYNC 3 APIM if that helps

IMG_9565
IMG_95651920×3413 499 KB

3

So the ACM will play music regardless of the APIM. That APIM should not be a 2020+ one just based on the date for that sticker. Can you get a picture of the big sticker on the back of the APIM?

Also if you could post your APIM AB info here from Forscan.

4

The build needs to be updated to 3.4.23188 or downgraded to 3.4.21265

5

IMG_3171
IMG_31712296×1567 327 KB

here you go. I currently have the original Sync 2 setup installed back into my car so it would be kind of hard for me to AB at the moment.

6

Yea that’s still not the right sticker. Looks like this one…

18 Exp APIM
18 Exp APIM960×1280 444 KB

7

3U5T-14G371-BCA is a non-NAV EU 16Gb APIM.
I’m guessing this was a Chinese kit and they pushed in the maps piecemeal.
A NA NAV APIM is a 32Gb unit.

8

Mine doesn’t have that sticker. It’s just a blank area on mine

9

the one I ordered was supposed to be a 32GB NAV unit. Maybe I got screwed over in multiple ways

10

This, among other things, confirms it is a fraudulent APIM than. That would explain the problems you are having.

I would try to return it and get your money back. You got scammed.

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