SYNC 3 Display Flashing

jeffreyhutchinson · 10 September 2024 19:44

Hi there! I’ve been experiencing just one last issue with the Sync 3 Display and APIM I installed in my 2014 Ford Escape.

I upgraded from SYNC 2 to SYNC 3. Before reprogramming and updating the new display/APIM, I noticed that the screen began flashing. It’s a consistent ON and OFF flash. My audio still comes through, but it becomes a game to tap the screen before it blinks again. I’ll attach a video if I can too. However, sometimes I start the car, and the display functions 100% properly. It’ll either happen during the drive or on the next start-up, but the display will begin flashing again. When it does flash, it almost looks like there’s a dark spot on the display. When it isn’t flashing it looks normal.

Regardless, I updated to the latest SYNC 3 version (it looks like a 2020 Ford display) and I reprogrammed to show climate controls, disabled navigation (I have no GPS antenna), and I made sure my steering wheel buttons work. But the last issue is this display flash. I don’t know if it’s a programming issue or hardware issue, but this display has been doing this since install. It flashed before and after all the updating and reprogramming. I’m in desperate need of help, this install has become a burden. Thank you so much.

SYNC Region: NA

Navigation Variant: Non Nav

Manufacturer Year: Pre MY20

Install Type: OEM Replacement

Old SYNC Version: 3.0.20204

New SYNC Version: 3.4.23188

Do you have a error message, if so what is it?
Just an error code that the USB hub is un-supported, so I unplugged it and am planning on getting a new one that’s compatible with Apple Carplay.

Update Method: CyanLabs Syn3 Updater

Syn3 Updater Version: Syn3 Updater 2.13.0.0 (Stable)

Syn3 Updater Documentation Read: yes

Syn3 Updater Log File

CYANLABS - SYN3 UPDATER - V2.12.5.0
Branch: Stable
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 11 Home (2009)

PREVIOUS CONFIGURATION
Version: 3.0.20204
Region: NA
Navigation: False
Install Mode: Auto-Detect (reformat)
Install Mode Overridden: False
My20 Protection Enabled: Auto-Detect

DESTINATION DETAILS
Mode: Drive
Model: VendorCo ProductCode USB Device
Size: 14.6GB
FileSystem: exFAT
Partition Type: MBR

REFORMAT.LST
VOICE=5U5T-14G391-CS_1660783942000.TAR.GZ
GRACENOTES=4U5T-14G423-CC_1615429225000.TAR.GZ
APPS=NU5T-14G381-AD_1689364279000.TAR.GZ


AUTOINSTALL.LST
; CyanLabs Syn3Updater 2.12.5.0 Stable - reformat  Mode - Sync 3.4.23188 NA

[SYNCGen3.0_ALL_PRODUCT]
Item1 = RWDataCleaner TOOL - PU5T-14G386-BB_1690840002000.TAR.GZ
Open1 = SyncMyRide\PU5T-14G386-BB_1690840002000.TAR.GZ
Item2 = REFORMAT TOOL  - 1u5t-14g386-cb.tar.gz
Open2 = SyncMyRide\1u5t-14g386-cb.tar.gz
Options = AutoInstall

FILES (5)
1u5t-14g386-cb.tar.gz (8.5MB)
PU5T-14G386-BB_1690840002000.TAR.GZ (3.2KB)
5U5T-14G391-CS_1660783942000.TAR.GZ (385.5MB)
4U5T-14G423-CC_1615429225000.TAR.GZ (564.2MB)
NU5T-14G381-AD_1689364279000.TAR.GZ (869.8MB)

LOG
[2024-08-31 1:02:30 PM] Selected Region: NA - Release: Sync 3.4.23188 - Map Version: Non Nav APIM 
[2024-08-31 1:02:30 PM] Install Mode: Auto-Detect (reformat) Forced: False 
[2024-08-31 1:02:30 PM] MY20 Protection: Auto-Detect 
[2024-08-31 1:02:30 PM] Formatting USB drive
[2024-08-31 1:02:30 PM] Re-creating partition table as MBR and formatting as ExFat on selected USB drive
[2024-08-31 1:02:38 PM] Checking Existing File: 1u5t-14g386-cb.tar.gz 
[2024-08-31 1:02:38 PM] Downloading: 1u5t-14g386-cb.tar.gz
[2024-08-31 1:02:43 PM] Validating: 1u5t-14g386-cb.tar.gz 
[2024-08-31 1:02:43 PM] Downloaded: 1u5t-14g386-cb.tar.gz 
[2024-08-31 1:02:43 PM] Checking Existing File: PU5T-14G386-BB_1690840002000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:02:43 PM] Downloading: PU5T-14G386-BB_1690840002000.TAR.GZ
[2024-08-31 1:02:44 PM] Validating: PU5T-14G386-BB_1690840002000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:02:44 PM] Downloaded: PU5T-14G386-BB_1690840002000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:02:44 PM] Checking Existing File: 5U5T-14G391-CS_1660783942000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:02:44 PM] Downloading: 5U5T-14G391-CS_1660783942000.TAR.GZ
[2024-08-31 1:04:58 PM] Validating: 5U5T-14G391-CS_1660783942000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:05:00 PM] Downloaded: 5U5T-14G391-CS_1660783942000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:05:00 PM] Checking Existing File: 4U5T-14G423-CC_1615429225000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:05:00 PM] Downloading: 4U5T-14G423-CC_1615429225000.TAR.GZ
[2024-08-31 1:08:16 PM] Validating: 4U5T-14G423-CC_1615429225000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:08:18 PM] Downloaded: 4U5T-14G423-CC_1615429225000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:08:18 PM] Checking Existing File: NU5T-14G381-AD_1689364279000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:08:18 PM] Downloading: NU5T-14G381-AD_1689364279000.TAR.GZ
[2024-08-31 1:13:35 PM] Validating: NU5T-14G381-AD_1689364279000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:13:38 PM] Downloaded: NU5T-14G381-AD_1689364279000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:13:38 PM] Preparing USB drive
[2024-08-31 1:13:38 PM] Checking Existing File: 1u5t-14g386-cb.tar.gz 
[2024-08-31 1:13:38 PM] Copying: 1u5t-14g386-cb.tar.gz 
[2024-08-31 1:13:40 PM] Validating: 1u5t-14g386-cb.tar.gz 
[2024-08-31 1:13:40 PM] Copied: 1u5t-14g386-cb.tar.gz 
[2024-08-31 1:13:40 PM] Checking Existing File: PU5T-14G386-BB_1690840002000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:13:40 PM] Copying: PU5T-14G386-BB_1690840002000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:13:40 PM] Validating: PU5T-14G386-BB_1690840002000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:13:40 PM] Copied: PU5T-14G386-BB_1690840002000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:13:40 PM] Checking Existing File: 5U5T-14G391-CS_1660783942000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:13:40 PM] Copying: 5U5T-14G391-CS_1660783942000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:14:05 PM] Validating: 5U5T-14G391-CS_1660783942000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:16:31 PM] Copied: 5U5T-14G391-CS_1660783942000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:16:31 PM] Checking Existing File: 4U5T-14G423-CC_1615429225000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:16:31 PM] Copying: 4U5T-14G423-CC_1615429225000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:18:06 PM] Validating: 4U5T-14G423-CC_1615429225000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:18:29 PM] Copied: 4U5T-14G423-CC_1615429225000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:18:29 PM] Checking Existing File: NU5T-14G381-AD_1689364279000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:18:29 PM] Copying: NU5T-14G381-AD_1689364279000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:21:09 PM] Validating: NU5T-14G381-AD_1689364279000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:21:47 PM] Copied: NU5T-14G381-AD_1689364279000.TAR.GZ 
[2024-08-31 1:21:47 PM] Generating reformat.lst
[2024-08-31 1:21:47 PM] Generating autoinstall.lst
[2024-08-31 1:21:47 PM] ALL FILES DOWNLOADED AND COPIED TO THE USB DRIVE SUCCESSFULLY!

warlock12118 · 10 September 2024 20:06

Actually you do have a GPSM in the car, unfortunately that doesn’t work with Sync3.
You will still need a 3rd part GPS antenna even if you have a non-NAV unit since it also gets used with AA & CP.
With an 2013-2015 Escape upgrade it is not unusual to have a screen flicker for a few seconds after say going under an overpass during the day.

Flashing screen as you describe sounds like a bad screen, screen cable or screen connector, where did you source the APIM and screen from?

jeffreyhutchinson · 10 September 2024 21:35

I bought it from a nice gentleman off Facebook marketplace! He’s actually been super helpful up until now. He’s guided me in reprogramming the steering wheel buttons, and the other programming. I asked him about this screen flashing and he sent me an angry reply telling me to figure it out on my own…

Nonetheless, I messaged him asking if the screen had been damaged or something, but he said it was tested and working 100% when he sold it to me. He typically does the install and programming for people when they buy the screens from him, but I was only in his city to pick it up. Would using my old SYNC 2 display work with the SYNC 3 APIM?

bill32399 · 11 September 2024 03:04

The screens are not the same.

jeffreyhutchinson · 11 September 2024 03:33

Yeah, shoot—I figured

warlock12118 · 11 September 2024 11:55

What’s the trim level on this Escape?

jeffreyhutchinson · 11 September 2024 12:20

14’ Escape SE

warlock12118 · 11 September 2024 13:41

ok, so you did a 4.2" to 8" conversion not just a simple MFT to Sync3 conversion.
Can you post the AB file that you’re trying to use from the unit ?

bill32399 · 11 September 2024 13:55

The SE in 2014 had the 201A package that came with an 8" MFT unit.

warlock12118 · 11 September 2024 16:07

I stand corrected, had to go find a 2014 order guide to look at this.
Basically the answer to killing the SEL trim with a total production percentage projected estimate of 15%.

warlock12118 · 11 September 2024 21:23

On the off chance this is all a bad AB in the unit, here’s a good AB from a 2014 Ti.
You’ll need to disable NAV, flip the audio from Sony and disable the HD Radio button.

2014 Escape Ti Sync3 APIM.abt (495 Bytes)

jeffreyhutchinson · 12 September 2024 20:03

I just did a city trip with this screen–so strange, it was flash for a couple hours, then act normal for a couple hours. I’ll upload the AB unit I have at the moment. By AB unit I think you mean the APIM file configuration? (Don’t be afraid to dumb this stuff down for me as I don’t understand a lot of the terms and abbreviations).

APIM FINAL CONFIGURATION!!!.abt (349 Bytes)

If I were to upload this file you attached, it wouldn’t mess it up right? Just considering I have the lastest SYNC 3 software that looks like 2020 fords (Version: 3.4.23188)

warlock12118 · 13 September 2024 00:16

The file is a known good Sync3 config for a US 2014 Escape Ti, not an MFT config.
If you were to use this for your SE you would need to change the audio to non-Sony, disable HD radio, country to Canada (based on the AB you posted) and disable NAV if you do not have a NAV APIM.

7D0-01-01 2xxx-xxx2-xx
7D0-01-02 x0xx-x3xx-xx
7D0-02-01 4341-xxxx-xx CANADA

warlock12118 · 13 September 2024 14:58

From your provided AB the only things glaring…
7D0-04-01: xx**-**xx-xxxx should be 00 60 not 00 00
That the BT external amp setting.

And one more thing after pulling down the AB for a 2016.
How old is this APIM?
Your AB ends at 7D0-07-04, a 2016 Escape AB ends at 7D0-08-02

jeffreyhutchinson · 14 September 2024 16:41

I’m uncertain about how old my APIM is. Would changing the BT external amp setting stop the flashing?

I do have another APIM I could try. I would certainly have to diable nav on it as the guy that sold it to me said that it had troubles getting lost.

bill32399 · 14 September 2024 18:49

Odd’s are there is nothing wrong with it. Probably a bad antenna.

warlock12118 · 16 September 2024 12:40

I’d agree with Bill that the guy had either a bad/misinstalled GPS antenna or had set it in the config incorrectly.
if the maps are way out of date, the problem could simply be the roads didn’t exist in the map set or they changed (in my area one road got 3 miles of curves take out and until the map data caught up, on the screen it looked like I was going through a field).
the label on the APIM should have a date (which of course could mean nothing if its a Chinese refurb/knockoff). ForScan will also give you the model in the log file.
The BT setting only affects performance of BlueTooth
Just drop your current config into the other APIM and see if the flashing goes away, if it does, bad APIM, if it doesn’t odds are bad screen or cable.

system · 16 October 2024 12:40

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