Sync 3 not working, master reset didn't finish

Hi, thank you for your help in advance, I wanted to perform a master reset on my Focus MK4 2019 SYNC3, did the maste reset, went through no issues, but I got stuck on ‘‘Loading Maps’’. I’ve been there ever since. Touch doesn’t work. It plays 1 radio station, I can’t change it, only lower the volume. I tried the soft reset by holding power button and forward button, it indeed restarts, but it’s still the same thing, parking aid doesn’t show, touch doesn’t work, blue screen sometimes. I think something went wrong during the Master reset.

What can I do? Please help me, it was all working great just yesterday. Thank you guys!!


SYNC Region: EU

Navigation Variant: Nav

Manufacturer Year: Pre MY20

Install Type: OEM

Old SYNC Version: 0.0.00000

New SYNC Version: 000000000

Do you have a error message, if so what is it?

Update Method: Official Ford

There’s only 1 more reset to do after that combo and that’s to pull the car battery for 20 minutes.

Agreed, cut the power for a while to see how it goes.

Also, from your message I get the unit was not working properly before the master reset… maybe you tried the master reset to seeking some resolution to some issue?

Have you used Forscan?

Thank you for your replies.
Will try to cut the power to see how that goes.
I wanted to perform the Master reset because I bought the car for myself and I wanted to delete all the info and make it snappier (not that it wouldn’t be).
I didn’t use Forscan, but I have direct access to it if it’s neccessary.
Will try and reply how that goes.
Thank you guys.

What Sync3 version is the unit running?

I disconnected the battery, still the same thing, it doesn’t register touches, still stuck on Loading Maps (wheel is spinning), 1 radio station is playing.
I unfortunately don’t know the Sync version, I’m sure it’s 3.x something.
I tried to make that identifying USB, put it into the USB port, but nothing on the screen and no XLM on the flashdrive itself.
I still think this is just a software gone roke/wrong issue, which could be fixed by uploading a new Sync3 software on it.
Do I have to go to Ford? Thank you so much!!!

If the unit is not running a simple interrogator log, it won’t process an update.
I somehow feel we are missing something here… Are you the first owner of the car?..
Has anything been done to the car/unit?.

I understand… I just bought the car from a verified owner who was coming to Ford dealer for all the service, so I believe it’s all good. It was all working great, I just wanted to erase it so the data would go and I would have clean system, wish I didn’t do that…
Any ideas?
I will probably still have to go to Ford to try to get it resolved…

I see…

Well:

  • you don’t know what version is running
  • can’t handle an interrogator log
  • the unit is not working as it should

We do not have a lot to work with, so replacing it is a valid option.

Even if the unit is running a bugged 3.4 with the rwdata partition full, it should work better than that…

I’m running out of ideas…

I would suggest running the RWData Cleaner alone and see if that improves your issue. Can be done directly thru the Syn3Updater.

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Thank you for your answers and thorough help!
I tried the RW data cleaner, I prepared the flashdrive, I turned it on and connected the USB, unfortunately, nothing has improved, but a strange thing happened, it started rebooting itself…every 2-3 minutes, the whole system would reboot…

But so far, nothing…

Isn’t there any other way for me to get it running? Any unofficial one? It was working just fine, I can’t beat myself up to it…simple Master reset…

You are stuck in a reboot or update loop where the system cannot find the files. You could try to run an update on the unit now, like 3.4.21265. Don’t know if this will work or not. Also, see this…

Ok, thank you, I understand.

I managed to find out that my Sync3 is on version 3.4.21194.

I will try to update it and let you know how it goes.

Thank you.

Oh my god, I FIXED IT!!!

I first decided to try to run an update through the official Ford website. I successfully formated my 32 GB USB 3.0 flashdrive to exFAT, I downloaded the Ford files (I used the link above, I was already registered on the Ford website, I added my car usin the VIN number and there was the actual version of Sync3 the car had and the update on the version 3.4.23188 was available.)
I downloaded the files, extracted them on the flashdrive.
I went to the car, started the engine. I plugged in the USB drive, it didn’t show any signs due to the system being corrupted, but I could tell that it was lagging a bit more than usual.
I was sitting in the car the whole time. After exactly 35 minutes, the screen went dark, it was off for 10-15 seconds and then it booted back up, the Maps finally loaded my GPS position, temperature showed, time was changing and when I hit the Settings button, it worked. I screamed and it WORKS!!!

After I confirmed it working by playing with the system for a while, I unplugged the USB and it truly WORKS!!!

So for everyone, keep your head up, it will work in the end!!!

Thank you guys so much.


A short story: I bought the car (was pretty expensive), pretty much full equip on board…drove it home and the next day I was thinking like…well, let’s do the Master reset so it’s clean and I can play with it…you can imagine how hard it hit me…but we’re back ON TRACK!!!

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