Hello,
I’m currently researching the hardware required to retrofit a Sync 3 unit into my Fiesta (currently equipped with Sync 2.5 and an 8" display).
I already have all the necessary wiring, and I’ve confirmed that the display is the same, so no changes are needed there.
I’m now looking into purchasing an APIM (avoiding MY20 versions, as I’ve read they should be if possible), and I have a few questions regarding the ACM.
From what I’ve read, it seems the current ACM cannot be reused, although some people have managed to do so by updating the firmware. Is this still possible?
My current ACM part number is L1TT-18D804-HS.
If reuse isn’t an option, can I buy any ACM, or are there specific compatibility requirements with the APIM that I should be aware of?
You have a 2020 part number ACM as your current unit, but you’re doing a retrofit?
What year Fiesta is this?
You should just be able to do an in place upgrade without replacing the ACM if you have an 8" screen.
I want to retrofit the Sync 3 since my car is equipped with the 2.5.
It is very laggy and many times requires reset to connect via carplay, updates and firmware update did not solve the issue. Also integrated NAV would be nice.
MY17 but production date is somewhere at the end of 2019.
Some just wire up the APIM and the ACM would do its job without problems?
Depends on what you want. ACM’s have a lot of combinations, but something to pay close attention to is the connector format and pinout for your vehicle. What connectors are supplied with the harness for the conversion?
There is currently no harness available anywhere, so I will create one myself.
I found a wiring diagram online that shows the necessary connections between the APIM (54-pin), ACM (32+32-pin), and the gateway module.
My goal is to have everything function exactly as it would in a factory-fitted Sync 3 vehicle.
I noticed that most Sync 2.5 to Sync 3 conversion kits being sold include a new ACM, APIM, and a custom harness.
However, I want to determine if I can reuse the existing ACM with the new APIM I’m planning to install, rather than replacing it. And if I need to replace it can I use any model or should I look into something in particular (other than not having sync 2.5 built-in)
I have no idea why they add an ACM. I have swapped out so many ACM’s and never had a compatibility problem. Right now I am using an ACM from a Sync 4 car and it is working fine.
They just make you swap the Sync 2.5 ACM with a “normal” one (like H1BT-18C815-VT), without any added connectivity. I will ask those sellers what is the reason behind this.
The only reason to do it is to add Sirius and or HD radio if you had a lower end one. I have used ACM’s from 2011 with Sync 3 and they work fine. 14 years old.
Those are not available for me since i’m in the EU, the only thing that I might consider is DAB radio that is already available on my acm… but I don’t even care about it honestly.
So as long as the sync 2.5 does not interfere with the APIM I’m good I guess…
About the APIM, is there any advantage over choosing a newer model? For example I’m looking at H1BT-14G371-FGA
64GB so ok for EU nav and is not MY20
Thanks. I will look into that. Other than performance there shouldn’t be any compatibility issue, correct?
I also asked those sellers about the ACM and they said specifically if the acm was made with sync 2.5 it needs to be changed, but they did not tell any technical reasons.
Just my guess: maybe this kind of acm has the audio input hardwired internally so it cannot accept the audio from any source selected by the apim (?)
I guess I will buy just the apim and see if the audio will work with this acm…
There could be some issues with the calibration on the older APIM’s. A 2019 would have a K series in it so I would go for that. If you get an H series than you might not be able to get the calibration to a point where you need some options to work.
Because those are combination ACM’s with Sync 2.5 loaded on them, so there is a connectivity contention with a Sync 3 APIM in the vehicle. It is possible to fix, but the Sync 2.5 ACM is really quite basic, so replacing it with a newer model will enable more features and content. Not to mention that contention in the vehicle network.
So theoretically it can work with the apim but it’s easier to swap it out?
What features would it enable? The only difference I can see between same year ACM is the DAB radio that some do not support. My ACM does, and even then I don’t really care about the radio streaming
Edit: Looking at the p/n I see mine is flagged as “ICE-Low W/Incr Connectivity + DAB”
Incr Connectivity is sync 2.5
So you are suggesting to search a higher level ACM like ICE-Mid?
I think I’ll go with the KU5T-14G371-GDE for the APIM, as it’s more readily available from local sellers
They’re much harder to find, at least in Italy.
I’ll buy the apim for now and see what can I achieve with the current ACM, if it ends up working partially or not at all I’ll look into another ACM (mid if possible…)
What about the p/n of the apim I mentioned? (KU5T-14G371-GDE) K series like you mentioned, NAV 64GB so good for me since i’m in the EU and not MY20. Correct?
̶I̶ ̶a̶l̶s̶o̶ ̶s̶a̶w̶ ̶c̶h̶e̶a̶p̶e̶r̶ ̶K̶N̶1̶T̶-̶1̶4̶G̶3̶7̶1̶-̶P̶G̶F̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶i̶t̶’̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶D̶B̶,̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶w̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶I̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶ ̶s̶e̶e̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶l̶a̶b̶e̶l̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶s̶h̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶a̶ ̶F̶o̶r̶d̶ ̶E̶c̶o̶s̶p̶o̶r̶t̶,̶ ̶A̶P̶I̶M̶ ̶b̶u̶i̶l̶t̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶2̶0̶1̶9̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶6̶4̶G̶B̶
(Got new photos from the seller and the unit is rusty, pass on this one)
Hello, so the apim is here and I have created all the wiring needed.
It boots successfully and I have the image on the screen.
Issue is now with ACM and Audio.
As per current configuration the audio is not working, cannot turn volume above zero using the knob or select the “audio” part of the screen.
Right now the following DTCS are present:
APIM:
U0184 - Lost comm. with radio
U0198 - Lost comm. with telematic control module (I think it referes to the modem for forpass connect ecc.. obviously I don’t have it in the car)
U0238 - Lost comm. with Digital Audio Control Module
ACM:
B108E - Circuit Open for Display (because it is now disconnected and connected to APIM, setting in forscan “none” as display throws incompatibile configuration error)
B116A - Microphone Circuit Open (Because it is rewired to apim now)
Also: steering wheel buttons are not working, the only thing that works is the vocal assistant button that when I press it says “The vocal assistant requires a phone connected” but I guess this is coming from the acm
I messed with the visual editor, not the as built… but how could I bypass those errors? Like the display missing one? Since when I set the display to “local” or “none” it says that the configuration is not compatible