I did a sync 4 swap in my 2016 F150. I found out my APIM has a really old version of sync 4 installed. Version 20312 to be exact. I know it will never be able to reach out to the internet for updates, but is it possible to use FDRS to make a usb to update it? I have seen videos on it, but it’s always done with a vehicle that has sync 4 already. I do have access to a newer F150 I can download the update from, but are they tied to the VIN at that point? Or can I plug the USB stick it makes into my unit.
I also thought about plugging my APIM into the 2022, loading it’s as-built and updating that way if it would let me. Anyone have thoughts on this?
Change the VIN in the BCM(Ignore all the DTC’s). The APIM reads it from there. Than try to see if it will recognize and update for download. Once it’s updates change the VIN back in the BCM.
Would I be changing my trucks bcm VIN to for example a newer truck that is running sync 4 and run the update via FDRS?
Exactly, You will get a lot of DTC’s from the other modules that have the VIN but you don’t need to worry about those.
I have done this for other things but you may be the first to try it with Sync 4. 50/50 on if it will work.
Probably not going to work if the GWM and TCU were not changed out. If that was not done, you will need to make sure the Sync 4 APIM is set to use native networking (WIFI) instead of using the TCU. Also, make sure it is set as the GPS source instead of the TCU, then you have a 50/50 chance as @bill32399 says. Placing the APIM in another vehicle will likely work unless the VIN and APIM S/N are tied by Ford, as they do with the maps.
I have not seen this done successfully nor can find any documentation either way.
Yeah it looks like a ton of work to try to get it to update. Having a severely outdated module was the risk I was willing to take when I bought the hardware. I am pretty certain my module is a Chinese clone with the amount of issues it seems to have that as-built just won’t fix. It also has no stickers or markings indicating it’s an OEM unit. The display likes to randomly go black and I have to cycle the headlight switch to get it to come back on, and it freezes all the time. Not sure if it’s related but there is a constant code in the BCM now stating it lost communication with the APIM, but looking at the wire diagrams, it looks like that might be because they used to communicate on the HS1 CAN which the sync 4 APIM lacks. The PAM and Ambient lighting still work though which I think are housed in the BCM so there is at least some communication. Either way I don’t feel comfortable plugging this module into a perfectly working sync 4 truck just to try to update mine. I purchased a used OEM module on eBay manufactured June of 2024, so I would guess it has software from at least that timeframe.
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Will is still work due to Special Service Message 53966 - 2021-2025 Various Vehicles - SYNC4 - General System Performance And Stability - Programming No Longer Available
This is not applicable because the user swapped the Sync 4 unit into an ineligilble vehicle.
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