Sync System Only Works Sometimes

I have a 2019 Ford EcoSport, the current SYNC version is 3.0.17276. One day it just completely stopped turning on. Radio, Screen, and USB ports won’t work. However, it will randomly turn back on some days. Will an update fix this? If so- I would have to wait until it comes back on to insert the USB because the ports don’t work all the time. Or is this a completely different issue?


SYNC Region: NA

Navigation Variant: Non Nav

Manufacturer Year: Pre MY20

Install Type: OEM

Old SYNC Version: 3.0.17276

New SYNC Version: 3.0.17276

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

Update Method: Official Ford

I personally would NOT commit an update whilst the system is intermittent, if it decides to go bye bye’s half way through a write you’re royally screwed, I’d check other possibilities first like powers and grounds and possibly intermittent connections. I’d also want to do an OBD scan of the car to see the state of the busses.

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Sounds more like a bad APIM.
Have you tried pulling the battery cable for ~30 minutes to force a cold boot of all the modules in the car?

I have not yet tried to disconnect the battery, but I did change the fuse connected to SYNC player (although the old one did not look burnt), and it worked perfectly for one day, and then went back to only working sometimes.

That sounds like a bad APIM.
Do you have ForScan so that you can check for codes when it doesn’t work?
You should have something stored if this is a regular occurence.

I don’t. I am not that good with cars. I have an extended warranty, but the Ford dealer told me that I would have to pay $200 for diagnostic, and then they would be able to tell me if it is covered under warranty.

This is an odd observation, but it only seems to work when I park in the sun for long periods of time. For example, yesterday it was extremely hot out, and I parked on the street, when I got in the car it worked. Today after being parked in the garage overnight, it’s not working again.

I am frustrated because the car is still so new. It’s a 2019 and I only have 23,000 miles on it.

Sounds like a cold solder joint, when it gets cold it contracts and lifts, when its hot it makes contact.
Ask the dealer(s) if the APIM is covered, keep in mind that you can take it to ANY Ford or Lincoln dealer if you have a Ford extended warranty, you don’t have to take it where it was purchased.
And before you go searching for “Ford APIM warranty” keep in mind that you need to ignore anything from before the 2017MY, Ford extended the warranty on the MFT APIMs, not the Sync3 units. The last year for MFT was the 2016MY.

Thank you so much! I called the number on the bottom of my warranty contract paperwork, and the person I spoke to sounded a little unsure and also annoyed by my questions. This is my first time having a “new vehicle” with warranty coverage, so I’m not sure how this all works. He told me everything is covered, unless listed as exclusions on my contract. So I am assuming the APIM would be covered?

This is what my contract shows:
" PLATINUM IS EXCLUSIONARY COVERAGE:

This means it covers your vehicle’s assemblies unless listed under the Exclusions section of the Vehicle Service Contract.

PLATINUM EXCLUSIONS:
Brake linings, brake drums and rotors, disc brake pads, standard manual transmission clutch friction disc, pressure plate, pilot bearing, throw-out bearing and arm, air bags, solar powered devices, glass, lenses, sealed beams, body parts and/or panels, weather stripping, trim, moldings, lock cylinders, tires, wheels, all batteries except Hybrid/EV/Hydrogen High Voltage batteries as listed under Gold Coverage, light bulbs, upholstery, paint, bright metal, freeze plugs, filters, heater and radiator hoses, exhaust system, catalytic converter, shock absorbers, work such as front-end alignment or wheel balancing (except when required in conjunction with a mechanical breakdown), safety restraint systems, audio/security or other systems not factory installed, or vinyl and convertible tops."

Sounds like you have a third party warranty.
I would push for this as being part of the “factory sound system”.

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