Updating APIM Firmware (Calibration Files)

I’ve got the flickering issue on the Sync screen with post-19101 versions of Sync 3.4. I recall there being a potential fix for that by changing the illumination strategy in the asbuilt, but I think to get an option for C1MCA I need 3.3 or 3.4? Maybe I’m misunderstanding this post of yours: Sync 3.4.21194 - Feedback & Issues - #256 by F150Chief

I have no idea if it will even work to get rid of the flicker–I know a lot of Focus/Kuga/C-Max people are plagued with it. I could of course go back to 3.4.19101, but wanted to try this.

Let me know what you think! Thank you.

It will not work for your platform.

You mean the asbuilt changes won’t fix the flickering issue? Can you expound a little bit? Because on the ffclub.ru forum balmix seemed to say it would work for Focus and Kuga, which are also C1MCA.

It seems not to work as noted by many on this forum. It may be a configuration issue with other parameters.

[Feedback Required] - Kuga and Focus flickering screen issue - Ford / Sync 3 - CyanLabs Official Community

Hi @F150Chief

Thank you for your advice re: options for updating my H series APIM. I understand that going to MY18.5 maybe/probably won’t resolve my flickering issue. But at the same time it is probably OK to do it (others with H series APIMs have done the upgrade and been OK).

So I think I would like to try to go to 3.3/MY18.5 anyway, if only to prove to myself that there is no change in behavior. I did save your instructions and the requisite files to recover my 2nd gen APIM if a flashing to 3.3 goes awry, so I feel the risk is minimal. Would you be willing to post or point me to somewhere I can download these files?:

1U5T-14G374-DA
1U5T-14G375-DA
JB5T-14G379-BA

Another question: in reading a guide on the fmods forum about upgrading an APIM to MY18.5, it states:

GB5T-14G379-AA.VBF - This is the ECU Cal-Config #1 AKA the Audio Profiles. For unknown reasons (at least to me) this shouldn’t be flashed on an US APIM, otherwise it will fail to boot. It’s the same across all Sync 3 APIM models.
1U5T-14G379-BA.VBF - This is the ECU Cal-Config #2 AKA Illumination Calibration. Just like the BT Audio Profiles, this shouldn’t be flashed on an US APIM, or it will fail to boot. It’s NOT the same across all Sync 3 APIM models. It should be ‘vehicle’ specific, but apparently you can flash whatever you want. It will works fine.

I don’t think I need to worry about the sound profiles file since my APIM already has GB5T-14G379-AA. But my Illumination Strategy currently shows as blank (perhaps it’s not used for the calibration level my APIM is currently at?). Your posts do reference flashing that file, so I wanted to see what you thought about the warning that flashing it would cause a US APIM to not boot.

The other sort of confusing thing in that post is this table:

1U5T-14G375-A*.vbf 8GB / 16GB EU without NAV
1U5T-14G375-B*.vbf 8GB / 16GB NA without NAV
1U5T-14G375-C*.vbf 8GB / 16GB ROW without NAV
1U5T-14G375-D*.vbf 32GB NA with NAV 
1U5T-14G375-E*.vbf 32GB CHINA with NAV
1U5T-14G375-F*.vbf 32GB XX (it means ANY region) with NAV (Telenav)
1U5T-14G375-G*.vbf 32GB ROW With NAV (NNG)
1U5T-14G375-H*.vbf 64GB EU with NAV
1U5T-14G375-J*.vbf 32GB TURKEY with NAV
1U5T-14G375-K*.vbf 32GB UAE with NAV (NNG)

From looking at the current calibration on my APIM, I have a C for that digit. But according to the table, C means “8GB / 16GB ROW without NAV”. Is that just a mistake in the chart? Because my APIM most certainly has factory NAV. And I thought ROW referred to markets that aren’t NA or EU. My C-Max is domestic.

Anyway, I appreciate your time and patience. I’m fairly technically inclined, but still learning about Ford’s nomenclature and how everything fits together.

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You can use the -DA file version.

Try flashing without it first. It might still show blank after the flash but if the APIM boots it’s probably ok. I’ve seen this on G and H series APIM units. Usually not an issue, but if needed you can flash it separately like it states in the recovery instructions, with the ignition off.

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21 posts were split to a new topic: TCU HJ5T Asbuilt Discussion

Wanted to report back that:

  1. I was successful flashing my gen2 (H series) APIM to MY18.5 calibration using the files @F150Chief provided. It was a really quick process. I used an OBDLink EX.

  2. Thrilled to say that after doing so, and then setting DE05 Illumination Gateway to C1MCA, the auto-dim toggle appeared in Settings > Display. As usual It defaults to “on”, but toggling it to “off” fixes the flickering issue, just like I used to do with Sync 3.0 (and 3.4.19101). Furthermore, the change persists after shutting the car completely off and back on. Everything is working fine, including the screen backlight turning off with the car and day/night mode transitions. I am running the latest Sync 3.4.22020, but I would guess it likely works on some of the previous builds as well.

Note you don’t need to (and should not) make the other as-built changes balmix proposed for the flickering issue–the DE17 “Delay Gateway Day/Night” 00 → 96, nor the DE00 Illumination FOE → FNA. DE05 is the only change needed (along with MY18.5 calibration on the APIM).

That said, more data points are needed before declaring this fixed. Hopefully other folks can try it and report back.

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For NA vehicles I think this is true.

hi i need these files to update my apim
1U5T-14G374-EL.vbf
5U5T-14G379-BC.vbf
thank you

What year and model is the APIM? Part number and firmware level.

Since I can go safely to this early-2018 software version, do you have these files, so I can update my APIM? My APIM part number starts with J.

HB5T-14G374-CA
HB5T-14G375-DA
HB5T-14G379-BA

Hb5t-14g371-fca
Hb5t-14g380-ca

You can safely go to:
3.0 APIM NAV & NON-NAV Unit Firmware (Production Release, 2017-Pre-2018.5, H-Early J Series)
(Originally Found On 2017/Early 2018 Units That Ship with 2 USB Ports on Back)
GB5T-14G376-AA
HB5T-14G374-CA
HB5T-14G375-DA or HB5T-14G375-FA (HB5T-14G375-CA NON-NAV)
GB5T-14G379-AA
HB5T-14G379-BA

You should be able to upgrade to the following if desired:
3.2/3.3 APIM NAV & NON-NAV Unit Firmware (Production Release, 2018.5, J-Early K Series)
GB5T-14G376-AA
1U5T-14G374-DA
1U5T-14G375-DA (1U5T-14G375-CA NON-NAV)
GB5T-14G379-AA
JB5T-14G379-BA

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I would not recommend placing the latest firmware files on a Hb5t-14g371-fca APIM. If you are upgrading to use FMods, you only need to have MY18.5 files. Use the files above.

GB5T-14G376-AA
1U5T-14G374-DA
1U5T-14G375-DA (1U5T-14G375-CA NON-NAV)
GB5T-14G379-AA
JB5T-14G379-BA

Hello! Is there version 2.4.10?

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If you need help with FORScan you can contact thier support:

FORScan Software Version 2.4.x Releases and Information - FORScan - Docs - CyanLabs Official Community

If I have a Canadian 2016 F150 w/NAV, am I ok to update firmware to 18.5? I have forscan and Vgate Vlinker FS

I have updated from Sync3 3.0 to Sync3 3.4 - 22048 and am jailbroken with a few mods.

No JB discussion here…

However. if you have a 2016 Sync 3 unit, it is probably a G series, which is notorious for failing firmware upgrades. Not that you can’t. They are recoverable.

Generally, I do not recommend you upgrade a G series to MY18.5 firmware, as the hardware was not designed for it and there is no benefit in doing so. Upgrading to the H series firmware will get the calm screen, etc., without issues.

Here are some resources you will need:
Docs - CyanLabs Official Community

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Ok, thanks. So for Calm screen I only need to update to H series, good to know. I am not sure if its worth it really.

Also, being a Canadian (NA) truck, do i only need two files? Like the US trucks?