Updating APIM Firmware (Calibration Files)

Updating APIM Firmware (Calibration Files)

You may wish to upgrade your APIM firmware to get features like radio logos and calm screen.

Before starting this process, it is recommended that you try making the asbuilt changes to enable calm screen and radio logos first, as 2018 and onward vehicles are likely to have this update anyway.

NOTE: Once you have made the asbuilt changes, perform a master reset of your APIM and check that radio logos and calm screen stay enabled. If they disappear, you will need to follow this guide to make the changes stay permanently.

Health Warning: This is NOT the same as updating to Sync 3.4. It involves specialist hardware, risking having your Sync module (APIM) ‘bricked’. Many users successfully carry out this procedure, but it is extremely important that you follow the instructions carefully.

Prerequisites

  • Information concerning the firmware updates, FORScan, and adapters can be found at Latest Ford/Information topics - CyanLabs Official Community

  • Make a backup of your asbuilt data before commencing any updates.

  • PUT THE CAR ON A CHARGER – THIS IS NOT OPTIONAL!

  • Make sure your laptop is charged up fully, and is reliable. Make sure it wont sleep/turn off during the firmware updates.

  • Use a decent adaptor – recommend a good branded one like OBDLink EX (cheap ones probably will kill your APIM permanently). Do note that just because your adaptor works for ‘normal’ AsBuilt configuration, firmware updates are much more intense so good quality hardware is mandatory.

  • See this thread for FORScan Software Version 2.4.x Releases and Information - Ford / Information - CyanLabs Official Community

  • FORScan 2.4.x requires a paid license to download and install firmware files, and enforces the use of specific adapters (including OBDLink EX).

  • APIMs starting with the letter ‘G’ at the beginning of their part name (e.g. GJ7T-14G370-CM) are known to be more difficult to flash and users report an increase frequency of them being bricked. Letters H, J, K and upwards are much more resilient.

  • Upgrade your OBDLink EX device firmware to the latest available. See this thread for details. Updating Firmware and Initial Setup – OBDLink EX in FORScan - Ford / Information - CyanLabs Official Community

Important:

It is important to understand this is not 100% safe, if the process fails the chances are your APIM will be ‘bricked’ and require replacing.

Upgrading The Firmware

  1. Turn your car onto accessory mode (ensure your APIM is on and has fully started).
  2. Open FORScan and allow initial scan to complete.
  3. Select the chip button on the left, then APIM firmware update.
  4. Take note of your current versions, if you need to revert for any reason you will need these files. Download these files first from the FORScan site using the download button at the page.
  5. Once you have downloaded the original files, then download the available files for the upgrade. This will download the necessary files ONLY but NOT install them at this time (Internet connection is required).
  6. Once download is complete, make sure to use Test run SBL .
    This will cause the APIM to reboot, and will start again as normal. Make sure the log states the process was successful.
    Next, click on the Program! button. If your battery is too low, it will NOT allow you to proceed.
  7. Once the process has completed we can now enable Radio Logos and Calm Screen, Click the Stop button at the bottom and select APIM (AsBuilt Configuration).

NOTE:
IF YOU HAVE DAB (UK/EU): Set 7D0-02-03 to X 6 XX-XX (keep the X’s at your current value) and press Write.
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE DAB (USA/Rest of world): Set 7D0-02-03 to X C XX-XX (keep the X’s at your current value) and press Write.

  1. Once done, restart your APIM and you should have options for Station Logo in Radio Settings and Calm Screen in Display Settings . If you do not immediately see these options, carry out a master reset.

UPDATE: Issues with Sirius: There are known issues with Sirius radio logos not displaying, despite this update. It can take a number of days for them to appear if at all - unfortunately there is no known ‘fix’ if they do not appear at this time.

9 Likes

Fantastic HowTO… is this update independent of the SYNC software version Installed??

5 Likes

Yes @alpiste it is indeed but the Radio Logs / Calm Screen require 3.4

3 Likes

Great job @Louage and @CyanLabs.

For those that are trying to get the FORSCAN 2.4 beta, I got this DM from the Forscan forums:

Version 2.4.0 has serious issues, so we have stopped testing on it. We currently work on version 2.4.1 that will most likely be publicly available. It is recommended to wait for 2.4.1 (no exact ETA yet, though). We can provide 2.4.0 if you want to use it at your own risk (knowing it has serious problems).

Regards,
FORScan Team

It sounds like you can get 2.4 through some members, but I tried with the 2.4 software and got this result: https://photos.app.goo.gl/qXc2A1nJ8P8sxA2w5

It looks like the calibration buttons error on downloading some of the files needed.

4 Likes

Hi, yes it seems the forscan downloads are failing, you can manually get the files needed from here UCDS Calibration File Download

@Louage can probably assist further but I believe you just put them in the folder it said when it errored.

As you may or may not know k don’t personally use forscan so louage is the guru for that :wink:

Oh also 2.4 can be found in the pinned post on the discord server but as per the forscan info I would also suggest waiting for a more stable version.

6 Likes
  • Updated the original post with instructions on how to firmware update your OBDLink EX

  • Added stark health warning about the risk of bricking your APIM

@Fma965 @josharmour - I’ve updated the prereqs to say latest 2.4.x version rather than just 2.4, I’d advise always going to grab the latest version as I am aware Forscan regularly bug squash newer versions. Probably best not to use any older versions people link for reasons mentioned above.

3 Likes

what files do i have to download manually to update the APIM module

3 Likes

Anyone who can do this for me?

please contact me at my email [email protected]

Thank you!

1 Like

The files are different for each APIM model, due to the risk of bricking your module I do not recommend doing this manually. The above steps will allow you to flash your APIM to a newer version thst will allow radio logos and calm screen.

3 Likes

it is known if it can already be downloaded from forscan

1 Like

not sure i understand correctly but currently Forscan download function appears to be broken so it doesn’t automatically get the files.

1 Like

From where is forscan getting calibration files? UCSD or fordservice website?

3 Likes

Good question, not sure.

1 Like

Think from fordtechsercice… Same file that @josharmour was trying to download througt forscan is available on ucsdsys but not on fordtechservice :thinking:

Today I’ve receive my Obdlink ex device, and I’ve update the firmware. As I had my car profile saved, I’ve test the apim firmware module to check if automatic downloads are available, it seems to be working for me…:thinking:

1 Like

Excellent news, thanks for the update. I wonder if those with issues are using an old version…

I’ve just tested the download capability, I didn’t update the apim firmware yet… Just the obdlink firmware… Next week I will give pics of the catastrophe… I will make the update at work, in my garage I have no were to plug the battery charger…
:blush:

4 Likes

Well, finally I’ve updated my apim calibration files, no issues, everything was OK. Downloading, SBL Test and Program. Before updating I made a backup of the Car Profile and the APIM asbuilt configuration. Everything is working OK, radio logos (I cannot check calm screen because I’m still on 3.3 software version). But now I have the DTC on the APIM, U2100. I tried loading the asbuilt file I previously saved but it says no changes and, although I re-write, the DTC is still there. I cannot download the ASbuilt original file from motorcraft because my sync3 is a retrofitted unit, originally my Focus has a SYNC1 Unit. If I try to download, obviously I get the message that number of blocks do not match the actual number of blocks. Also, before starting I get the message “firmware part number GB5T-1G373-AA do not match with expected GB5T-1G379-AA” . This correspond to the Sound Profile / Calibration…In any case everything seems to be working OK. Following @Louage steps everything should work… Thanks a lot to him for his help and patience :slight_smile:

6 Likes

DTC U2100 “Initial configuration not complete”

thats fixed by re-writing all the asbuilt to the unit usually

1 Like