Sync 2 upgrade to Sync 3

Geeseman · 07-05-2017, 07:10 PM

Hi All,
Has anyone looked into replacing their sync 2 system with a sync 3 to get access to its much faster OS and carplay features?
Ive seen them selling in the U.S
https://www.infotainment.com/product...sync-3-upgrade

Wondering if anyone local does supply and install.
thanks

**kypez** · 07-05-2017, 08:37 PM

Saw these and was hopeful but havent seen anyone able to get this working locally...

I'm hopeful on the Everest but not on the Falcon as its more of an orphan in the Ford world...

malazn mafia · 07-05-2017, 09:41 PM

Was told that the Falcon most closely resembles the Ford Fusion Sync 2 model electrically. Seen some photos online and the modules appear very close in appearance. A very expensive gamble though at 3500 usd for a conversion kit and no guarantee it will work

**Professor Farnsworth** · 07-05-2017, 09:50 PM

People are working on it.

simon varley · 09-05-2017, 08:21 AM

sync3 is faster, but that's just about all it's got going for it. The screen configuration is awful, the voice activation is woeful, and the usb connectivity is dire. If you aren't happy with sync2 then I'd suggest go 100% aftermarket

the_scotsman · 10-05-2017, 01:57 PM

I'd just kill for Android Auto in the G6ET.

The FGX should never have come with Sync 2. it was already outdated when it was released.

Vesper Martini · 06-02-2018, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_scotsman

I'd just kill for Android Auto in the G6ET.

The FGX should never have come with Sync 2. it was already outdated when it was released.

wouldn't using Android Auto be totally reliant on your Mobile device and plan?

whereas SYNC2 systems are free to run and have better GPS coverage

the_scotsman · 06-02-2018, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

wouldn't using Android Auto be totally reliant on your Mobile device and plan?

whereas SYNC2 systems are free to run and have better GPS coverage

Not totally reliant at all, no.

Better GPS coverage? No. All smartphones have GPS too. But Sync has massively outdated maps, like some roads are years out of date. Google maps is updated constantly.

And almost everyone has some sort of plan on their phone with data. Anyway, with Sync 3 you aren't forced to use Android Auto or Apple Carplay.

Ford just cheaped out putting Sync2 into the FGX. It should never have been done.

NX74205 · 06-02-2018, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_scotsman

Ford just cheaped out putting Sync2 into the FGX. It should never have been done.

SYNC 3 made its debut in the third quarter of 2015 for the 2016 model year in the US, and only came here in mid 2016 starting with the 2016.75 LZ Focus update.

It couldn't possibly have made it into the FGX, unless you think Ford should have spent money on updating the FGX infotainment three months before its run was due to end.

Vesper Martini · 09-02-2018, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_scotsman

Not totally reliant at all, no.

Better GPS coverage? No. All smartphones have GPS too. But Sync has massively outdated maps, like some roads are years out of date. Google maps is updated constantly.

And almost everyone has some sort of plan on their phone with data. Anyway, with Sync 3 you aren't forced to use Android Auto or Apple Carplay.

Ford just cheaped out putting Sync2 into the FGX. It should never have been done.

From what Iv'e seen only cheaper model cars wee offering systems that ran off the back of your smart phone, ie ads for cars using SIRI

Android auto looks ok but from what i read it was only released mid 2015 and took a while to catch on

Personally I'm still pretty happy with my SYNC 2 my maps have been updated so have no issues there.
that said I haven't sen sync3 in use.
I guess its hard to go backwards one you have experienced it

Geeseman · 10-05-2017, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simon varley

sync3 is faster, but that's just about all it's got going for it. The screen configuration is awful, the voice activation is woeful, and the usb connectivity is dire. If you aren't happy with sync2 then I'd suggest go 100% aftermarket

Any suggestions on aftermarket?

YTRY4 · 18-05-2017, 02:27 AM

Comparing a few different sync3 models with the fgx rear, I'd say it would potentially work with some small changes. I hope someone does this soonish.

In SA there are already people who have done FGX dash' into FG mk1 and mk2. I'll be buying an FG mk1 or mk2 soon and hope to do a dash conversion but again a sync3 upgrade too would be ideal as carplay is great.

malazn mafia · 21-05-2017, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YTRY4

Comparing a few different sync3 models with the fgx rear, I'd say it would potentially work with some small changes. I hope someone does this soonish.

In SA there are already people who have done FGX dash' into FG mk1 and mk2. I'll be buying an FG mk1 or mk2 soon and hope to do a dash conversion but again a sync3 upgrade too would be ideal as carplay is great.

Care to share who has done the FG-X into Mk1 and Mk2 in SA? i've done the conversion but stripped the car front to back and ran FG-X looms. I am thinking ford ranger sync3 would be the go for a conversion, as the gps etc would be working. A U.S. sync3 would probably have region locked gps and things may be imperial units etc

YTRY4 · 01-07-2017, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Care to share who has done the FG-X into Mk1 and Mk2 in SA? i've done the conversion but stripped the car front to back and ran FG-X looms. I am thinking ford ranger sync3 would be the go for a conversion, as the gps etc would be working. A U.S. sync3 would probably have region locked gps and things may be imperial units etc

Hi, Not entirely sure if the business' want me to mention it as it is not offered as a service to the public atleast not yet, it has been done to a few cars by a performance shop and by a repair shop here in Adelaide all for their own cars though. Exactly as you said it required the entire FGX dash and all body/boot/engine looms plus ECU etc to be used...Basically the car was stripped and looms rerun plus hole cut in the roof for the roof antenna.

I recently helped a friend with this conversion and although 80% of the work has been done there's a few errors on the dash which will be getting fixed within the next week or so.

grantcc · 06-02-2018, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geeseman

Any suggestions on aftermarket?

In August 2016 I took delivery of my FGX Falcon Cab Chassis. Beaut car and I've had two of them before that. Additional bonus was it came with Sat Nav - Ford Sync 2. At that time I'd only had a Tom Tom stuck on the windscreen so the in car thing was great. However it also came with free updates for the next seven years, but the rub was that was only with a service. Having had a garage for 40 years it isn't in my DNA to get someone else to service my cars, so the free bit wasn't exactly that. Anyway my wife bought a new Hyundai Kona recently and it comes with an Android system so you don't, and can't, actually get it with Sat Nav. At first this seemed a bit of a downer but all you need to do is plug in your phone and you can have Google maps and Waze. Obviously for free. Probably a bit limited to Android Auto but it gave me the idea to look around and I came up with these: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3iBSKk72Z4 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAS1GMdlbcI (plenty of these around just follow the YouTube paths)

In the end I bought one from http://www.cardvdnavi.com/Ford-SYNC2...roid-Interface This was delivered very quickly and the company was very responsive to my emails, unfortunately I couldn't get the thing to work properly. First they sent me a real 'Plug and Play' unit but a part on the back physically prevented the unit being fitted so they sent me a 'PCB Daughterboard' which overcame that problem. A bit of a job to fit but all the stuff was there, and the good bit was that I could simply switch from the OEM screen to the Android screen. Problem was there was no response to the touch screen on the Android side. So you couldn't actually change anything on the screen. Eventually I was able to change things using a mouse plugged into the USB, but even so could not make the screen responsive to touch. In the middle of all this I saw that the screen on the Android side was very lo-res which wasn't at all what I wanted.

The upshot is, that after numerous emails trying to get this sorted my Chinese friends have given up on me and said I can have my money back (not counting my USD45.00 shipping - another story but I'm working on that)

Anyway, that's the story, but before I send it back, maybe someone out there has had experience with these, specifically I guess with FGX Falcons as maybe they're different from other Fords in the world?

Thanks
Grant

Smoke Pursuit · 08-02-2018, 03:56 PM

A guy has upgraded his PX2 Ranger Sync 2 to Sync 3. Was plug and play minus the GPS antenna or the digital radio antenna (can't remember which one sorry).

Sync 3 in my Ranger has been excellent, its alot quicker then Sync 2 and the Apple Car Play feature is very handy.

malazn mafia · 10-02-2018, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

A guy has upgraded his PX2 Ranger Sync 2 to Sync 3. Was plug and play minus the GPS antenna or the digital radio antenna (can't remember which one sorry).

Sync 3 in my Ranger has been excellent, its alot quicker then Sync 2 and the Apple Car Play feature is very handy.

By that token, a Sync 3 from a tuk tuk (ranger) should fit into the falcon, shouldn't it ?

NX74205 · 09-02-2018, 07:34 PM

From a functionality point of view, there's no doubt that Sync 3 is better than Sync 2, by some margin.

But personally, I prefer the 4 quadrant GUI of Sync 2. Sync 3 just looks messy by comparison.

Oh well, you can't win them all.

Dr Smith · 11-02-2018, 09:07 AM

Not sure if this is has been mentioned yet or allowed however this company specializes in doing Sync 1,2,3 conversions.
https://www.4dtech.com/conversion-kits/

I was thinking of one for my 2017 Transit Custom and SZII Terry.?

the_scotsman · 11-02-2018, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

Not sure if this is has been mentioned yet or allowed however this company specializes in doing Sync 1,2,3 conversions.
https://www.4dtech.com/conversion-kits/

I was thinking of one for my 2017 Transit Custom and SZII Terry.?

Yea, there's a few Yank websites like that, but none compatible with the Falcon. They say there's a bit of a difference. None of their cars are a direct comparison enough to do a straight swap.

Same applies for your Terry. Won't work.

bernbo · 11-02-2018, 10:41 AM

I think we need someone from ASL and the like to become importers of used screens fron the US and to also sort out the conversion? I think there would be a small market but probably profitable considering the anoint of sync 2 cars around.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Vnhon1 · 12-02-2018, 05:59 PM

I did an upgrade guys :3

check my thread out

the_scotsman · 12-02-2018, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vnhon1

I did an upgrade guys :3

check my thread out

Your last post here was in 2011.

I assume you posted it on another forum?

A link might help

Vnhon1 · 12-02-2018, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_scotsman

Your last post here was in 2011.

I assume you posted it on another forum?

A link might help

https://fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11470082

the_scotsman · 12-02-2018, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vnhon1

https://fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11470082

Awesome effort!

Though it's easier for you Ranger guys as the new Ranger comes with Sync 3, so you have the bits ready for the conversion

We have nothing

nc_fairlane · 03-04-2018, 01:08 PM

Currently working on a Sync 3 for the FGX/SZ2 Territory i managed to get a cheap screen & Apim only issue might be the brackets i'll keep you guys posted.

Vnhon1 · 04-04-2018, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nc_fairlane

Currently working on a Sync 3 for the FGX/SZ2 Territory i managed to get a cheap screen & Apim only issue might be the brackets i'll keep you guys posted.

Should be able to take the existing brackets and put them in the new screen.

nc_fairlane · 04-04-2018, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vnhon1

Should be able to take the existing brackets and put them in the new screen.

While we can use the same brackets from the FGX unit it all comes down to if the holes are in the correct location on the sync 3 screen.

nc_fairlane · 04-04-2018, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nc_fairlane

Currently working on a Sync 3 for the FGX/SZ2 Territory i managed to get a cheap screen & Apim only issue might be the brackets i'll keep you guys posted.

Guys just a update i have successfully made Sync 3 work in a FGX/SZ 2 Territory i do have some minor bugs to sort . Which ill attack soon so far apple car play and android auto do work. These units needs some serious software modification to work in the falcon.

malazn mafia · 04-04-2018, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nc_fairlane

Guys just a update i have successfully made Sync 3 work in a FGX/SZ 2 Territory i do have some minor bugs to sort . Which ill attack soon so far apple car play and android auto do work. These units needs some serious software modification to work in the falcon.

Did you just post your working photos on Facebook? Seen a photo of an SZ2 ICC running Sync3

. But the photo appeared to be on a test bench outside the vehicle? What are the bugs that you ran into ?