How to Upgrade Sync 2 to Sync 3
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2018 5:46 pm
FORD RANGER SYNC 3 HARDARE UPGRADE / CONVERSION
Replacing Sync 2 with Sync 3
G’day all, I’m vnhon2. A long time lurker, first time poster!
I have a 2016 PX2 Ford Ranger with Sync 2 and I don’t really like it.. so I decided to upgrade to the Sync 3 system.
Found a local wreckers selling a 2017 PX2 with Sync 3 screen and decided to take the bite and upgrade mine!! If you were to purchase a screen from a different vehicle such as a Mustang, you’d need it to be reprogrammed for the ranger.
I’ve been rigorously following this specific forum forums on a user in the states who did this upgrade. Now I am sure mine was an easy upgrade as it is programmed to my specific car. (XLT)
Anyways with all this information out of the way I am super happy of how much more functionality i get out of sync 3. So much quicker and the best investment so far! I am especially happy I did not need to modify anything and it was just a quick transfer of screens with no new brackets needed!
Ford Sync 3 does not support the SD Card Reader that is built-in to the older Media / USB Hub's. Sync 3 doesn't use the GPSM Module behind the instrument cluster for navigation, as it needs its own GPS Antenna with a Blue Fakra connector. If you leave both connected, your mini dash screen with the compass nav will start jumping from S to N or just random. You must disconnect the exisiting GPSM antenna on the ranger, read on and I will show you how to do it.
Sync 3 upgraded from Sync 2:
Parts:
INSTRUCTIONS
Removal of plastic trimmings;
I used some plastic trim removal tools I bought from Autobarn. You can also buy these at super cheap auto.
Remove these first! It makes removing the other plastics easier.
Remove left one piece vent
Remove right vent
Remove plastic trimming from right to centre
Pop this little cap open, after its open push down and put gear into D (This gives us more room to work with):
Unscrew the 2 bolts on both sides on the 12V ports & unplug them:
After removing them, unscrew these screws. 7mm hex bit:
Note that where I put the arrow there is two more screws hiding under! see second pic!
Now you can gently take it off lifting it upwards & unplug the two connectors ,you should see this.
Remove these 4 screws:
Now you should be able to take out sync 2 without hesitation. Take out the cables. To pull out the big one you need to push down in the middle then push they grey lever up and using that lever to disconnect the cable.
Now grab your new GPS antenna with the FAKRA connector and we are going to mount it where the old antenna was. (on top of the cluster)
Begin to remove the driver side aircon vent & unplug mirror cable:
Remove 4 screws to remove plastic cover for cluster and pull out (sorry bad pic):
Remove these 4 bolts (7mm hex), and after you removed them unlatch as shown:
unplug and remove cluster:
You will see the GPSM module tucked under the dash:
As you can see it is sitting on a metal plate, just push it out towards you and should come out like this:
Old GPSM module was stuck on via double sided tape. I took it off and put my new GPS antenna on it, also feeding the new lead to sync 3 head unit.
Plug everything in!
Reverse the install!
After the install, I used my existing usb module as I am waiting for a wiring loom to come. You will get this error but you can just ignore it. Everything will still work as per usual.
NOTE: I AM YET TO INSTALL THE NEW USB MODULE HUB. I will keep this thread updated.
The only extra things I needed to purchase were;
1. ANY Fakren GPS Antenna. I bought a cheap $20 one from eBay.
2. Wiring loom unless you know how to splice cable.
3. USB Module so that Carplay works. Exisiting USB Hub works with Andriod Auto but that USB hub error gets annoying.
Seriously happy with this upgrade. Sync 3 is so much better.
GerryP's Changing Splash Screens: viewtopic.php?f=12&t=233
USB MODULE HUB INSTALL: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=1046&p=3449#p3449
Replacing Sync 2 with Sync 3
G’day all, I’m vnhon2. A long time lurker, first time poster!
I have a 2016 PX2 Ford Ranger with Sync 2 and I don’t really like it.. so I decided to upgrade to the Sync 3 system.
Found a local wreckers selling a 2017 PX2 with Sync 3 screen and decided to take the bite and upgrade mine!! If you were to purchase a screen from a different vehicle such as a Mustang, you’d need it to be reprogrammed for the ranger.
I’ve been rigorously following this specific forum forums on a user in the states who did this upgrade. Now I am sure mine was an easy upgrade as it is programmed to my specific car. (XLT)
Anyways with all this information out of the way I am super happy of how much more functionality i get out of sync 3. So much quicker and the best investment so far! I am especially happy I did not need to modify anything and it was just a quick transfer of screens with no new brackets needed!
Ford Sync 3 does not support the SD Card Reader that is built-in to the older Media / USB Hub's. Sync 3 doesn't use the GPSM Module behind the instrument cluster for navigation, as it needs its own GPS Antenna with a Blue Fakra connector. If you leave both connected, your mini dash screen with the compass nav will start jumping from S to N or just random. You must disconnect the exisiting GPSM antenna on the ranger, read on and I will show you how to do it.
Sync 3 upgraded from Sync 2:
Parts:
INSTRUCTIONS
Removal of plastic trimmings;
I used some plastic trim removal tools I bought from Autobarn. You can also buy these at super cheap auto.
Remove these first! It makes removing the other plastics easier.
Remove left one piece vent
Remove right vent
Remove plastic trimming from right to centre
Pop this little cap open, after its open push down and put gear into D (This gives us more room to work with):
Unscrew the 2 bolts on both sides on the 12V ports & unplug them:
After removing them, unscrew these screws. 7mm hex bit:
Note that where I put the arrow there is two more screws hiding under! see second pic!
Now you can gently take it off lifting it upwards & unplug the two connectors ,you should see this.
Remove these 4 screws:
Now you should be able to take out sync 2 without hesitation. Take out the cables. To pull out the big one you need to push down in the middle then push they grey lever up and using that lever to disconnect the cable.
Now grab your new GPS antenna with the FAKRA connector and we are going to mount it where the old antenna was. (on top of the cluster)
Begin to remove the driver side aircon vent & unplug mirror cable:
Remove 4 screws to remove plastic cover for cluster and pull out (sorry bad pic):
Remove these 4 bolts (7mm hex), and after you removed them unlatch as shown:
unplug and remove cluster:
You will see the GPSM module tucked under the dash:
As you can see it is sitting on a metal plate, just push it out towards you and should come out like this:
Old GPSM module was stuck on via double sided tape. I took it off and put my new GPS antenna on it, also feeding the new lead to sync 3 head unit.
Plug everything in!
Reverse the install!
After the install, I used my existing usb module as I am waiting for a wiring loom to come. You will get this error but you can just ignore it. Everything will still work as per usual.
NOTE: I AM YET TO INSTALL THE NEW USB MODULE HUB. I will keep this thread updated.
The only extra things I needed to purchase were;
1. ANY Fakren GPS Antenna. I bought a cheap $20 one from eBay.
2. Wiring loom unless you know how to splice cable.
3. USB Module so that Carplay works. Exisiting USB Hub works with Andriod Auto but that USB hub error gets annoying.
Seriously happy with this upgrade. Sync 3 is so much better.
GerryP's Changing Splash Screens: viewtopic.php?f=12&t=233
USB MODULE HUB INSTALL: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=1046&p=3449#p3449