SYNC not working

[MacGregor]

1 hour ago, multitask said:

 

Not sure if you can move to Sync 2/3 just because of what they need as far as other modules.   

When I had my 2012 Fusion SEL, it has the base Sync, I added a Pioneer radio that had Nav, it retained the LED screen above (not sure if your has that) and it worked well.

 

If you want Factory, car-parts.com  and look for a wreck of that same year and I'm sure it's just a swap out of parts.

 

Not 100% positive, but I think moving to SYNC 2 is a no-go. I do not have an LCD screen. The Ford parts agent said the the SYNC APIM is located in the head unit itself. Not all head units had SYNC, and there are no markings or labels to identify which ones have it. The agent recommended I go to a dealer and have them look it up by VIN; I did that this morning and walked out with a part # and an engineering #. Neither shows up in any search on Google, eBay or Ford's parts site; even searching Ford's site for 'radio' or 'stereo' brings up everything except the head unit itself. I am making absolutely no headway on getting this resolved. My options are limited - buy off eBay and return it if it doesn't have SYNC (repeat until SYNC acquired), install an aftermarket head unit with Maestro ( cost is very high), or buy a new OEM unit from the dealer (at a cost of $450). *sigh*

[MacGregor]

Here's the problem. I copied this from car-parts.com. I have no idea which one it is; I don't have navigation and it is a six CD changer, so I can narrow it down to about seven choices.

Edited September 12, 2018 by MacGregor

[bbf2530]

33 minutes ago, MacGregor said:

 

Not 100% positive, but I think moving to SYNC 2 is a no-go. I do not have an LCD screen. The Ford parts agent said the the SYNC APIM is located in the head unit itself. Not all head units had SYNC, and there are no markings or labels to identify which ones have it. The agent recommended I go to a dealer and have them look it up by VIN; I did that this morning and walked out with a part # and an engineering #. Neither shows up in any search on Google, eBay or Ford's parts site; even searching Ford's site for 'radio' or 'stereo' brings up everything except the head unit itself. I am making absolutely no headway on getting this resolved. My options are limited - buy off eBay and return it if it doesn't have SYNC (repeat until SYNC acquired), install an aftermarket head unit with Maestro ( cost is very high), or buy a new OEM unit from the dealer (at a cost of $450). *sigh*

 

Hi Matt.  What were the part# and engineering#  that the Ford Dealers Parts Department gave you?

[MacGregor]

PART# 8S4Z18806G

ENGINEERING # 8S4T18C963AG

[bbf2530]

If I do some quick Googling, the "Part" number" seems to be incomplete. If you Google "8S4Z18806G", you get two returns for satellite radio receiver modules.

 

However, if you put a hyphen where Ford part numbers normally have a first hyphen ("8S4Z-18806G"), you get returns for Ford radio head units. However, unless the part number is actually "8S4Z-18806-G", it seems to be missing the last hyphen followed by the ending suffix which Ford part numbers usually have. Therefore, it is not giving you a specific head unit.

 

The "Engineering" number comes up as Sirius radio modules.

 

It would seem the part number is either incomplete or incorrect.

 

EDIT - Here is one example: https://ford.7zap.com/en/transport/176/no/0/2758/20649/92262/

 

Edited September 12, 2018 by bbf2530
Add information.

[bbf2530]

Let me add to above.  After doing a little more Googling, as "8S4Z-18806-G",  it seems both numbers you were given also seem to match up as Sirius satellite and/or some sort of radio modules, not actual head units.

 

Sorry I can't be of more help.  The technical end of this is outside my area of expertise (if I even have any areas of expertise). 

 

Hopefully fusionff, multitask etc, will jump back in.  They seem to have more knowledge in this area.

 

You may also want to message fellow member "eGuru" and see if he would weigh in to help you.  He is very good at helping with technical issues.

Edited September 12, 2018 by bbf2530

[MacGregor]

22 minutes ago, bbf2530 said:

 

It would seem the part number is either incomplete or incorrect.

 

 

That's pretty much the conclusion I came to as well. Interestingly enough, this information was pulled using my VIN.

[bbf2530]

1 minute ago, MacGregor said:

 

That's pretty much the conclusion I came to as well. Interestingly enough, this information was pulled using my VIN.

 Hi Matt.  See my late Edit above, about messaging fellow forum member "eGuru" to see if he may be able to help you.  He is very good at helping with these technical issues.

[MacGregor]

7 minutes ago, bbf2530 said:

Let me add to above.  After doing a little more Googling, as "8S4Z-18806-G",  it seems both numbers you were given also seem to match up as Sirius satellite and/or some sort of radio modules, not actual head units.

 

 

It makes me wonder if he misunderstood my inquiry. I didn't get to see anything on the screen, so I can't be sure he was looking at a head unit instead of the SiriusXM module, even though I explained the head unit swap and that was what I was looking for.

[bbf2530]

14 minutes ago, MacGregor said:

 

It makes me wonder if he misunderstood my inquiry. I didn't get to see anything on the screen, so I can't be sure he was looking at a head unit instead of the SiriusXM module, even though I explained the head unit swap and that was what I was looking for.

 The misunderstanding you part occurred to me too, especially if you also mentioned trying to get the Sirius radio to work again while speaking with the Parts Department person. Or maybe they just plain misunderstood or gave you the incorrect part number.

Edited September 12, 2018 by bbf2530

[MacGregor]

3 hours ago, bbf2530 said:

 The misunderstanding you part occurred to me too, especially if you also mentioned trying to get the Sirius radio to work again while speaking with the Parts Department person. Or maybe they just plain misunderstood or gave you the incorrect part number.

 

I did mention SiriusXM, but did also explain the situation.

[Multitask]

For sync 2/3 APIM is the module behind he screen or if it's the 4" screen it's near the floor.

The radio/xm/CD player is the ACM, that sits below the screen, but again it's the S2/3

 

For Sync 1, I just remember paying for a new faceplate that allowed the Pioneer to sit below, and the LCD to sit above.

 

2gfusion.net  is where I hang out, maybe someone there can assist too.

Edited September 12, 2018 by multitask

[fusionff]

Ok, here is what might be your best way of getting a radio with SYNC for your car.   You might like this method or not.

 

Go to Car Part.com. You'll pick the region that you're in and a zip code here, and choose your method of sorted listings (distance, price, etc...).  

 

 

Then pick a radio from the list, not sure it really matters which one, but see which I chose, which works fine.

 

 

Look at the listings with a picture, (unless the vehicle details are clearly listed), this way you can see which model car the radio will come from.  Hopefully they do this correctly anyway.  You want a Fusion 2008 or 2009 SE or SEL model (Check the trunk pictures for this info), and look at the pictures for either the SYNC badge inside, or a look for a moonroof on the car, which will include a SYNC radio from the package.  Also you can look for a 08 or 09 Mercury Milan, either 4 or 6 cylinder, but it has to be a Premier Model, which SYNC came standard on that model.  I saw the Sync Badge in the pictures from the Fusion listing that I marked below.

 

 

 

That radio should be SYNC, unless of course it's been swapped out like yours, but I wouldn't think that's common at all.

 

Also, this method will work when checking your local Junkyards, and local Craigslist classifieds.

 

Of course I cannot guarantee that this will work out perfectly, but it's a method I would use if I was in your shoes.

Edited September 13, 2018 by fusionff

[MacGregor]

40 minutes ago, fusionff said:

Then pick a radio from the list, not sure it really matters which one, but see which I chose, which works fine.

 

 

 

 

That's where I got hung up earlier - so many choices and not knowing which one to choose. Unfortunately I had to work, so didn't have time to check into it further. Now that I'm looking, there are several that are very close to me so I'll follow up on those. Thanks for the lead!

[fusionff]

And also keep in mind, if you see a picture of the radio, and it doesn't have perfect face on it, you can swap yours onto it if necessary.  If it's scratched up or just plain ugly for some other reason, you can talk the price down a bit.

[MacGregor]

2 hours ago, fusionff said:

And also keep in mind, if you see a picture of the radio, and it doesn't have perfect face on it, you can swap yours onto it if necessary.  If it's scratched up or just plain ugly for some other reason, you can talk the price down a bit.

 

Yeah, mine is pretty haggered and ugly - I'd prefer not to use it. Same for the radio's face.

[MacGregor]

I found a unit about an hour from me, and installed it right away. I'm happy to state that it works perfectly (with no programming). Not crazy about having to use voice command to switch between Bluetooth and USB, but I'll take it over what it was. I think there is a SiriusXM subscription still active on it, because I seem to get all the stations.

 

Huge thanks to fusionff for the lead on car-part.com. That's a great resource - the unit was at least half the price of those of eBay.

[bangster]

Possibly having a lifetime SiriusXM subscription? Score!

[Multitask]

2 hours ago, MacGregor said:

I found a unit about an hour from me, and installed it right away. I'm happy to state that it works perfectly (with no programming). Not crazy about having to use voice command to switch between Bluetooth and USB, but I'll take it over what it was. I think there is a SiriusXM subscription still active on it, because I seem to get all the stations.

 

Huge thanks to fusionff for the lead on car-part.com. That's a great resource - the unit was at least half the price of those of eBay.

 

XM has free service right now, till Today or this week end I think.  They do that 2-3 times a year, usually during holidays

[fusionff]

I'm glad it worked out well for you.  I know Sirius had a free trial that ended on September 10th, update us when it finally gets shut down, just curious.  When I swapped my radios in my Fusion, the Sirius service stayed active, but I changed it back to my original radio soon after, I only needed the CD changer out of the replacement radio.

[bangster]

I had free XM last week but it ended 9/12, and it only seemed to be on my recently canceled car, not my 2012 Fusion, and it seemed more like a promo specifically for that vehicle.

 

I currently only get weather channel and channel 184 in both my vehicles.

[MacGregor]

Thanks. When their free service promotion ends, I'll restart the free trial I tried to setup last week.

 

On another note, is there any way to adjust the volume of SYNC voice command? I've adjusted the volume during the voice prompt, but it keeps reverting back to a louder volume the next time I use it.

[Multitask]

It is supposed to remember it when you change it durring the speaking, but doesn't sound like it is... 

When I had Sync 3 in my 2013, the voice would semi-mute what was playing, now it's just over it in my 2018, so they changed things...   same Sync3 v3.0 different cars

 

So maybe yours does not save it?

 

[bangster]

I am not sure there is any way to alter the volume of the commands.

 

"please say a command", "bluetooth device not connected, we will connect when one is available" "bluetooth device connected, SYNC is reminding you that 911 assist is set to off"

 

All things I hear every time I startup my car. FTW my daughter and wife both talk to the their cars, and they don't need to, so I still feel like the sane one in the house.

[bangster]

I have it distilled down with timing to this, sometimes after 30 seconds it pauses my music and I have to hit play again.