Is this a Ford head unit?

[edgemaster]

Hi,

Can someone tell me if the head unit in the attached picture is an original Ford unit?

I'd like to find some details/images.

Thanks,

Ed

Edited June 25, 2018 by edgemaster

[akirby]

No pic

[akirby]

You have to click "Add to Post" after you upload it.

[edgemaster]

Sorry, my bad!

Pic is up now.

Ed

[akirby]

Yes - looks like the old clarion/pioneer units (pre-sync).

[edgemaster]

Thanks for the fast reply.

So, if one wanted sync this unit would not be a choice, right?

[akirby]

Definitely not.

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

Sync was introduced in 2008. Probably some integration work involved if your Edge does not currently have Sync capabilities.

Edited June 25, 2018 by WWWPerfA_ZN0W

[edgemaster]

Well, I have this little "Sync by Microsoft" decal in front of the gearshift and my current head unit (the one wit the 6-CD changer) recognizes the cell phone.

So is the unit in the picture pre-sync or not?

Thanks,

Ed

[akirby]

I might has misspoken. I forgot they continued using those head units until MFT came out.

It looks like the steering wheel has a voice button on it so that could have sync 1. That looks like an Edge and as Mano points out the 2007 Edge did not have sync but 2008 and later did but I think it was optional.

[enigma-2]

It's a Sync-1 ACM with single CD/DVD, Sirius satellite radio, hard drive and navigation. Looks like it's a Ford Edge but same unit as in my 2009 MKX.

[edgemaster]

How does it compare to more modern units?

I did some searching and they are available (used) in the $300 range.

New units cost less with similar features.

[Waldo]

For a little background, this unit was referred to as the NGN (Next Gen Nav) system and was first used in 2009 models. It's basically the same Clarion system that was used by Nissan at the time. It won one of the JD Power awards for best infotainment system back in 2010 or 2011 I think. There were two "versions", the one in the pic above was the double-din plug-in unit that was used in all Ford vehicles that didn't have major refreshes done at around the same time the system was available. It has a smaller screen and the buttons are integrated in the unit. The other version was used in the Flex, MKT, MKS, Taurus and I think F150 and some others. It had a full 8in screen and a separate button pack along the bottom but all the functions are exactly the same between the two systems.

 

Now here's the funny part. This system was developed between Clarion and Ford at the same time that Ford and Microsoft were working on Sync, but the two teams really were separate and didn't come together until the end. So these NGN systems are completely separate from Sync. I know on the Flex at least you could get the nav system without Sync, which means you had voice commands for the Nav, climate and radio, but no Bluetooth or phone connection. When you do have Sync, what you really have are two totally separate voice recognition systems that have been tuned to have the same voice so they sound integrated. But that's why you have to deliberately say "phone" or "radio", then wait for it to prompt again. That's the only way it can know which of the two systems to send the command to. You can't just say "radio 100.3 FM" because the Sync system won't recognize that command.

 

Beyond that little hiccup, I really like the system, much better than the MFT that replaced it. This system has a fairly limited library of things it can do, but it is responsive and a little more logically laid out than the MFT. I also really appreciate the Jukebox feature - you can save a ton of music in the car and always have it available, though that assumes you have all your music on old-fashioned CDs! The nav system is very good, the maps are clear and the destination entry is pretty easy, but the POI categories are much more limited than newer systems and map updates can only be done by purchasing VIN-specific DVD updates.

 

So to your specific application, since you already have Sync, you should be able to integrate it into the system. The Nav unit doesn't replace Sync, it just needs to be configured to work together. This might mean that you have to change the configuration of Sync, which isn't something that can be done through the downloadable updates, but maybe can be done with tools like Forscan. If you can find out how to do the configurations, for $300 and maybe another $150 for a map update, it's a pretty good system.

Edited June 28, 2018 by Waldo

[edgemaster]

Thanks for the details, very interesting.

[enigma-2]

Outstanding write-up Waldo. I learned a lot. The Sync is contained in the APIM and not in the ACM; right?

 

Btw, (I apologize for running this thread in a tangent), I have sync commands for the climate control, but it comes back and tells me that the hardware is not available. HVAC module or something else?

[enigma-2]

You can't just say "radio 100.3 FM" because the Sync system won't recognize that command.

 

Whatcha mean I can't say it, suker?

 

So out the garage, turn on the unit and yup, have to say "radio" <doink> 100.3 FM <doink> and "then" it changes. Oh well, never liked FM anyway. <g>

[edgemaster]

I'm finally ready to replace this old head unit.

While researching the Internet I found hundreds of double-din units. Most of them look like they come from the same manufacturing plant somewhere in China.

I have narrowed my search down to this Unit: Pioneer AVH-201EX and I am wondering if anyone has any experience (good or bad) with it?

Thanks.

[IWRBB]

Historically, Pioneer has made good head units. However, is that a fold down face? That may not work. Crutchfield says it's not recommend in their listing.

 

You are also losing Sync altogether with that HU, however with the right hardware you can still use you steering wheel buttons for volume, etc.

[edgemaster]

I don't think it's a fold down unit.

I just checked the Crutchfield website again and they say this units fits.

I don't need Sync and I am aware that I need additional hardware for the steering wheel controls.

Just want to make sure that it fits exactly the dash without unsightly gaps.