The Ford Edge “black screen of death” is a frustrating issue where the infotainment system goes dark, leaving the console unusable.
Imagine driving at high speed, and your touchscreen suddenly blacks out—it’s alarming and potentially dangerous.
Having faced this problem myself, I decided to research its causes and solutions. Let’s explore what causes this issue and some troubleshooting tips to help you deal with it!
Why Does My Ford Screen Go Black?
The ford edge’s black screen of death is one of the most dreadful problems any vehicle owner can encounter. If your f250 screen went black, it could be due to various reasons, including cable issues, APIM or FDIM issues, software bugs, power glitches, faulty displays, or out-of-date software.
Read on to know different possible reasons your ford screen goes black and the solutions to each.
1. Ford Sync is obsolete
Your Ford sync software is designed to offer years of service and entertainment and needs regular updates or upgrades to maintain optimal performance. These updates modify various features such as device compatibility, better voice recognition, and many others.
Solution
To solve this ford sync update black screen problem, you’ve to manually download and install any currently available updates in your vehicle.
- First, you’ll need to have a USB drive of not less than 8GB containing the appropriate updated software and match the software to the make and model of your vehicle.
- Secondly, you’ll need to start the vehicle. Ensure the vehicle is in a well-lit area and should remain with the power on throughout the installation process; otherwise, the updates won’t install.
- Thirdly, plug in the USB into the vehicle’s sync USB port. The port’s location differs from one Ford model to another. If unsure, consult your vehicle’s manufacturer manual.
- Fourthly, on our infotainment console, press Menu, and on the Sync settings, select ‘install’ and press ‘yes.’ The software will start the installation process automatically. The whole process takes approximately 10-30 minutes, and after that will display ‘installation complete.’
- Finally, remove the drive and turn off your vehicle for at least five minutes.
2. Poor quality cables
Your vehicle’s cables require regular check-ups for loose connection, rusting, or malfunction. Wrong or bad cables could lead to low voltage or loose connection, which causes signal failure to your ford sync software. If the sync fails, your ford sync turns blank or black.
Solution
You’ve probably asked yourself, so how do I fix my black screen on ford sync in case of poor cables? It’s as simple as disconnecting and reconnecting all cables connected to the infotainment console. Ensure that you tighten the cables appropriately. In addition, if you notice burnt or worn-out cables or fuses, replace them immediately.
Also Read: Ford F250 Fuel Tank Vent Problems
3. APIM issues
APIM is an integrated accessory protocol interface module that’s important in properly functioning your vehicle. The APIM issues cause malfunctioning of your vehicle’s driving notifications, rear traffic alerts, radio, navigation, HVAC, and cruise control.
Solution
As discussed in the steps above, your APIM software will automatically update once you update the ford sync software. Follow the steps discussed in the ford sync update to ensure your APIM software is up to date.
4. Existent of Bug With Your Ford Sync Software
Have you faced the Ford sync update bug before? Well, you’re not alone. Ford sync bugs and glitches are very common annoying problems. They are often associated with your ford sync software internal issues and are commonly minor, usually resolving themselves.
Solution
If your Ford sync software issues persist, use the troubleshooting solutions below.
- Perform a key cycle. A cycle key is a simple way to refresh your vehicle’s sync software when experiencing black screen issues. It involves turning your vehicle off, including accessory mode and engine, waiting for two minutes, and turning it back on.
- Wait for a few days. Ford sync software bugs mostly resolve by themselves. If you wait a few days, the issue will likely resolve itself.
5. Power Failure
Did your Ford f250 screen went black? This could be due to transfer issues or are running low on power. The fuses connected to your infotainment software can be damaged and may require immediate replacement.
Solution
Inspect your fuse box regularly to ensure the proper functioning and identify damaged fuses immediately for a replacement.
6. Faulty Display
I’ve come across many users complaining about the Ford edge black screen of death. And they keep asking, ‘how do I fix my black screen on ford sync?’ Are you facing this issue too?
Although display problems are rare, if they arise, they may be due to misuse, old age, liquid exposure, or damage from crashes.
If your display is faulty, it often leads to a black screen of death.
Solution
Your display is an essential aspect of your infotainment console, and should you have any issues, it’s crucial it’s checked by a certified Ford mechanic.
Therefore, we advise you to take your vehicle to Ford to have the faulty display repaired or replaced.
Also Read: 2011 Ford F150 Radio Not Working : 7 Possible Reasons & Their Solution
| Possible reasons | Simple solutions |
|---|---|
| Bad or poor quality cables | Tighten the wire or replace it |
| Frozen condition | Reboot |
| Faulty display | Replace or recover |
| Power failure | Reset or reduce defects |
How to Reset Ford Sync When Screen Is Black
To troubleshoot and eliminate the above problems, we’ve mapped out the most recommended workarounds and remedies so you can refer to them. Here are multiple ways to get your vehicle back to life before visiting your service center.
- Perform a soft reset. A soft reset resolves internal issues without losing data or settings by offering a graceful shutdown and restarting your vehicle. Think of this fix as a quick reboot. To do this, simultaneously press and hold the ‘seek up’ and radio power buttons. Wait for five seconds for the system to reset completely. Your screen should behave normally after this process.
- Perform a hard reset. A hard reset is best done when a soft reset fails and is quite similar to a soft reset in the sense that there is no loss of data and settings. However, it involves an abrupt reboot and restart of your ford sync system, which helps shock the system to recover from errors.
To do this, turn off the engine, disconnect the battery, wait for 30 seconds, reconnect the battery and turn the ignition on.
- Perform a master reset. If soft and hard resets don’t restore your black screen, I recommend a master reset. A master reset is more comprehensive and involves resetting the software back to factory settings. To do this, go to settings, then the general menu, and select the option for master reset. Press continue and then confirm resetting to factory settings.
- Perform a sync three reset. Sync 3 is a collective name of a third-generation infotainment system consisting of the touchscreen, software, and supporting elements. If you’re faced with three problems and faults, you may ask yourself, how do I reset my ford touch screen, software, or elements?
To perform this, press the settings button on the left side of your screen, then press the system. Scroll down and continue with the master reset, as discussed above.
- If all the above do not work, contact Ford online or by phone.
Wrapping it Up
There are various reasons why your Ford f250 screen went black, or you’re experiencing the ford black screen of death. We’ve discussed these reasons and offered solutions so you can have an easy time troubleshooting your Ford sync black screen issues.
If you’ve issues with your Ford sync software, we recommend starting with a soft reset for relatively common sync problems. If that doesn’t fix the issue, opting for Sync 3 hard or master reset may restore your display to proper functioning.
With this detailed information about the Ford explorer’s black screen of death,
I hope this article benefits you. Happy to help.
