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Writer's pictureRahrena

Adding Factory Navigation to 8" MFT Screen


Hi Everyone, I have a 2013 FE SE that came stock without NAV, and after talking to the dealer ( who happily quoted $1000 for an upgrade), and surfing through the forums at FordEscape.org, it seemed like Ford had our hands tied in keeping us from upgrading our FE's. Ergo, THIS IS EXCITING! I can confirm that it IS possible to upgrade our FE's to have NAV and there's no funny business from LockPick, or any other aftermarket stuff. I bought @Turbonium911's salvaged 2013 FE APIM module with NAV, and it's plug and play... to some degree of course. For those unfamiliar, the APIM (Accessory Protocol Interface Module) is what controls the accessories in our Escapes such as heated seats, backup camera, navigation, Sirius XM radio, etc.... ​It's a silver module with wire connectors and heat sink fins that mounts to the back our our media head units in our upper center dash. Please see below for what an APIM looks like... Also pictured on the right is the A5 Maps SD card for Nav which you'll need also. ​


Let's begin by going through the steps in getting to your APIM and how to swap it out with one that has factory navigation enabled. Just know that the hardware is already in your car for Sync 2 - GPS antenna, software, everything you need... the APIM just needs to be unlocked- OR you just need to get your hands on an APIM that's unlocked. Tools you will need include:

  • 13mm deep socket with extension and socket wrench

  • 7mm socket driver

  • Philips screw driver

Items you will need include:

  • Navigation enabled APIM (Accessory Protocol Interface Module. Find it on eBay, Ford Escape forums, salvage yards, etc.

  • Latest edition of Ford GPS/MAPS - SD Card - shown in the YouTube video is an A5 card for United States and Canada per 2014.

  • *EDIT FOR 2019*:

    • Most up to date Maps card (A10) is available here on Amazon (click).

General plan of attack: Disconnect your battery, remove the front center trim around the MFT, remove the screen and APIM, swap the APIM, and put everything back together and reconnect the battery.

1. Disconnect your battery by means of your 13mm deep socket and extension. The battery is pretty tucked away, but there's a threaded post that connects the negative (black) terminal to the vehicle body by means of a black battery cable shown here in the pictures (right, below). It has a 13mm hex on it and you need to unbolt it from the frame and make sure the cable is pulled away where it won't touch the car metal. Store this bolt in a safe place so you don't lose it!



2. Pop the top off the stereo with light force. If you watch the video below, you can use your lower

palm to firmly bump the underside of the overhanging ledge and it will pop right up. It's held in with plastic spring clips, so don't hit it too hard, but don't baby it either. NOTE: There is a connection point in the rear of the cover, and you can swing the cover out of the way enough to work as shown on the right.



3. Remove the QTY 2 x 7mm fasteners holding the plastic bezel of the MyFord Touch interface with your 7mm socket driver. Firmly pull towards yourself and pop the bezel free. NOTE: There is another cable attached to the stereo button pad - make sure to disconnect this as well!



4. Remove QTY 4 x 7mm fasteners holding the 8" touchscreen to the dash. This will come free and you can lean it forward to disconnect the main wire harnesses. The screen has the APIM attached on the back as you can see below.


5. Unplug your wire harnesses. There is the main connector with the many wires and then there may be one or two more smaller ones that plug into the bottom corner of the back of the APIM. Disconnect all of them and gently remove your screen and APIM from the dash.

6. Remove your existing APIM and install your Navigation enabled APIM! Use your philips driver to remove the QTY 4 fasteners securing the APIM to the back of the screen. The APIM is connected via a central pinout connector. Store this removed APIM as a spare in case anything happens, sell it on eBay, or post on the forums that you have one available :) Don't toss it. It's perfectly good still! Install your new Factory Enabled APIM by lining up the pins on the central pinout connector and firmly press together. Reinstall your philips head screws and repeat the above process in reverse order!


7. Reassemble your unit. Plug your wire harnesses back into your APIM. Reinstall your QTY 4 x 7mm fasteners to hold the screen and APIM into the dash. Reconnect the cable to the stereo buttons and reinstall the bezel with QTY 2 x 7mm fasteners. Reconnect the cable for the top cover and then snap it all back into place :) The hard part is over!

8. Reconnect your battery! This is the only way to test if you're good to go.



9. Insert your keys and turn the ignition to ON. At first, you'll see the generic "SYNC" screen with the progress bar loading from left to right. This is because when you reconnect the battery terminal, SYNC does a complete reboot. Then your screen will pop up with some new changes! You should see the top right corner of your MyFord touch screen to show "Insert Nav SD Card" where it previously said "Information"! Note: You need to reload your contacts and pair your bluetooth again, but it's totally worth it. It says to insert the NAV card and it auto updates. The rest is up to you to customize HOME, FAVORITES, etc!!!!

10. Finish by inserting your latest Ford Maps SD card into the SD card slot located in the center console between the driver and passenger seats. The screen should then just say "Navigation" in the top right! You're all set!!! Again, link to the lastest 2019 A10 maps card for USA and Canada is here (click).



Hope this was helpful! The APIM is a pretty critical piece when it comes to dealer locked functions- this also controls things like backup camera, heated seats, Sirius XM radio, etc. It may not be the last time you tinker with it ;P If you'd like to see more of the step by step in video form, check out the YouTube below. Thanks for watching and please feel free to post any comments below in the Blog or on the YouTube video. ​-Rahrena


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