[Jason]

So I just had my ride and drive with about 6 regional sales trainers for the new 2019 Forester. I got the chance to pick their brains on the Ascent touch screen.

THERE IS AN UPDATE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR TOUCHSCREEN! Just contact your local service department (my service department didn't know anything about it) and confirm that they have the usb stick that contains the update. They can download it from Subaru. Its a simple reflash related to the TSB (technical service bulletin). The update is free. They didn't know the exact date the update was released but all Ascents manufactured after that date, again they didn't know the date, already have the latest updated model. Most of us on here with early models won't have the latest update.

If you can turn your Ascent's radio off by holding the button for 3 seconds and then turn the car off, get out, close the door, get back in the car, start the car, and the radio stays off, you have the latest update

This also should fix the satellite radio losing your presets

 

[Snowgirl]

Well I took delivery Sept 4th, and I’m losing presets so I would say this effects a lot of us! Thanks for updating! I will ask my service guy this week about it!

 

[zulater]

So are they not pushing this out as a downloadable update? If not why have the car check for updates every time it starts?

 

[norway]

...THERE IS AN UPDATE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR TOUCHSCREEN! ...

It would be great to know what the revision number of the headunit is with the update, if someone that knows they have the update could provide.

 

[Burutoo]

What's the point of the over the air updates if you need to go to the service dept for these types of updates?

 

[Jason]

I don't think they considered this an update. He called it a reflash four or five times. Don't ask me what the difference is.

 

[Robert.Mauro]

Version Number

I don't think they considered this an update. He called it a reflash four or five times. Don't ask me what the difference is.

Can you provide a version number? My Ascent was completed May 31st, and I have the preset problems mentioned, but my head unit turns "off" if I long press the volume button.

 

[sloheim]

I have also had the preset problem (once, FM stations only), and confirmed today that I can turn the radio off. I'll check my software version later this afternoon.

 

[Felix]

I believe that a reflash overrides the current software, while an update simply makes changes to it. This is probably why it cant be done over the air.

 

[ShadyT]

I had a service appointment this morning and asked about this and they did not find any update/TSB related to the radio/head unit (or anything else for that matter).

 

[Janner]

So I just had my ride and drive with about 6 regional sales trainers for the new 2019 Forester. I got the chance to pick their brains on the Ascent touch screen.

THERE IS AN UPDATE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR TOUCHSCREEN! Just contact your local service department (my service department didn't know anything about it) and confirm that they have the usb stick that contains the update. They can download it from Subaru. Its a simple reflash related to the TSB (technical service bulletin). The update is free. They didn't know the exact date the update was released but all Ascents manufactured after that date, again they didn't know the date, already have the latest updated model. Most of us on here with early models won't have the latest update.

If you can turn your Ascent's radio off by holding the button for 3 seconds and then turn the car off, get out, close the door, get back in the car, start the car, and the radio stays off, you have the latest update

This also should fix the satellite radio losing your presets

Jason, did you need this update for yours? You got your Ascent pretty early (including mine). Did you need the update?

 

[dbasset]

If you can turn your Ascent's radio off by holding the button for 3 seconds and then turn the car off, get out, close the door, get back in the car, start the car, and the radio stays off, you have the latest update

This also should fix the satellite radio losing your presets

Not entirely true. I took delivery on 9/12 and have not updated the head unit in my Ascent. I suppose the dealer updated to the software version I currently have (Rel4.18.20.50) before I took delivery.

I can do the steps you performed to verify that this is the latest update, but I also lost presets several times:

https://www.ascentforums.com/forum/...-problems/1915-problem-list-36.html#post55779

The fix for this appears to be what Robert.Mauro posted, quoted in my linked post above.

 

[Robert.Mauro]

Not yet for most of us...

So I just had my ride and drive with about 6 regional sales trainers for the new 2019 Forester. I got the chance to pick their brains on the Ascent touch screen.

THERE IS AN UPDATE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR TOUCHSCREEN! Just contact your local service department (my service department didn't know anything about it) and confirm that they have the usb stick that contains the update. They can download it from Subaru. Its a simple reflash related to the TSB (technical service bulletin). The update is free. They didn't know the exact date the update was released but all Ascents manufactured after that date, again they didn't know the date, already have the latest updated model. Most of us on here with early models won't have the latest update.

If you can turn your Ascent's radio off by holding the button for 3 seconds and then turn the car off, get out, close the door, get back in the car, start the car, and the radio stays off, you have the latest update

This also should fix the satellite radio losing your presets

SoA's Ascent Specialist for our area just told my Service Coordinator that the update isn't yet available for download by the dealership, but will be soon (while I was standing in front of her and he was on the phone). It is running around on USB drives with a bunch of Ascent Specialists, so, some service departments may have access to it already.

:sad:

 

[bverant]

SoA's Ascent Specialist for our area just told my Service Coordinator that the update isn't yet available for download, but will be soon (while I was standing in front of her and he was on the phone). It is running around on USB drives with a bunch of Ascent Specialists, so, some service departments may have access to it already.

:sad:

To be clear: by "download" you mean by customers to do via WiFi or would this update need to be done by a dealership?

 

[GHP1]

So I just had my ride and drive with about 6 regional sales trainers for the new 2019 Forester. I got the chance to pick their brains on the Ascent touch screen.

THERE IS AN UPDATE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR TOUCHSCREEN! Just contact your local service department (my service department didn't know anything about it) and confirm that they have the usb stick that contains the update. They can download it from Subaru. Its a simple reflash related to the TSB (technical service bulletin). The update is free. They didn't know the exact date the update was released but all Ascents manufactured after that date, again they didn't know the date, already have the latest updated model. Most of us on here with early models won't have the latest update.

If you can turn your Ascent's radio off by holding the button for 3 seconds and then turn the car off, get out, close the door, get back in the car, start the car, and the radio stays off, you have the latest update

This also should fix the satellite radio losing your presets

Off topic- Opinion on the 19 Forester. Does the revised 2.5 have enough power. Was it Ascent quiet?

 

[Robert.Mauro]

To be clear: by "download" you mean by customers to do via WiFi or would this update need to be done by a dealership?

Ugh, sorry, I will adjust my post and clarify. It's not yet available for download by the dealership. When they couldn't find it, they called. There was no specific indication of if or when it would be available as an OTA download via WiFi through the head unit.

We do have the Ascent specialist coming to our area next week, and specifically to the dealership in question who made the call to the Subaru Tech Department, so, with luck, it will arrive with him on a USB drive, as has been the case for other updates before they've been made generally available.

 

[bverant]

Ugh, sorry, I will adjust my post and clarify. It's not yet available for download by the dealership. When they couldn't find it, they called. There was no specific indication of if or when it would be available as an OTA download via WiFi through the head unit.

We do have the Ascent specialist coming to our area next week, and specifically to the dealership in question who made the call to the Subaru Tech Department, so, with luck, it will arrive with him on a USB drive, as has been the case for other updates before they've been made generally available.

Thank you for the clarification and thank you for helping us out. If everything goes to plan, I should be picking my Ascent up in about 2 weeks' time. I will assume this download will not be available to dealers by that time and, even if so, what should I ask of the dealership so they could install it before I pick it up?

 

[Robert.Mauro]

Thank you for the clarification and thank you for helping us out. If everything goes to plan, I should be picking my Ascent up in about 2 weeks' time. I will assume this download will not be available to dealers by that time and, even if so, what should I ask of the dealership so they could install it before I pick it up?

It MAY be available by then. Sounds like it's near ready for general release, and, as Jason said, it seems like it's already being put in the new Ascents, so, in two weeks time, if it hasn't hit general availability, I'd be very curious to know what your firmware version is.

 

[bverant]

It MAY be available by then. Sounds like it's near ready for general release, and, as Jason said, it seems like it's already being put in the new Ascents, so, in two weeks time, if it hasn't hit general availability, I'd be very curious to know what your firmware version is.

...which now leads to my next dumb question: how do I determine the firmware version? I assume it's buried within the setup menus of the infotainment system. Menu path?

 

[Robert.Mauro]

...which now leads to my next dumb question: how do I determine the firmware version? I assume it's buried within the setup menus of the infotainment system. Menu path?

It's not buried. I think it's under General, but I am not sure off the top of my head. I will check in the morning.