Anyone else have this issue with Sync?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,311
Likes: 7
Anyone else have this issue with Sync?
So my 2011 F-150's Sync is a pain in the butt some times. The short hand of the story is this.
I've got a 16GB flash drive that I plug in, it has ALL of my music on it thousands of songs...Literally. Anyway what happens, is that for some unexplained reason, 9/10 times when I go to start my truck in the morning, my Sync automatically reverts from (Aux) to (AM) radio stations, When I press the aux button to try and get it to go back to my Flash Drive it flips to Aux for a split second then reverts back to AM stations again.
So far the only method I've found to cure this problem is to completely kill the truck, open the drive side door, (Forcing the Radio off), Close the door start the truck back up and then retry...And even that doesn't always work...Sometime I have to repeat this process 2 or 3 times before it finally picks up my Flash drive.
It's a real pain the rear...Does anyone else have this issue with their Syncs?
I've got a 16GB flash drive that I plug in, it has ALL of my music on it thousands of songs...Literally. Anyway what happens, is that for some unexplained reason, 9/10 times when I go to start my truck in the morning, my Sync automatically reverts from (Aux) to (AM) radio stations, When I press the aux button to try and get it to go back to my Flash Drive it flips to Aux for a split second then reverts back to AM stations again.
So far the only method I've found to cure this problem is to completely kill the truck, open the drive side door, (Forcing the Radio off), Close the door start the truck back up and then retry...And even that doesn't always work...Sometime I have to repeat this process 2 or 3 times before it finally picks up my Flash drive.
It's a real pain the rear...Does anyone else have this issue with their Syncs?
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,019
Likes: 1,518
From: Maine, Virginia
My SYNC has never worked right and I was so not caring about it that I never went back to the dealer for a fix.
Honestly, I have a BT headset with voice activation that I like so much better, ($69.00). True hands free and I can still listen to the radio.
My Galaxy S5 has an amazing GPS and map program, better than anything that Ford will ever install. It's a free app and dead on accurate.
I have a Garmin Nuvi that I also like very much, ($125.00) and it's never locked up, offers detours, alternate routes, etc. I see no reason to pay Ford's price with the excellent alternatives that are available.
Honestly, I have a BT headset with voice activation that I like so much better, ($69.00). True hands free and I can still listen to the radio.
My Galaxy S5 has an amazing GPS and map program, better than anything that Ford will ever install. It's a free app and dead on accurate.
I have a Garmin Nuvi that I also like very much, ($125.00) and it's never locked up, offers detours, alternate routes, etc. I see no reason to pay Ford's price with the excellent alternatives that are available.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,155
Likes: 0
From: Southern Louisiana
My truck will switch from the flash drive to FM every so often. I've had it so it from Sat. as well. I only ever had to press the button of the device I wanted to listen to though and all was well in the world.
I thought my truck did this because I did the 2nd USB port mod on my truck so my flash drive lives in my glove box. I hadn't given thought to this being as common as it appears to be.
I thought my truck did this because I did the 2nd USB port mod on my truck so my flash drive lives in my glove box. I hadn't given thought to this being as common as it appears to be.
Official Ford Rep
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 474
Likes: 0
So my 2011 F-150's Sync is a pain in the butt some times. The short hand of the story is this.
I've got a 16GB flash drive that I plug in, it has ALL of my music on it thousands of songs...Literally. Anyway what happens, is that for some unexplained reason, 9/10 times when I go to start my truck in the morning, my Sync automatically reverts from (Aux) to (AM) radio stations, When I press the aux button to try and get it to go back to my Flash Drive it flips to Aux for a split second then reverts back to AM stations again.
So far the only method I've found to cure this problem is to completely kill the truck, open the drive side door, (Forcing the Radio off), Close the door start the truck back up and then retry...And even that doesn't always work...Sometime I have to repeat this process 2 or 3 times before it finally picks up my Flash drive.
It's a real pain the rear...Does anyone else have this issue with their Syncs?
I've got a 16GB flash drive that I plug in, it has ALL of my music on it thousands of songs...Literally. Anyway what happens, is that for some unexplained reason, 9/10 times when I go to start my truck in the morning, my Sync automatically reverts from (Aux) to (AM) radio stations, When I press the aux button to try and get it to go back to my Flash Drive it flips to Aux for a split second then reverts back to AM stations again.
So far the only method I've found to cure this problem is to completely kill the truck, open the drive side door, (Forcing the Radio off), Close the door start the truck back up and then retry...And even that doesn't always work...Sometime I have to repeat this process 2 or 3 times before it finally picks up my Flash drive.
It's a real pain the rear...Does anyone else have this issue with their Syncs?
My SYNC has never worked right and I was so not caring about it that I never went back to the dealer for a fix.
Honestly, I have a BT headset with voice activation that I like so much better, ($69.00). True hands free and I can still listen to the radio.
My Galaxy S5 has an amazing GPS and map program, better than anything that Ford will ever install. It's a free app and dead on accurate.
I have a Garmin Nuvi that I also like very much, ($125.00) and it's never locked up, offers detours, alternate routes, etc. I see no reason to pay Ford's price with the excellent alternatives that are available.
Honestly, I have a BT headset with voice activation that I like so much better, ($69.00). True hands free and I can still listen to the radio.
My Galaxy S5 has an amazing GPS and map program, better than anything that Ford will ever install. It's a free app and dead on accurate.
I have a Garmin Nuvi that I also like very much, ($125.00) and it's never locked up, offers detours, alternate routes, etc. I see no reason to pay Ford's price with the excellent alternatives that are available.
One quick troubleshooting step I recommend trying is called a master reset. It will set the whole system back to the factory default settings to make sure SYNC is running as smoothly as possible. Here are the instructions for the basic SYNC system: How to Perform a Master Reset | SYNC & SYNC with MyFord | Ford.com
Once you're done resetting, follow these steps to pair your devices: Pairing Your Phone to use Ford SYNC | SYNC & SYNC with MyFord | Ford.com
It is also a great idea to check your account at: SYNC Technology | SYNC Support | Ford.com to see if any software updates are available for your vehicle.
Kim
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Pottstown, PA
I believe this has to do with the software that sync is running. I have a 2012 and mine also does some weird stuff. I just read a thread about this on the f150 forums. I have also done the usb mod with a 1 tb harddrive to the glovebox. Sometimes my usb has trouble playing flash drives, some won't play at all for copyright protection. Also my iPhone worked flawlessly with sync, I switched to a galaxy s5 and have had lots of weird things happen as well, though I believe it is the phone that acts screwy, and not sync.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 305
Likes: 14
From: Louisville, KY
My sync will be on FM or AM sometimes when I start the truck even though I was using the jump-drive when I shut it off; not all the time though; a lot of times it will restart at exactly the spot in the music where it shut off. Weird! The voice command works well to play specific tracks; this makes finding something easy as long as you know the exact title. Sometimes I can't get it to access all its music though after using the voice command to play a track (meaning it repeats the same track over and over and when I ask it to play another track it responds with something like "the requested media is currently unavailable.") I think that may have something to do with the way the files are stored on the jump-drive perhaps. If I ask it to shuffle sometimes then it can access the rest of the tracks, sometimes not!
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 4
From: Ottawa, Ontario Canada
I also did the 2nd USB port mod on my truck so my flash drive lives in my glove box.
It works fine most of the time but it has the most trouble when I add or modify a playlist---tells me the USB is not available. Only fix for this mood it gets itself into is to remove the fuse, wait a few minutes and then it works fine again.
Sync is riddled with bugs and did not undergo enough testing and quality control for an onboard computer system. Not sure who is most to blame, Ford or Microsoft, but collectively they produced a schizophrenic, misbehaved child named Sync.
It works fine most of the time but it has the most trouble when I add or modify a playlist---tells me the USB is not available. Only fix for this mood it gets itself into is to remove the fuse, wait a few minutes and then it works fine again.
Sync is riddled with bugs and did not undergo enough testing and quality control for an onboard computer system. Not sure who is most to blame, Ford or Microsoft, but collectively they produced a schizophrenic, misbehaved child named Sync.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,659
Likes: 2
I ask only very simple things from Sync. Otherwise it becomes too frustrating. I dial from my phone half the time for same reason. Getting it to go to USB is hit and miss but it will eventually pick up within a few tries.
Still works better than the docking station on my Onkyo receiver at home!
Still works better than the docking station on my Onkyo receiver at home!
Official Ford Rep
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 474
Likes: 0
When you performed the master reset on your Explorer, did your phone connection get deleted? If it did not, it means that the reset never completed. I recommend trying again if that is the case.
Kim
More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 718
Likes: 92
From: Asheboro, NC
The Sync systems in both my 2010 and my 2013 are a PITA. Rarely does it ever start with what I turned it off. The 2013 just randomly picks AM & FM stations, most of the time it's static, when started. The 2010 "loses" the usb port about once per week. I've done the fuse pull & the master reset all to no change. IMO it's just a POS system that Ford can't be bothered with to fix. Sorry Ford Guys, a power down is not a fix.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,710
Likes: 77
From: Central Florida
The only voice feature that works on mine is sync services. The sound system always wants to be on Sat 1 at power up. I gave up on it after a few months, another piece of bug plagued Microsoft junk.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,019
Likes: 1,518
From: Maine, Virginia
