Hey guys- Having an issue with my 2018 SD w/SYNC 3.

Everything seems to be working as it should EXCEPT for being able to use my phone (via Android Auto) to run apps on the touch screen. Ideally I'd like to run google maps or another traffic app to get real time info (traffic slow downs, accidents, road closures, etc). I've searched and so far have come up with nothing. I've verified that I'm running the right software on my phone (Android version 6.0.1 According to Ford and others I need at least 5.0 'lollipop'. I'm pretty certain my 6.0.1 'marshmallow' is okay.) Also according to Ford my (pretty old) Droid Turbo XT1254 is compatible. I have the latest version of Android Auto on my phone- just down loaded yesterday. The phone is on a Verizon unlimited data plan.

I've followed the directions and gone through all the motions but I have yet to see the Android Auto Icon appear in my settings on the SYNC 3. The phone is connected via bluetooth as well as USB.

At this point, according to Ford's website I should go to the settings icon and then the Android Auto Preferences icon but its simply not there...

I'm not the most tech savvy guy I'll admit- What am I missing here?

Thanks.

 

Android Auto on my 2017 F450 sucks. I have the latest Sync 3 software on the truck and the phone is updated with latest software as well. Sync 3 and Android Auto are nothing but frustrating pieces of crap in my opinion. My wife plugs in her Iphone and it works flawlessy. I gave up using Android Auto to play music. I just use my Garmin GPS for nav and the phone media player to play music. I'm pretty good with tech stuff but I'll be darned if I can get Android Auto and Sync 3 to play nicely.

 

I recently (like just last weekend) set up my wife's Android (S7) to work over Android Auto. It was more painful than my iPhone (which was really just plug it in and it worked). On hers, I had to first download an app, then I had to launch said app, and then spend like 10 minutes accepting various license agreements, approving notification settings, allowing access, etc... And if I skipped a step, or didn't allow something, it'd all go back to square one and I'd have to start over. In the end, I just had to blindly accept everything the phone asked in order to get it to work.

Then, once it was on the screen, I shut if off and unplugged and haven't tried using it since. I did see it's monochrome, reminiscent of green screen interface, looks like something that will frustrate the heck out of my wife.

 

Android auto is super picky about cables, if you google "android auto errors" that's the answer to everything, and it actually is in most cases. My oem samsung cable and about 4 aftermarket ones i had all would cause random errors. I ordered one from their approved list (3' anker braided one) and it's worked great ever since. Some cheap and quick you can try. AA works great once its set up, full control of spotify, google music, pandora, google maps and waze. Google assistant works a ton better than SYNC, it can be a bit slower but you can speak to it normally without having to remember the commands. Definitely not monochrome, so there is something wrong there.

list of some of the google recommended cables.
https://productforums.google.com/for...I/Cv6ti399BAAJ

 

 

I also found that cables have a lot to do with it, I also found that if your phone has the usb C plug, it matters, atleast on mine, which way it is plugged in. I put a mark on my cable, if I turn it over it wont work for data it will just charge.

 

Are you using the cable that came with your phone or are you using a cheap aftermarket cable that`s not certified for Android phones. Believe it or not, it does matter.

 

My Note 5 and Sync 3 have been flawless. I plug in and use maps, waze and google play music. also I use the "ok google" command to text, call, search, launch nav, etc. I can even broadcast messages across all of my google home speakers and control my lights in the house from the truck. The mapping is worlds better than the ford nav.

I just enabled android auto, downloaded the app, and accepted all of the permissions.

 

You don't happen to have the FordPass app on your phone as well do you ?
I seem to recall that it is mutually exclusive with Android Auto and Car Play.

 

Thanks for the feedback everyone... I'm going to order a new 'google approved' cable from amazon right now. (I am just using some random charging cord ATM) It probably won't get here in time for my trip but hopefully it will work. I also just uninstalled android auto from my phone and will reinstall making sure to accept, like, and give permission for whatever they ask.

Follow up question (just for my sanity). The android auto icon should not show up on my SYNC until I (successfully) connect it to my phone which has it installed correct? Some of the videos I watched left this a bit vague. Just want to make sure its not something a bit more sinister than a quality cable or proper downloaded app.

Thanks again.

 

Nope... This is my first new vehicle in 11 years so I never needed it.

Heck- I'm not even sure about all these current bells and whistles but since they are there and I paid for them I'd like to use them.

Thanks.

 

you can have both apps installed but can't run them both at the same time, to run ford pass, you have to disable AA in the sync AA setings.

 

 

Agree with the cables. I know on my phone... I was only able to get AA to work using the OEM cable.

Also check your power setting. I found that certain apps are "optimized" to not use battery power. IE: I had an issue with Pandora and Spotify working. I had to "not optimize" the apps in the battery settings. Did the same to AA when I fist started using it.

 

Right, it will show up to the right when its plugged in. In the settings for sync 3, i would check to make sure there are no phones listed under android auto. When you plug it in there should be a initial setup walkthrough but after that you just have to plug the phone in, wait 10-30 seconds and it should popup to the android auto home screen.