Sync 3 / Pandora Issue
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Junior User
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From: Norco
Sync 3 / Pandora Issue
Over the past couple of days I have been having an issue with controlling Pandora with my steering wheel controls while my phone is plugged into the USB port and using the Pandora application through Sync 3.
Not always, but often, as I use the steering wheel control to turn the volume down, it changes sources to Sirius radio. Thinking I was “fat fingering” the M to switch sources I initially dismissed it. I have been conscious of turning down the volume and am confident I’m not “fat fingering” the M.
The issue doesn’t occur when I use Pandora with the phone connected via Bluetooth.
Anyone else experience this type of issue?
Mike
Not always, but often, as I use the steering wheel control to turn the volume down, it changes sources to Sirius radio. Thinking I was “fat fingering” the M to switch sources I initially dismissed it. I have been conscious of turning down the volume and am confident I’m not “fat fingering” the M.
The issue doesn’t occur when I use Pandora with the phone connected via Bluetooth.
Anyone else experience this type of issue?
Mike
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,650
Likes: 243
From: GA
Over the past couple of days I have been having an issue with controlling Pandora with my steering wheel controls while my phone is plugged into the USB port and using the Pandora application through Sync 3.
Not always, but often, as I use the steering wheel control to turn the volume down, it changes sources to Sirius radio. Thinking I was “fat fingering” the M to switch sources I initially dismissed it. I have been conscious of turning down the volume and am confident I’m not “fat fingering” the M.
The issue doesn’t occur when I use Pandora with the phone connected via Bluetooth.
Anyone else experience this type of issue?
Mike
Not always, but often, as I use the steering wheel control to turn the volume down, it changes sources to Sirius radio. Thinking I was “fat fingering” the M to switch sources I initially dismissed it. I have been conscious of turning down the volume and am confident I’m not “fat fingering” the M.
The issue doesn’t occur when I use Pandora with the phone connected via Bluetooth.
Anyone else experience this type of issue?
Mike
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2017
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From: Norco
Yes, CarPlay is enabled so I believe I am using it. Sync had not been updated since 7/2017. I will get that updated to see if that helps. If not then I’ll start documenting everytime there’s an issue. Glad to still have time on the warranty.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,650
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From: GA
Let us know if the update helps.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 196
Likes: 2
From: Madison USA
Mine behaves erratically as well. It will often suddenly announce audio OVER the music "Pandora has stopped working. Would you like to restart Pandora?" But the wretched thing keeps right on playing, most of the time, sometimes with the display locked, sometimes not. Sometimes it locks up totally and wont work again until the truck power is cycled. I have tried Android Auto Play, and it is horrible, locks up regularly, sometimes would not start etc. Gave up and uninstalled it.
AFAIC, Sync3 is marginal at best. Its poorly designed (defaults to AM radio). It locks up regularly. It rarely and erratically will restart whatever was being played before vehicle shutdown, and that is seemingly driven by how long since shutdown. My wife has a Porsche Cayenne that cost new less than this truck, and it has none of these issues. Disappointing, Ford.
AFAIC, Sync3 is marginal at best. Its poorly designed (defaults to AM radio). It locks up regularly. It rarely and erratically will restart whatever was being played before vehicle shutdown, and that is seemingly driven by how long since shutdown. My wife has a Porsche Cayenne that cost new less than this truck, and it has none of these issues. Disappointing, Ford.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,650
Likes: 243
From: GA
Mine behaves erratically as well. It will often suddenly announce audio OVER the music "Pandora has stopped working. Would you like to restart Pandora?" But the wretched thing keeps right on playing, most of the time, sometimes with the display locked, sometimes not. Sometimes it locks up totally and wont work again until the truck power is cycled. I have tried Android Auto Play, and it is horrible, locks up regularly, sometimes would not start etc. Gave up and uninstalled it.
AFAIC, Sync3 is marginal at best. Its poorly designed (defaults to AM radio). It locks up regularly. It rarely and erratically will restart whatever was being played before vehicle shutdown, and that is seemingly driven by how long since shutdown. My wife has a Porsche Cayenne that cost new less than this truck, and it has none of these issues. Disappointing, Ford.
AFAIC, Sync3 is marginal at best. Its poorly designed (defaults to AM radio). It locks up regularly. It rarely and erratically will restart whatever was being played before vehicle shutdown, and that is seemingly driven by how long since shutdown. My wife has a Porsche Cayenne that cost new less than this truck, and it has none of these issues. Disappointing, Ford.
Also, i`ve heard about Android Auto owners not being happy with the way it works whereas Apple CarPlay seems to be more polished and works much better.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 196
Likes: 2
From: Madison USA
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Tuned
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 494
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From: Twin Cities, MN
Try reinstalling the app on your phone - it's entirely possible that the app is finicky and with the Sync3 it may not always play ball. Occasionally rebooting your phone is a good idea too. Did this to me a few times in my 19` and after replacing my phone (S9+ is fine in lake water and pools but not the ocean, lol) it's been flawless.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 196
Likes: 2
From: Madison USA
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,650
Likes: 243
From: GA
I fear the Dealership tinkering with my rig. I will probably just live with it.
Same here. I really wish we could just host the doggone phone display and be done with it. Its a touch screen in the truck, why wouldnt this work? Then I could have any app on my phone displayed in the big truck center display. I dont understand why this is not a highly desirable and effective solution.
Same here. I really wish we could just host the doggone phone display and be done with it. Its a touch screen in the truck, why wouldnt this work? Then I could have any app on my phone displayed in the big truck center display. I dont understand why this is not a highly desirable and effective solution.
Another reason is because no manufacturer wants to give 100 percent control of the dash/display to the aftermarket because they want to incorporate their own technology and voice control like SYNC. Yes, OEM voice control systems are not in the same class as the aftermarket but perhaps things will change in the future because some makes are already starting to use Google as original equipment.
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Joined: Sep 2017
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From: Norco
After a few months I think I have figured out the issue. Seems to only occur when my blue tooth is on and the phone is plugged into the USB port. I have been turning off blue tooth and only plugging in the phone using the Pandora app from Sync. No problems yet. Blue tooth on along with the phone plugged into the USB port running the app through Sync seems to confuse Sync...just my observations.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 158
Likes: 30
If your phone recently updated to Android 9.0 that is most likely your issue. Google: android 9 and bluetooth issues. Multiple devices such as car radios, bluetooth head phones ect are having issues. Lots of the forums have guides how to resolve them. To change volume know you have to turn on dual mode in advanced bluetooth settings. Lots of people are having to delete their devices and them reinstall them. There are step by step guides for this. Android has made major changes to bluetooth you have to account for these changes to get bluetooth devices such as sync and android auto to work. If dual mode is not selected volume is solely controlled by the phone. Dual mode enables volume to be controlled by sync or phone with bluetooth connection.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 196
Likes: 2
From: Madison USA
I have had to do this at least twice since 9.0 update. Its not that hard to do, and it seems to cure the issues....but only temporarily. My latest issue is that the phone audio will not come through the truck radio, even though the radio acts like it is. Callers say they can hear me, but I cannot hear them. Gosub: Delete phone in radio, delete radio in phone, restart both, reconnect, Return.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 158
Likes: 30
I have had to do this at least twice since 9.0 update. Its not that hard to do, and it seems to cure the issues....but only temporarily. My latest issue is that the phone audio will not come through the truck radio, even though the radio acts like it is. Callers say they can hear me, but I cannot hear them. Gosub: Delete phone in radio, delete radio in phone, restart both, reconnect, Return.
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