I'm glad to see that all of the stupidity that is Ford Sync applies to the Apple minions as well as us Android minions...

My brother has a company issue iPhone. I apologize I don't know the model but it is unlikely to be one of the latest whiz-bang models. Anyway, when I ride with him he will receive calls. Sometimes the ringer blows you out of the truck. A call 20 minutes later will ring normally. He says it has done this randomly ever since he bought the truck in 2018. It is Sync 3, updated to the most current revision. He says it does the "won't connect" thing at least twice every work week. His CarPlay gives him connection issues at least once a week.

Who are the idiots writing their code? Example: Plug a USB drive with >256GB of music files on it. Leave said drive in truck for YEARS, never removing it. Start truck and try to select a song, etc. and you will be greeted with a message stating that Sync is busy "indexing" the drive contents. EVERY SINGLE TIME. What idiot thinks it makes sense to re-index the drive contents every time power is cycled in the vehicle? A simple index checksum applied to the drive could be compared at startup - no change in checksum, no need to index. Basically database 101 from the 1990's...

I read somewhere that >90% of Ford's customer complaints revolve around Sync / entertainment system issues. I believe it - it SUCKS. If they had a brain they would contract it out to Kenwood, Pioneer, Sony, Alpine, JVC - basically ANY of the companies that make decent aftermarket stuff. As was mentioned earlier, a cheap, no-name Wal-Mart radio for $89 in my tractor works perfectly every time.

 

I have Sync 3 in my 2017 Escape and Sync 4 in my 2022 F-250. To me Sync 4 is much better, but not perfect. As I recall they're going to ditch Sync altogether for a Google Android system. It'll be fun to see how well that works for us iPhone users.

 

YES!! It's super annoying...

 

Found a temporary fix to the iPhone changing to full volume after being connected to wireless CarPlay....

Go into your iPhone's settings --> Sound & Haptics --> and turn off "Change with Buttons".

I've had zero issues with the phone's ringer going to full volume after this temp fix.

 

Morning, so I have a 2021 F450 Lariat, recently upgraded to Sync 3 v3.4.

Historically, I rarely use the in-vehicle Nav system, but it always works. However, I like using Apple CarPlay as it has the built-in contacts and Apple Maps link. Never have had an issue with linking via Bluetooth, and very rarely have used usb cable direct.

However, yesterday and today I had reason to use the Apple Maps since updating Sync. No joy. Tried re-syncing, re-pairing, removing and adding phone back, direct usb Apple cable - nada nada. Once I saw the Apple CarPlay on the Ford display screen - but it didn’t function.

The phone works in the Toyota Tacoma w/o issues; as well as in the ‘06 6.0 F250 with a year old $500 Alpine system.

I’m gonna say it’s the Sync 3 v3.4 that’s the issue, there’s probably a license or certificate expiration that causes Apple to ignore the Sync in certain ways.

I’m going to sit in the vehicle and try various combinations to see if I can figure something out.

 

I would reboot the sync system.

 

It was a combination:

on iOS, under Screen Time, there is a setting that will interfere with Car Play. Probably need to check this after each iOS update:

1. If your iPhone isn't detected by CarPlay, make sure that CarPlay isn't restricted. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. If Content & Privacy Restrictions is on, tap Allowed Apps, and make sure that CarPlay is enabled.
   
2. Go to Settings > General > CarPlay, tap your car, then tap Forget This Car. Then set up CarPlay again.
   
   And Sync had an update again; it was the Screen Time setting that interfered
   
   Also noted: Only works with direct USB cable( if BlueTooth is on and it connects, CarPlay will not function
   

 

For those with 2023+ and glitches with CarPlay and Bluetooth, I highly recommend updating modules renting a cable from @ZooDad . So far all my glitches are gone as my APIM finally got updated as well.