Originally Posted by HizliBullet

how do u check if sync has applink? i tried bunch of apps ford says applink compatible, but they're no different than any other app that uses bluetooth to put sound through speakers

Originally Posted by Boss 0960

… If I remote start my truck when my phone is out of range, I cannot connect to Bluetooth by any means except by the following process. I have to shut the truck off, open the door and lock it with the remote fob while I sit inside (this kills the delayed power function and turns off the radio immediately). Then I have to unlock the truck with the remote fob. Then I can start it so it will reboot Sync and find the Bluetooth on my phone. Every other Bluetooth radio I've owned has been able to find and connect to the primary phone even if it was out of range at start up.
…

Originally Posted by Varilux

I love SYNC- and the ability to stream Pandora- but the whole system causes nothing but worry.
My system splits 50/50 between defaulting to the radio or the USB. That doesn't really bother me, since I just hit the voice command button, say "Mobile Applications," then "Pandora" and I'm on my way. However, about once a week, all I get is a "beep beep" from the system- which will then not accept any verbal commands. The only thing to do is pull over, turn off the car, restart, and then the system works. This occurrence has increased in frequency over the past few months- so I am left to wonder if the system is going kaput! …

Originally Posted by HizliBullet

how do u check if sync has applink? i tried bunch of apps ford says applink compatible, but they're no different than any other app that uses bluetooth to put sound through speakers

Originally Posted by FordIVTteam

Hi Boss 0960,

This isn’t how the system is designed to function. Try performing some of the Bluetooth troubleshooting tips listed here: http://support.ford.com/sync-technol...eshooting-sync

If the phone doesn’t automatically connect right away, you can press the PHONE button in your vehicle to try and force that connection. Once it is connected, press the VOICE COMMAND button and say BLUETOOTH AUDIO to begin streaming audio from the phone.

Kim

Originally Posted by Boss 0960

My solution is almost exactly the same as your link suggests. The only difference is that I've jump started the process by hitting the door lock on the key fob instead of waiting 30 seconds. I'd rather not wait the 30 seconds every time I get into the vehicle if I don't have to. I'd also prefer not to shut off the ignition and open and close the door every time after remote starting it...but here we are.



Even in the simplest case per your suggestion above, assuming that it works (I'll try it), that still involves pushing the phone button, waiting, hoping for a connection then pushing the voice control button and hoping that that works. It would be so much better if SYNC simply worked the way it should and connect automatically when I come into range. That would require the pushing of zero buttons and require zero waiting time. Waiting is required since I'm not comfortable scrolling through the menu system while driving in traffic.

The remainder of the suggestions only go to show how clunky and user unfriendly SYNC actually is. If I use my remote start with SYNC, it will not automatically connect to my phone when I come into range. Never. Ever. This means that every day during the inclement winter months when I use the remote start, I will have to use either the above suggestion or one of the other processes every time I get into the vehicle.

Originally Posted by FordIVTteam

If the phone still doesn't automatically connect after entering the vehicle, pressing the PHONE button will force SYNC to search for a previously paired device. I'm hoping this will allow you to keep the vehicle running instead of turning the engine off.

Kim

Originally Posted by 69Mach1-409

I had to completely unpair the phone from SYNC, delete the Bluetooth connection to SYNC from my phone & in SYNC, restart the phone, restart the Raptor, and then redo the pairing process / address book, etc.

I don't believe it had anything to do with SYNC as I seem to have to do this anytime my phone does a software update.

Originally Posted by Boss 0960

This works. Pushing the phone button on the steering wheel gave me the message "No Device Found" but when I looked down a second later, my phone was listed on the screen. Two more pushes on the dash to select and confirm the connection, then one more push on the steering wheel and a voice command to select Bluetooth Audio. Now I am down to four button pushes in two separate locations and a voice command. It is better than shutting the vehicle down and opening the door in the winter.

Since this thread is about SYNC updates, is now a good time to discuss an update where SYNC will default to Bluetooth Audio if that is the source I am using when I turn the vehicle off? It is the only source I want to use in the vehicle and it is a nuisance to have to push the button every time I start it and say "Bluetooth Audio".

Originally Posted by Boss 0960

Ahh, the Sync Lottery. Guess the media source...turn the ignition key to play. I play every time I get in my Mustang or F-150. Kim has already confirmed on this site that there is no way to select a default source on start up.

Normally, you would expect a radio to return to the source that was on when it was powered down. I have no idea why Sync won't perform that simple function. My Sync systems even have a setting called Autoplay that is always set to "on". Yet even when the Bluetooth input is on at start up, it will not automatically play music from my phone. Even if the display reads "Bluetooth Media", I have to push the button, the radio will say "Bluetooth Audio. Please say a command" and I have to say "Bluetooth Audio" to get it to play.

Now that winter is here, my next biggest Sync failure will plague me until spring. If I remote start my truck when my phone is out of range, I cannot connect to Bluetooth by any means except by the following process. I have to shut the truck off, open the door and lock it with the remote fob while I sit inside (this kills the delayed power function and turns off the radio immediately). Then I have to unlock the truck with the remote fob. Then I can start it so it will reboot Sync and find the Bluetooth on my phone. Every other Bluetooth radio I've owned has been able to find and connect to the primary phone even if it was out of range at start up.

Let's face it, there is a reason that Sync by itself has dropped Ford from near the top of the quality rankings to near the bottom of the quality rankings. Sync is garbage by design and there is no avoiding it in the prepackaged world of ordering a Ford vehicle. If you want anything but the cheapest base model, you get Sync and there is no way to fix it without a complete replacement.

Originally Posted by Critical Mass

I have found that a lot of Android apps that ford lists as compatible, aren't really compatible.

The only app besides Sync Destinations that seems reliable is Pandora. All the rest of them like NPR news, etc. Don't work. (It recognized NPR news once, but wouldn't play the headlines).

It also doesn't seem high on their priority list of fixes either. I contacted NPR news about the issue and never heard a response.