There can be a number of connectivity problems with an iPod touch or iPhone and a vehicle's hands-free Bluetooth system. This is a workshop to see how to solve problems playing Bluetooth music through a connection with a Ford Microsoft Sync system.
From a review of online forums you can see that both Microsoft and Apple are pointing fingers at each other regarding why the connection to SYNC often causes problems. Bluetooth "is what it is" – it's a low power short range way to connect computer devices wirelessly. Often the system can get out of phase and cause connection problems. Here's what you can do to set things back to normal …
While in your car with the radio on, go to the Phone Menu and select "System Settings" on a vehicle with the LED screen on the top of the center console. Later in this workshop, we'll go over how to do this process with a touch screen system. Turn the turning knob to select "Delete Device." Find your device by name and then press OK to delete the device. Now go to your iPhone. Go to the Settings icon, go to the General icon, then select the Bluetooth connectivity area. Delete "Sync" from your list of connected devices (tap on the blue arrow at the right, it takes you to another screen and then select "Forget Device." Then, power your phone completely off, or pull the battery for at least a minute, then replace the battery.
Now turn off your vehicle. Open the hood. Loosen the bolt holding the black battery cable clamp assembly and remove it from the battery for about two minutes or more. Then replace it and retighten the clamp. Close the hood.
Return to your vehicle and start it up. Let the vehicle run for at least four or five minutes. This reboots the electrical systems from factory specs. Your radio may default back to the AM band and you may need to reset your clock time. Turn your vehicle off again and open the door (this completely powers down the vehicle). Start the vehicle back up.
Now go to the Phone Menu on the center console, go to Bluetooth Devices, and select "Add Device." It will prompt you to press OK to begin Pairing a device. Go to your phone, to the Settings icon, select General, then Bluetooth Settings. Look for the "Handsfree" Button and let it become a "Sync" button. Touch this button and another screen appears asking for the 6-digit Pin that is being displayed on your center console. Enter that number and push "Pair" on your phone. Within a few seconds the Sync system will respond that it has connected. Be sure to activate the 911 Assist when prompted, push OK to set the phone as the Primary Phone and then OK to allow the phone book to download. It may take up to three minutes for the phone book to download.
Now when you push the "Voice" button on the steering wheel, you can say "Bluetooth Audio" to access your iPhone music (or go to the Pandora App, or other app, and turn it on). The music should start within a few seconds, if not, push the Voice button again and say "Play." If you push the Voice button again you can also say "Shuffle" (to have the system automatically pick the next song) or a variety of other commands (check you Sync manual for details.)
For some, it may be easier to transfer your music files to a USB flash drive. Then you can push the Voice button and say "USB." The Sync System will go to the USB to start playing music. You should be able to push the Voice button to call out "Play Artist The Beatles (or which ever artist you prefer)" and the system will find and play those songs. The command "Play All" resumes playing from the whole library on the USB stick. If you press the hard button on the console to access AM / FM or CD, you can return to the USB by pushing the AUX button. The iPhone streams better sounding music via Bluetooth. When you use a USB cable to connect your iPhone to the Sync System it defaults to the Mp3 format and has a lesser sound quality, but sometimes this connection will allow you to find music via voice commands (especially with the iPhone 4 or 4S).
For those with the Ford Sony Touch Screen or MyFord Touch, to Pair a phone, please visit this video link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PivPJAVIHwg&feature=related and at the main page you will see a variety of short videos that covers other topics on the Sync system.