Sync problem? Index is full?
05-14-2013, 09:30 AM
#41
Senior Member
isnt there a new update on the sync page thats supposed to fix the indexing issue?
Mine was doing it all the time, I would pull the fuse instead of a master reset so I didnt have to reconnect my phone and such. I moved to a thumbdrive and have had zero issues in over 6 months...before I would get the indexing thing every 3-4 weeks.
Mine was doing it all the time, I would pull the fuse instead of a master reset so I didnt have to reconnect my phone and such. I moved to a thumbdrive and have had zero issues in over 6 months...before I would get the indexing thing every 3-4 weeks.
05-14-2013, 09:42 AM
#42
Senior Member
Trust me, it's the Apple causing the problem. Maybe unplugging ipod at night and plugging it back in every day would fix your problem. When I had my ipod problems I left it plugged in all the time and it was constantly messing up, switched to a flash drive 4 years ago and haven't had one single problem since. I suppose leaving it plugged in when the truck isn't running drains the battery in the ipod and causes an issue when it has to charge a little before it can boot up. At any rate buying a 300 $ ipod to leave in your truck all the time and having constant problems is dumb. Get a 5 $ flash drive and be problem free and save 295 $ seems like a no brainer to me!
I've had a smartphone for years but never really had a need for mobile music other than on the flash stick in my truck but have recently been using it also in my truck via Bluetooth to listen to some new music when I didn't want to dig my flash drive out from behind the glove box (usb2 mod) until I knew the songs would make the cut to be on my playlist. I have a Samsung Galaxy note 2 and have had zero Bluetooth issues with it either. I've never tried hooking it to usb but I don't have more than 40 songs on it usually, if they make the grade I transfer them to the flash stick and use the phone to test new music.
I occasionally plug some of my friends (who were dumb enough to fall for the Apple hype, Android is so much more functional and customizable) phones and ipods into usb and have had no issues but I've never left it in overnight which leads me to believe the root problem is the battery discharging and the device being dead when sync queries it causing the problems most are having.
In conclusion if you can't afford a $5 flash drive try unplugging your ipod every night and back in after you start the truck for a couple weeks and see if the problem persists.
I've had a smartphone for years but never really had a need for mobile music other than on the flash stick in my truck but have recently been using it also in my truck via Bluetooth to listen to some new music when I didn't want to dig my flash drive out from behind the glove box (usb2 mod) until I knew the songs would make the cut to be on my playlist. I have a Samsung Galaxy note 2 and have had zero Bluetooth issues with it either. I've never tried hooking it to usb but I don't have more than 40 songs on it usually, if they make the grade I transfer them to the flash stick and use the phone to test new music.
I occasionally plug some of my friends (who were dumb enough to fall for the Apple hype, Android is so much more functional and customizable) phones and ipods into usb and have had no issues but I've never left it in overnight which leads me to believe the root problem is the battery discharging and the device being dead when sync queries it causing the problems most are having.
In conclusion if you can't afford a $5 flash drive try unplugging your ipod every night and back in after you start the truck for a couple weeks and see if the problem persists.
05-14-2013, 12:20 PM
#43
Senior Member
Thanks for the great post.
I have given up and just pull the fuse every other week or so when Sync poops out on me.
I agree with another poster regarding the auxiliary input but you can't charge that way.
Technology when it works is awesome, when it does not, it is just a headache.
NC
I have given up and just pull the fuse every other week or so when Sync poops out on me.
I agree with another poster regarding the auxiliary input but you can't charge that way.
Technology when it works is awesome, when it does not, it is just a headache.
NC
Here is some info that may be helpful....
1. Using any device through the Aux port eliminates all the problems listed in this thread. The plus side is that you can use your device controls, the downside is that most of the Sync stuff doesn't work...Sync can't control your device through the headphone jack, the communication is one direction only. This only works for devices that have a Aux or headphone jack (not good for USB drives). If you have one of the vehicles that only has a video connection (red, white, yellow) and no dedicated Aux port, you can use the red/white ports as an Aux connection for audio only (yellow is for video).
2. Apple supports audio with DRM and the i-devices manage the legalities of this and allow you to play this content if you are properly licensed. This all happens magically for the most part and you don't really notice it. If you transfer your content to a USB drive or similar, this content will be unavailable. This should only be an issue for iTunes content purchased in the iTunes Store and not upgraded to drm-free. Music that you have ripped yourself from cd should play just fine. For the record, this isn't an "Apple" thing, it's a record company requirement that Apple supported in the early days of iTunes.
3. The largest iPod Apple sells is the classic at 160G. I have one, it worked fine in my truck. The largest USB drive I have personally tested with Sync is 64G. (More on the iPod classic down below....Apple sells a 128G iPad which could be used as a giant iPod)
4. USB drives have to be formatted as "FAT32" for sync to recognize them. Most USB drives purchased are formatted this way from the factory. Using the default Apple formatting will make them unreadable by Sync. (don't reformat your USB drive with a Mac). I have successfully used a Sandisk 64G USB drive in my truck. Sandisk puts a bunch of crap-ware on their drives, I reformatted it using a Windows machine.
5. The "indexing" message is Sync telling you that it is going through your device and gathering information about what is on the device. It does this to support voice commands, browsing, etc. It is an internal Sync operation.
I personally had a lot of problems with my iPod classic. The music playback worked well enough, but the Bluetooth iPhone connection was very erratic and then became non-functional. After doing a ton of research, I came to the conclusion that leaving the iPod connected to the truck overnight was most likely the problem. Many other Ford forums report similar Sync problems with playback devices that require charging (iPod, Zune, etc) when they are left connected. I switched to a USB drive and haven't had any problems since (other than the normal BT occasional refusal to connect to my phone). I believe this problem to be mostly a Sync/MFT issue and not specific to my iPod or iPods in general. Once I figured out what was wrong, I pulled the fuse and reset the system.
I have a large music library and eventually plan to upgrade to a 128G USB drive or maybe even a 256G drive. Not being able to use my iPod is a bummer, but reasonably easy to solve. I have very little content that is DRM'd, so that isn't a big issue for me. I did buy an USB extension cable so my USB drive isn't sticking up out of the port in the center console. I was afraid I would catch it on something and snap it off.
1. Using any device through the Aux port eliminates all the problems listed in this thread. The plus side is that you can use your device controls, the downside is that most of the Sync stuff doesn't work...Sync can't control your device through the headphone jack, the communication is one direction only. This only works for devices that have a Aux or headphone jack (not good for USB drives). If you have one of the vehicles that only has a video connection (red, white, yellow) and no dedicated Aux port, you can use the red/white ports as an Aux connection for audio only (yellow is for video).
2. Apple supports audio with DRM and the i-devices manage the legalities of this and allow you to play this content if you are properly licensed. This all happens magically for the most part and you don't really notice it. If you transfer your content to a USB drive or similar, this content will be unavailable. This should only be an issue for iTunes content purchased in the iTunes Store and not upgraded to drm-free. Music that you have ripped yourself from cd should play just fine. For the record, this isn't an "Apple" thing, it's a record company requirement that Apple supported in the early days of iTunes.
3. The largest iPod Apple sells is the classic at 160G. I have one, it worked fine in my truck. The largest USB drive I have personally tested with Sync is 64G. (More on the iPod classic down below....Apple sells a 128G iPad which could be used as a giant iPod)
4. USB drives have to be formatted as "FAT32" for sync to recognize them. Most USB drives purchased are formatted this way from the factory. Using the default Apple formatting will make them unreadable by Sync. (don't reformat your USB drive with a Mac). I have successfully used a Sandisk 64G USB drive in my truck. Sandisk puts a bunch of crap-ware on their drives, I reformatted it using a Windows machine.
5. The "indexing" message is Sync telling you that it is going through your device and gathering information about what is on the device. It does this to support voice commands, browsing, etc. It is an internal Sync operation.
I personally had a lot of problems with my iPod classic. The music playback worked well enough, but the Bluetooth iPhone connection was very erratic and then became non-functional. After doing a ton of research, I came to the conclusion that leaving the iPod connected to the truck overnight was most likely the problem. Many other Ford forums report similar Sync problems with playback devices that require charging (iPod, Zune, etc) when they are left connected. I switched to a USB drive and haven't had any problems since (other than the normal BT occasional refusal to connect to my phone). I believe this problem to be mostly a Sync/MFT issue and not specific to my iPod or iPods in general. Once I figured out what was wrong, I pulled the fuse and reset the system.
I have a large music library and eventually plan to upgrade to a 128G USB drive or maybe even a 256G drive. Not being able to use my iPod is a bummer, but reasonably easy to solve. I have very little content that is DRM'd, so that isn't a big issue for me. I did buy an USB extension cable so my USB drive isn't sticking up out of the port in the center console. I was afraid I would catch it on something and snap it off.
05-14-2013, 12:46 PM
#44
Senior Member
Thanks for the great post.
I have given up and just pull the fuse every other week or so when Sync poops out on me.
I agree with another poster regarding the auxiliary input but you can't charge that way.
Technology when it works is awesome, when it does not, it is just a headache.
NC
I have given up and just pull the fuse every other week or so when Sync poops out on me.
I agree with another poster regarding the auxiliary input but you can't charge that way.
Technology when it works is awesome, when it does not, it is just a headache.
NC
The 64G USB flash drive is working well for me. I spent about $80 on it. I've looked around the web and found 128g drives for a little over $100. I would really like a 256g drive but they are $300+.
The iPod classic is a cheaper and more versatile solution for that price. For longer trips, I still use the iPod classic, Aux'd in, hooked to a charger. The USB drive is a better solution for daily use.
For now, the combo solution is working ok.
It is a first-world problem for sure. If my music library was smaller, I wouldn't have these problems!
05-14-2013, 01:56 PM
#45
Senior Member
I was right there with ya! I even cobbled together a switch I could jam in the fuse so I wouldn't have to do a headstand on the passenger floor when I wanted to reset the system. Never installed it though.
The 64G USB flash drive is working well for me. I spent about $80 on it. I've looked around the web and found 128g drives for a little over $100. I would really like a 256g drive but they are $300+.
The iPod classic is a cheaper and more versatile solution for that price. For longer trips, I still use the iPod classic, Aux'd in, hooked to a charger. The USB drive is a better solution for daily use.
For now, the combo solution is working ok.
It is a first-world problem for sure. If my music library was smaller, I wouldn't have these problems!
06-18-2014, 01:28 PM
#46
Senior Member
I can't stand sync, I've been dealing with this problem the past few days. Every time I start my truck "SYNC index full..." was hoping it wouldn't come down to unplugging my negative to the battery AGAIN!
06-18-2014, 08:16 PM
#47
Senior Member
Snycs awesome, either you haven't got it updated to the newest version or you're doing something wrong. If you're using a ****ty ipod try a flash drive. That solves 99% of problems.
06-18-2014, 10:52 PM
#48
I was having the same issues with my iPod Classic and sync till someone at sync support told me to always unplug the iPod before turning off the truck. Haven't had a single issue in 2.5 yrs since following their advice
06-19-2014, 03:32 PM
#49
SultanGrs, I understand you don't like the iPod. Or are a big fan of Ford. We get it. But your blanket solution to "Get rid of the iPod and use a flash drive" is unacceptable to me. If Microsoft/Sync cannot get this system to work with THE MOST POPULAR portable music device then it is their fault and it should be fixed. I still stand by my statement of never getting another car with SYNC. No way. btw, my friend is using a flash drive and is having the same problems.
My 8 year old Pioneer USB deck (now retired) had zero problems playing music off my iPod. But when the SYNC acts up and I cannot control the device at all...this is what is frustrating.
Took my car into dealership a couple months ago and they updated sync. I fixed some problems. The latest problem? I start the car and the music plays for about 2 minutes then shuts off. SYNC's entire system is inoperable. No speech commands and the aux/usb selection disappears. After about 5 minutes it goes back to the "Line in" screen and I can now listen to my iPod.
Disconnecting the device every time you get out? Come on. The solution? Prob back to disconnecting the battery. My solution? 1 year left on my lease and no more SYNC. I cringe every single time I speak a command into this thing.
My 8 year old Pioneer USB deck (now retired) had zero problems playing music off my iPod. But when the SYNC acts up and I cannot control the device at all...this is what is frustrating.
Took my car into dealership a couple months ago and they updated sync. I fixed some problems. The latest problem? I start the car and the music plays for about 2 minutes then shuts off. SYNC's entire system is inoperable. No speech commands and the aux/usb selection disappears. After about 5 minutes it goes back to the "Line in" screen and I can now listen to my iPod.
Disconnecting the device every time you get out? Come on. The solution? Prob back to disconnecting the battery. My solution? 1 year left on my lease and no more SYNC. I cringe every single time I speak a command into this thing.
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BDASPNY (02-10-2021)
06-19-2014, 09:49 PM
#50
Senior Member
Sadly, I traded my F-150 for a Ram last summer. The Ram version of Sync, U-connect, reboots at least two or three times an hour. Sometimes back to back two or three times. Sometimes I can't adjust volume, sometimes it can't find my iPod, etc. All these systems are buggy to say the least.
Trying to work up the courage to trade back to an F-150 before the new model comes out. Maybe this weekend.
NC
Trying to work up the courage to trade back to an F-150 before the new model comes out. Maybe this weekend.
NC
SultanGrs, I understand you don't like the iPod. Or are a big fan of Ford. We get it. But your blanket solution to "Get rid of the iPod and use a flash drive" is unacceptable to me. If Microsoft/Sync cannot get this system to work with THE MOST POPULAR portable music device then it is their fault and it should be fixed. I still stand by my statement of never getting another car with SYNC. No way. btw, my friend is using a flash drive and is having the same problems.
My 8 year old Pioneer USB deck (now retired) had zero problems playing music off my iPod. But when the SYNC acts up and I cannot control the device at all...this is what is frustrating.
Took my car into dealership a couple months ago and they updated sync. I fixed some problems. The latest problem? I start the car and the music plays for about 2 minutes then shuts off. SYNC's entire system is inoperable. No speech commands and the aux/usb selection disappears. After about 5 minutes it goes back to the "Line in" screen and I can now listen to my iPod.
Disconnecting the device every time you get out? Come on. The solution? Prob back to disconnecting the battery. My solution? 1 year left on my lease and no more SYNC. I cringe every single time I speak a command into this thing.
My 8 year old Pioneer USB deck (now retired) had zero problems playing music off my iPod. But when the SYNC acts up and I cannot control the device at all...this is what is frustrating.
Took my car into dealership a couple months ago and they updated sync. I fixed some problems. The latest problem? I start the car and the music plays for about 2 minutes then shuts off. SYNC's entire system is inoperable. No speech commands and the aux/usb selection disappears. After about 5 minutes it goes back to the "Line in" screen and I can now listen to my iPod.
Disconnecting the device every time you get out? Come on. The solution? Prob back to disconnecting the battery. My solution? 1 year left on my lease and no more SYNC. I cringe every single time I speak a command into this thing.