I’ve been pretty disappointed in the reliability of my CarPlay connection with Sync 3, leading to a lot of reboots. This is surprising since it’s a wired connection and should work every time. One particular instance…if I shut the truck off, go into a store for a short period of time (say 10 minutes), and come back out to the truck it requires a Sync reboot 100% of the time (but still charges).

Is there something wrong with my truck or is it just that bad?

 

I have quirky issues at times as well, and leaving phone plugged in while system reboots can cause issues. If I were you, I would make sure I had Sync3 updated, check on Fords website. Then I would make sure I had my phone updated to latest software.

 

I've got some intermittent issues, after searching it looks like a module linked to the amp is the issue, or at least, replacing it resolves the issue. I'm logging the instances so I can try to get the dealer to replace it

 

Have you checked if you need a Sync upgrade? My 2018 has been pretty darn reliable with Carplay and I just recently upgraded to the latest Sync version using the USB thumb drive.

I'd consider that before anything else - you can go to Ford's site and input your VIN to see if an update is available.

 

For anecdotal evidence, the sync update didn’t help me. I just did the 3.4 update at his weekend and had the same issue the next day. Fortunately I’ve learned of the hold down power + forward button reset as an alternative to shutting off the truck and restarting after the system completely shuts down.

 

you can try "re-pairing" it via carplay. go into setting and carplay delete your phone, go into your phone to settings, search carplay and remove your truck.

also as cords start to fail carplay can get wonky. mine was recently locking up and replacing the cord fixed it

 

I was having a similar issue. What I realized was that it would only happen if I shut off the truck and opened the door (which shut off the audio system) while the phone was still connected. I would unplug the phone, run whatever errands I had, and when I returned, restarted and reconnected the phone, it would typically need the reboot.

It seems like if the system shuts off while the phone is attached, then restarts and doesn't see the phone, it has issue which only a reboot resolves.

What I began to do was disconnect the phone while the audio system was still active. This seems to allow the audio system to "clear" whatever it was causing the issue. I have found this resolved the need for reboot.

I have since added a bluetooth/wifi device that allows wireless CarPlay. It works great and allows me to plug and unplug the phone for charging with no effect on CarPlay operation. It also allows easier cycling between Sync interface and CarPlay interface while using (I can keep it on the Sync interface and if a call or text comes in, it shifts over to CarPlay automatically, and after listening to/responding to text or call, automatically shifts back over to Sync interface.

 

Repairing does not fix it. I'm using a brand new Apple branded cord so that isn't the issue.

Good tip, thanks. I can't help but think this would have been an extremely easy thing to find in Ford's R&D/testing/troubleshooting, especially since my truck is the last generation of Sync 3.

I've been looking into a bluetooth device but there's so much junk out there I'm not sure what's reputable. What brand do you have?

 

I agree with your thought that Ford R&D should have caught this, but it may be an Apple problem as well. You have multiple moving parts, and each change with pretty good frequency (Sync, Apple Updates, CarPlay changes, etc), so even something that works perfectly today may have problems in the future with the various updates that are always occurring.

As for the device I'm using, I got it off Amazon (brand is Birgus). It's about $80 and they currently have a $20 off coupon,

AmazonSmile: Wireless CarPlay Adapter Wireless Apple Carplay Dongle- 5GHz WiFi, Plug & Play, Easy to Install, Convert Wired to Wireless CarPlay for OEM Wired CarPlay Cars CarPlay Wireless Adapter for iOS Version : Electronics

 

I can’t get CarPlay to work at all now. I’ve posted to a bunch of threads and not getting much response.

I have a ‘16 with Sync 3 and CarPlay worked fine for a while. I hadn’t used it in a while, probably since iOS 14 and it now longer works. I connect and Sync recognizes CarPlay, but nothing happens and it reverts to Sync after 30 seconds.

I have tried everything, including using an iPhone 12, 13 and 14; different cables; resetting everything and upgrading to Sync 3.4. The one thing that haven’t tried yet is connecting my phone to my dad’s ‘17 Explorer.

I even went to the Apple Store and a less than helpful Genius Bar person said to go to my Ford dealer. I would probably get better results going to a Krogers. She said she can’t escalate it at Apple and they wouldn’t revert my old iPhone 12 back to iOS 14 to see if it would work.

I can’t believe with 600,000ish ‘16 F150s out there, I am the only one having this issue. Any thoughts are appreciated.