Ford Bluetooth music skipping tracks with Jellybean

[pomvr]

We've got the exact same problem with a Motorola Droid RAZR M running JellyBean and a new 2013 Ford Escape with Sync/MyFord Touch. Both Pandora and Slacker apps skip tracks every 12 seconds until the number of skips is exhausted. After that, the skip requests continue, but a popup shows up every 12 seconds that states that no more skips are remaining. I had initially contacted Slacker support for help, and they recommended uninstalling/reinstalling, which fixed it for a single car ride. Once we started the car back up and the phone reconnected, the skipping continued. Has anyone found a solution, or is there a definitive root cause that's being tracked in a ticket/bug somewhere? It sounds like it might be an issue with the JellyBean update that was pushed out for the Droid RAZR series phones, based on some of the comments on this thread.

 

[mike.s]

There was an update for Rhapsody that just came out and the problem seems to have been solved, at least with Rhapsody. I need to do some more testing, but I played Rhapsody via bluetooth in my F150 today for about half an hour and it played perfectly. I need to test Pandora.

 

[pomvr]

@mike.s - Let us know how Pandora performs. One thing I've noticed is that after an application reinstall, the first session will work fine, and the problem will then surface again once the phone re-establishes a connection to the Sync system. I opened a ticket with both Slacker and Pandora support, and I've gotten a little further with Slacker support - their developers are analyzing my log dump that I sent to them. I also did a master reset of the Sync/MyFord Touch system, which again fixed the problem for a single session. Once we got back in the car, the problem returned. There is a Ford Sync update to version 3.5.1 that is available for some vehicles, but not ours yet (2013 Escape with MyFord Touch and Navigation). I have yet to reach Ford Sync support, which doesn't allow logging issues online from what I can tell. I'd have to send an email to generic Ford support email. I've tried to reach Sync support at 877-945-3648, but have yet to get through. For what it's worth, the skipping problem also showed up on Slacker for my Blackberry Bold 9930, so I'm thinking that there is something odd/unique about the bluetooth stack in the latest Sync systems that can be dealt with on the client side.

 

[mike.s]

I tried some Pandora today and NO SKIPPING. I don't know if the Rhapsody update somehow fixed Pandora too or what but all I know is that it all seems to be working for me right now. I hope it lasts.

 

[mike.s]

Looks like I celebrated too early. The skipping problem came back again today for Pandora and Rhapsody.

 

[TuringLock]

This is not a Ford Sync issue.

1. Motorola Droid HD & Droid HD MAXX both worked properly with the same car and Ford Sync version PRIOR to the Jellybean update.

2. Other phones running Jellybean work fine in the same car and Ford Sync version.

Therefore, the problem is specific to the Motorola Jellybean update, most likely due to a bug in their proprietary bluetooth stack or Verizon mandated crapware.

Do NOT blame Ford or Sync. To do so is simply irrational and it blurs the issue, allowing Motorola and Verizon to attempt avoiding blame.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2

 

[TuringLock]

That is irrational.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2

 

[pomvr]

@TuringLock - I had ruled out Ford Sync as the root cause until the exact same issue started occurring on my Blackberry Bold 9300 with Slacker. Also, after less than a month, the bluetooth functionality in our 2013 Escape completely went down (couldn't pair phones, "Connecting..." text frozen on screen, couldn't remove entries for previously paired devices, Sync would broadcast itself as some really long string with "Apollo board" in the name instead of "Sync" and eventually stopped being discovered). After a master reset of Sync bluetooth functionality was restored, although the skipping issue with Slacker/Pandora continued. Pointing to the JellyBean update from Verizon makes sense, as the problem manifests itself across multiple apps, and the three of us that have reported the issue on this thread all have Motorola Droid phones on Verizon running that JellyBean update. That said, the fact that I've now seen this problem on a completely different phone/platform leads to other theories. I'm hoping that I hear something back from Slacker support to at least provide a hint as to where the bug is getting triggered. I'd be happy to pile onto Verizon support as well to finally get resolution. My incident that I opened with Slacker support is 121222-000193 if anyone wants to make some noise there. Pandora didn't provide me with a ticket number - I just got an email from a "listener advocate" that recommended reinstalling Pandora. If you've got a ticket number for Verizon, send it my way and I'll refer to it when I call so we won't be considered isolated incidents. Thanks.

 

[mike.s]

I talked to Verizon and Motorola tech support. Neither had heard of the problem or had any suggestions except to do a factory reset. I really don't want to do that and have to re-install all my apps.

 

[Mitalis]

I have the Droid Razr Maxx HD and I have mine paired w/ my 2012 Ford Focus. My phone is running Jelly Bean 4.1.1 and I've had ZERO issues with tracks skipping listening to music through Google Music. I have noticed on occasion a 1-2 second drop in audio, (not drop in bluetooth) but that only seems to happen when I listen to a particular podcast using Doggcatcher. I'm pretty sure that dropout is due to crappy recording on the podcast.

 

[pomvr]

@Mitalis - Can you try Pandora and/or Slacker? Note that typically we've seen the first session work fine, then reconnecting the phone and running the app a second time introduces the skipping problem. Also, do you know which version of Sync you've got? I'm running Sync VersionGen2 - V3.2.2

 

[Horr1bleK1tten]

Jellybean has a known issue with streaming music over blue tooth and Google says it'll be fixed in the next version of android.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Mitalis]

@Mitalis - Can you try Pandora and/or Slacker? Note that typically we've seen the first session work fine, then reconnecting the phone and running the app a second time introduces the skipping problem. Also, do you know which version of Sync you've got? I'm running Sync VersionGen2 - V3.2.2

Yeah I'll try out Pandora & Slacker radio on my commute to & from work tomorrow & get to you on this.

 

[TehMark]

If you have MyFord Touch like I do in my 2012 focus then I feel your pain. I too have an issue with track skipping involving spotify, bluetooth, and an iphone in this case. My issue started after an update to MyFord Touch.

 

[pomvr]

When I checked http://www.syncmyride.com/Own/Modules/UpdateCenter/UpdateCenterLanding.aspx yesterday, I noticed that version 3.5.1 of Sync is now available for our car. There was a delay in the availability for MyFord Touch w/ Navigation due to the incompatibility with the Nav system that the Sync update to 3.5.1 introduces. We had to order a new SD card for our Navigation system, but that arrived in less than a day, so I'll be running the upgrade tonight. I'll post my findings after the upgrade and a few stop/start cycles with the vehicle and the Pandora/Slacker apps.

 

[mike.s]

I just ordered my SD card for my Ford update as well. Should be receiving on Monday. I hope it fixes the problem.

 

[ct1211]

To everyone, the latest update to My Ford Touch is a major upgrade to the Sync system and it has fixed my music skipping issues that appeared after the JB update. I had to have mine done at the dealer and it included a new SD Nav card. The Sync system works better relatively speaking. It is still as slow an laggy as ever.

 

[pomvr]

I installed the upgrade of Ford Sync from 3.2.2 to 3.5.1 this weekend, and although the sync update section of syncmyride.com claimed I needed a new SD card, my upgrade path did not. The SD card I received in the mail was identical to the one I already had. Additionally, the 10-step instructions for installing do not match the experience for those upgrading from 3.2.2. My system displayed that it was installing 3 cab files, completed, and did not reboot. It just popped up a message that the installation was complete, and then went back to the home screen. I used the Sync status checker tool to get a dump of my Sync installations, and noticed that on the USB stick, there is an XML file that gets written with the installation data. That data is then deleted when you run the web-based status check on syncmyride.com. It definitely claims I'm upgraded to 3.5.1. I ran several diagnostic sessions with our Droid RAZR M, and I can't reproduce the track skipping problem anymore. I'm going to continue to run some further tests with Pandora and Slacker to see if I can resurface the problem.

 

[Bob61]

I found after the Ford sync update while tracks play fine the tracks playing no longer is displayed. Everything else works fine and haven't found reason the now playing isnt displayed. I have this issue from stock player, power amp app, slacker and Pandora. I have MFT without nav. Update was done my Ford.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2

 

[PowrDroid]

I found after the Ford sync update while tracks play fine the tracks playing no longer is displayed. Everything else works fine and haven't found reason the now playing isnt displayed. I have this issue from stock player, power amp app, slacker and Pandora. I have MFT without nav. Update was done my Ford.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2

Interesting....I presume the songs have MP3 tags and you've pressed the "Text" button on the radio?