Ford (Microsoft) Sync and iPhone 3.0 Bluetooth - how do I disable it?

The issue is actually a combination of Ford/Microsoft SYNC and Apple iPhone (iOS 3+).

When the car is started, Ford Sync will start the last media mode it was in before the vehicle was turned off. If this was Media > Bluetooth device, then it will automatically connect the A2DP profile over Bluetooth to the iPhone. The iPhone is then programmed to automatically start playing something (either random, or continue where left off) from the iPod library. If the last media mode was Media > USB, and you have not yet connected the USB cable, Sync will detect that USB is not available and default to the next setting, which (depending on Sync version and variant) is ... Bluetooth ... and alas - it will connect the A2DP profile and the iPhone will start playing. If you manage to connect the USB cable before starting the vehicle this should not happen as the USB is now available.
If your last media profile was Media > Radio > Sirius (or FM, or AM), then this mode will always be available and thus Sync will not switch to Bluetooth manually. This is also true for Media > Line-In which explains why the suggestion of switching to Line-In will "solve" the problem.

The basic two components of the problem are thus:
a) [FORD's problem] If the last media mode before the vehicle is turned off is Bluetooth or USB, and the USB cable is not connected before starting the vehicle again, Ford SYNC will switch to Bluetooth mode, which will activate the A2DP (Bluetooth Stereo) profile over bluetooth to the iPhone.
b) [APPLE's problem] When A2DP is activate over Bluetooth, the iPhone automatically starts playing.

There are several ways to solve this problem, depending on what you think is the true problem:
1) Apple changes so that it does not start Autoplaying when A2DP is activated (or at least makes this an option).
2) Apple allows the user to disable A2DP profile either system wide or per paired device.
3) Ford automatically sends a "Pause" command when connecting A2DP. This can also be a user-selectable setting (Bluetooth Autoplay on/off)
4) Ford allows the user to disable the A2DP profile either system wide or per paired device.
5) Ford does not activate either USB or Bluetooth automatically if the current media device is no longer available.

Any of these solutions would solve the problem.

Note 1
There are many variations of this problem reported by previous users, mainly due to problems when USB and/or bluetooth is suddenly disconnected. While the sudden disconnections is separate problems, this will still cause the Sync system to go to the next available media device which can trigger this failure as well.

Note 2
iOS 4.1 (released Sept 8, 2010) supports the AVRCP profile which allows a Bluetooth device to browse media and select specific songs. This would allow the Ford Sync to use voice commands even for Bluetooth media devices, but unfortunately Ford Sync does not seem to support this profile yet. This might also solve the problem above.

You are mistaken. Ford Sync has been supporting AVRCP since 2008. Apple just caught up to Ford.

I have the same exact problem. Have a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and an iPhone 3GS with the latest software update. Every time I get in my car mi iPhone's iPod starts streaming music to my Bluetooth audio system -- even if I am listening to Sirius. I just engaged with a support person on www.syncmyride.com via text chat and they told me the only fix is to pause the music on the iPhone. They said there is a "glitch" between Sync and the iPhone. They did not know when there would be a fix.

This is a huge problem. Apple and Microsoft: please fix it!

I took the advice of several people here and it worked. I set the AUX sync audio source to "line in" and my iPod no longer starts playing every time I get in the car.

I can confirm that workaround of setting media to "LINE IN" really does work.

However, rather than navigating the menus, you can change the media source by voice.

To set to line in, press Voice button on steering wheel. When it is listening, say "LINE IN".

When you are in the mood again for some bluetooth audio streaming form your iPhone, say the voice command "BLUETOOTH AUDIO" instead.

Here is my issue...

I have an iphone that I leave bluetooth on for calls. I used to have all of my music on a USB thumb drive connected to USB and the two worked fine...USB always played when getting in the car. I now have an older iPod Classic 60GB that I leave permanently in the car and hooked up. I can be playing a track when I stop the car and turn off and the next time I get in, bluetooth audio MIGHT connect. Usually, USB (iPod Classic) picks up from where it left off but once in ten, sync connect to Bluetooth Audio instead. I never use Bluetooth Audio for music since I have a permanent solution installed and I have more control (Playlists, etc).

At the same time I made the change of USB stick to iPod, I upgraded the Sync firmware but don't think this was the issue, rather more of the move to iPod.

Any thoughts on how to prevent Bluetooth Audio from ever connecting but leaving Bluetooth on for phone usage?

Thanks

It seems like it's best to change to satellite or radio when exiting the car. The trouble gets worse when you switch back and forth from usb to bluetooth in media. The worst problem for me is sometimes phone calls have no sound until rebooting phone (can't even hear in phone at that point), and also sometimes usb connection has no sound till a unplug and plug back in usb. And now I have no Library using bluetooth, only in USB. Oh, and there is the random disconnect of bluetooth phone. Apple needs to come up with a car system to replace sync.

Lincoln 2011 MKZ Hybrid with iphone 4. By the way, have no such problems in Toyotas bluetooth phone/nav system.

same problem, lets make sure this threat doesn't die.

fusion 2010 w/ iphone 4

I have an iPhone 4 and a brand new 2011 Fusion. Every day or two the the Bluetooth audio disconnects and I can't get it to come back. Sometimes a fresh pairing does the trick, but it doesn't always work. Grrrr.

I'm having the same issue as Russell in my 2011 Escape. Things were working fine for about a month, and I haven't updated either the iPhone or the Ford Sync system. Bluetooth Audio sometimes works briefly after deleting and re-pairing the devices, but always stops eventually. Controls haven't worked at all since it started acting funny, ie... even if I re-pair the devices, the play/pause button (which used to work just fine) doesn't do anything even if there's audio.

Confusingly, the phone side of things pairs and works just fine-- but I'll still get the "no supported devices" message when I try to switch to bluetooth audio even if I've just made a phone call. What gives?

This won't solve your problem permanently but it will show you how to work around it with a minimum of trouble. This works for me every time.

As far as I can see, the phone/audio conflict happens when the phone is already connected by USB and then subsequently connects by bluetooth. To make it work, the phone has to connect by bluetooth first and then subsequently by USB. So here's the procedure.

1. Start the car with the phone unplugged.
2. As soon as you see the little bluetooth light come on, showing that the phone is connected, you can go to the next step. Hit the voice button and say "USB." It will say something like, "No device found," and switch to Line In.
3. Plug in the USB plug on the phone.
4. Say the "USB" command again. This time it will work. From then on, for the rest of your trip, you can switch between audio inputs, take phone calls, etc., and it will still work.

In general, just make sure the car is on, the bluetooth is connected, and the car knows no USB device is present before the first time you plug in the phone. If you do this wrong, you'll see the iPhone but get no audio. No need to switch off your car or anything like that; just go around again. If you're already set to USB and it's not playing right, just unplug, wait a second, re-plug, and switch back to USB.

I'm driving a 2011 Ford Escape with Sync.

--Joe Pride

Maybe if you turn the bluetooth function off in the IPhone settings.
I think the IPhone was a great electronic communications device. I use it for my work on the road. Emailing , viewing PDF attachments. Using Excel order forms. Not to mention finding the nearest Starbucks.
But it really ***** as a phone. Drops calls in areas where my Blackberry and Razr never did.
Gave up on using ANY bluetooth device with it. Have to use speakerphone or earbuds. Oh I can hear fine, but nobody can understand me when I'm on bluetooth.
My suggestion, get a vehicle with Onstar.

Since I obviously cannot say the IPhone really ***** as a phone. I guess I'll have to say, The IPhone really, (To draw (liquid) into the mouth by movements of the tongue and lips that create suction), as a phone.

Any word on this? I'm still having this problem on my 2010 Flex and iPhone 4. Its really frustrating and it gets worse if you try a more complex function like trying to play a podcast.