iPhone iOS 9 and now 4s handsfree not working with Ford Sync

[ron1004]

My trusty old iPhone 4s has been working in my car using the Sync handsfree, until the last iOS update.

A few days ago I updated my iPhone 4s to iOS 9.0 and since then I cannot use my 2010 Ford Fusion's handsfree calling.

I can use the steering wheel buttons to initiate a call and then as the call is established the cars display shows "In Privacy" and the off-the-hook icon shows "Text", and no sound in the car - after a while I found that I can then take the phone out my pocket and continue the call.

I've tried un-pairing, master reset of Sync, and updated the Sync software, and still cannot get the handsfree to work.

The only thing I can think of now is to Jailbreak my phone and revert back to an earlier iOS version, but I'm not too familiar with that.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

[GrumpyTrucker]

Firstly, think yourself lucky that you're in the US and can actually update your Sync software. Last I checked, here the Ford dealers pretty much deny it can even be updated and you've no chance of downloading your own update to USB

As for reverting, did you back up your phone through iTunes first? It's supposed to be quite easy to revert back to your old OS if you did that. No jailbreak needed.

 

[hlfway2anywhere]

The only thing I can think of now is to Jailbreak my phone and revert back to an earlier iOS version, but I'm not too familiar with that.

You don't need to jailbreak to go back to the current version of iOS. You just need to put the phone in DFU mode and restore it through iTunes. You will not be able to use your iOS 9 backups though.

 

[ron1004]

I tried restoring to a Sept 2014 backup that I had, but no change, still on iOS 9.0 and still not working with my cars Sync.

This is really annoying, .... I make and receive a few business calls a day while commuting to and from work, and would never do this without handsfree, ..... that in itself is a distraction.

I tried pairing it with my wife's Samsung Galaxy and it works flawlessly, so I'll struggle with this for a day or two and then look at getting myself a Samsung.

 

[ron1004]

You don't need to jailbreak to go back to the current version of iOS. You just need to put the phone in DFU mode and restore it through iTunes. You will not be able to use your iOS 9 backups though.

I'll give that a try.

I know how to get it into DFU mode, but will need to figure out how to get it to restore from the Sept 2014 backup.

Edit: Tried that and got the below prompt.


Are you sure you want to restore the iPhone “iPhone” to its factory settings? All of your media and other data will be erased, and the newest version of the iPhone software will be installed.

 

[dhlizard]

My iPhone 6+ with iOS 9 PB (newest) works as it always has with MFT/Sync, no issues at all.

 

[hlfway2anywhere]

I'll give that a try.

I know how to get it into DFU mode, but will need to figure out how to get it to restore from the Sept 2014 backup.

Edit: Tried that and got the below prompt.


Are you sure you want to restore the iPhone “iPhone” to its factory settings? All of your media and other data will be erased, and the newest version of the iPhone software will be installed.

The newest version of the iPhone software is 8.4.1 -- is that not what you want?

 

[ron1004]

You don't need to jailbreak to go back to the current version of iOS. You just need to put the phone in DFU mode and restore it through iTunes. You will not be able to use your iOS 9 backups though.

I went ahead and restored from DFU Mode with iTunes and it set me back to iOS 8.4.1 and now my phone works with my Ford Fusion Sync.

I was a little despondent and pisssed with Apple and considered getting a new phone, ..... a Samsung, but can save that money now.

 

[ron1004]

My iPhone 6+ with iOS 9 PB (newest) works as it always has with MFT/Sync, no issues at all.

Having just reverted back to iOS 8 and immediately Sync worked again, shows that the iOS 9 has some bugs that manifest themselves on certain models.

 

[ron1004]

The newest version of the iPhone software is 8.4.1 -- is that not what you want?

I assumed the newest version was 9, but realise now that iTunes still uses ver 8 - that's what threw me off.

Thanks for your help.