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Ford Explorer - My Ford Touch issues

60 messages,  Last post on Feb 26, 2013 at 6:33 PM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Explorer, Ford Explorer Sport, Ford Explorer Sport Trac, Entertainment System, SUV

    

Messages Page 7 of 7

#58 of 60 Re: 2012 Explorer Limited ( limited in many ways) [missmelnj1981] by rob052067

Feb 18, 2013 (10:52 pm)

Replying to: missmelnj1981 (Feb 03, 2013 4:18 pm)
My parents have a 2013 Edge. I'm pleased to confirm that the latest software update to MyFordTouch has resolved cell phone road noise problem!

#59 of 60 Just normal for a Microsoft system by cageordie

Feb 25, 2013 (6:08 pm)

A Windows ME system that is. In the last year I have driven four Ford Edges, an Explorer and a Mustang GT, so I've spent a lot of time with these systems.
 
Let's start with the worst, ignoring the tacky non-functional body kit and the 1980s automatic transmission the Mustang was OK, the engine was brilliant. The MyFord Touch was a disaster. We were listening to a book on my iPod, three times it decided I didn't have an iPod and chose some random other thing to play. The system reset on several occasions and sometimes wouldn't connect to Bluetooth or USB. Sometimes it also forgot about the satellite radio. We actually pulled over on I93 in NH to switch off the car and restart the 'entertainment'.
 
The later Edges and Explorer were better but shared common faults. The random disconnects and failures to recognize Bluetooth and USB were still present. The next thing we noticed and I don't remember noticing it on the Mustang, was the difference of opinion between the dash and the touch screen. The dash would deny I had a phone or iPod while the main display showed that I was streaming audio from my phone. How can you not be entertained by this late 90s behavior. Now if they fitted the Mustang gearbox to the Explorer it would be easy to think you were back in the past.
 
The most irritating thing is the slow startup. I have been an embedded systems engineer since the early 80s, I have done a variety of military and civil jobs. I have never had a project that took a second to start. In embedded software a second is a lifetime, in aircraft control systems if you can't restart in 1/50th of a second then you can't do the job. Each time I started the Explorer I'd poke and poke at the screen waiting for it to decide it was alive, the display was on already, then it would issue a startled group of beeps and apply all those ignored button presses. This really isn't good enough. Then there was the "did it find anything interesting" lottery, would I be listening to the real BBC world service on my phone or the fake one on satellite (the rest of the world gets much wider programming) or something from the iPod?
 
I could always get round the system eventually, except that once we had to pull over in the Mustang. But this really really isn't good enough.
 
I stopped using the bluetooth in the Explorer because of the wind noise problems. Nobody could understand me. But as far as that is concerned the Edges all appeared to be OK, it was only an Explorer issue for me.
 
The voice commands were worse than useless. Last week Jeremy CLarkson drove a Shelby Mustang with this calamity of a system and ended up yelling "will you shut up" at it. I think that was about the level of success I had too. I could not get it to voice dial anything, no method worked.
 
This system is garbage at present, somewhere there are a bunch of self satisfied little idiots who think they did an acceptable job. What planet are you people on? You need to spend a few hours in one of your own cars.
 
I must admit I know one of the Germans who did the BMW iDrive CCC system (after they ditched their Microsoft based version 1 - are you listening Ford?) and it was a bit opaque to use at first, but it came up fast and was reliable the one time I used it on a 5 series in 2004 or so. That uses VxWorks, the same operating system used on things like spy satellites, space probes, the Mars Rovers, commercial aircraft and bombs... all things that absolutely have to work. They switched to CIC which is based on another realtime operating system, QNX, in about 2008. I liked the Audi MMI too and can't ever remember having any problems with the Infiniti system, that just works.
 
PLEASE FORD, do something about this garbage!

#60 of 60 Apple 4s and GPS in ford sync explorer limited 2011 by kmccann1

Feb 26, 2013 (6:33 pm)

I have been having issues with my gps when my 4s is connected via Bluetooth to the system. As soon as the phone is connected the GPS jams up, will not move as I drive, clock can eventually be off by a few hours as well. Ford said nothing was wrong with my gps after they did an update in October. I got in my vehicle, phone connected, GPS put me on Michigan way and us route 12. I live in sc and the map was in Michigan! Then they don't believe me that the GPS is not working, I brought it up for yet anothe update to find out I already had it, so more time wasted. Essentially can not use phone via Bluetooth and use navigation at the same time!! This sucks!! System gets touchy and blacks out, does system maint frequently too. Dealer told me it had to be an app on the phone, oh and I forgot to mention that I got another 4s and it was DOING THE SAME CRAP, so I removed apps...still did the same stuff...finally got pissed enough to call ford customer service and still got No help from amber I believe her name was, she was useless....I had apple on the phone trying to help and no one at ford could help since this chick was angling my case ad was no where to be found, another hour wasted, then when she emailed she stated that she would not be speaking with apple! So I finally blow up at the dealer, they take my car for a week and my phone for two days, they replicated the issues, replaced the apim, supposedly had an 4s that they were testing it with and everything worked. I get in it, doesn't work right off the bat, so I am on The phone with apple again...my phone is wiped, took otter box off as that was the only variable and still jamming up the system....I just did a master reset and will disconnect the battery too, but I am spent on trying to figure out if it is MY phone (have had two now). Very disappointed with ford, their customer service and EXCUSES, they really need to figure this out or I will not be leasing from them again. Why am I trying to fix this anyway? Shouldn't OC welch be doing this and making me a happy client?

Messages Page 7 of 7

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