Let's quit playing the finger pointing game Ford.  Just fix the issue already and quit giving your customers the run around.  No offense, but if you can't support the technology you put into your vehicles, then you should reconsider your stance on selling it to us.

Update - The testing is still ongoing in order to validate the root cause of the recent USB disconnect concerns. The tips that you have provided have been reviewed, and with the help of the engineering team, here is the preferred order to troubleshoot some of the USB inoperative concerns mentioned here:
 
- Reset/reboot the Apple device
- Re-sync the device to your PC using iTunes. Preferably add or delete content in order to trigger a full index by SYNC when returning to your vehicle.
- Delete SYNC from the Bluetooth menu of the device.
- In the vehicle, perform a Master Reset through the SYNC menu (see SYNC Owner Guide Supplement for instructions. Note - All Bluetooth devices will be deleted from SYNC)
- Re-pair and connect the phone to SYNC. Once that is complete, attach USB cable and allow indexing to finish before using your device.
- If the USB port becomes inoperative repeatedly, a power reset of the SYNC module, which can be done by removing the fuse associated with SYNC for 3 minutes and reinserting, will restore it. NOTE - Please see your owner guide for instructions, the fuse may be called out as MGM or APIM in the owner guide.

Thank you for your continued patience as we diagnose the various intermittent concerns that some of you are experiencing, and we hope to get more information to you soon.

Mike

Mike's procedure worked for me.
2010 Ford Escape, latest version of Sync:

- Upgraded iPhone to iOS4
- Removed "Sync" from Bluetooth profiles in iPhone
- Performed Master reset in Sync.
- Bluetooth pairing and all Bluetooth functions worked fine.
- Connected USB.  Initially, Sync detected the new USB started to index , but kept reporting "USB Removed" (tried 3 times)
- Performed fuse pull for 3 minutes and re-inserted fuse.
- Tried USB again.  Worked fine.

All USB and Bluetooth functions now work as before.  Same old issues with Bluetooth Audio Streaming starting automatically, but basically, I am back to the same functionality as before, but now with iOS4. 

I am happy I upgraded, and very happy I read all the posts here first.  I encourage everyone to follow this process.  It has worked for many people here.

Suggestion to Sync Team:  Sometimes adding music (several albums worth or as little as 1 song), does not force a re-index, and everything is scrambled.  Songs have wrong titles, artists, etc.  Would be nice to have a "Re-Index" command to force Sync to re-index when this happens.

Ray

I have a similar issue with my 30gig  iPod Touch in version 3.5. so I updated it to 4.0 but it did not resolve the issue.  My issue began after upgrading Sync to the newest version that supports 911 assist and Vehicle health report back in early March.    All worked great with iPod 3.5 in the previous version of Sync.  In a chat session on the Sync Owner Center, the support rep suggested the upgrade to iPod v.4.  This only shortened the initial setup and indexing time (30 min for about 5K of songs from endless indexing).  I was initially hopeful when it did display all my songs in the library.  I turned the vehicle off for 2 min and turned it back on and the the library held.  Turned it off again and came back to it 30 min later and the library was gone and it began to index again.  Side note, I did a Master Reset before re-connecting the iPod after installing v.4.  To me, this whole business seems to point to Microsoft/Ford programming functions and not Apple and yet Ford keeps pushing me back to Apple.  Doesn't seem right with this level of vehicle...to lose function that I used frequently everyday.  There are certainly safety concerns with selecting songs while driving.  Last week I was almost head-on'd by a 16 year old playing with her iPod.  Please, anyone have any ideas on how to address this issue and get some resolve?

There seem to be many of the same issues regarding iPhone users but there are not any posts under the media player section.   Since the iPod touch is essentially an iPhone without a cell chip I have to feel my issues are the same.  For the record: MY PROBLEMS ONLY BEGAN WHEN I UPDATED MY SYNC TO VERSION 2.1.  To add insult to injury, I paid the dealership to do it!  I have say I am appalled that this issue has gone unresolved for so long with so many users.  Can't help but wonder how many others that don't read blogs are out there endangering others by trying to operate there iPod while driving.  This is basic, essential functionality to an expensive option.  It was one of the deciding factors in my reasoning to purchase the most expensive F150 that ford sells.  Voice selection of music is a key selling point in all of Ford's Sync advertising.   As I mentioned in my other post, last week I was driving on a two lane highway and had a 16 year old going 60 mph come accross the center line.  After avoiding her oncoming vehicle by putting my truck in the ditch, I turned around and caught up with her.  Asked her what she was doing and she told me she was playing with her iPod.  The incident has made me accutely aware of how important hands free operating systems like Sync are to the safety of us all.  I think the Sync team and Ford needs to understand this as well.  

I tried again today, shutting the phone off (holding the two buttons and powering off) and then turning the car on wiht the iphone cable plugged in and letting it turn the iphone worked for some reason.  It indexed again and is now playing.

 

Now if they could stop the bluetooth music streaming from starting by itself I could live with it :)

Nothing was working for me....until I followed Mike's instructions to a T... had to (reluctantly) pull the fuse for Sync x 3 min. Said a little prayer and held my breath....and IT WORKS ... Bluetooth audio is streaming again

I tried this procedure and am still having troubles.  I updated to Sync 1.3 and tried again, but had the same issues.  I'd try updating to Sync 2.1 at the dealer today, but they told me the "Sync website was down."  Really? 

I can plug in the iphone and watch it begin to index.  As it indexes, a message on the iphone says that this accessory wasn't meant to work.  I have to "Dismiss" the warning.  After a few seconds, the screen says USB Removed.  I tried the fuse trick.  Same thing every time.

I'll try again tomorrow when I don't want to drive my car off a cliff.  This reminds me of having to call Dell about 10 years ago.  What's the point?

Mike: 

     Part of the problem with the laundry list of fixing the compatibility issue is that we are not software experts, and somehow, allegedly, Microsoft and Apple are.  Here is my list of problems:

1.  Every time I get in my car, and plug in my iPhone, it is a five minute freeze before I can get close to the "Data Connect" screen on the iPod button.  This "freeze" situation applies to trying to make a call while hooked up to the USB port,

2.  I often have to try, and re-try, to connect to my music.

3.  In-coming calls are dropped from Bluetooth upon answering.

4.  Re-indexing is constant.

5.  Error messages alleging "Bad Media" or "No Media Available" appear. 

My suggestion would be to not wait to fix everything, Fix two or three, then come out in six months after more testing, and fix the next three problems.  While you are testing, we are fuming.

I believe there are more posts to this issue than any other.  What I haven't seen yet, is the bad press you will receive when the technology sites like CNET start sniffing around this issue worth the wait?

John

Well I take my last post back, USB worked for a while with a 3GS/OS 4 and now its not charging again or nothing else works through the USB port again, pulling the fuse to reset on a 2010 Mustang is a PITA so I'm done trying.

I officially give up, the bluetooth phone works fine and I'll use an ipod charger if I need to.

I bought a 16gb USB memery stick and put all my ipod music on there with a short USB extension cable and I'll just leave it in the car, plus with the USB drive plugged in Sync wont start streaming the iphone by itself and kill the battery any more.  Killed two birds with one stone for $32.00.