Ford Fiesta, 62 plate, 2012, 1.2 - USB Audio question?

[Ivanastycough]

Hello All,

I have just purchased a second hand Fiesta, great little car. However, the built in USB port will not read or charge a phone. It connects then disconnects continuously.... some Googling reveals, it may need an update. I looked around and there is only the guide on updating the bluetooth version - https://digiex.net/threads/ford-audio-bluetooth-usb-firmware-update-november-2012-release-how-to-update.14009/ I tried this to be sure and the car will not read the files. No matter how many USB sticks I try. Also my car does not have any bluetooth or Ford sync. Just a lonely USB port and AUX.

Any ideas or pearls of wisdom? I understand USB voltages have changed since 2012... but surely it should read the phone as an input. I should mention it reads normal USB sticks with audio on.

Thank you in advance.

[unofix]

10 minutes ago, Ivanastycough said:

Also my car does not have any Bluetooth or Ford sync. Just a lonely USB port and AUX

Your 2012 Fiesta most probably does not support mobile phone use. It was an option on some models.

[Ivanastycough]

I thought that as well. However, the owner said it used to work with his older iPhones. So it played the audio through the usb. He said about 2 years ago his new phone stopped doing it. So that was my reasoning for a possible firmware update option... with newer phones requirements changing etc.

[STP975]

On my 2014 Fiesta ST, the USB socket will weakly charge the Android phone, and works with a USB stick to play MP3 files but it can't communicate with the phone over the USB. 

The voltages have not changed at all, always been 5v for USB, but the data speeds supported do go up as the years go by. I believe the Apple devices such as an iPod or iPhone can be controlled by the USB using a Media interface that's built in to them, but Android phones don't work like that. iPods can act like a USB stick when required. Maybe the newer Apple devices no longer support this, no idea as I've always had Samsung phones.

Best plan is to put a 3.5mm male to male jack lead into the phone's headphone socket and then to the aux jack in the car, then select Aux on the Sony stereo and you will be able to speak to Google, play music etc. and even take calls if you set the phone to "auto-answer" in the car "when a headphone or headset is connected". Just sit the phone in the little pocket where the sockets are. Job done.

Hope this helps. Not sure if you have an Android phone, or a newer iPhone? There are also radio linked BT units that plug into the power socket / cig lighter, and transmit to the radio on 108 FM so you can stream music and calls to those. Lots on amazon.

[Ivanastycough]

STP975 - Amazing reply thank you very much. I will get one of those FM transmitters as they as come on leaps and bounds. Have a good day!