USB seems to "disconnect" when playing music from flash drive

[GOZ_028]

Sorry if this is covered somewhere else. I have searched to no avail.
I use a flash drive for music and have had no problems until this week. Suddenly, the system seems to be unable to read the drive (I have tried 3 different drives).
it starts to play but within a minute or so, it cuts to FM radio and does not "see" the drive at all. if I shut the car off for a minute or so, it will do the same, play then switch to radio. Also got a message today, I was driving so didn't get it exact but basically "USB is charge only".
The USB is charging if I connect my phone.

Any info or suggestions much appreciated.
It is a '21 Premium awd er, not job 1.

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[kennelh]

Sorry if this is covered somewhere else. I have searched to no avail.
I use a flash drive for music and have had no problems until this week. Suddenly, the system seems to be unable to read the drive (I have tried 3 different drives).
it starts to play but within a minute or so, it cuts to FM radio and does not "see" the drive at all. if I shut the car off for a minute or so, it will do the same, play then switch to radio. Also got a message today, I was driving so didn't get it exact but basically "USB is charge only".
The USB is charging if I connect my phone.

Any info or suggestions much appreciated.
It is a '21 Premium awd er, not job 1.

2021 J1 here also. Been using a USB thumb drive almost exclusively for four years. Occasionally the system will complain it can't read the media but a unplug /replug usually fixes it. I did have one USB drive fail completely, but that was a write issue (the car coukd still read the thumb drive, I just couldn't write to it anymore).

So sorry, no suggestions, just wanted to let you know you're not the only one using USB media this way. Hope you figure this out, and let me know if I can help in any way.

 

[Bill T]

I'm having the same issue with my 2021 Mach E.

 

[stoopid]

If this was a computer with similar usb symptoms, I would say there's dirt in the port, the port is worn out (there's metal pins that can wear over time), or the controller chip (electronics) is dying/dead. One of these things you have control over (inspect/clean the port), the other two would require replacement of the USB port or the USB related electronics.

The only other option could be data corruption, but that would typically follow certain folders or files, not randomly stop accessing data. But it might be worth formatting the usb drive in your computer, copying some music back over fresh for testing, and see if the issue persists. If the car creates an index of the drive, it's also possible that index is corrupted. If that index file is stored on the thumb drive, formatting it will correct the issue when the car recreates the index. If this index is stored in the car's infotainment memory, then I don't know how exactly to fix. Formatting the usb drive might still fix this, if the car sees it as a 'new' device and re-indexes.

 

[MetalCord]

I've been using thumb drive media in Ford's for over a decade. They've stopped working for me many times. Sometimes after years of use, sometimes after months. Never really figured out a pattern but faster drives tend to remain stable for longer. My wife and I move around a lot and I believe lots of short trips that trigger extra reads/writes might contribute to problems earlier than if your commutes are long and steady. It seems the index can get corrupted and, as @stoopid smartly suggests, it's time to format the drive, put music back on it and let the car rebuild the index.

I can usually tell when it's going to start getting bad because voice searches start failing or the system more frequently tells me I can't use voice search because indexing is taking place even though nothing was added. I haven't personally had a USB port fail yet but im sure others have and I hope that's not the issue for you.

 

[GOZ_028]

If this was a computer with similar usb symptoms, I would say there's dirt in the port, the port is worn out (there's metal pins that can wear over time), or the controller chip (electronics) is dying/dead. One of these things you have control over (inspect/clean the port), the other two would require replacement of the USB port or the USB related electronics.

The only other option could be data corruption, but that would typically follow certain folders or files, not randomly stop accessing data. But it might be worth formatting the usb drive in your computer, copying some music back over fresh for testing, and see if the issue persists. If the car creates an index of the drive, it's also possible that index is corrupted. If that index file is stored on the thumb drive, formatting it will correct the issue when the car recreates the index. If this index is stored in the car's infotainment memory, then I don't know how exactly to fix. Formatting the usb drive might still fix this, if the car sees it as a 'new' device and re-indexes.

Appreciate the response.
I did clean the port. no affect. It will not read drive at all now.
As I said, I tried 3 drives total.
so, I plug thumb drive into computer and it is non existent. I check the other 2 drives, same. It seems that the system is frying the thumb drives. I tried a 4th that was older and unimportant to me, same result, it is fried, not accessible at all now.

Perhaps time for warranty claim, I do have the extended.

 

[dawger007]

My 2 cents =
The size of the thumb drive seems to matter also , 8,16 gigs are okay ,64 usually okay and anything more seems to confuse the "USB Software Drivers" .Because when you insert your drive , the software reads the drive , and makes a record, and from this is the index of information it uses.Don't know how old the drivers are [factory installed stuff] and vintage. I have tried with 2 different [seceding] ford vehicles and have found that 64 gig seems like the biggest that the Ford vehicle will get along with[for music] anything bigger - like 128 or 250 gig that's the system time to read and usually gets confused and stumbles and often quits working. I would try as 1 member sugessted - copy your music off your drive , onto your computer - so you don't lose it] then format your thumb drive in exFat format and reinstall your music files [Ford radio likes "mp3" music files] and that should work , only other thing is size of your drive [I have Windows computer , and Android phone, if you have iSO , then good luck - because I don't know them]

 

[MetalCord]

Appreciate the response.
I did clean the port. no affect. It will not read drive at all now.
As I said, I tried 3 drives total.
so, I plug thumb drive into computer and it is non existent. I check the other 2 drives, same. It seems that the system is frying the thumb drives. I tried a 4th that was older and unimportant to me, same result, it is fried, not accessible at all now.

Perhaps time for warranty claim, I do have the extended.

Well damn! That's a new one. Let us know what the dealer finds. I think it goes without saying that you should not connect your phone to that port!

 

[dawger007]

Appreciate the response.
I did clean the port. no affect. It will not read drive at all now.
As I said, I tried 3 drives total.
so, I plug thumb drive into computer and it is non existent. I check the other 2 drives, same. It seems that the system is frying the thumb drives. I tried a 4th that was older and unimportant to me, same result, it is fried, not accessible at all now.

Perhaps time for warranty claim, I do have the extended.

sounds like a good plan - warranty claim , they probably have answers!!!
Good luck

 

[GOZ_028]

Not my pic, but this is the message it gave me the last time it went to radio (and no usb has worked since.

Already going to take to dealer, just saw this and thought I would complete what actually happened.

 

[stoopid]

Appreciate the response.
I did clean the port. no affect. It will not read drive at all now.
As I said, I tried 3 drives total.
so, I plug thumb drive into computer and it is non existent. I check the other 2 drives, same. It seems that the system is frying the thumb drives. I tried a 4th that was older and unimportant to me, same result, it is fried, not accessible at all now.

Perhaps time for warranty claim, I do have the extended.

If you're feeling frisky and/or want to practice some self hate, plug your phone into the usb port and see what happens. ?

 

[stoopid]

... I think it goes without saying that you should not connect your phone to that port!

Jinx, I just read this reply.

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