Syncing audio in volvo

Question

I recently purchased a 2012 Volvo XC60.  When attempting to control and play music through the USB connection and the iPod function on the audio system, my iPhone 4S (version 5.1) continually switches the audio output to bluetooth.  That results in me still seeing the display for the music but losing the audio.  I can go to the music app on my iPhone and see that the audio output has been switched from 'dock connector' to 'My Volvo Car' and change it back to dock connector, restoring the audio but it only lasts for about 30 seconds until the phone overrides the setting and switches audio back to bluetooth.
I have tried every sequence to avoid this as far as connecting my iPhone via USB only after the bluetooth connection is already established, starting the vehicle with my iPhone already connected and phone off at the time of start up and everything in between that you could imagine to no avail.  I understand that there is a 'last connection wins' configuration with the iPhone but this does not make any sense as my audio connection is not maintained through USB even when I make that connection after establishing bluetooth connectivity.  To make matters more bizarre, my wife's iPhone 4 does not have the same issue as I experience with the 4S.  We are both running the most current operating system software.  Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

BC1107,
   I am still searching for an answer.  I have received the tech notes from Volvo and tried every potential sequence of connecting the devices and even manually changing the output on the iPhone but to no avail.  I have copied in the Volvo tech notes on the issue below.  As I mentioned, this is still not helping my situation.  I found one post suggesting that I have my Sensus software updated by the dealer.  My vehicle is less than two months old but I am going to give that a try since it is basically my last resort at this point.  I am just waiting for either Volvo or Apple to break down and fix this with an upcoming version release.  It is insane to me that Volvo points the finger at Apple as if there product should not be designed to work with the most popular phone on the market.  Good luck and keep me posted.
DESCRIPTION:
Statement: The iPhone is using a media connection strategy called "last connection wins". In short this means that the media connection that is established last is the preferred connection.
With the previous statement in mind, when a customer has connected (paired) an iPhone to the Sensus system and is using the bluetooth hands free function, it is natural for the iPhone to use the bluetooth streaming function also, as there already is a bluetooth connection to the car.
But if the customer wants to listen to music or audio books and at the same time recharge the iPhone, the customer can connect the iPhone to the USB connector in the vehicle with a Dock Connector to USB cable (USB connection is not available in cars with audio system Base performance). Depending on connection sequence, the iPhone will behave in different ways.
Essentially everything comes down to when the USB cable is connected to the USB connector in the vehicle, before or after the hands free connection has been established.
NOTE: When connecting the iPhone to the vehicle USB connector the music player in the iPhone is not accessible. The music menu is only accessible through the iPod function in the vehicle HMI (Human Machine Interface).
Symptom 1.
If the customer has the iPod function selected in the Sensus system when the ignition is turned off and connects the iPhone before the ignition is switched on, the iPhone will switch from dock connector to bluetooth streaming when the hands free connection is established. This may be perceived, by the customer, as "the sound disappears" and "no sound can be heard from the speakers after start up". The information regarding song, artist and track time can still be seen in the ICM display.
Explanation symptom 1.
What actually happens is that the iPhone has switched to bluetooth streaming when it establishes the hands free connection to the vehicle. In these cases the customer must select the preferred output manually according to Connection sequence 1 below. When this is done the sound will return. Or the customer could also in this case choose to switch to Bluetooth steaming by pushing the Media button repeatedly or by pushing the Media button and then turning the Tune knob and then selecting OK for Bluetooth. When switching to bluetooth streaming function the music could be in pause mode. For reference see TJ25640_Output.pdf, picture 9. By pushing the On/Off button to mute and then again to un mute the music will continue playing, but now through bluetooth streaming.
Symptom 2.
If the customer has the Bluetooth streaming function selected in the Sensus system when the ignition is turned off it will be selected again when the ignition is switched on.
If the customer connects the iPhone through USB cable after the hands free connection has been established, the iPhone will switch from bluetooth streaming to Dock Connector when the USB connection is established. This may be perceived, by the customer, as "the sound disappears" and "no sound can be heard from the speakers". The information regarding song, artist and track time may still be seen in the ICM display.
Explanation symptom 2.
What actually happens is that the iPhone has switched output to Dock Connector when it establishes the USB connection to the vehicle. In these cases the customer must select the preferred output according to Connection sequence 2 below. When this is done the sound will return. The customer could in this case also choose to switch to the iPod function by pushing the Media button repeatedly or by pushing the Media button and then turning the Tune knob and then selecting OK for iPod. The music will continue playing, but now through the iPod function.
Connection sequence 1.
If the customer connects the iPhone via USB cable, before ignition on, the preferred sound output will be bluetooth streaming. This is because the USB connection is established much faster than the bluetooth connection. The hands free function will be established after the USB connection and this makes the bluetooth connection the last connection and also the preferred connection.
What function should be used in the vehicle?
If the customer always connects the iPhone in this sequence the customer should select the Bluetooth function in the vehicle. For reference see document TJ25640_Output.pdf, picture 7.
If the customer wants to use the iPod function in the vehicle, the customer has to manually change the preferred output on the iPhone by touching the Airplay icon on the iPhone and selecting Dock Connector in the displayed pop-up. For reference see document TJ25640_Output.pdf, picture 1-3 to see how its done.
Connection sequence 2.
If the customer connects the iPhone via USB cable, after ignition on, and after the hands free connection has been established the preferred sound output will be the Dock Connection.
What Function should be used in the vehicle?
If the customer always connects the iPhone in this sequence the customer should select the iPod function in the vehicle. For reference see document TJ25640_Output.pdf, picture 8.
If the customer wants to use the bluetooth streaming function in the vehicle, the customer has to manually change the preferred output on the iPhone by touching the Airplay icon on the iPhone and selecting My Volvo Car in the displayed pop-up. For reference see document TJ25640_Output.pdf, picture 4-6 to see how its done.
Connection sequence 3
If the customer connects the iPhone via USB cable, after ignition on, but before the hands free connection has been established the preferred sound output will be the bluetooth streaming. This is because the USB connection is established before the hands free function and this makes the bluetooth connection the last connection and also the preferred connection.
What Function should be used in the vehicle?
If the customer always connects the iPhone in this sequence the customer should select the Bluetooth function in the vehicle. For reference see document TJ25640_Output.pdf, picture 7.
If the customer wants to use the iPod function in the vehicle, the customer has to manually change the preferred output on the iPhone by touching the Airplay icon on the iPhone and selecting Dock Connector in the displayed pop-up. For reference see document TJ25640_Output.pdf, picture 1-3 to see how its done.
NOTE: The Bluetooth hands free function is not affected by a connected iPhone to the USB connection in the vehicle. The hands free function uses a different profile to connect to the vehicle therefore it will work independently of the function used for music/audio books.
PRODUCT MODIFICATION:
There will be no product modification from Volvo as the function depends on connection sequence and the iPhone connection strategy.
MATERIAL RETURN:
N/A
VEHICLE REPORT:
N/A
SERVICE:
Explain the iPhone connection strategy and the connection sequences 1 - 3 above to the customer. The attachment, TJ25640_Output.pdf, and the text between the lines regarding Connection sequence 1-3 could also be printed and given to the customer for further reference.
VSTG OPERATION NUMBER:
N/A