iPod in Ford Focus gives no sound

I'm on a roll but this is the last entry - probably for months!

Earlier this week I went to see a retired chap in Alford who had a brand new Ford Focus and an iPod that wouldn't get along. The Focus has a USB port into which the standard iPod wire connects giving the head unit control of the iPod. So far so good but no sound.

The customer had taken it to the Ford dealer (NOT THE ONE IN MABLETHORPE I HASTEN TO ADD!) who didn't seem to know much about it but tried the iPod in a couple of new cars with the same results and declared the iPod was probably at fault.

With this knowledge I arrived armed with my iPhone and my cable but it behaved just as the customers had suggesting it was either the car or we were missing something simple. The something simple turned out to be Fords special cable pictured above - available from your dealer (if they have heard of it) or from eBay at around £20 (just type in ford ipod cable).

I hope this post helps somebody as well as illustrating the wide array of challanges my customers like to set me!