iPhone 3gs won't charge in car

[BrokenVert]

Whenever I plug my iPhone into my iPod dock I get a messagethat says "this acessory doesn't allow charging" I don't understand why. Is this just a thing?

[luv135i]

My 3GS used to to charge all the time but now that I loaded the 4.0 OS on my 3GS it only charges when it wants to...Probably 50/50

[radorotrex]

My 3GS also charges only when it wants to and I'm running the last version of the OS.

[BrokenVert]

I just plugged it into my car and it charged and went into accessory mode. I hate how tempermental thethings I buy are

[kioneo]

Check with your dealership for the new y cable (part number ending in 812). It fixed my issue and now my 3GS charges. However, test the cable as even the new part has the old part number stamped on the plastic housing.

[MadisonOne]

I also have the 3GS with the new ios4. I've been having spotty charging AND times that music won't play from the iPhone even with the title showing up on the display (non idrive).

Anyone else have audio problems now after upgraded the iPhone OS?

[BSM 335I]

Same thing here with the BMW cord. Though you can charge it still using the OEM Apple cord, it just won't sync with your radio but you can still connect via AUX for audio.

[vwown3d]

I tried two of the BMW ipod adapters. One charged my 3gs and one told me it cannot. weird...... they both work fine on my other ipods and play music off the phone, just charging is weird.

[CineNate35]

Hi there!

I had a lot of issues with my iPods and my 128i, and I took it to the dealer last week and got a NEW iPod cable (under warranty). It solved my issues with flakey iPod connections and freezes. As for the charging. Apple changed the devices from 12v to 5v for the iPods and iPhones. So you need an adapter like this one for it to charge properly. Sometimes the iPhone or iPod will appear to charge, but what the real deal is, it is not using anymore power than the power adapter is providing, so it doesn't drain it. That is typically what you see when it looks to be charging. That is my explanation as an Apple Service Technician lol

[BSM 335I]

Originally Posted by CineNate35

Hi there!

I had a lot of issues with my iPods and my 128i, and I took it to the dealer last week and got a NEW iPod cable (under warranty). It solved my issues with flakey iPod connections and freezes. As for the charging. Apple changed the devices from 12v to 5v for the iPods and iPhones. So you need an adapter like this one for it to charge properly. Sometimes the iPhone or iPod will appear to charge, but what the real deal is, it is not using anymore power than the power adapter is providing, so it doesn't drain it. That is typically what you see when it looks to be charging. That is my explanation as an Apple Service Technician lol

So when my 3GS shows the charging symbol it really isn't charging? Even thought it goes from %15 battery life to %100 and stays charged all day? All this through the OEM apple cable btw.

[CineNate35]

No, yours is actually charging if that is the case. Mine was holding a charge sometimes, but once the car went off, it drained and died. Some accessories that are not compatible with the voltage change will appear to charge, but won't actually. You will get the symbol and it wont give you any errors.

To test that out, let the device die so that it won't boot and gives the battery dead error. If you plug it into the car and it comes up and dies and refuses to come up, the voltage is wrong on the USB port. If it works that it is 5v capable.

According to some docs i've read, it looks like a software update can solve the issue (on BMW's side). But who knows. Apple is good at redirecting blame to the other guys. I know for a fact my 2008 128i will NOT charge a 3GS (OS 3, or 4), but a newer 5 Series will...not sure if it's the cars software or not, but I think it is. Typically a USB port is regulated from the BUS its connected to, there is always a device that regulates it. The USB protocol is a serial connection so its a direct connection from device to host to controller. I THINK all the software needs to do is tell that controller that it supports 5v USB. It SHOULD be that simple. A simple software voltage adjustment.

Also the cable does not matter for charging, BUT, BMW has circuitry on its adapter cable that can affect the connection to the cars port, so, if the cable has something wrong with its circuitry, the connection may not work properly. Im not sure exactly what is on the cable, but I know my "defective" BMW cable would not charge ANYTHING while my Apple cable would charge all of my 12v iPod's and none of the 5v models.(but not provide the BMW interface to the radio).

From what I got at the dealer, there are some older cables (same part number) that can cause issues. Even if its fresh from the dealer. It can be old stock.

What a mess lol.

[brad t]

I was having the 50/50 charging problem with my 3GS and the OS4 update. My iPhone 4 came in last week and charges every time. I think its something with the 3GS phone.

[timhatimay]

I have the 3GS with 4.0 OS, and I just experienced this issue the other day. I had charged my iPhone and used the y-cable a few times before and never had a problem. This time I tried and it said this is not an iPhone accessory and charging is not supported. I usually use my iPod and I have a separate charger anyways, but its frustrating if I want to use it in the car at some point.

Tim

[CineNate35]

This is what its like trying to get help on these issues.

Apple Store "Genius": I'm not sure, you should ask BMW. However I think the new iPhone 4 will solve your issue, sign here.

BMW Dealer: Im not sure, you should ask Apple, but this new 2012 model has the new iPod out that works with the iPhone 4. You should get the new car and the new phone.

It really stinks, no one owns up to these issues.

The next time I see my friend that has the iPhone 4 I will see how it works with the car. I tried my iPhone with multiple versions on the OS and none charged the phone (3GS).

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted by CineNate35

Hi there!

I had a lot of issues with my iPods and my 128i, and I took it to the dealer last week and got a NEW iPod cable (under warranty). It solved my issues with flakey iPod connections and freezes. As for the charging. Apple changed the devices from 12v to 5v for the iPods and iPhones. So you need an adapter like this one for it to charge properly. Sometimes the iPhone or iPod will appear to charge, but what the real deal is, it is not using anymore power than the power adapter is providing, so it doesn't drain it. That is typically what you see when it looks to be charging. That is my explanation as an Apple Service Technician lol

I HIGHLY doubt that this is the case.

USB connectivity by design is a 5V system. The iphone and ipod use 5V because they utilize a single Li-ion cell which at full charge is 4.2V, so given an electronics loss, needs 5V to fully charge.

First off, there is no guarantee that any USB cable, which should plug to the USB slot in the car, is insulated properly for 12V versus 5. Second, the fact that the car uses USB symbols, the exact USB slot/connector, etc. means that it needs to fall inline with the USB standard - BMW isnt going to stick a 12V connection in a USB plug where all devices are expecting 5V. You would have significant battery fires and lots of deaths if that was the case.

Flaky connection/cabling/logic is the issue. Hope the 11 doesnt have it... I have 4.0.1 on my 3GS. Will report tomorrow.

[CineNate35]

The iPod charger outputs 12v (through a USB cable), the reason it outputs 12v is because some iPod's require 12v. A USB cable can handle much more voltage than you would think. Lookup the cable gauge and you'll see.

If BMW was was going to work with Apple to get a popular accessory in their cars, they would do whatever it takes. They want to sell cars, and if thats what sells cars, they will do it.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2537?viewlocale=en_us

[CineNate35]

Although, it COULD be that BMW uses the model identifier to identify the device in their software. Each iPod has an identifier that tells iTunes what the model it is when it connects (it is how palm was tricking iTunes into thinking the Pre was an iPod). If the identifier isn't recognized it could be using a default one which may have incorrect charging specifications, or incorrect communication protocols. Each iPod series is different in a lot of ways that you don't see, and thats why software applications use the identifiers, so they know how to handle it properly when it connects. If that is the issue, its BMW's drivers for the device that need updating (or fixing).

[luv135i]

The 3GS issue for me is with OS 4.0. I never had any charging problems before that and I have the newest BMW cable.

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted by CineNate35

The iPod charger outputs 12v (through a USB cable), the reason it outputs 12v is because some iPod's require 12v. A USB cable can handle much more voltage than you would think. Lookup the cable gauge and you'll see.

If BMW was was going to work with Apple to get a popular accessory in their cars, they would do whatever it takes. They want to sell cars, and if thats what sells cars, they will do it.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2537?viewlocale=en_us

That is a 2008 document from something else. The iphone/ipod device set is a 5V system because it uses a single li-ion cell. This is a 4V cell, you charge with 5V. If it takes 12VDC, it is because there is some conversion in there that drops it to 5V. The innards do not natively take 12V. If there is a voltage regulator on a pin that will take 12V (from say, firewire connectivity), that is one thing, but these are 5V systems.

The charging bus on the iPhone did change between the original iPhone and the 3G. The 3G and other products (touch, nano, etc) from that era onward, AFAIK, do not support 12V charging, either via 12VDC in a car (requiring special adapters with stepdown transformers) or via Firewire. The original iPhone does support those things.

I still HIGHLY doubt that the USB port in the BMW puts out 12V, when the USB spec is 5V.

[JHZR2]

Note this little thing... The older ipod/iphone devices charged either over a pin for 12V (that was then adjusted to 5 internally) or directly by 5V. For devices which put out the 12V, you can use a converter to take it to the right voltage and send it to the right pin...

http://indashpc.org/new/accessories/charger-3gcr.html

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted by CineNate35

Lookup the cable gauge and you'll see.

Gauge has to do with ampacity (current) not voltage.

The electrons flow on the skin of the conductor, so a higher gauge wire will have more surface, and thus handle more current without excessive heating.

Voltage has to do with isolation/insulation.

[timhatimay]

Originally Posted by JHZR2

Gauge has to do with ampacity (current) not voltage.

The electrons flow on the skin of the conductor, so a higher gauge wire will have more surface, and thus handle more current without excessive heating.

Voltage has to do with isolation/insulation.

Agree with most of your statement (current is related to the gauge), except skin effect is not really an issue with DC. Also, lower gauge wire is thicker (#10 is thicker and has higher current carrying capabilities than #12).

As a side note, I noticed my problem after my update to 4.0. The internal battery and hardware did not change, so I don't think its an issue of which voltage is used to charge the battery, but this is only speculation. It seems more software related to me. I also didn't use my phone with the y-cable much before, so its harder to say if this always existed.

Tim