Problem using the USB port - Subaru Outback

Teejay · 01-22-2010, 04:58 PM

Hope someone can help me. When I try to use the USB port the screen comes up but I get a Check USB device message. The dealer has no clue and neither does Subaru Customer Service. I called Kenwood but they we're no help either. I'm downloading WMA files to a flash drive that is formatted in FAT32. I've even had our local computer guru try but no luck. Does anyone have any answer or has anyone else had this problem?

entarget · 01-22-2010, 07:20 PM

How big is the flash drive? It will only handle up to a certain size due to the unit having to download the entire file list prior to playing anything. Have you tried another drive?

eps105 · 01-22-2010, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Teejay
Hope someone can help me. When I try to use the USB port the screen comes up but I get a Check USB device message. The dealer has no clue and neither does Subaru Customer Service. I called Kenwood but they we're no help either. I'm downloading WMA files to a flash drive that is formatted in FAT32. I've even had our local computer guru try but no luck. Does anyone have any answer or has anyone else had this problem?

Agree that trying a different USB stick will narrow down if it's a USB drive problem or Subaru problem.

Also, make sure your WMA files are in a compliant format. Subaru manual recommends 128 kbps fixed bit rate. If you're doing something exotic like lossless or a high bit rate, it might not take it. Try using a sample MP3 file on your PC rather than your own ripped files to see if that works.

Also, try reformatting the USB stick; it could be corrupt.

FYI, I have successfully used a 8 GB USB stick with no problems, also FAT32. I did not see an upper limit listed in the manual. It just needs to be mass storage compliant, which in theory means you could even plug in a USB hard drive and it should work.

Let us know how it works out.

entarget · 01-22-2010, 11:10 PM

One other thing you may want to look at is the software that came on the USB drive. Some drives emulate a second drive when plugged into the computer. By formating the drive itself it gets rid of that software and leaves it open at the root of the drive.

Teejay · 01-23-2010, 11:00 AM

Thanks for the replys. It's a 4GB and I'm going to re-format it. I think that may be the problem as it is acting like another hard drive. I'll post how it turns out.

Teejay · 01-23-2010, 01:21 PM

I formatted it to FAT32 and loaded up a bunch of tunes. It finally plays OK but it only plays 1 folder out of 18 and I can't get it to change folders. At least I know it works now but I'm not sure it's worth all the screwing around with it. I'm starting to wish I had stuck with my Garmin and not gotten the Nav system.

ProfessorMC · 01-23-2010, 01:59 PM

I tried the flash for MP3's but it's lame that it forgets where you left off and always starts at song 1. I made several mixed MP3 CD's for the 6 disc changer and I think it works better since it remembers where you left off. Each CD is a mix for a mood or a genre. 150-200 songs fit per disc so it is about 9 hours of music per CD.

oceanruss · 01-23-2010, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Teejay
I formatted it to FAT32 and loaded up a bunch of tunes. It finally plays OK but it only plays 1 folder out of 18 and I can't get it to change folders. At least I know it works now but I'm not sure it's worth all the screwing around with it. I'm starting to wish I had stuck with my Garmin and not gotten the Nav system.

Unless its an iPod the USB connection will only play the songs in the order that they were loaded into the device and the system doesn't remember the last song played when you turn the car off.

stompbox · 01-23-2010, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by oceanruss

Unless its an iPod the USB connection will only play the songs in the order that they were loaded into the device and the system doesn't remember the last song played when you turn the car off.

So does it go to the first song on the whole USB or the first song in the folder you left off at?

Teejay · 01-24-2010, 10:44 AM

I haven't gotten that far yet. According to the manual you can change folders by using the plus and minus symbols on the display. I have to try that and see if it works. I originally thought they changed songs within a folder.

01-22-2010, 04:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
Teejay Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Meadville, Pa Car: 2010 Outback Limited. Our third Outback. There are now 9 Subarus in our family. Posts: 10 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Problem using the USB port Hope someone can help me. When I try to use the USB port the screen comes up but I get a Check USB device message. The dealer has no clue and neither does Subaru Customer Service. I called Kenwood but they we're no help either. I'm downloading WMA files to a flash drive that is formatted in FAT32. I've even had our local computer guru try but no luck. Does anyone have any answer or has anyone else had this problem?

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01-22-2010, 07:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
entarget Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Birmingham, AL Car: 2010 Outback 2.5i Prem. Posts: 32 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	How big is the flash drive? It will only handle up to a certain size due to the unit having to download the entire file list prior to playing anything. Have you tried another drive?

01-22-2010, 11:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
entarget Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Birmingham, AL Car: 2010 Outback 2.5i Prem. Posts: 32 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	One other thing you may want to look at is the software that came on the USB drive. Some drives emulate a second drive when plugged into the computer. By formating the drive itself it gets rid of that software and leaves it open at the root of the drive.

01-23-2010, 11:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
Teejay Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Meadville, Pa Car: 2010 Outback Limited. Our third Outback. There are now 9 Subarus in our family. Posts: 10 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Thanks for the replys. It's a 4GB and I'm going to re-format it. I think that may be the problem as it is acting like another hard drive. I'll post how it turns out.

01-23-2010, 01:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
Teejay Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Meadville, Pa Car: 2010 Outback Limited. Our third Outback. There are now 9 Subarus in our family. Posts: 10 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I formatted it to FAT32 and loaded up a bunch of tunes. It finally plays OK but it only plays 1 folder out of 18 and I can't get it to change folders. At least I know it works now but I'm not sure it's worth all the screwing around with it. I'm starting to wish I had stuck with my Garmin and not gotten the Nav system.

01-23-2010, 01:59 PM	#7 (permalink)
ProfessorMC Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Phoenix, AZ Car: 2010 Outback 3.6R Posts: 49 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I tried the flash for MP3's but it's lame that it forgets where you left off and always starts at song 1. I made several mixed MP3 CD's for the 6 disc changer and I think it works better since it remembers where you left off. Each CD is a mix for a mood or a genre. 150-200 songs fit per disc so it is about 9 hours of music per CD.

01-24-2010, 10:44 AM	#10 (permalink)
Teejay Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Meadville, Pa Car: 2010 Outback Limited. Our third Outback. There are now 9 Subarus in our family. Posts: 10 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I haven't gotten that far yet. According to the manual you can change folders by using the plus and minus symbols on the display. I have to try that and see if it works. I originally thought they changed songs within a folder.

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