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Iphone 4S and Bluetooth issues

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by Spuette, Nov 17, 2011.

  1. Spuette

    Spuette New Member

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    2011 Prius
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    My new IPhone 4s connects with my Bluetooth sporadically. Sometimes it works beautifully, and at other times it doesn't work at all. And, there are times when my BT shows it's working, yet my phone won't connect at all and I can't even get a dialtone. A screen comes up on my phone to choose from IPhone, Car Multimedia or Speaker...sometimes I can choose and sometimes the phone won't work at all. Anyone else have similar problems? I spoke with Verizon and they told me to call Apple. They said it could also be a problem with the Toyota software not being upgraded to the new IOS 5.
     
  2. JoelIrwin

    JoelIrwin New Member

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    Four
    Once or twice my iPhone 4 has not been connected as a bluetooth device. As it has been paired, I have merely gone to the car display and choose the iPhone and manually connected it and it has work. Most of the time it is recognized automatically. I have upgraded twice and am on iOs 5.0.1.

    Now if you get the three option screen, that means the iPhone recognizes the connection and you should be able to get a dial tone by making a call from your iPhone. Keep in mind though that for incoming calls, you need to answer from the steering wheel or the call will get answered by the iPhone speakers and not be heard on your car speakers.

    I tend to agree it is likely a Toyota issue but in my opinion it has nothing to do with iOs 5. As Toyota bluetooth support is essentially non-existant, your only option from the Toyota end is to try your phone in another Prius that has bluetooth to see if you get any different results. My guess is it will probably work better on a newer Prius (mine is an 11 I purchased in July) and if so that is a bummer because if that is the case, Toyota makes no provisions to fix or otherwise update things like Bluetooth.

    If you want to eliminate the phone itself as an issue (i.e., your physical phone versus the way all iPhone 4s's have implemented bluetooth), you can go to an Apple store and trade it / exchange it for another iPhone 4s - they will do so at no charge. I did that once earlier this year for my iPhone 4 when it turned off the backlight display every time I put it in the sun on my dash well before it overheated. Turned out that was a design feature and the next one did the same thing. Now I have the phone in a RAM-MOUNT placed next to that little window front left of the steering wheel (which gets very little sun) in front of the A/C vent - have never had a problem since.
     
  3. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    No issues here--I am on iOS 5.0.1.

    Try deleting the phone & music player profile from the car. Then pair phone first, then music player.
     
  4. ggood

    ggood Senior Member

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    FWIW, some people think it works better to pair the music player (car multimedia) first, though it should work either way. Also, by default, the Prius phone BT has a different password than the Prius audio BT. If you set the password to be the same for both, it may help.
     
  5. JMG

    JMG Junior Member

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    I have had two issues...both logical if a little annoying.
    1) The airplay on my TomTom dock takes over the multimedia/music connection if I remove the phone from the dock and then return it once it is paired and running. Resolution is simply to select airplay options under music and then the Prius connection...
    2) When both the Prius and BT headset are on, sometimes (and I say sometimes because I have yet to find a consistant path) the phone will switch from the Prius to the headset. Resolution has been simply to turn headset off when I get into the car. If I need it when I get somewhere to continue the call, I turn it on and then switch on the phone.

    BTW, this is fairly consistant between the 4 or so phones that are connected in my Prius. (My phone uses both BT connections, my wife the phone connections and my kids the multimedia connections.)

    - JMG
     
  6. mudman

    mudman Junior Member

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    Spuette, I have exactly the SAME problem.

    My iphone (4S with iOS 5.0.1) will make/receive a call on my 2011 Prius (III+Nav) bluetooth maybe 3/4 times, and then randomly the next call, both my phone and the Prius bluetooth system kinda hang ... I can see the the Prius has recognized the call, as the timer for the call starts counting seconds and minutes on the Navigation screen, but the red "hang up" button is greyed out on the Navigation screen. Then if I look at my iPhone 4S, it also shows that the call has started, but I can't hear the person calling and they can't hear me. In the sources, clicking on 'Car Multimedia' has no effect, clicking on the 'Speaker' has no effect, and clicking on 'iPhone' sometimes hangs the phone or puts the call on the iPhone speakers! (very strange). I have to reboot the phone (software reboot, which takes about 2-3 minutes), then re-connect to bluetooth on the Prius to get it working again. It then fails again after a few good calls. Very frustrating!!

    Please let me know if you have figured out a fix, or have had any progress with Apple - btw I think this is an Apple issue, likely has to do with their new 4S bluetooth chip or something (which they should be able to fix with a software update) because the same Prius and bluetooth system used to work flawlessly with my iPhone 3GS until I got the 4S phone.
     
  7. DJ2010

    DJ2010 New Member

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    III
    I have had my 2011 III Nav Pkg for one week and have used the bluetooth with my iPhone 4S many times without any problems. I have not set up the Audio BT connection yet however.
     
  8. WxMan80

    WxMan80 New Member

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    Anyone without the Navigation system, which also allows A2DP (audio BT streaming), I just purchased the Griffin Bluetrip device for $60 on amazon and it accomplishes A2DP very well. FYI... I'm using an iPhone 4S.

    -Cheers!
     
  9. Wallyf

    Wallyf Junior Member

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    2012 Prius v wagon
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    Five
    I successfully paired my iphone 4S and my 2012 Prius v, 5 w/o ATP. As soon as I select BT audio source, the music start playing. I wish I could start the playing myself.

    If the audio source is not the BT, usually the SAT, and I start a call, the phone works fine. But, when the call is complete, the BT audio starts and the iphone starts playing. Very annoying.

    Has anyone had this problem?

    Also, I was not aware that the phone BT pairing is a different process than the Audio BT pairing. Where is this mentioned?

    THANKS for any help. I have contacted both Toyota(Entune) and Apple support. They were of no help.

    Wallyf
     
  10. aggieastrosfan

    aggieastrosfan New Member

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    I found this thread while searching for an answer to the OP's problem, as I am having the same issue in my '11 Camry Hybrid. Ironic that I was led here, given I've lurked occasionally since getting my Camry for hybrid tips.

    I'm guessing no one ever found a resolution to the issue. It's gotten to the point that I reboot my phone as soon as it connects to my car's bluetooth so I can just get it out of the way. I've already disconnected and repaired multiple times. I've never had a problem with music, just calls. Don't recall having the issues on my 4 on iOS 5, either. Just the 4S. :(. Very annoying and frustrating!
     
  11. JoelIrwin

    JoelIrwin New Member

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    I'm not sure if I can help you since I have an 11 prius with iphone 4, but as we are co-located in Houston, if I can help you troubleshoot the problem, let me know. The toyota dealers here are almost worthless (as you already know). I got my car from Sterling McCall on the Southwest Freeway and if you want, I can see if they will allow you to check out the problem in a different Camry to see if its your Camary. Of course, as you know (which is has been my complaint since the beginning), if it turns out to be the same problem in both cars, Toyota won't fix it (and if they do it will only be for future cars). You may have a better outside chance with Apple - I would go to the Apple store with an appointment (I like First Colony better than the Galleria).
     
  12. Duckles McGee

    Duckles McGee Junior Member

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    I've experienced this issue as well, but I do not think it is the car's fault. It has happened in my 2011 Prius Three (w/ nav) but I've also had it where I was listening to pandora and took a call on a BT headset. If the call drops and the person redials and I answer again through the BT headset, I can hear both the person an the music. Weird and annoying, but I think it is an iPhone bug.
     
  13. EddieG

    EddieG Junior Member

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    Location:
    Ohio
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    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Same issue as OP with my 4S and a 2012 Prius Three. Bluetooth works more often than not... until it doesn't. For example I was using it, then made a stop, came back to the car 5-10 minutes later, and it the car couldn't find the phone and I would've had to pair it again. In the evening when I left work I was on the phone and when starting the car it picked up Bluetooth immediately. Sporadic problems that are "fixed" with no changes on my part.
     
  14. tach18k

    tach18k Member

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    I have a 2012 mdl II, I have a Verizon iPhone 4s, no issues with my std HU, no nav. I enabled blue tooth for the first time, the HU saw it and was making calls right away, it also plays music via the BT no problem, the HU will also shut down any audio and allow the phone to patch through. I cant help more than that. I can also see my contacts, dial from the screen.