1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

iPhone 3G Compatibility Problem Log

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by boulder_bum, Jul 21, 2008.

Page 1 of 2
  1. boulder_bum

    boulder_bum Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2007
    1,371
    38
    0
    Location:
    Castle Rock, CO
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    I thought it would be nice to catalog all the issues people are having related to iPhone 3G, the Prius, and accessories you'd use in the Prius so that people can know what to be aware of and avoid (and I also want to get to the bottom of why my Bluetooth doesn't work with my Prius).

    Here's the paid I've experienced so far, and my car stats which might serve to identify aspects of the problem.

    1. The built-in Bluetooth produces an echo I can hear, and the person on the other end is always complaining that I'm breaking up.

    My relevant car stats...
    Year: 2007
    Bluetooth: Yes
    GPS: Yes
    Audio Jack: Yes
    Tinted windows: ceramic (supposively)

    2. This Belkin charger flat out doesn't work and produces an incompatibility warning when you try to use it.
    Belkin : Auto Kit for iPod w/ Dock Connector

    3. This Griffen iPhone charger from the Apple Store works to charge the phone, but causes static when you're both charging and listening to the iPhone through the audio jack.
    Apple Store (U.S.) - Griffin Powerjolt Car Charger for iPod/iPhone

    Anyone else have helpful heads-ups to post?
     
    #1 boulder_bum, Jul 21, 2008
  2. Manksgloob

    Manksgloob Member

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    243
    13
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    This thread is a good idea. We should get more for more/other devices.

    As for this item that you mentioned,
    I advise taking a look at this other thread: http://priuschat.com/forums/toyota-prius-service-bulletins-tsbs/46700-noise-aux-port-06-08-a.html
    It is a known problem and Toyota has a "fix" that is covered under the 3/36k warranty.
     
    #2 Manksgloob, Jul 21, 2008
  3. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2004
    3,790
    152
    0
    Location:
    Park View, Los Angeles, CA. U.S.A
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    my non Iphone echoes... it's a prius problem, not a phone problem.

    there is a way to access the blue tooth phone echo on the 04 and 05's... but i don't know how to use it.
     
    #3 V8Cobrakid, Jul 21, 2008
  4. Devil's Advocate

    Devil's Advocate Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2005
    922
    13
    1
    Location:
    Las Vegas, Nevada
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    All non-iphone, but ipod, products register the non-compatibility warning. Ignore it. Some of the static may be the fact that the iPhone itself is continuously communicating with the network and does so in a way that cause tremendous static. Such as popping and clicking.

    I've had the original iPhone since it came out and have updated the software and experience these things but overall good phone experience.
     
    #4 Devil's Advocate, Jul 21, 2008
  5. bctoboston

    bctoboston Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2008
    14
    0
    0
    Location:
    Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    I have a Belkin car charger/FM tuner for ipod that gives me the incompatibility message as well with iphone3G. I ignored it and it works just fine with the 3G and the bluetooth... good luck!
     
    #5 bctoboston, Jul 21, 2008
  6. jabecker

    jabecker driver of Prii since 2005

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2005
    448
    78
    1
    Location:
    Portland, Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I have a 2005 Prius with B/T & GPS.

    The iPhone 3G pairs with the car with no problems.

    When I make a call with the handsfree, about 90% of the time I first hear a noise like an air-horn blast before the phone is dialed. About 5% of the time, I hear what sounds like a fax machine after the air-horn blast and the call is dropped.

    When I receive a call, I must answer it via the iPhone and then transfer it to the handsfree. If I attempt to answer via handsfree, the caller gets a busy or no-network signal and the call is terminated.

    I have unpaired and deleted (both car & phone) and repaired countless times. I've reset the phone. I've restored the phone to get the latest firmware. I've taken one phone back and gotten a replacement. Nothing has helped.
     
    #6 jabecker, Jul 23, 2008
  7. boulder_bum

    boulder_bum Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2007
    1,371
    38
    0
    Location:
    Castle Rock, CO
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    I've had four other Bluetooth phones that worked with the Prius no problem.

    The problem is that my charger has an aux-out built into it that connects to the aux jack and that capability doesn't work with the iPhone 3G. I'm hoping someone comes out with a similar adapter that works with the new iPhone.
     
    #7 boulder_bum, Jul 24, 2008
  8. boulder_bum

    boulder_bum Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2007
    1,371
    38
    0
    Location:
    Castle Rock, CO
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    #8 boulder_bum, Jul 24, 2008
  9. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,073
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    I have a Sony Ericcson phone that works with no echo problems at all, so it's not a universal problem.

    Tom
     
    #9 qbee42, Jul 24, 2008
  10. clynn

    clynn New Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2008
    8
    1
    0
    Location:
    Phoenix, Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    My iphone syncs with bluetooth in prius no problem. But i have an echo and poor speaker sound regardless of what phone i hook up to the prius.
     
    #10 clynn, Jul 25, 2008
  11. esiegel

    esiegel New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2008
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    New York
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Hello, all:

    I have had a prius for a couple of years, and the bluetooth hands free worked great with my treo 700...made my car a moving office for better or worse.

    With the 3g, my bluetooth connection keeps dropping, so I will get an "bluetooth connection unsuccessful message." When that happens I have to re-register the phone or it will never work as handsfree again.

    Its the one thing that is really bugging me about the 3g so far, though the lack of speed or voice dialing makes it a bit dangerous for the car.

    E
     
    #11 esiegel, Jul 27, 2008
  12. boulder_bum

    boulder_bum Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2007
    1,371
    38
    0
    Location:
    Castle Rock, CO
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    So, get this, we took the car all the way to the far-away dealership (who are a bunch of disorganized/unethical boobs most of the time) and they said that the TSB didn't apply and there was a different, newer fix.

    It's a little frustrating that they had us wait for the TSB part to come in only to tell us we'd have to wait again for the real part, but as long as they fix it correctly I won't get too worked up.

    Anyway, if the dealer service folks are right, that TSB might be a little out-of-date.
     
    #12 boulder_bum, Jul 28, 2008
  13. A strolling player

    A strolling player Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2007
    33
    3
    0
    Location:
    New Orleans, Louisiana
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    I work in a Toyota service department. I showed the technicians the TSB on Friday and am waiting on my parts. Sounds like your dealer was wrong? I guess I'll know for sure Tuesday.
     
    #13 A strolling player, Jul 28, 2008
  14. boulder_bum

    boulder_bum Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2007
    1,371
    38
    0
    Location:
    Castle Rock, CO
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    You know, that really wouldn't surprise me. The dealership I'm working with (Go Toyota Arapahoe, in Englewood, CO) has proven incompetant on just about every aspect of Prius knowledge/sale/service.

    Seriously, let me know the outcome of your repair.
     
    #14 boulder_bum, Jul 28, 2008
  15. A strolling player

    A strolling player Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2007
    33
    3
    0
    Location:
    New Orleans, Louisiana
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    The parts are on backorder, ugh. I'll let you know how well it works when they actually come in, though!
     
    #15 A strolling player, Jul 30, 2008
  16. Wildkow

    Wildkow New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2006
    5,270
    37
    36
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    I do not believe the iPhone 3G Bluetooth is capable of passing data. From my research all you can do is use it as handsfree and only in mono. Therefore, no sync with Prius and transfer of contacts, phone no's etc. I could be wrong.

    Wildkow
     
    #16 Wildkow, Jul 30, 2008
  17. lininjim

    lininjim New Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2004
    10
    0
    0
    Location:
    England
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    I have a 2004 UK Prius T-Spirit with B/T & GPS.

    The iPhone 3G 16GB pairs with the car with no problems.

    When I make a call with the handsfree, 100% of the time I first hear a noise like an air-horn blast before the phone is dialed.

    However my wife has an iPhone 3G 8GB and this does not make that noise.
    I think I'll get my phone exchanged.
     
    #17 lininjim, Jul 30, 2008
  18. skizznott

    skizznott New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2008
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    Sunny Southern California
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    I have the iPhone 3G 16GB and have no issues with air-horn noises. You may need to take the phone in and have it looked at, but then I am also in a 2008 US Prius.

    I do notice an occasional echo and of course the area I am in the majority of the time does not have 3G towers in place. Reception is better though even on the EDGE network than it was on Verizon (Thank GOD)
     
    #18 skizznott, Jul 30, 2008
  19. boulder_bum

    boulder_bum Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2007
    1,371
    38
    0
    Location:
    Castle Rock, CO
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    I believe you're right, though I don't think any of my phones synced well with the Prius. It's not something I really mind, however. I usually like calling people via speed dial on the Prius (which I already have programmed) or the voice/contacts interfaces of the phones which I think tend to be easier to use than the Prius'.

    My problem is that I can't make calls without them constantly breaking up and echoing. If the Bluetooth worked well just for calls, I'd be set!

    You may want to hold off for a week. Apparently Apple is releasing a firmware update in about a week that others with car Bluetooth problems have indicated should take care of some problems.
     
    #19 boulder_bum, Jul 30, 2008
  20. GeekEV

    GeekEV Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2006
    417
    14
    0
    Location:
    NorCal, USA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Nope. It's the accessory (or Apple, depending on your perspective) that's at fault here. It seems the line-out on the 3G has changed and older accessories no longer work. The fix you're referring to only fixes noisy line-out problems.

    Both the original iPhone and the iPhone 3G are capable of passing your contacts via the PHONEBOOK profile of bluetooth (and works great with other cars). Problem is, the *Prius* doesn't support the PHONEBOOK profile, only the OBJECT PUSH profile (which the iPhone does not). Kind of a bummer, I wish Apple had supported both. Of course, it'd be nice if the Prius were up to par with the Bluetooth spec too.

    I've had both an original and a iPhone 3G with no such issues. Sounds like some sort of strange incompatability, possibly with a defective circuit on one side or the other?
     
    #20 GeekEV, Jul 30, 2008
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 2