iPod connection problems

I have the same problem. My iPod classic does not shut down when I turn the car off. Hopefully someone has some thoughts on this as it is aggravating to have to unplug and plug each time you use the iPod to prevent battery drain.

 

I'm a new Prius IV owner of only 3 days. I know this is redundant but I am having the same issues as many other posters. (I've read all the posts in hopes of a solution). My previous gen. IPod Nano will work fine sometimes, but without rhyme or reason, often when I return to start the car it will not work. The USB tab will be highlighted and say ipod, and my ipod has the white screen saying accessory connected and its charging, but I get no music/ipod options. I've tried unplugging the ipod, holding down the ipods reset buttons, and a few other things. No Luck. The only sure way I've found to get it going again is to run back in the house and reconnect it to my computer for a moment then eject it. (Lame, I know) It always works then, but what happens when I'm out with no computer for a jumpstart?!?

I am very frustrated by this. In my last car I had an aftermarket USB stereo installed at BestBuy that worked flawlessly and I have become accustomed to only driving with music from my ipod. I do not want to use the AUX port.

Has anyone found a solution? Toyota really needs to solve this issue. Maybe if enough people write/call in, they won't ignore this, as it is a huge inconvenience and major flaw in an already overpriced interface.

 

I have 2010 Prius III and the only way that I have gotten the ipod to reconnect after it failed to be recognized when I started the car was to turn the car off and back on. I have had good success with it be recognized with the second start. This doesn't make any sense why this would make any difference, but I have notice more success with this than reconnecting the ipod or resetting the ipod.

Thanks to everyone on the forum for all the help with my new Prius.

 

The NAV screen lets you do all this while driving yet they disable the NAV part?

 

I just bought a 2010 this weekend and I have the exact same problem. Did you ever find a fix?

 

Like many others that have posted here, I am having the "same issue" of the iPod NOT being initially recognized when connected to the USB Port. My 5th Gen iPod v1.3 will most of the time be recognized by using the procedure ricopsuedo reports above; turn the Hybrid "off" and then "on" a second time after the initial try fails and then the iPod becomes recognized. My Hybrid is the 2010 Camry Hybrid with Nav which seems to have the same issue for Prius as is posted throughout this thread.
It is difficult to isolate the cause of this issue.

 

What I have found that works is if I plug the ipod in after turning the car on. I unplug before I turn the car off and plug it back in after turning the car back on. I wish there was a better solution. GAH!

 

Next time you're in the car, change the mode of the stereo before you turn the car off. What that'll do is pause the iPod and move to the next mode, say FM radio. Now turn the car off.
When you get back in, hit mode and toggle to the USB. The ipod should pick up where it left off.

What you did was avoid an abrupt shut down of the ipod.
When you disconnect your pod from the computer you "eject it," you don't just pull the cable out of the thing while the computer is communicating with your pod. Similarly, turning the car off while the pod is sending data to the stereo is about the same as pulling the cable out of the pc while it's in communicaiton with your pod. The thing'll hemorage and that's what's going on with your ipod.

JBL, not Toyota should have engineered the software to let the ipod off softer when the stereo is shut down.

Try it, see if that'l solve the problem. From the handful of times I've tried it in the showroom it worked. I have a nano in red. I don't know what generation it is. It hasn't been connected to a PC in nearly 2 years so I'm sure there's new software available.

 

To provide an update...

I have tried several procedures provided in this thread and continue to have the intermittent iPod connection problem. The issue of the iPod NOT being initially recognized remains.

I have only found one work-around that works for me and that is ricopsuedo's procedure of turning the Hybrid "off" and then "on" a second time and that always works and allows the iPod to be recognized.

 

Same for me - it always works the 2nd time. None of the other things have worked for me. My iPod also freezes up if I scroll through a large number of playlists and then try to play something. It's much easier for me to just disconnect the ipod and scroll to where I want and then plug it back in. It's a ridiculous workaround but I guess it's less frustrating than having it lock up all the time.

I really do hope something is done to address this..

 

Prius V 2010 w/nav (without solar roof or keep lane assist)

I too have experienced this issue...sometimes the ipod touch 32gb (3rd gen I think)...it has Apple OS 3.1.3 (7E18). Model is MC008LL. There was an update to the device when I frist got it (on Black Friday, 2009), and another recent one just this last weekend. Either software version I have had on this device produces the following problems:

Sometimes the device "wakes" locked, and the Prius sees it, and I can play it. Other times I have to disconnect the cable (oem cable) and reconnect it. Occasionally during playback (whether i'm "song surfing" or not), it just disconnects, and I have to unplug/replug it. I often have to wait to do this because I have no "co-pilot" to do it for me, and don't want to do this while driving. Upon disconnect, I have not hit any bumps or have been driving on rough roads...I can even be stopped and it will do this.

At times during playback (regardless of the song), I hear very short "breaks" in the song. These brakes register as silence, or "skips". I know it isn't the song itself, since it plays fine through my desk dock, or headphones (and of course...bluetooth streaming). I almost wonder if this issue and the "spontanious disconnect" are related.

I do not experience either of these issues if I use bluetooth streaming (which the iPod supports). I also have a Motorola Droid cell phone (Verizon) and it plays fine through bluetooth as well.

 

I know... it doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

 

Has anyone tried an Ipod Shuffle in their Prius? I'm just looking for an inexpensive way for my wife to listen to audible.com books in the car during her commute.

 

I think I have figured out the problem with my usb connection to my ipod. If the ipod is on when I start the car, then it will connect correctly and work. if the ipod is off when i start the car, then i have to turn the car off and back on to get it to work. This seems to have it working for me right now. They should come up with a fix that has the system turn on the ipod, wait a few seconds and then try to connect the ipod to the car radio.

 

Hey! Your procedure works everytime so far! Thanks ricopsuedo! That procedure has worked everytime I have used it!
Yes, you are correct. JBL needs to turn the iPod on when selected, wait a few seconds and then connect. But, it could be that is the way it is being done and the wait time is NOT quite long enough.
Maybe increase the wait time will do it if that is the case.
I have doubts that JBL or Toyota will do anything about this issue. Their plate is full now!
Thanks! :clap2:

 

Stil wondering about Ipod Shuffle? Is there a number I can call about this? Also, do people just plug in their ipods into the USB jack in the middle console, or is there another piece of hardware necessary?

thanks for any info

 

Great tip Jon. This seems to work for me, its not as annoying as having to turn my car on and off just to get my ipod detected. thx alot.

 

I totally agree. There entire middle console has problems starting with radio and then Iphone connector. Not to metion the rubbish Satnav.
Wish I knew all this before I bought my Prius. I think I would have gone for the most basic model instead I got myself the highest model here in the UK without the sunroof.

 

You are welcome! I found this by playing around with it. It is just software

ricopsuedo

 

Turns out that the 2101 Prius does not play the Ipod Classic. So for us dinosaurs out there, we're out of luck. But, I copied all my songs onto a USB drive, which plugs into the USB outlet, and these play just fine (and can be managed through the touch screen). Also, it means I don't have to keep my ipod in the car.