Finicky Bluetooth

Might be good to indicate the phone model and carrier. I doubt that all Android phones have identical Bluetooth hardware and drivers, even when running on the same Android OS version.

Even Apple changed the Bluetooth chip from the iPhone 3GS to 4, even though both can run iOS 5.0.1. See step 11 of http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPhone-3GS-Teardown/817/2 vs. step 18 of http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPhone-4-Teardown/3130/3. On the Verizon iPhone 4 (CDMA version), they went to a Murata chip (but they believe a Broadcam BCM4329 is inside), see http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPhone-4-Verizon-Teardown/4693/2.

 

I went through 3 cell phones(all the same model) to get one that worked with my Prius Bluetooth. It may just be your phone.

 

If switching Bluetooth on or off, or power cycling the phone fixes it, then it's probably the phone getting into a bad state.

 

I have the same sort of problems with my wife's Nexus S and my BlackBerry Torch. Phone almost always works; music, less so.

 

Same issues here too. Blackberry Torch 9810 (still no Entune available for this one.. Grr).
I have had bluetooth say it's connected and then I dial a phone # and it routes the audio to the phone.
I've had the contacts not sync randomly. Reading my email out loud (identifying when messages arrive) is flaky too. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I haven't tried audio much, but the few times I have, it also seemed to randomly work and not work...
In 99% of the cases, resetting the blackberry brings everything back to normal. There's only been one time when turning the car off and on was the only way to get the phone to communicate again.

With all that said, my old '06 Prius didn't have bluetooth, so I used a bluetooth adapter from Blackberry (figured it's the same brand, so it must be more compatible...). Same issues. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. And the only way to get it to work was to pull the power on the adapter or on the phone...

Not impressed with bluetooth in general. Seems to be flaky overall...

 

So far the phone has worked exactly as described for me (iphone 3gs on rogers network) except for being able to check mesages. I don't know if this is even turned on in the Canadian models but its not there for me unless I am missing something when it comes to turning it on. Also while I can get it to play music I can not however get the song names up or have a button to access albums / playlists ect, honestly that is a little frustrating. Had so much potential to not having to deal with plugging in my iphonej to have full control.

 

Greetings:

I use an iPhone 4. At first I had the same problems, even went back to the dealer. Two things I have determined. First, the display changes as soon as the car speed exceeds 5 MPH. Contacts and number dialing screen are blanked. Only speed dial & call history remain accessible. The service people say these are programmed into the phone as a safety issue. Second, if the phone is connected through the accessory/USB socket, the screen defaults to this connection. However, if the phone is connected via bluetooth, there is no sound. Workaround is to choose audio source, then select bluetooth (tow screens are displayed, both seemingly playing the same song.
Hope this helps.

 

Really, it is very interesting information.

Thanks

 

If you want to use your USB to charge your phone and use your phone's screen to navigate music, video, or whatever, then get an external battery (the kind you use to charge your phone in an emergency or add extra battery life). This will allow you to keep all your functionality of the phone while still charging-- then use the bluetooth to run all your audio through.

This is how I can get my daughter to still watch shows on a long drive but not still have the speakers get the audio.

 

I have problems also holding the pairing/connection. i do not have a smart phone. i have an LG rumor2.

 

Same problems as I reported earlier. Standard Nokia phone worked fine everytime in my 08 Prius became super-flakey and then failed totally on the V's bluetooth. Changed it to a standard Motorola phone, works better but has problems with contact sync (writes some in backward) and dialing (stereo mutes, phone dials, stereo unmutes, call completes, sometimes stereo mutes during call, occasionally does not). Motorola phone also works flawlessly in 08 Prius.

 

I tried 2 phones different models now on my 3rd a I phone 5 will see how that one works

 

The I phone 5 has worked fine so far. Just have to keep up with Technology.