Bluetooth Problems with the non-entune head unit

I have a non-entune head unit in my truck and I have a few problems when trying to control my iphone 4s through bluetooth. It's just problems when using the phone. The biggest problem is that it will not allow me to access the contacts. At one time, it would allow this but, now it will not. The tab on the head unit is there but, it is 'grayed' out and I can't navigate to it to select a contact. Second thing: Sometimes it will not disconnect if I'm on the phone and shut the truck off. Then yesterday, it wouldn't let me turn off the 'hands free' mode. The button was 'grayed' out. I realize that the phone could be the issue, but I just wondering if anyone else is having these problems.

 

I guess this isn't a common problem.

 

In settings on the phone, click Bluetooth, then under "my devices" select your vehicle by clicking the little blue circled "i" on the far right. On the next screen, verify that "show notifications" AND "sync contacts" are turned ON (switch to green).

Not sure this will solve your problem, but look into it. Sometimes with phone updates settings might get changed. Might be worth checking out. I hope it works for you.

 

Also verify that "all contacts" is checked on that same screen.

 

I checked the settings. "Show Notifications" was not checked. I checked it and connected it to the truck. It seems like that worked. Hopefully it will fix the problem with the handsfree as well. Thanks.

 

Glad it worked for you.

 

Posting the solution: Okay, I thought that changing the settings in my iphone fixed the problem. However, it didn't. I took it the Toyota dealer to have the oil changed and I had them check bluetooth. They performed an update on the software which took forever. After that, I still had the problem with "contacts" tab being grayed out sometimes. I even updated my iphone and did a soft restart because I thought that may be the problem to no avail. After some discussions with my wife, we came to the conclusion that it may not be messed up and it may have something to do with driving. I tested it this morning in the driveway. If I am moving the "contacts" tab goes gray and it cannot be selected but as soon as I stop, it comes back. It goes gray when I start moving again. I'm assuming that it is supposed to work that way. They probably want you to use the voice activated phone dialer. As for the button to switch "hands free" off: I'm pretty sure that the update that Toyota did fixed that.

 

I'm having a problem with my bluetooth connection in my truck as well. I have a 2012, with a regular head unit (non touch screen) . The phone pairs fine, and plays music with display fine as well. But when I try to make a call, it will stop the music (like it's supposed to), but the phone doesn't go through the speakers, just through the phone. The phone hasn't been updated in ages (it's an old iphone 3Gs), and I checked settings, everything looks good. When I get time later today, I'm going to try another phone.

 

Oh, I did a soft reset on the phone, and also deleted my phone from "Stored devices", and re- paired it again, but did not change anything.

 

You may need to have the software on the head unit updated. I was having a similar problem. Sometimes, mine wouldn't go through when I dialed out and then at other times it would turn off 'hands free' mode without me doing anything. After the update, I have had no problems with that. Of course, it could be the old phone or it may need to be updated. I suppose that (like me) you are fighting the 'upgrade all the time' mentality that wireless carriers try to instill in their customers. If so, I don't blame you. I'm keeping my 4S as long as I can.

 

I was thinking maybe its the same problem you had, but I'm going to check my girlfriends iphone 5s to make sure. I have had no problems with my old 3gs, haha. It does everything i need it to, for now.

 

So I tried her phone, and it's the same with both phones. My menu options only allow an "audio player" or "phone". If you pick audio, you can only hear music through the speakers, and no phone. And vice versa.

 

I don't know if the head unit in your truck has firmware (I said software earlier but that wasn't the correct terminology) like the touchscreen does, but I would check on updating it. When the Toyota dealership updated mine, that fixed some of my problems. Or maybe you need to reset the head unit itself. I'm not sure how to do that other than possibly pulling the battery cables or pulling a fuse. I've never done it so, I can't tell you how to reset it.

 

So I went to the dealer, just to see if they could see anything. A couple service advisors thought it was an iPhone problem. They both tried my phone for over a half hour, with no success. Then one of the advisors tried their google nexus phone, and it paired fine, and played audio and phone both through the speakers on the first try. Seems like another strike against apple for me.

 

My sister said her Iphone 5 would do this on her 2013 Rav4. She said that she had to buy another phone to fix it. My Iphone 4S works fine since I had the firmware on my stereo.

 

Funny story, the next day after being at the dealer, I decided to try it once more. It worked right away. I didn't update my phone or anything. I have no explanation as to why it didn't work, and then worked again.

 

Someone at Apple must have read this thread.

 

I have issues with my iPhone 6 connecting back to the radio after I have been out of the truck....