Gingerbread update - Bluetooth no longer working in car

[smitty97007]

I have seen people complaining about this issue on other forums - lots of phone models and car models are affected.  My bluetooth was wworking perfectly for hands-free calling prior to the Gingerbread update.  Bluetooth stopped working the day I received my Gingerbread update last week.  I've tried everything I can try.  Apparently there is no resolution to the issue yet.  Verizon tech support could not help - they told me to contact HTC.  HTC tech support had no clue.  I want to revert back to Froyo, but apparently that's not possible either.  I am VERY frustrated.  I loved Android, but bluetooth in my car is a very important feature for me.  Might be time for an iPhone...

If anyone has any solutions for this issue, please let me know.  By the way, I have read in other forums that a factory reset does not work - it keeps the same phone software.  It's something that changed in Gingerbread that is causing the problem.  I would love to get rid of Gingerbread.

[Wildman]

This may sound like something that would be clear but have you tried removing the bluetooth settings from device and radio and pair the device again?

[smitty97007]

Yes I did - I tried that a few times.  The device will pair but disconnects immediately every time.  It's really frustrating.  Thanks for the suggestion, though!

[Wildman]

What happens when you press on bluetooth device name and select connect?

[smitty97007]

It connectes for a fraction of a second and then disconnects again.  Says "Paired but not connected".  I've tried deleting it from both car and phone.  Unpairing, repairing.  Nothing seems to work.  Never had a problem before the Gingerbread update

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[icyhot5]

I've had the same Bluetooth issue since the Froyo update and was hoping Gingerbread update (for which I still didn't get the OTA update notification for) would resolve it. Based on HTC forums, seems like it's an HTC Sense bug that was introduced with 2.2 and is not an Android issue in itself. Apparently HTC screwed up the Bluetooth stack somehow. For me, I haven't had issues with 2.1, but after the previous upgrade my phone is unable to maintain a connection w/ my car.

[smitty97007]

Based on a Google search, there are many people who have suddenly had bluetooth issues once they received the Gingerbread update.  I spoke with both Verizon and HTC tech support and both people I spoke to acted as if this was the first they'd heard of any problems.  I know others have complained - in force.  That does not give me much hope that anyone is working to resolve the issue.  I am seriously considering a iPhone once the new one comes out.  Never thought I would say that, but blurtooth through my car is too important a feature for me to give up. I know I could buy 3rd party bluetooth hardware, but it worked perfectly through the car before Gingerbread.

[Goo]

I also now have this issue! May be time to replace the phone...

[smitty97007]

After searching the web some more about Gingerbread/Bluetooth issues, it appears this problem is rampant with all Droid phones and car makes/models.  And Verizon ignores it like it isn't their problem.  HTC also acts like they don't see a problem.  What a mess.  I am a very unhappy Droid owner right now...

[DIncRotorhead]

Smitty,

I don't have Gingerbread (yet, and I'm thinking that's a good thing at this point), but I've had the same problem with my DInc before with my 7 week old new car.  After an initial successful link-up and upload of my phone book, my phone wouldn't maintain a connection either.

Here's my suggestion for you, because It's my current work around to get my bluetooth connection to work:

1) Unpair your car bluetooth and your phone so you can start from scratch

2) Re-pair your DInc and your car

3) When your phone connects to your car, you'll hopefully get a pop-up dialogue box on your phone asking to link to your phone book.  At this point, say no to the phone book link.  You *should* hopefully have a good bluetooth connection now, and you'll still have the ability to dial from your phone book.  If you don't get the pop-up, well...I'm out of ideas.  Sorry. 

I don't know what capability that pop-up dialogue box on the phone supports, but it sure screws up my bluetooth connection in my car.

[smitty97007]

Thanks for the suggestion.  Trust me I've tried everything.  Nothing works.  My phone worked flawlessly with the car via Bluetooth prior to this junk software update.  I would recommend you don't accept the update if you like to use Bluetooth in your car.  Beware...

I am looking forward to iPhone5...hope it comes out soon.  Was loving my Droid, till Gingerbread and zero support from any vendor involved.

[homerpez]

I not only had the issue with all the SD apps having to be moved to the internal storage without warning (which I fixed with the help of another forum), but this Bluetooth issue as well. I still have not solved it.

Before the dreaded 2.3.4 Gingerbread update, my Incredible was paired and worked nicely with my 2011 Kia Soul (phone, media, and phonebook all worked). After the update, the phonebook refuses to sync, no matter how long I wait, or how many times I try.

Every time I press the "voice" button in the car, it says "downloading phonebook", which it is not. And without the phonebook, I can't use the bluetooth controls for dialing or answering calls.

I deleted the phone from the car, and the car from the phone, re-paired the two again, gave it the correct permissions, and the same result. No phonebook.

I even went as far as trying the app "Bluetooth File Transfer" to manually send the phonebook. The app brought up tons of error messages saying the car didn't have the right protocols - then it worked. Once. Never again. Still no phonebook, which means no voice dialing/answering, which means the Bluetooth on my phone is essentially useless, thanks to the official OTA update from Verizon.

Did Verizon actually test this before just sending it out??? Any and all help is appreciated...

[TamaraH_VZW]

Thank you community for your response to this issue with bluetooth not pairing & staying connected with you cars.

As  you have stated, this has been an issue since the most recent software update.

I just wanted to let you know that HTC is aware of this issue & they are looking into a fix for this problem. In the meantime, there really is no additional troubleshooting or work around that will make it work as it appears to be a glitch within the update not being able to communicate in order to keep the car & bluetooth connected.

[johnt519]

Hey Tamara, how about answering the questions about where the update is? Is it still rolling out (I for one have been waiting - just about two weeks now)? Has it been pulled to fix the "Incredible thinks it's a Sprint Evo" problem and others? If it has, great - but let us know it has, and when you expect it to be pushed again...

Simple questions, really.

[smitty97007]

Thanks for the reply Tamara.  It's nice to finally get an official response from someone admitting there is an issue and that a fix is in the works.  Can you please tell me if the HTC fix will automatically be pushed to our phones, or will we need to do something to get the fix?  Any way to know when the fix will be available - track it somehow?  This is a significant problem for me and I'd like to get the fix ASAP once it is available.

[smitty97007]

I've been going back and forth with someone from HTC tech support (who contacted me after I gave a scathing FAIL in a survey of their initial response to me complaining about the Bluetooth issue).  Anyway, looks like Tamara is correct, but no ETA on any fix.  It's the second time the tech support person told me that engineering doesn't communicate with tech support on bugs and bug fixes.  Awesome policy, HTC.  If iPhone5 comes out at the end of October like it's rumored, I will be saying goodbye forever to HTC.  Here's the full response I received from HTC:

I received a response back from the corporate office on your Bluetooth issue. They state that are aware of the issue and are looking into it but have no ETA on a fix yet. This usually means that it will take an update to fix the issue. Unfortunately we do not have information on an update at this time, which doesn’t mean they are not working on something they just don’t provide us with that information. I apologize that I do not have more information for you at this time. Thank you and have a great day.

[Catman46]

Hello Verizon Tech Support:

It was four months ago that you acknowledged bluetooth issues with the system update.  Is it unreasonable that we should expect a solution in four months? 

My bluetooth headset will pair but will not connect similar to the car related issues noted on this forum and throughout the internet. 

This update mutes a significant functionality of our devices - a capability we had before.  What is Verizon going to do to compensate these users?  Where is the fix? It has been far to long for a company with Verizon's resources not to have a solution.

Please advise asap.

[JamesBennettMD]

I did not read your post until after I experienced this problem. Two questions: is Verizon now advising of this problem  before updating, and can one trade their phone in for one that will work as before the update?

[PNTsells]

I am curious if there has been an updates to this.  I see this thread is more than one year old.  This problem is affecting my device (I mistakenly just upgraded to solve a different problem).  I am able to connect via Bluetooth, but the address book does not synchronize.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

[JamesBennettMD]

I too "updated" my Droid and it no longer works properly: just numbers without names. Worthless phone book. can still receive calls and manually dial out using the Droid pad. Mercedes Benz 350. I hope Verizon is reading this. Bennett