Bluetooth Audio has stopped working

[Obese1Kenobi]

Hi All,

 

Hopefully someone will be able to tell me what's going on with my Columbus. The bluetooth audio was working fine until a couple of weeks back when it stopped working and the tab at the top of the media screen turned to be greyed out. Prior to this it was lit up and I was able to use it. I have tried removing the plug from the bluetooth module under the driver seat but this doesn't seem to have done the trick. I am using a Samsung S10+ which I haven't changed the settings on. I have also tried connecting the wife's Iphone but again will not connect for BT Audio. The Handsfree side of BT works perfectly for both phones for calls etc. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Declan O'Shaughnessy]

It's an old "fix" but have you tried rebooting the Columbus? If not, reboot it by (from memory) holding down the < > and i buttons (your "i" button might look like a little wand I think in later builds to my car). The screen should go black and then reboot. 9 times out of 10 it fixes most Columbus glitches. If for any reason you can't see those buttons on your Columbus, or the unit won't reboot, just Google "reboot columbus rns 510" and you should find the full procedure.

[bigjohn]

Also - try rebooting the bluetooth module which is under the drivers seat (UK car). Unplug the module, leave for a few mins and plug back in.

[Obese1Kenobi]

Thanks for the quick response, I'll try that later on today and come back to this thread. Hopefully it will work and I'll be able to assist others in the future. Didn't think about having to reboot. It is very strange that it just suddenly stopped working like that. 

[Obese1Kenobi]

Just now, bigjohn said:

Also - try rebooting the bluetooth module which is under the drivers seat (UK car). Unplug the module, leave for a few mins and plug back in.

Hi, yes, tried that but to no avail unfortunately. hopefully the reboot process will sort out this little gremlin

[Obese1Kenobi]

Unfortunately, neither of these fixes has worked for me. Tried the reboot which ran it's full cycle and also disconnected the module again (to make sure) and I still have a greyed out BT Audio button on the media screen. I have also noticed that the BT audio symbol has disappeared below the "phone" in the centre of the dials display. 

[tommygards]

Really sorry if this comes across as patronising as that's not intentional, i'm only saying it because i was going to ask a very similar question not too long ago until my wife pointed out where i was going wrong. But I didn't realise that the Bluetooth Audio is only available on my car when i'm already playing music or sound from the device i want to play music from. If I have my phone connected to bluetooth, but it's not already playing audio, then my bluetooth audio button remains greyed out.

 

Like i said sorry if that's obvious, but i didn't know for a while.

[Obese1Kenobi]

Doesn't sound patronising at all. Thanks for your input. I never used to have to do that as it would just play when I asked it to before but will try that too. My only question would be what if I was listening to the radio say and decided I then wanted BT audio? surely it can't be right that I have to have my Spotify as an example on all the time?

 

[tommygards]

I'm not sure about BT audio I'm afraid, i've only ever used the bluetooth on my Columbus to play music from my phone. I'd select 'media' then have to start playing music on my phone before the bluetooth button on the Columbus went from grey to green. Maybe there's a setting somewhere that changes this?

[Obese1Kenobi]

16 minutes ago, tommygards said:

I'm not sure about BT audio I'm afraid, i've only ever used the bluetooth on my Columbus to play music from my phone. I'd select 'media' then have to start playing music on my phone before the bluetooth button on the Columbus went from grey to green. Maybe there's a setting somewhere that changes this?

I'll have a proper look tonight. You may be on to something and it could be I need to have the music playing and then go into the bluetooth settings on the car. thanks again

[tommygards]

No problem, hope it helps and it's not a technical issue.

[Obese1Kenobi]

2 hours ago, tommygards said:

No problem, hope it helps and it's not a technical issue.

Looking to be more likely to be a technical issue for me unfortunately. Had chance to get away from the work laptop and thought I'd try again. Nothing. Weird thing is the Bluetooth hands free works fine. I've tried all the suggested fixes now including trying both music on my phone (downloaded) and my spotify on my phone via bluetooth but it simply doesn't want to play ball. I am no longer getting the little symbol under my "Samsung Galaxy S10+" on the "Phone" setting in the MFD as I used to so it may be that is the issue. It isn't seeing my car as a bluetooth speaker for BT Audio as it did before. Surely they aren't on different fuses? There is only one Bluetooth module and that has had the disconnect/reconnect procedure. Back to square one....

[tommygards]

That is strange. I don't know if it's related but my Columbus has my phone stored as both a phone and a media player, i don't know if it needs to be stored as both in order to use if for hands free and also to use it to play music? I'm literally guessing here so sorry I can't be of more use.

[Obese1Kenobi]

12 minutes ago, tommygards said:

That is strange. I don't know if it's related but my Columbus has my phone stored as both a phone and a media player, i don't know if it needs to be stored as both in order to use if for hands free and also to use it to play music? I'm literally guessing here so sorry I can't be of more use.

It could be that. I'm not sure how I would connect it as a media player too though as it is connected as a phone and it was working ok until it suddenly stopped. I really appreciate you taking the time to respond. I am a bit at my wits end with it.

[tommygards]

Yeh I’m sure it’s annoying. I wouldn’t know what else to recommend, maybe delete all the Bluetooth devices you have on the system and re add them, if you haven’t already? 

[Obese1Kenobi]

15 minutes ago, tommygards said:

Yeh I’m sure it’s annoying. I wouldn’t know what else to recommend, maybe delete all the Bluetooth devices you have on the system and re add them, if you haven’t already? 

Yep, one of the 1st things I tried. Hopefully someone else has had this issue and managed to fix it. Fingers crossed this forum can come up with the goods! ha

[Declan O'Shaughnessy]

I'm guessing you have tried rebooting your phone also at this point? It's not unknown for Android phones to do background updates which change / break functionality. With that in mind, I'd start with first principles and have a poke around in the Bluetooth settings on your phone. It's different for every manufacturer, but somewhere in there you should be able to select whether you want your phone to connect to your car just for phone calls or for phone calls and media. I have mine (Oneplus 6T) only set-up for phone calls, for example. You might have to delete the existing connection and start again (no bad thing anyways), in order to be able to select what you want the Bluetooth connection to do. On my phone, access the Bluetooth menu, click the "gear" icon next to the SKodaBT connection and I can choose what I want to use it for from there.

 

I'm sure something similar happened to someone on here not too long ago, and it was a background update that caused the problem. But I can't find the post at the minute, and my grip on time has loosened somewhat with lockdown! I keep thinking we're still in March...

[Declan O'Shaughnessy]

I don't think it's the thread I'm thinking of, but this thread might offer some things to look at.

[Obese1Kenobi]

19 hours ago, Declan O'Shaughnessy said:

I don't think it's the thread I'm thinking of, but this thread might offer some things to look at.

Thanks for this link. I've tried all of the above too but to no avail. Not sure why but my phone no longer shows the option for media / audio playback on the "SKODA-BT" menu. The Samsung shows different symbols for different media types. currently the SKODA is showing as what looks like a Bluetooth Headset. My other Bluetooth devices (headphones etc) show a completely different symbol which shows what looks like an Ipod. It's like the device in my car has been changed to just a handsfree unit. I looked at the MFD and changed the settings to "Premium" and back to "Handsfree" but no joy. I think I may have to bite the bullet and take it to someone in the know as it is most likely a hardware issue I can't identify.

 

Thanks again all.

[Obese1Kenobi]

19 hours ago, Declan O'Shaughnessy said:

I'm guessing you have tried rebooting your phone also at this point? It's not unknown for Android phones to do background updates which change / break functionality. With that in mind, I'd start with first principles and have a poke around in the Bluetooth settings on your phone. It's different for every manufacturer, but somewhere in there you should be able to select whether you want your phone to connect to your car just for phone calls or for phone calls and media. I have mine (Oneplus 6T) only set-up for phone calls, for example. You might have to delete the existing connection and start again (no bad thing anyways), in order to be able to select what you want the Bluetooth connection to do. On my phone, access the Bluetooth menu, click the "gear" icon next to the SKodaBT connection and I can choose what I want to use it for from there.

 

I'm sure something similar happened to someone on here not too long ago, and it was a background update that caused the problem. But I can't find the post at the minute, and my grip on time has loosened somewhat with lockdown! I keep thinking we're still in March...

I don't remember an update to the phone but this could be the cause. 

 

Lockdown has got me thinking like like that too! It's a weird time for us all! 

[Oli]

Did you manage to get this fixed? I have a similar issue and can't get the bt-audio button working.

[Obese1Kenobi]

On 29/08/2020 at 02:03, Oli said:

Did you manage to get this fixed? I have a similar issue and can't get the bt-audio button working.

Hi, unfortunately it needed a brand new Bluetooth module coding to the car for it to work at great expense so I've left it for now. These modules aren't cheap (over a grand quoted)!

[Shaunieboy]

1 hour ago, Obese1Kenobi said:

Hi, unfortunately it needed a brand new Bluetooth module coding to the car for it to work at great expense so I've left it for now. These modules aren't cheap (over a grand quoted)!

A grand + is insane!!! Surely a breakers / eBay or somewhere would have one for a fraction of the cost? Just search the part number and make sure they match.

[Obese1Kenobi]

On 01/09/2020 at 08:22, Shaunieboy said:

A grand + is insane!!! Surely a breakers / eBay or somewhere would have one for a fraction of the cost? Just search the part number and make sure they match.

Yeah, for that price I can live without it for now! 

[Oli]

A quick check shows loads for £100 or less. It is a straight swap of the module under the seat. I did it with my Octy years ago. 
 

obv I don’t know what model number you are after but...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/123519409558

I managed to get mine working after working out the kinks of premium and the media player options.