Question Bluetooth: Can Software Version Be A Problem?

[Bobb]

I recently acquired a new Motorola Stylus 5G 2025. Unlike all my previous mobile phones, it will not connect with the hands-free Bluetooth system in my car. Sometimes it does connect for a very brief moment, but quickly drops. The phone retains the Bluetooth info for the car, but does not automatically re-connect when using the car again.

My car is an older 2012 model, while my phone is a 2025 model. Since I haven' experienced this issue with any of my previous mobile phones, I'm wondering if my problem is because my car has older Bluetooth software that isn't compatible with my "new" phone. Can that be possible? I was under the assumption that Bluetooth software is "backwards compatible," but perhaps the older Bluetooth software in my car simply can't connect with the latest Bluetooth version that's installed on my phone?

Yes, I have attempted forgetting/pairing my phone with car many times. I've also tried to "manually" connect to the car. Note: the phone does retain the car Bluetooth info and shows the car in the list of available devices, but manually hitting the "connect" icon doesn't work either.

Stumped! Any thoughts and advice would be appreciated.

 

[mustang7757]

Welcome to AC!
Do you have other Bluetooth devices that could be connecting to in the vehicle?

If you go into developers settings by hitting the build number 7 times you can choose different Bluetooth versions to see if it helps.

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! Also, do you have the factory-installed Bluetooth system, or is it aftermarket? Can you give us the make/model and model year of the car, and if it's an aftermarket system, the brand and model number of that?

 

[Bobb]

Welcome to AC!
Do you have other Bluetooth devices that could be connecting to in the vehicle?

If you go into developers settings by hitting the build number 7 times you can choose different Bluetooth versions to see if it helps.

Thank you for your quick response! No other devices are available to connect to the vehicle at this time. Reverting to previous BT versions sounds like a very plausible way to address my issue. I did not know that could be done, so I'll explore that. I will take your advice and investigate. Thank You!!!!

 

[Bobb]

Welcome to Android Central! Also, do you have the factory-installed Bluetooth system, or is it aftermarket? Can you give us the make/model and model year of the car, and if it's an aftermarket system, the brand and model number of that?

Thanks for your response. It is factory-equipped system. The vehicle is a 2012 Fiat 500. The system is trademarked "Blue & Me." Many vehicles of that model year from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (now Stellantis) used this system, including Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep . It is now a 13-year-old car, so I would not be surprised if the car's Bluetooth system version might not be compatible with Bluetooth protocols from 2025. Stellantis has pretty much phased-out Fiat vehicles in the USA, so my chances of getting any help from Fiat dealerships is nil. As of this moment, I don't know my issue is within the phone or the car's system.

Thanks for your advice! It's appreciated. I'm going to continue to try to solve this.

 

[B. Diddy]

Can you clarify -- will the phone even connect for phone calls? From what I can tell, that system could only do phone calls, and not stream music (I recall that was the case for my old 2008 BMW 535i as well): https://www.fiatforum.com/threads/bluetooth-fiat-500-twinair-2012.485217/