How Do I Disable Bluetooth?

[Stealth TDI]

I've tried many things short of ripping the Bluetooth (BT) module out of the car with no luck. I was hesitant to unplug the module until I could find how to disable BT via VCDS. I have not found a VCDS mod for BT. After a bit of frustration caused by challenges seen or described in THIS VIDEO, I finally opted to unplug the module.

Guess what? Unplugging the module DID NOT WORK. I unplugged the module and put it on the passenger seat. I then unpaired the phone to get "VW Phone" off my list of paired devices. The phone immediately displayed the pop-up, just like in my video above, "Bluetooth pairing request from VW Phone..." I figured it was impossible. So, for giggles, I went ahead and paired the phone to see if it would connect. Sure enough, it did! Not only did it connect, it also imported my phone book and I was able to place a call through the stereo. Unbelievable!

So now what? I can hold the Bluetooth controller in my hand unplugged and still make Bluetooth calls through the car. Any ideas?

Thanks!

Scott

 

[SilverGhost]

Hmmm, 2014 has CarNET - the modules are in different places and functions are in different modules. As far as disabling you can set it to not connect I believe, but because of CarNET I don't think it can be completely disabled.

The MDI actually has the bluetooth now (I think) and Telematics is the cellular part (and GPS if you don't have NAV). We haven't played too much with them but CarNET is tied to VIN at the factory and into most systems in the car. So no swapping them for testing or installing in another car as an upgrade.

I'll check the address words later to see verify what the new address of the MDI is.

Jason

 

[vtbigdog]

What phone do you have?

 

[vtbigdog]

I know is a Samsung but what model. On my S4 Active there is a checkbox which states "Only visible to paired devices"

So check this box, remove the "VW" device from your phone and then turn your car on and let us know what happens.

 

[vtbigdog]

...also remove your phone from the VW

 

[Stealth TDI]

It's a Samsung S5. I have the "only visible to paired devices" set. See the video in the original post. How do I remove the phone from the VW? THAT is something I haven't figured out.

 

[compu_85]

On the older bluetooth modules you could do a factory reset with VCDS...

-J

 

[vtbigdog]

Go to the phone setup and I believe you can unpair it there.

 

[vtbigdog]

Try...

[Phone] hard button
[Setup] hard button
O Bluetooth settings
O Paired device List

 

[vtbigdog]

It's a Samsung S5. I have the "only visible to paired devices" checked. See the video in the original post. How do I remove the phone from the VW? THAT is something I haven't figured out.

It is not checked in your video. Once you have deleted your phone from the RNS315 you should check this box.

 

[RDC98tdi]

Just curious, why do you want BT disabled? Honestly not being rude or anything, but curious.

 

[SilverGhost]

Another question, do you have the radio set to auto play bluetooth?

Jason

 

[mo_focus]

OP, I read your other comment in the other post as well. Could do 2 things.

Remove the head unit and see if there is a module wire, if there is unplug it.
2nd thing is there could be your module is actually in the radio itself. I was told some units have the bt built right in the unit.

 

[mo_focus]

This should help

http://www.myturbodiesel.com/wiki/rns-315-gps-radio-navigation-system-faq/

If you have the rns 315

 

[Stealth TDI]

Hello,

Try... [Phone] hard button, [Setup] hard button, O Bluetooth settings, O Paired device List

Thanks for your help. Unfortunately, this does not work for me. I have an RCD-510 (no nav). Pressing [Phone] gives me one menu and pushing [Setup] gives me another. There are no submenus that show anything about Bluetooth.

The RCD-510 and CarNet/Phone Package manuals each make reference to menus in the cluster display. However, my cluster doesn't display anything other than the standard trip data, scrolled using the wiper stalk. I have no way of knowing if accessing phone data in the cluster is even possible.

It is not checked in your video. Once you have deleted your phone from the RNS315 you should check this box.

I do not have an RNS-315. I have an RCD-510 (no nav). I shouldn't have said it was "checked." I misspoke. Checking the box makes the phone visible for 2-minutes.

Just curious, why do you want BT disabled? Honestly not being rude or anything, but curious.

No offense taken. I've typed this answer elsewhere. So here's a copy/paste: Why do I want to kill BT? First, I don't stream music. I use the SD card. I tried streaming, but the car kept switching from FM or SD Card to auto-streaming even after I tried disabling it. I drives me nuts when things don't work how they should. The stereo was constantly changing my sources anytime the phone would make a sound. I hated it, being in the middle of a song that I liked and then having it switch to something else. I got some satisfaction when I was able to uncheck "media audio" in my phone's settings.

Then, I discovered that my Plantronics headset delivers far better audio quality during phone calls, both my audio and the caller's. At that point, I decided to simply unpair my car from the phone. No worky! I kept getting a prompt saying "VW Phone wants to pair," even when I have the phone set to "only visible to paired devices." Hitting "cancel" does not work. "VW Phone" continues to pop-up prompts. It drove me nuts! See my video at http://youtu.be/oXtjwUf2yBA. So I caved and paired the car. Then I unchecked both "call audio" and "media audio." That solved my problem, or so it seemed. Once in a blue moon, my headset won't connect to my phone or it'll drop audio (no call disconnect). Then I take a look at my settings and see that it is connected to the car! I want "VW Phone" DEAD! It never ceases to amaze me how the very technology that's supposed to enrich our lives can be a total PITA.

Okay. That's my rant. HAHA! Figuring out how to delete my phone's profile from the RCD-510 may do wonders for my sanity.

Another question, do you have the radio set to auto play bluetooth?

Auto-play is disabled. To be honest, I'm not sure if it'll auto-play now. The streaming was disappointing enough before discovering the auto-play option that I didn't bother to test it.

OP, I read your other comment in the other post as well. Could do 2 things: Remove the head unit and see if there is a module wire, if there is unplug it; 2nd thing is there could be your module is actually in the radio itself. I was told some units have the bt built right in the unit.

Thanks for this. I'll give that a try. I've also learned the BT module may be in the center console. I have some instructions on how to expose it. I haven't tried yet due to heavy rain in my area. Soon, though.

This should help... if you have the rns 315

Thanks. RCD-510 here. I will try to see if I can get lucky in finding related videos at YouTube.

Thanks for your continued support, everyone!

 

[vtbigdog]

there has to be something in setup that would enable you to unpair your phone. Here is a quote form another post which may help...

"You need to be connected to your old phone, OR connect a new phone with a new user name and phone/media name in order to delete the old phone."

 

[Stealth TDI]

Progress! I found a way to delete user profiles. It's under 77-Telephone and Adaptation:

Clicking this allows two options. I think one is to leave everything alone and the other is to erase all profiles. I erased all profiles. While I was there, I went ahead and set a Bluetooth PIN (option right above User Profiles) so that no one else can connect to my car without additional effort or my assistance.

So far, "VW Phone" has not made any attempts to connect to my phone. I'm relieved. I'm still interested in finding and perhaps disconnecting the BT module. I believe it is in the center console. I'm working with a VWVortex user to figure out how to get to it. I'm VERY close and have been taking photos of my efforts. I'll share them if I can manage to remove the module.

The CarNet module is still unplugged. I was able to uncheck it from the list of installed modules in the 19-CAN Gateway (uncheck Telematics). While I could uncheck Telephone, doing so results in a stored code (module coded incorrectly) since the BT module is still plugged in. With CarNet unplugged, I also get a fault in 77-Telephone for an "open microphone" since the mic is part of the CarNet system. I'm curious to see if unplugging the BT module will let me remove "Telephone" from the list of installed modules in 19-CAN Gateway without triggering a fault code. I'll let you know if I'm able to take it that far.

 

[SilverGhost]

Refer back to my first post - on CarNET cars the Bluetooth function is built into the MDI.

Jason


Sent from my iPhone

 

[Stealth TDI]

Success!

Refer back to my first post - on CarNET cars the Bluetooth function is built into the MDI.

Your post did say, "I think." So I wanted to be certain. Earlier today, I managed to get the MDI interface out and verify that it and the Bluetooth module are one piece. Here is how I did it, thanks to some written guidance from VWVortex user saragone:

First, I had to pry open the pocket beneath the rear 12V outlet...

Then I removed these four bolts. Only the bottom ones hold the rear panel in place. The other two get the crossmember out of the way...

Next, I pried open the bottom of the rear cover and did the same on the other side...

Once the bottoms are loose, then I could pull them out and roll it back, saving the top for last...

There's enough wire to rotate the piece and lay it on the hump to unplug the 12V port and door lock button...

Here you can see two buttons (arrows) and four tabs. Push the two buttons to release the MDI module and then lift it up...

I discovered it takes a bit of force to push the buttons in to release the module. Here's a look at just how far they can be pushed...

Before realizing I wasn't pushing them hard enough, I removed the little carpet from the center console and removed
this floor piece for better access to the underside of the module...

Here's what it looks like without the floor...

Continued in next post...

 

[Stealth TDI]

I used this to apply some upward pressure as I pushed the two buttons...

Here you can see the two button holes as well as the keyed slots.
You MUST lift UPWARD, not outward until the keys are cleared...

The module will only lift about an inch before you need to push the wire bundle through from beneath the console...

There's not enough wire to bring the module completely out of the console. You'll have to unplug it with your hand inside the console...

Here's what the connector looks like. Push this black release button before swinging the white cam lock...

I then fed the wire bundle back into the console... There's LOTS of room in there now. I may hide a voltage inverter in there...

Here's the part number on the MDI/BT module. It is NOT the part number for the module, I learned...

Instead, the "module" breaks into three pieces after removing two screws. Now you can see the actual BT module part number...

And that's it! I went into the VCDS CAN Installation settings and disabled Media 3, Telematics and Telephone to minimize any fault codes. I still have a couple that I will chase. But they're not visible to the driver, only to a tech who's pulling codes and/or running an AutoScan.

Let me know if you have any questions. Feel free to share this as a DIY.

Scott

 

[Stealth TDI]

Update on my fault codes. I decided to plug in my disconnected modules, clear codes and then removed them again. Here are the abbreviated results of an AutoScan (only malfunctions listed):

56-Radio -- Status: Malfunction 0010
75-Telematics -- Status: Malfunction 0010

Address 56: Radio (J503) Labels: 5M0-035-1xx-56.clb
Part No SW: 1K0 035 188 F HW: 1K0 035 188 F
Component: Radio Prem-8 H07 0008
Revision: -----11S Serial number: VWZ4Z7P0000000
Coding: 00020040010006
Shop #: WSC 00066 790 00123
VCID: 2B5F2BEE4A2A85461EF-807E
1 Fault Found:
02635 - Tuner Not Enabled/Activated
000 - -
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 01100000
Fault Priority: 7
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 65
Mileage: 15289 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2006.14.19
Time: 12:03:04

There's no fault data for Telemetrics because I have the CarNet module unplugged.

Out of curiosity, I ran an AutoScan of my wife's car, a nearly identical 2014 Jetta TDI w/Premium that's bone stock (except for minor VCDS mods), to see if her car has any codes. Here are her results:

56-Radio -- Status: Malfunction 0010
75-Telematics -- Status: OK 0000

Address 56: Radio (J503) Labels: 5M0-035-1xx-56.clb
Part No SW: 1K0 035 188 F HW: 1K0 035 188 F
Component: Radio Prem-8 H07 0008
Revision: -----11S Serial number: VWZ4Z7P3537284
Coding: 01020040010006
Shop #: WSC 00066 000 00000
VCID: 2B5F2BEE4A2A85461EF-807E
1 Fault Found:
02635 - Tuner Not Enabled/Activated
000 - -
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 01100000
Fault Priority: 7
Fault Frequency: 4
Reset counter: 72
Mileage: 7106 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2005.14.14
Time: 09:13:47

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 75: Telematics (J949) Labels: None
Part No SW: 561 035 285 HW: 561 035 285
Component: OCULowUSA 014 0102
Serial number: 000000000000000
Coding: 02630102C2163A007F1606000000
Shop #: WSC 01383 790 50316
ASAM Dataset: EV_OCULow 001010
ROD: EV_OCULow.rod
VCID: D3AFD30EBADA7D86F6F-8086
1 Fault Found:
2103041 - Control Module Blocked
B2017 00 [009] - -
Confirmed - Tested Since Memory Clear
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00000001
Fault Priority: 8
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 76
Mileage: 9405 km
Date: 2007.14.01
Time: 16:49:51

Since these "faults" are essentially identical to mine, then I'm pretty sure my work is done. No more naggy Bluetooth, although I fixed the "nag" by clearing all user profiles, and no more "Big Brother is watching" potential with Telemetrics.

Thanks for following along.

Scott

 

[Stealth TDI]

One more outcome to removing the BT module: The "Phone" button on the stereo now acts as a "Mute/Pause" button. I had already recoded my voice command button on the steering wheel to serve that function. I guess now my passenger can have a pause button, too.

 

[SilverGhost]

Update : I found a tech tip that may explain your problem.

Looks like there may be a software glitch in the radio causing part of your problem.

Jason


Sent from my iPhone

 

[Stealth TDI]

Thanks for the note, SG. I had already unchecked box. No luck. It didn't matter, though. I prefer playback through the SD card and my BT headset offers far better sound quality than any "speaker phone." I've been pretty happy without a functional BT module.

That said, the steps I took in post 17 above actually fixed my secondary problem of not being able to remain unconnected. By the time I discovered that, I had already committed to removing the BT and CarNet modules.

 

[TDIx2]

Wouldn't it been easier to shut the blue tooth function off on your phone?

 

[Stealth TDI]

Sure. But then none of my other BT devices would work, including the one I use in the car every day. The car's BT was the problem; not the phone's.