Radio/Cell phone interface.
 

My new to me, 2008 Ranger XLT has an aftermarket Pioneer radio that is connecting to my phone automatically when my cell phone rings. But I cant figure out how to answer it!! If I answer on my phone its a dead line. There is a "blue phone picture" touch position on the faceplate of the radio, Touching it just disconnects it.
So either way I loose the call!
Any one have any ideas?

Have you paired the radio to the phone (Bluetooth)?

No, not on purpose. I think it did it by itself when I first entered the truck with the phone on. I was surprised the first time it answered the phone because the volume was up on the radio and the ring blasted the cab! Didnt know what it was at first. I have answered it twice but havent the slightest idea what I did to get the connection. Just jabbing at the radio screen, suddenly I was connected.

They don't do it automatically. Otherwise, it'll try to pair with every nearby phone that has it's bluetooth turned on.

You will need to look up the Pioneer model number
Some need a microphone added to work correctly, they use the regular speakers so you can hear the caller, but need a mic, usually on the visor, to hear you speak back to the caller

Yes, they use Bluetooth to sync calls, so your phone needs to be "paired" to the radio at some point, but that has already been done if the radio changes when your phone rings, it can't do that without being paired first
You can turn your phones Bluetooth off or unPair it, if you don't want to use the radios hands free setup, some prefer ear buds

It must have paired itself becaus I never did it. I have on two occasions actually answered it by just blindly stabbing at the radio untill somethinf happened.

Odd, it really can't pair by itself or anyone walking past the car/truck would get paired, or the person's phone in the car in the next lane over, lol

Maybe they're both paired to something else... and each is trying to pair to the one item available to it that isn't actually paired.

I'd try the process of pairing them before anything else.

Find the model number and google it to get the PDF manual. there you will find how to remove or delete any Bluetooth connection.
And No it will not connect automatic...None of them do on purpose. You have to pair it. Also make sure you see a mic for the radio.

The fact that I have received two (2) phone calls on it and answered them, and it worked tells me that they are paired, however it happened. It works. I dont intend to try un pairing and repairing because I am a computer guru from way back (1960 on IBM 7070) and I have learned that if it works you dont want to undo it or it will never work again!!! I will just keep punching it till it works ALL the time.

Well than, what ever work for you.

Um... if you're really that knowledgeable about computers, then you should already know what to do. Seriously? You're just gonna keep punching it till it works? I didn't know that's how computers have worked since the Kennedy administration.

But hey, I don't have a dog in your show. Do as you wish.

I just came back in from a recky run. YES, it works all the time now. When I got into the truck I plugged the phone into the cahrging cable from the radio and asked wifey to call me. It connected before I even punched anything. Then it occurred to me that it might be the charging cord that made it work so I unplugged it and had her call again. It worked again!! All without hitting the "telephone" icon on the screen. So apparently when it wasnt working was when I mistakenly hit the button and that disconnected me? But I still have no idea how it paired the first time???? But who cares it works fine now and with both my phone numbers, the one on the phone and the google number will both ring thru to the radio. But it would be expected that the google number works because all it does is call the cell phone when it gets a call and the cell phone doesnt care where the signal comes from, just connects the audio to the radio.