First Time Jeep Owner Here - Radio Question

[Nubs]

Hi all, first time owner here with a nice 2021 Gladiator Willys. Traded in my 2016 RAM 1500 for it and it's a great vehicle and a lot of fun so far!

Had a question about the radio. I have my phone synced to the radio and exclusively play music via Bluetooth. However, each time I start the Jeep, the radio defaults to FM instead of Bluetooth. Every time I get in the Jeep, I have to tap the media button, then Bluetooth, then select my phone, THEN it will play. Kind of a PITA really. My Jeep has the small display and it seems there is somewhat limited settings and functionality with it compared to videos I have seen.

How can I configure the radio to autoplay the music on my phone when the Jeep starts? I have searched the settings with no luck.

Thanks!

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[redfish]

I have the 5" inch radio as well, have not got it to auto-play on Bluetooth but once everything is booted up and you have you music app open on your phone you can push the media button twice quickly and it will start up.

 

[NachoRuby]

Yep, it's the 5 inch screen. I had that screen in my compass. It defaults to radio no matter what you do.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Hi all, first time owner here with a nice 2021 Gladiator Willys. Traded in my 2016 RAM 1500 for it and it's a great vehicle and a lot of fun so far!

Had a question about the radio. I have my phone synced to the radio and exclusively play music via Bluetooth. However, each time I start the Jeep, the radio defaults to FM instead of Bluetooth. Every time I get in the Jeep, I have to tap the media button, then Bluetooth, then select my phone, THEN it will play. Kind of a PITA really. My Jeep has the small display and it seems there is somewhat limited settings and functionality with it compared to videos I have seen.

How can I configure the radio to autoplay the music on my phone when the Jeep starts? I have searched the settings with no luck.

Thanks!

Nice looking Jeep. I like that color scheme. Have you tried wited Apple car play or android auto? I have the 7”, so don’t know if the 5” has it, but if it does, it works great. I don’t even have my Bluetooth paired it’s so good.

 

[NachoRuby]

Nice looking Jeep. I like that color scheme. Have you tried wited Apple car play or android auto? I have the 7”, so don’t know if the 5” has it, but if it does, it works great. I don’t even have my Bluetooth paired it’s so good.

No carplay or AA on the 5 inch. Just Bluetooth and am/FM.

 

[WILDHOBO]

No carplay or AA on the 5 inch. Just Bluetooth and am/FM.

Oh well. I bet they could find a 7” take off from a member pretty affordably. Just a thought. So many want to upgrade to the 8.4 or aftermarket that there is probably a deal to be found.

 

[Nubs]

Hey all, thanks for the replies. I am finding it very hard to believe the radio won't just auto play my phone when the car starts. I had a 2016 RAM that did it perfectly...hard to believe a car made 5 years later would have less functionality.

Thanks again. If this is true, I'll have to rethink keeping this vehicle, as that could very well be a deal-breaker. I also haven't found a way to permanently disable the silly engine shut-off function when the Jeep is stopped. I find this feature to also be quite annoying and unwanted.

Thanks again.

 

[mdyucca]

You will need to convert it to the 8.4 screen for the options your looking for. For the auto stop/start you will need to invest in a tazer that will allow the stop/start to stay in the off position.

 

[WILDHOBO]

You will need to convert it to the 8.4 screen for the options your looking for. For the auto stop/start you will need to invest in a tazer that will allow the stop/start to stay in the off position.

Don’t get me wrong, the 8.4 is great, but they might get the features needed in the 7”. I can configure mine to auto play media when the phone is connected, and it has Apple and android auto. 2nd the Tazer for auto start stop. You might find that most new gas vehicles have this. Auto makers need to have this to meet efficiency requirements. Selling the JT and switching to something else might land you in a vehicle you can’t customize with a Tazer.

 

[NachoRuby]

Hey all, thanks for the replies. I am finding it very hard to believe the radio won't just auto play my phone when the car starts. I had a 2016 RAM that did it perfectly...hard to believe a car made 5 years later would have less functionality.

Thanks again. If this is true, I'll have to rethink keeping this vehicle, as that could very well be a deal-breaker. I also haven't found a way to permanently disable the silly engine shut-off function when the Jeep is stopped. I find this feature to also be quite annoying and unwanted.

Thanks again.

A brand new Ram Bighorn or Tradesman has this same 5" screen too. It's just the base FCA screen, for most of their vehicles. It sounds like you traded a well-equipped Ram for a less-optioned Jeep. It's a question of trim and packages, not model year. You bought the base radio. Just get an aftermarket radio for the autoplay thing, if it's that big of a deal. Or upgrade to the factory 7 inch or 8.4 (I'm sure someone is selling a used one). That's much cheaper than trading in a vehicle because you don't like the stereo. It's a shame the dealership didn't explain it to you, but there's a reason it's the base system.

You can't permanently disable the engine auto shutoff thing, because that's against the EPA rules for manufacturers to allow. If they do, they have to claim the lower city mpg that would result. New Rams have it too, and it also can't be permanently shut off.

Actually, most new cars have it. You can disable it aftermarket, but Jeep/FCA/Stellantis can't help you.

 

[Uparms]

Hey all, thanks for the replies. I am finding it very hard to believe the radio won't just auto play my phone when the car starts. I had a 2016 RAM that did it perfectly...hard to believe a car made 5 years later would have less functionality.

Thanks again. If this is true, I'll have to rethink keeping this vehicle, as that could very well be a deal-breaker. I also haven't found a way to permanently disable the silly engine shut-off function when the Jeep is stopped. I find this feature to also be quite annoying and unwanted.

Thanks again.

Jesus, sell it and get out now. We have long list of things you are not gonna like that the rest of us realize are no big deal for what we DO get from this great vehicle.

Here 's a link to some cars in Maryland for you..

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inven...50&entitySelectingHelper.selectedEntity=d2418


Best of luck in your search!!!

 

[kad's_Glad]

You will need to convert it to the 8.4 screen for the options your looking for. For the auto stop/start you will need to invest in a tazer that will allow the stop/start to stay in the off position.

Tazer is great if you want to do a bunch of other customization to the electronics. But, if you only want to eliminate the Start/Stop "feature" there are devices for doing only that out there that are about a third the cost of a Tazer. And an upgrade to a used 7" or 8.4" radio might be a worthwhile investment in the long run. WMMV

 

[WILDHOBO]

Jesus, sell it and get out now. We have long list of things you are not gonna like that the rest of us realize are no big deal for what we DO get from this great vehicle.

Here 's a link to some cars in Maryland for you..

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inven...50&entitySelectingHelper.selectedEntity=d2418


Best of luck in your search!!!

No need to be rude to them. They asked for help, not sarcasm.

 

[Nubs]

Thanks again all for the replies. Like I said, I'm having a really hard time accepting this whole radio thing. Just doesn't make sense to me. If the last thing I was playing was Bluetooth, start next time with Bluetooth. Anyone know why they decided to configure it this way? I assume it's about money.

Thanks again.

 

[Gvsukids]

Thanks again all for the replies. Like I said, I'm having a really hard time accepting this whole radio thing. Just doesn't make sense to me. If the last thing I was playing was Bluetooth, start next time with Bluetooth. Anyone know why they decided to configure it this way? I assume it's about money.

Thanks again.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/uconnect-bluetooth-audio-connection-issue.27256/

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