Jeep Patriot UCI USB Port Error; How do I play Music?

PatriotUK · Dec 22, 2017

Ok so I was browsing this forum earlier and I note that another user has a similar topic about a USB port he found or something. I didn't wanna hijack that thread so thought I'd just start my own one, as this is slightly different anyway.

First off, a shout out to kjfishman for posting that! It got me curious to see if I had a USB port in my Patriot (as I wasn't aware there was one) but I had a look this evening in the glovebox, and in the most secret, hidden place on the top of the glovebox (you can only really see if you stick your head down there), there was one single USB port! Awesome!

So I plugged my Iphone in to see what happened. It said it was docked and started charging. But I wanna play music ya know. So I hit "aux" twice and it went from the actual AUX connection to "UCI" something. For a while it was trying to read but then it just said "error, could not connect" or something, and there was static kinda noise the louder I turned the volume up.

So what I'm wondering is: My Patriot is a 2.2L Diesel model (UK/European), year late 2010 or early 2011. I don't have a touch screen installed and no other USB ports nor bluetooth as far as I know?! Just a radio, AUX line-in and CD player.

Do I need a certain cable for this to work, or is it actually an add-on to the stereo unit in the car that needs to be installed?

It would be great to be able to connect via USB or bluetooth, so I wouldn't have to (when it's safe) change songs every so often on a playlist while driving, and could just flick the buttons behind the steering wheel which is much safer.

I was gonna get Halfords in the UK or another local private company I found on google who specialise in car stereo installations, to install a whole new unit for me, with DAB + Radio, USB ports and bluetooth etc, but if I could get some smaller add on from Jeep for this UCI thing to work successfully with my Iphone/Ipod, that would be great!

RodMyers · Dec 22, 2017

My initial finding my port produced the same thing. Next visit to dealer, had them check it. It wasn't connected to the "radio". Works every since

PatriotUK · Jan 2, 2018

Weirdly enough, my Patriot's UCI function is now working!!!

I was listening to a CD the other day, and had my Ipod plugged into the USB port (which is in the glove box area) which I recently found, to charge it.

I clicked on "Aux" and it suddenly connected to UCI and this time, instead of searching for ages then failing to connect, it took a while but then connected to my Ipod, and started playing "All songs" lol!!! I then set it to an actual playlist I've made and it starts playing. I can use the little scroll buttons behind (or basically, on) the steering wheel, making for a much more hands-free and safer drive now.

The only thing is it skips the first second of each song, when plugged into the USB (there's like a marginal delay when switching songs), but it is not enough of an issue to bother me.

Brilliant!

Mike48824 · Aug 9, 2018

What kind of cable works in the glovebox port?i tried a usb and an HDMI and neither worked?

drock · Aug 10, 2018

It is a regular USB port, so it takes a regular USB cable. What device are you plugging in? I use a USB thumb drive, and while selecting music via artist/album etc. is dodgy, I normally keep it on random and it works pretty well, even resumes playing where I left off.

Blindowl1234 · Aug 11, 2018

The USB port works with a thumb drive in my 2014 Patriot. Anything I have on my phone music wise, I either use the aux in-Ipod? on the front of the radio...I can also use bluetooth and it works ok. Strangest place I've ever seen for a USB port in the glove box. Wonder why they didn't put these in the radio itself lol

drock · Aug 13, 2018

Blindowl1234 said:
Wonder why they didn't put these in the radio itself lol

These radios are a pretty old design. My 130 is not much advanced from what my wife's '09 Wrangler has. In those days, rather than playing music from your phone (which you'd want to keep handy), you'd probably be using an ipod (which you might want to keep stashed away).

I just deleted what became an overly-long rant about factory radios in general. I will just say in general I don't understand why they are always so behind the times. I understand why upgrades are overpriced but even the upgrades are lacking!

5speed · Aug 13, 2018

Part of its charm IMO. Plenty of aftermarket upgrades available if necessary. Just a matter of throwing money at the perceived problem.

Jeep Patriot UCI USB Port Error; How do I play Music?

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