Issues pairing Bontrager ION PRO RT and Flare RT to new Garmin 530

I have a cadence sensor and heart rate monitor (both by Garmin) paired with the Garmin 1000. Both are currently disabled though, so it cannot be due to interference or some sort of power-related issue. So at the minute my Ion Pro RT is paired and working, although it gest disconnected approx 25 minutes into every ride. Flare RT used to work, but it doesn't since yesterday and cannot be paired with the Garmin still. 

Yes - CAD/SPD sensors and Edge remote control.

• Yes, I tried several times. The Flare cannot be found anymore and the headlight disconnects after a short while! And when that happens I cannot change the light mode even manually. Trek/Bontrager no longer offers online support, so I’m taking these back to the store this weekend! I paid £15 for a cheap plastic mount (Blendr) so my handlebar looks neat, but there is something clearly wrong with these lights!

This might be a bit difficult, as since yesterday I became the owner of a Varia RTL515 ;-). During my first ride today, it did not disconnect once. As for my sensors - they are all garmin - admittedly first generation I think, as they come from the Edge 520 kit.

I have been having the same issues, and have tried various solutions.  Still flaky, but there are a few things I have learned:

1.  Be VERY patient pairing.  You will often go through several cycles of "forming network" followed by "disconnected."  Delete both lights.  Then start with one at a time.  Let it sit and spin.  Wait until the display for the light shows with a name ("Headlight" or the like) AND shows a battery level.  If you still see a"?" in the battery icon, you're not there: wait, and restart if it fails.  Repeat with second light.

2.  Set the lights to come on when you start the timer, not on power up.  Otherwise, you'll turn your lights on at home if you turn on the Garmin, and get weird results if the lights come in and out of bluetooth range.

3.  MOST IMPORTANT:  DO NOT USE Auto Sleep option.  In auto sleep, the Garmin turns off all the sensors, but leaves the GPS on (otherwise it won't know when to wake back up).  Lights turn off.  But when you start rolling again, they don't turn back on; apparently the lights only trigger off the start timer button.  Similarly, don't use manual Sleep mode: turn the power all the way off (just hold the power button down til you get the power off/sleep option menu). Entering and exiting sleep mode confuses the tiny Bontrager brain.

Hope this helps.

i think i'll return the lights after reading your recommendations. This is not really what i expected in terms of convenience / reliability. Too bad!

I use both the lights in 'individual' mode. Not working as they should. I manually decide when I want to turn the lights on. When I do I set them on from te sensor menu and both lights wake up. When disabling the lights only the taillight disables and have to toggle a few times on the slider of the front to get it out.

Weird that Garmin can't fix this and sad that the bontrager ciq app is only available for touchscreen computers....

general question to all owners: Is the tail light still a good buy even though the "smart" features are not working reliably? 

Yes, out of all the tail lights I've owned as a former bike mechanic this one ranks near the top for me.