Android Auto - no voice guidance from Google Maps on top of DAB / FM radio

[DevonMG4]

Our phones that give no Voice Guidance over FM/DAB are Google Pixel 3a and the wireless device is a CarlinkIT A2A they suffer this issue whether wired or wireless and are both running Android 12.

 

[MikeRosoft]

all I can help with is that the pixel 3a is an android 9 device and the carlinkit a2a specs android 10. I have the carlinkit 4.0 and my realme x50 works wireless with sound through Bluetooth and also over android auto. I don't think voice guidance would work on a2a without being permanent on Bluetooth audio and not getting auto switching ....

 

[TGG1804]

Hi

We have an MG4 SE SR, we've not managed to get AA to give us vocal directions, from reading its not just our car, its quite annoying having the radio start playing when any button is pressed on the infotainment screen, I've learned today about the mute button on the steering wheel and possibly another menu available when you swipe down from the right corner.

But neither phone plugged in will give us voice directions.
Phones are both pixel 6a running android 13
AA is version 8.8.630424

The directions all worked fine on our old MG ZS mk1.

 

[Rip Van]

Those of you whose volume dips but no voice, this might sound silly but in my current car the guidance volume is often so low it's almost inaudible. I can only turn that volume up whilst the voice is speaking.
What I'm suggesting is, don't laugh, that the guidance volume could be set too low.

 

[Jef]

Good to know I'm not the only one. I posted this earlier in the month:


No audio on Waze sat nav (Android auto) since my MG4 SESR went in last week for the lock in update (RC008 - body computer) and also had updates applied to the touch screen to remove "Pre-production hardware" message, front view camera module to tame down the lane assist and a battery management update to allow the energy consumption screen to work, (Pi chart did not show any information previously).

All updates appear to be doing what they should but the no audio from android auto is annoying.

The radio volume drops when an announcement is made but nothing is heard.
Audio from music files play OK.

The technician tried his Android phone with the same result as mine.

I have since found the work around is to select BT audio as soon as the phone is connected, Waze audio is then just audible (with guidance volume set to maximum) but, of course, no longer have use of DAB or FM.
Really annoying that it all worked perfectly before the software updates so it can’t be the phone causing the problem.

 

[Ingo Wilson]

I've already posted a reply to this problem on another thread. You shouldn't need to do this for a car costing close to £30K but turn off Bluetooth on your phone and then connect phone with Android Auto at the ready. You'll then get android directions with suppressed DAB radio.
I never had this problem with a ŹS EV which was a joy to drive for the 3 years I had it. This issue with the MG4 , and many others, led me to px my MG4 for a near new, 72 plate, MG ZS EV Trophy. Needless to say I lost a bundle on the px but its worth every penny for getting back a car that really performs well.

 

[TGG1804]

I've already posted a reply to this problem on another thread. You shouldn't need to do this for a car costing close to £30K but turn off Bluetooth on your phone and then connect phone with Android Auto at the ready. You'll then get android directions with suppressed DAB radio.
I never had this problem with a ŹS EV which was a joy to drive for the 3 years I had it. This issue with the MG4 , and many others, led me to px my MG4 for a near new, 72 plate, MG ZS EV Trophy. Needless to say I lost a bundle on the px but its worth every penny for getting back a car that really performs well.

My phone hasnt been paired via bluetooth with the car though, I've only ever plugged it into the cable for AA to be used. Its most odd as when we say ok google etc we get a vocal response, its purely when requesting vocal directions nothing happens, we do pause the radio? is this something we shouldnt do? Which seems counter productive....

 

[WXman]

Hi

We have an MG4 SE SR, we've not managed to get AA to give us vocal directions, from reading its not just our car, its quite annoying having the radio start playing when any button is pressed on the infotainment screen, I've learned today about the mute button on the steering wheel and possibly another menu available when you swipe down from the right corner.

But neither phone plugged in will give us voice directions.
Phones are both pixel 6a running android 13
AA is version 8.8.630424

The directions all worked fine on our old MG ZS mk1.

I have the same issue (MG4 Standard, Pixel 7), however if you can play your favourite radio station from your phone via an app (eg absolute radio etc) rather than via DAB, then you get audible directions through the Waze app etc too. Hope that helps!

 

[TGG1804]

I have the same issue (MG4 Standard, Pixel 7), however if you can play your favourite radio station from your phone via an app (eg absolute radio etc) rather than via DAB, then you get audible directions through the Waze app etc too. Hope that helps!

Well we dont listen to music while in the car, IMHO its quite distracting, you're in charge of a large chunk of machinery and your whole attention should be on that ¯\(ツ)/¯.

We'll have another play with the radio/AA, its just quite odd that we can say ok google and it'll respond with whatever we've asked it but the audio directions dont come through. If all else fails we'll just use our phones.

 

[DevonMG4]

Hi

We have an MG4 SE SR, we've not managed to get AA to give us vocal directions, from reading its not just our car, its quite annoying having the radio start playing when any button is pressed on the infotainment screen, I've learned today about the mute button on the steering wheel and possibly another menu available when you swipe down from the right corner.

But neither phone plugged in will give us voice directions.
Phones are both pixel 6a running android 13
AA is version 8.8.630424

The directions all worked fine on our old MG ZS mk1.

I started this thread six weeks ago and haven't found a satisfactory answer, but one dodge I can offer you that works - BUT ISN'T THE ANSWER - switch the audio source from DAB to phone media by briefly starting and stopping a podcast, audio book, spotify or whatever. Then you audio is phone audio and not the Radio, you'll have Voice Guidance BUT no radio.

In one of the tiles on the screen I've always got one of the above so for me it's not impossible but not how it should be.

Those of you whose volume dips but no voice, this might sound silly but in my current car the guidance volume is often so low it's almost inaudible. I can only turn that volume up whilst the voice is speaking.
What I'm suggesting is, don't laugh, that the guidance volume could be set too low.

One of my first tries, but not this.

I've already posted a reply to this problem on another thread. You shouldn't need to do this for a car costing close to £30K but turn off Bluetooth on your phone and then connect phone with Android Auto at the ready. You'll then get android directions with suppressed DAB radio.
I never had this problem with a ŹS EV which was a joy to drive for the 3 years I had it. This issue with the MG4 , and many others, led me to px my MG4 for a near new, 72 plate, MG ZS EV Trophy. Needless to say I lost a bundle on the px but its worth every penny for getting back a car that really performs well.

Not tried this but another dodge that isn't ideal, I'll explore though

I have the same issue (MG4 Standard, Pixel 7), however if you can play your favourite radio station from your phone via an app (eg absolute radio etc) rather than via DAB, then you get audible directions through the Waze app etc too. Hope that helps!

I think TGG's issue and certainly mine is not having Voice Guidance play over 'any' radio but it doesn't mute the DAB radio and play voice guidance over that. This is an issue because, for our 4 anyway, DAB is the car wake up audio source even if last use was AA, next day you jump in and drive away and it's back to DAB and then won't mute for VG

 

[TGG1804]

I started this thread six weeks ago and haven't found a satisfactory answer, but one dodge I can offer you that works - BUT ISN'T THE ANSWER - switch the audio source from DAB to phone media by briefly starting and stopping a podcast, audio book, spotify or whatever. Then you audio is phone audio and not the Radio, you'll have Voice Guidance BUT no radio.

In one of the tiles on the screen I've always got one of the above so for me it's not impossible but not how it should be.


One of my first tries, but not this.

Not tried this but another dodge that isn't ideal, I'll explore though

I think TGG's issue and certainly mine is not having Voice Guidance play over 'any' radio but it doesn't mute the DAB radio and play voice guidance over that. This is an issue because, for our 4 anyway, DAB is the car wake up audio source even if last use was AA, next day you jump in and drive away and it's back to DAB and then won't mute for VG

Well!! Holy moly! we just tested it with my phone as I listen to podcasts and it worked!!! I played a bit of podcast then requested the audio directions and it worked!!! And hubs phone we played Apple music but that didnt work.... which was weird but!! we have a workaround, not ideal but who cares if we cant hear the radio, its not something we do in the car, it was the audio directions we wanted! Thank you

 

[ProfMartin]

Our phones that give no Voice Guidance over FM/DAB are Google Pixel 3a and the wireless device is a CarlinkIT A2A they suffer this issue whether wired or wireless and are both running Android 12.

Problem solved: My dealer upgraded the software on my MG4 yesterday. The voice guidance on Google Maps now comes through (whether or not the radio is on).
The Settings now say:
MPU Software version SW169-29958-1100R16
MCU Software Version 69.1.0.9
I don't know which of those is relevant but I hope this info helps others with the problem.

 

[tsedge]

Good, more software progress, slow but they are trying, good to see.

 

[siteguru]

Have you lost the outside temperature indication from the top-right of the Infotainment screen with R16?

(Mine is in for oil leak fix and software updates today. I'm currently on R13).

 

[ProfMartin]

Have you lost the outside temperature indication from the top-right of the Infotainment screen with R16?

(Mine is in for oil leak fix and software updates today. I'm currently on R13).

Yes, It's gone!
What's the solution?

 

[Diggsy]

Yes, It's gone!
What's the solution?

There is no solution yet

 

[siteguru]

I had software updates (when in for oil leak fix) but they didn't update the Infotainment, so I'm still on R13.

 

[Tight Git]

Wonder what we will lose when they bring out R19?

 

[pharrison84]

Problem solved: My dealer upgraded the software on my MG4 yesterday. The voice guidance on Google Maps now comes through (whether or not the radio is on).
The Settings now say:
MPU Software version SW169-29958-1100R16
MCU Software Version 69.1.0.9
I don't know which of those is relevant but I hope this info helps others with the problem.

Trophy owners, is anyone able to test this who has had the very latest software updates (as far as they know)?

It is definitely an issue on ours.

I will just make sure we use an AA audio source rather than the DAB when using AA navigation for the time being.

 

[Pob]

I solved the issue on the in-laws mg4 today. On the phone press and hold on the app. If you have the option there labeled battery saver turn it off. Also allow permission for the app to autostart if available. I did this on Spotify and maps and now Google maps voice guidance works.