Mach E Android Auto + Galaxy S20 Ultra = :-(

[mherbold]

I have both a 2022 Mach E Premium and a 2022 F-350 DRW King Ranch.

I got the F-350 around November 2021. On the F-350, my Galaxy S20 Ultra connects to it via Android Auto perfectly, meaning I can have Pandora running on my phone and the truck will play music beautifully. No issues, ever.

I finally got my Mach E June 2022 (built January 2022). Nearly flawless, but the biggest glaring issue is Android Auto. It just downright sucks as far as audio. Google Map works perfectly. When I first turn the car on, music will play normally (via Pandora app or whatever) just fine and at normal volume and sounding good... until I get my first alert on the phone. It could be someone text messaging me, or a Google Map turn update, or whatever... then suddenly music will cut to half volume and sound a bit different (less bass)... and stay. that. way. The only way I can get audio to work normally again is to turn the car completely off, and then on again. Then someone sends me a text message and it sounds crap again... sigh. Sometimes after a few minutes (like 10 or so) it will suddenly sound normal again for a few seconds then suddenly cut off and the sound system turns itself off. Android Auto is still connected... it's just that the sound system (the button in the middle of the dial on the big screen) will just go off by itself, magically. This is so aggravating and so glaring. I don't get why music via Android Auto works perfectly on the F-350 and is so awful on the Mach E... for the exact same phone.

Any ideas?

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[shadowsjc]

This happens to me on rare occasions (previously galaxy s10, now galaxy s22+). I turned off notification sounds (text messages, whatsapp) within the android auto settings and it pretty much resolves the issue. The downside is occasionally the Google maps turn by turn navigation instructions will still occasionally trigger this issue, but I typically drive with that off so it's not so frequent

 

[Guss-E 2021]

until I get my first alert on the phone. It could be someone text messaging me, or a Google Map turn update, or whatever... then suddenly music will cut to half volume and sound a bit different (less bass)... and stay. that. way. The only way I can get audio to work normally again is to turn the car completely off, and then on again. Then someone sends me a text message and it sounds crap again... sigh. Sometimes after a few minutes (like 10 or so) it will suddenly sound normal again for a few seconds then suddenly cut off and the sound system turns itself off. Android Auto is still connected... it's just that the sound system (the button in the middle of the dial on the big screen) will just go off by itself, magically. This is so aggravating and so glaring. I don't get why music via Android Auto works perfectly on the F-350 and is so awful on the Mach E... for the exact same phone.

I have a 2022 Premium and a Galaxy S22+. I've had this happen once and like you I restarted the car. The only thing I can suggest is trying to match the volume of Google Assistant to that of your music. I did that yesterday on a short road trip and it seemed to help.

Unfortunately, the real fix that needs to happen is better software optimization/integration with Android Auto in the car. I have not been able to find what version of Bluetooth the car has either. I would hope it is Version 12 like our phones. Does the issue happen with a wired connection as well as a wireless one? I have not tested that myself.

 

[mdpmdp]

I have a Pixel 6 Pro and had something similar happen in my previous car with wired Android Auto. When I would go to adjust the volume, it would show that it was only adjusting the navigation volume and not the music volume, and like you mentioned my music audio would be about half of what it was supposed to be (but navigation volume would be fine and adjustable). To fix it, I had to trigger the Google Assistant with the microphone button and then cancel it, then my music audio would go back to previous (correct) level and I could adjust it using the volume knob. Maybe give that a try and see if it helps? I have not had issues in the Mach-E, just thought this anecdote might help.

 

[mherbold]

Ok so I figured out the solution.

The solution is to turn EQ off on the phone. For some reason, having a custom EQ screws up Android Auto. So... turn it off (set it back to "Normal"), and all is good.

(EQ = Equalizer)

 

[daemonic3]

Ooohhh, yes I have this problem as well. I love my EQ to cut out mids as they hurt my ears.

My workaround for the past year has been to cycle the screen on/off using the power button on my phone (GS20+ and GS22Ultra both do it). For whatever reason, this makes it re-apply the EQ. Give it a try, I'd like to see if that works around your issue too so you can enjoy the EQ on the phone which is superior to the 3 tone sliders in the Sync.

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