[dr_glenn]

This is very annoying. I get into the car and it establishes Bluetooth connection with my Android phone (Moto G5s+).
If I switch to BT, I can play music from phone or can use Google Assistant (e.g., to send SMS by speaking) or Google Maps can speak directions to me.
But if I am listening to radio, the BT audio remains connected and I hear nothing from my phone. GMaps voice is not heard; feedback from Google Assistant is not heard.
There is no problem with Bluetooth Phone (a different audio channel) - if a call comes in, the audio system switches as it should.

This seems like an obvious flaw. I wonder if the presence of Android app "ReadItToMe" is the cause? It is not currently turned on, but it is installed.

 

[Falconer]

Try booting the phone in safe mode to ensure it's not a third party app?


Charlie

 

[KlumzyDriver]

I am an IOS user, but I am reasonably certain Apple Car Play functionality for Google Maps may require the phone be plugged into one of the car's USB ports (at least that is how IOS works). After doing so, you get will see Car Play enabled as you scroll the available apps.

The bluetooth functionality of receiving phone calls, listening to music (from the phone) or using Google Assistant do not require the phone to be plugged in.

 

[KlumzyDriver]

Sorry to confuse you, with Android you will see "Android Auto" instead of "Apple Car Play".

 

[dr_glenn]

I am an IOS user, but I am reasonably certain Apple Car Play functionality for Google Maps may require the phone be plugged into one of the car's USB ports (at least that is how IOS works). After doing so, you get will see Car Play enabled as you scroll the available apps.

The bluetooth functionality of receiving phone calls, listening to music (from the phone) or using Google Assistant do not require the phone to be plugged in.

Yes, I know that Bluetooth does not require the phone to be plugged in. This topic is strictly about Bluetooth and has nothing to do with the functions that are available in Android Auto or Apple Car Play.

 

[dr_glenn]

Try booting the phone in safe mode to ensure it's not a third party app?

Thanks for the suggestion. I put phone into safe mode. No help.

Repeat with possibly a bit more clarity:

If car has Bluetooth device selected, then when I activate Google Assistant and ask to send a text message, I do get the audio feedback: to whom, what's the message, etc. So this is how it works in safe or normal mode, and this is how you want it to work.
But if I'm listening to radio and try to interact with Assistant using audio, there is no spoken feedback, neither on the car system or the phone itself. Also when I press the microphone on my phone to speak, it does not silence the radio.
Now maybe this is all a car system can do with Bluetooth Audio/Music, but it certainly behaves better with Bluetooth Phone: in that case the radio is silenced, whether for incoming or outgoing call.

I'm inclined to call this a bug in the Hondalink audio system.

 

[AMCooper63]

If you are not on Bluetooth as the source, you do not get anything from the Bluetooth. I have not seen any other system work any differently. Before Android Auto, we always had to be in Bluetooth as the source and listen to something on the phone (iHeart) while using Google Maps or interacting with the phone. Now, with Android Auto, I can play the FM radio in background while using Android Auto features. Things work more like you always hoped Bluetooth did work.

 

[dr_glenn]

If you are not on Bluetooth as the source, you do not get anything from the Bluetooth. I have not seen any other system work any differently. Before Android Auto, we always had to be in Bluetooth as the source and listen to something on the phone (iHeart) while using Google Maps or interacting with the phone. Now, with Android Auto, I can play the FM radio in background while using Android Auto features. Things work more like you always hoped Bluetooth did work.

I just knew I wasn't clear enough. If I have turned off the audio system (power off, that is), I expect that voice feedback will come out of my phone's speaker. But it does not! It is silent. So what does this mean? It means that the BT Audio/Music connection is maintained even though the car audio system is powered off - that seems like a real bug. Mind you, you do want the BT Phone connection to be maintained, because you want incoming phone calls to be heard on the car audio.

They need to handle BT Phone and BT Audio separately.

 

[insightfully]

In the Google Maps app (on the right hand side when connected to Bluetooth - see attachment), there's a small speaker that sometimes needs to be enabled. The setting stays after you've selected it once. Do you get this on your screen as an available option?

 

[dr_glenn]

In the Google Maps app (on the right hand side when connected to Bluetooth - see attachment), there's a small speaker that sometimes needs to be enabled. The setting stays after you've selected it once. Do you get this on your screen as an available option?

Of course I get that option. The speaker is enabled. Are you suggesting that the Insight Bluetooth connection could switch Android phone to mute?

Let me repeat ...

• Car is running. Car audio is turned off or car audio is in use with radio.
• Google Maps audio output disappears into the void.
• Google Assistant audio output (such as when trying to interact with "Hey Google") disappears into the void.

Think about how wrong this is - even if the car audio system is turned off my phone cannot talk to me! If I want to use either GMaps audio directions or Google Assistant, but I am not connected using Android Auto, then I MUST turn on car audio and choose Bluetooth.

I did try booting into Safe mode - still have this problem.
Doesn't anyone else have this problem?

 

[andrew28]

I just knew I wasn't clear enough. If I have turned off the audio system (power off, that is), I expect that voice feedback will come out of my phone's speaker. But it does not! It is silent. So what does this mean? It means that the BT Audio/Music connection is maintained even though the car audio system is powered off - that seems like a real bug. Mind you, you do want the BT Phone connection to be maintained, because you want incoming phone calls to be heard on the car audio.

They need to handle BT Phone and BT Audio separately.

Seems like a handoff bug with BT audio but not BT phone(which requires an update to the in car tablet OS by Honda and that is if they care to fix it). I don't really expect any auto manufacture except Tesla to constantly update the in car software so I made sure to only buy a car with CarPlay/Android Auto built in. This way, as long as my phone's OS, and apps are updated... I shouldn't experience any in car multimedia issues since CarPlay/Android Auto is running off my phone and not the car's tablet screen OS.

 

[AMCooper63]

I've only driven Hondas. The only other Honda I have with Bluetooth is a 2013 CR-Z. That is normal for how Honda uses Bluetooth. If you want what you talk about, you must:
1. use the Bluetooth input on the radio. Then you will hear your phone but not the Honda audio.
2. use Android Auto. You can now blend the car's radio with your android features. I don't use iOS.