Audio from iPhone is unintelligible

My 2018 limited has the worst audio quality coming from the speakers---I've ever had with any vehicle--- when using the the phone. I have an iphone xr and tested with my wifes iphone as well. When a call comes in or I make a call, I have to switch to choosing the speaker directly from phone to have any kind of conversation and bypass the 4 runners audio system.

The dealer said there's nothing that can be done as the 4 runner speaker is MONO? I don't believe this answer. The dealer where I bought the truck said he has the same problem and nothing can be done.

I don't understand this as the audio quality from xm radio, or when listening to AM/FM is fine. I have deleted and re-installed blue tooth connections but the quality remains high pitched and squeaky, scratchy. One of our members must have run into this problem?

 

Can you describe the audio problem? Is it only when using the phone, or do you have media streaming issues as well? What is the nature of the problem, is it just scratchy/squeaky sound or other issues as well?

The 4R microphone picks up background noise when using the phone hands free, but this issue usually only affects the caller on the other end (turn down your volume to solve the problem in many cases).

 

Hi Toffees
Audio problem IS ONLY WHEN USING THE PHONE. Sound is like from a garbled, alien voice. It's beyond transmission and I understand the 4r mike with background noise. It's the receiving when speaking to someone that is the overall problem so its both speaking and receiving.

 

I don't know about xm radio as I never used it.

FM radio I haven't notice stereo audio as its not that quality.

The high quality music I have locally on my phone played both blue-tooth and via Android auto on my 2021 I hear that its stereo and and clear sound. I underline the word high quality music because if you don't have high quality music it cannot enhance the quality.

I do agree the JBL on our 4Runners are not good as my home theater speakers but I don't complain how they perform considering how small the speakers are and have no acoustic cabinets/casing on them, just mounted to the metal.


Edit,
Oops, you are talking about call quality. I don't have complains on call quality either. I don't expect calls to be high quality stereo but its acceptable.

 

Do you have aftermarket speakers? Is the audio system factory? I'd look on Tacoma World too. Probably find an answer on there

 

Are you the original owner. Previous owners may have made changes and tried to revert changes before trading/selling. Just a thought.

We got a used late model Camry for my college son. Its got an hidden complicated aftermarket security system that's difficult to remove from one location. Works well though but will get triggered if you try to bypass it.

 

First, on what the dealer said, that's nonsense. Whether the audio is mono or stereo, I don't think that has any relationship to your issue. I am not an AV guy, but it sounds to me like interference of some sort, but then I can't imagine why it only happens to the phone and not media as well, since both should use BT. But if your phones work in another vehicle then you can rule out a phone based issue (which I suspect you've already tried). Without more info, I would guess you either have some other device or system that is creating interference with the signal or you have something wrong with your head unit. I have never had any issue with my 2016 that hasn't been resolved by dropping the call and/or reconnecting the BT.

 

Makes sense that there is interference. Since we are traveling, Stopped by another dealer's service manager, who knew to go into diagnostics for the sound system.
By holding the audio button and turning the headlight switch on/off five times brings up settings that few know about.
This will be a work in progress.

 

Very interesting. Tell us more about this feature and how you’re troubleshooting.

 

Old thread but I stumbled on this thread due to my new to me 4Runner and after the first 3 calls I realized there was quality issues as the other parties constantly kept saying “what?”. I actually found that PDF in the above image with service info on maybe improving the audio quality.
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2015/MC-10152266-9999.pdf