Carplay volume glitches with driving directions

[SenecaLotus2023]

Bumping this thread in the hopes that this issue might have been resolved. When listening to an Apple Podcast on the iPhone via wired CarPlay, if Waze interjects, the podcast volume remains almost muted. I also do not have this problem with any other car, and have noticed the same problem now across two different iPhones!

 

[Medic518]

I have not had this issue - But to point out some differences, I connect via wireless to CarPlay. However, I have played music, listened to podcasts, and streamed the SiriusXM app all while using navigation. I will also add that I don't routinely use Waze, I more rely on Google maps. Wondering if it is something with the Waze app in combination the head unit?

Additinal information:
All updates through July 2025 applied to the Emira
iPhone updated to OS26

 

[Rapture]

This happens to me when listening to a Podcast via Spotify. Interestingly, it does not have the issue when listening to music on Spotify. How does it know?

 

[OppositeLock]

Interesting discovery today. I was driving in a place where there is no cell coverage, and so, I was using Google Maps because it supports downloading offline maps. It doesn't have the audio volume glitch that Waze exhibits, so I can play podcasts, music, whatever, and the volume returns to normal after the navigation is done speaking.

My car is running the latest software updates as of approximately a month ago.

 

[Medic518]

Interesting discovery today. I was driving in a place where there is no cell coverage, and so, I was using Google Maps because it supports downloading offline maps. It doesn't have the audio volume glitch that Waze exhibits, so I can play podcasts, music, whatever, and the volume returns to normal after the navigation is done speaking.

My car is running the latest software updates as of approximately a month ago.

So that is X2 on Google Maps not having the same issue as Waze - I primarily use Google Maps too, and have never had the issue.

 

[OppositeLock]

And Waze doesn't have this issue in my Porsche or Subaru.

It appears to be a Waze + Emira bug.

 

[Andy H]

Also, can confirm it happens with wireless Carplay and Waze in my car too but only very occasionally. There's no rhyme or reason to it. Next time it works normally again.

 

[Suprluminal]

For me music is fine, but podcasts is a no go. It lowers the volume and stays low.

 

[kitkat]

I think we can all admit whatever team coded the carplay integration with this geely unit has never either used an iphone nor tested their work. Just an absolute disaster of an implementation.

 

[Steve24]

I can’t comment on the nav / volume side of things, but I am still driven slightly mad by the fact that the car doesn’t seem to remember volume settings.

It doesn’t matter what I do, every time I get in the car the radio comes on and I have to turn it down to zero (I rarely listen to anything in the car). Even if I just stop for five minutes, I start the car up and yep, the radio comes on again.
FFS, how hard is it just to remember what the situation was when I turned the car off? You know, like every other car I’ve ever owned?

What’s worse though is that when I inevitably turn the volume down to solve this problem, when someone calls me we can’t hear each other until I madly scramble to turn the volume up again.

I’ve been through all the menus with the master volume, etc etc but nothing seems to change this.

All I want is to be able to make and answer calls as normal (I’m using CarPlay) and not have the damn radio come on every time I start the car….

 

[675430VME]

I think we can all admit whatever team coded the carplay integration with this geely unit has never either used an iphone nor tested their work. Just an absolute disaster of an implementation.

At least you have CarPlay, we dun even have that in the Chinese market lol

 

[kitkat]

At least you have CarPlay, we dun even have that in the Chinese market lol

There's no need to have carplay if it just locks up every drive for me

 

[675430VME]

There's no need to have carplay if it just locks up every drive for me

I almost pay to retrofit (~1000 USD) CarPlay on mine until reading all these horrible stories. Now I get used to the factory Nav and entertainment apps and found them not so bad after all.

 

[brainf18]

There's no need to have carplay if it just locks up every drive for me

Same...I just mount my phone on the windshield and use it for google maps / nav. Emira carplay both wireless and wired locks up every time. I did speak with the dealer and apparently there are 4 updates that my car does not have. Its going in this week for the reprogramming. Hopefully one of them fixes the issue.

 

[kitkat]

Same...I just mount my phone on the windshield and use it for google maps / nav. Emira carplay both wireless and wired locks up every time. I did speak with the dealer and apparently there are 4 updates that my car does not have. Its going in this week for the reprogramming. Hopefully one of them fixes the issue.

It won't , I don't think the media / hud has received any updates.

Every time I use navigation, the carplay on the Emira locks up within 10 minutes and won't come back until I lock the car and it goes to sleep. Cable is the only solution.

 

[OppositeLock]

Same here. The wireless carplay is useless in this car, but I've had no problems with the wired connection (and I prefer it, as my old phone as a weak battery and it's nice to get power).

 

[Orchardbike]

Wireless CarPlay works fine in my car. Never had an issue, other than when using the peage stations in France.

 

[Medic518]

Wireless CarPlay works fine in my car. Never had an issue, other than when using the peage stations in France.

Agreed, I have never had wireless CarPlay lockup at all. Worst has been that it sometimes does not automatically connect right away..

 

[gdotp]

I’ve had this issue since delivery and yes it drives me nuts. Multiple phones and not fixed by software updates. I’d been running ios26 beta and I thought for one of the releases it was fixed but now I’m on the main release it’s returned.

 

[Reesebobby]

I have the issue where CarPlay bricks if I use the voice input for an address in google maps. Doesn’t do it for Apple Maps. I went through all the debugging steps with Apple to no avail. It is definitely an Emira implementation of CarPlay issue. No issues in any other cars. When I brought it to the dealer they said Lotus just passed the buck to Apple. My expectations that Lotus will address these issues is very low.