2011 Explorer Bluetooth Noise

[182RG]

The BT mic on the Ex is terrible...and there is only one on the driver's side.

My 2010 VW Jetta TDI has excellent mic(s), and there is one on both the driver's and passenger's side.

Ford's bean counters won this one........

 

[stripesace]

How do we go about getting this problem escalated to someone who can do something about it? I'm on the phone with my wife right now, whose driving my Exp for the day... Soooo much background noise. It's hard to hear her. There's obviously some noise canceling algorithm problems, as well as some equalization changes that could be made to the system to improve the quality/clarity for the other end of the call. Also, there's some adjustments that can be made to the physical location of the microphone. It's placement isn't terrible, but there are some things that could be done to help with some of the things like A/C noise being picked up.

 

[gcr33]

Once again why is the roof hollow? I have tried to remove the mic but there is no slack and I can find no insulation around the hole in the headliner.

I do have the sun roof, starting to get some rattling from what sounds like the glove box but that is in another thread.

It's my 5th Ford Explorer but it makes me wonder. 7900 miles 2 1/2 months. No one at Ford seems to give a damn about my 46k EX.

 

[DMesk]

upate

Took in to dealer for new mic, They also stuffed some foam packing material behind the mic. Great inprovement. Still has some noise but much better, I also put a rag over the mic to see what happens. It seemed to help as well on my answering machine. Going to look for some of that foam mic covering now and stick over mic.
On a unrelated item the A-Pillar cover blew off today going down the highway at 70mph with a strong headwind. Dang!

 

[stripesace]

Dmesk - how did you get your dealer to do that? did you get cory involved? is this an accepted/published fix?

 

[DMesk]

I told them about the problem and they came up with the fix. I think the insulation helped isolate the mic and I also think the mic was bad. I also pointed them to this forum specificly the thread with the rain noise and the tin roof. I did not have corey escalate

 

[DMesk]

Here is another idea I am trying. I took some thin felt and used some rubber cement to adhere over the mic. I am hopeful it will improve even more. This fix is a easy one if anyone wants to give it a try. I havent had a chance to get any feedback yet.

 

[flaguy]

DMesk,

I appreciate you sharing the work-arounds that you have tried, but isn't it sad that we would have to tackle this ourselves with improvisations when it is something that Ford should be doing.

 

[gunner_bob]

There is no fix to the wind noise - bluetooth



I'm in the same boat as everyone else....driving and having the wind noise with bluetooth at highway speeds. Come on Ford...this is not brain surgery! Everyone that has responded to this problem has provided the Engineers with enough data to "FIX THE PROBLEM". The big question is, do they want to invest the time, effort and money. It is obvious the problem lies with the lication of the mic, the noise canellation feature is inop, and to top it off, there is no insulation in the roof around the sunroof/moonroof area. I am really, really suprised the responses of EX owners have received from Ford Dealerships, and the MY SYNC folks. I have had the 2.11 software update and this HAS NOT FIXED IT! My dealership has kicked me to the curb, and it looks like ford technicians need to hear more feedback from all the 2011 Explorer owners so they can feel our pain....I agree with past comments, $46K vehicle with a 10 cent microphone....zero insulation. Go Figure!!!!!!

 

[flaguy]

Bob, you're right about the dealer response. The tech at my dealership said he called one of his buddies at 70 mph with my X and had no problem. My guess is that's his response because he has no idea how to handle the problem. Ford should, but apparently our complaints are falling on deaf ears.

 

[gcr33]

I guess their lack of response is their answer.

Like I said before, perhaps a few lemon law returns might awaken them.

It's my 5th Ford EX and I had no problem with my 08 now I agree I did not have MFT.

 

[teh bishop]

Well, I'm giving Ford free publicity! Everyone that asks me what the issue is when I talk to them gets to know that it's my 2011 Explorer Limited top of the line $46k vehicle with a cheap mic. My boss was about to buy an Explorer and instead bought a Chevy Suburban, so I'm affecting positive change as much as I can.

 

[flaguy]

Way to go, Bishop!!!

 

[DMesk]

I have a friend who purchased a Ford F-350 Desiel w/sync and his bluetooth has zero background noise. The mic is over by the window. I wonder if the mic is the same part#. Why does it work in the truck and not the X
Ford needs to see why the truck system works and X doesnt. Any techs out there that no the difference?

 

[flaguy]

The Ford Customer Service reps have been especiallly quiet on this issue. It appears that Ford is just going to let us struggle until we give up. I hope we don't.

 

[Mello944]

I'm convinced it's from wind/outside noise beating on the hollow roof. When I'm not moving nobody complains about noise on the phone. As soon as I get on the highway people complain that it sounds like I'm in a tornado. Also when I went into a noisy tunnel the person on the other line started complaining even though the sound level inside the car didn't really change. Air conditioner seems to have no affect on sound.

 

[Car 54]

I'm going to try stuffing some foam in behind my mic. I'll post back the results.


Does anyone have a way to record the audio from the phone call to post?

 

[DMesk]

Something I did want to try is to make a call with the mic dangling from the head liner. This would rule out the noise from the roof. My service guy told me if you pull the mic down it wont go back up and stay. So I let them put the foam back there and replace the mic. Like I said before there is a improvement but still more noise than it should be. I am still not sure its the Blackberry phone. It picks up lot of noise it shouldnt when on any bluetooth. So if you listen to the background noise during a call it sounds like the interior of the car when traveling 70 mph. It also varies with rough roads, concrete, asphalt, etc.. smoother the road, less interior noise better the call is. So I now believe it is the noise cancelling software. There is none or its not working in my car. Now I just try and get my calls done in the parking lots.

 

[Car 54]

I'm going to try stuffing some foam in behind my mic. I'll post back the results.


Does anyone have a way to record the audio from the phone call to post?

Getting the mic out is a cinch. Just reach your hand up through the sunroof opening and push the mic down. It's a small plastic box with no wire slack.

It pops up back in there no problem. There is no insulation in the head liner.

I'm going to look around the house tomorrow for some foam to try.

 

[flaguy]

Getting the mic out is a cinch. Just reach your hand up through the sunroof opening and push the mic down. It's a small plastic box with no wire slack.

It pops up back in there no problem. There is no insulation in the head liner.

I'm going to look around the house tomorrow for some foam to try.

That's a fix that will not work for us poor folks without a sunroof.