Microphone on the handsfree. V8 Vantage

[jcf]

I tried finding this in the search facility but it is under maintenance.

Does anyone else have a problem with being heard on the handfree of the Vantage?

I have only had the car for a few weeks (09 plate) but everyone to a man tells me they cant hear me properly.

Is it a mic fault or something typical anyone else has experience of?

It is under warranty but I just wanted to check its not just a crappy system as standard. Which I doubt and hope not. :-)

Cheers

John

[AdamV12V]

Yup its a bit of a common problem. From MY11 (I believe) the mic was changed and is now located directly above the driver near the sun visor.

[v8woollie]

Nobody has told me that. However I normally use it to call my wife and I'm fairly sure she doesn't listen to a word I say! I think it is better than the hands-free I had on the Audi though.

[peterr96]

Been moaning about it since new.
Not that I make many phone calls from the car, but once you've paid for the bluetooth kit you would expect to be able to use it at anything other than standstill.
Definitely a case of TADTS

[BingoBob]

Haven't people been getting this fixed under warranty?

This really irritates me on mine. How difficult is it to relocate the mic? Anyone done it?

[mikey k]

AdamV12V said:

Yup its a bit of a common problem. From MY11 (I believe) the mic was changed and is now located directly above the driver near the sun visor.

+1

[Neil1300R]

Mine's got two microphones. The original one located by the rear view mirror and another that was installed by the dealer to stop the original owner moaning!

[steveatesh]

This is a warranty issue - they install a small microphone above the drivers head, tucked away in the corner. Mine was the exact same colour as the headlining and it blends in very well. Solved the being heard problem immediately. The wire is well hidden and goes in to the rear view mirror. A very good fix IMHO.

I suggest you take it back and have it fixed if still under warranty

[v12uuu]

steveatesh said:

This is a warranty issue - they install a small microphone above the drivers head, tucked away in the corner. Mine was the exact same colour as the headlining and it blends in very well. Solved the being heard problem immediately. The wire is well hidden and goes in to the rear view mirror. A very good fix IMHO.

I suggest you take it back and have it fixed if still under warranty

+1 - had the same solution for my V12V and works as well as the new models with the relocated mike.

I just don't understand how they managed to get a little thing like this wrong for such a long time.

[johng39]

v12uuu said:

steveatesh said:

This is a warranty issue - they install a small microphone above the drivers head, tucked away in the corner. Mine was the exact same colour as the headlining and it blends in very well. Solved the being heard problem immediately. The wire is well hidden and goes in to the rear view mirror. A very good fix IMHO.

I suggest you take it back and have it fixed if still under warranty

+1 - had the same solution for my V12V and works as well as the new models with the relocated mike.

I just don't understand how they managed to get a little thing like this wrong for such a long time.

+2 It is a warranty item and I had one in my V8V & V12V

[krisdelta]

Mine seems to work fine, 2007 V8V - Ive received lots of calls and no ones complained. Maybe I just shout

[Neil1300R]

krisdelta said:

Mine seems to work fine, 2007 V8V - Ive received lots of calls and no ones complained. Maybe I just shout

Have you got a visible microphone on the headlining by the sun visor? If people can hear that will be why - its been upgraded

[Richales]

If this is a relatively simple fix I'd love to be able to do it, although no longer under warranty so it'd be a DIY job. Does anyone have any details of where the old or usual place that the microphone is located? I'd kind of given up on the bluetooth and just don't use it anymore but it'd be great if I can make it useable - without going to a dealer!

[peterr96]

Richales said:

If this is a relatively simple fix I'd love to be able to do it, although no longer under warranty so it'd be a DIY job. Does anyone have any details of where the old or usual place that the microphone is located? I'd kind of given up on the bluetooth and just don't use it anymore but it'd be great if I can make it useable - without going to a dealer!

The microphone is currently in the bottom (!) of the binnacle in between the two map reading candles just behind the slotted plastic cover. It pulls out pretty easily in the process revealing the screw that holds on the binnacle
I tried to get some detail of the type of microphone type. If I recall is was a cardoid non-directional. Ideally I wanted to replace it with a directional clip mic.

I'm getting Trinity Engineering to investigate what the AM retrofit is when it goes to them for it's service in a couple of weeks.
What hacks me off most about this is that we complained about the non-usefullness of the microphone from day one... Of course our local AM dealer said that it seemed fine and "they all do that sir".
Subsequently I find out a fix is released.... did we get it offered.... did we hell!

[krisdelta]

Neil1300R said:

krisdelta said:

Mine seems to work fine, 2007 V8V - Ive received lots of calls and no ones complained. Maybe I just shout

Have you got a visible microphone on the headlining by the sun visor? If people can hear that will be why - its been upgraded

No - nothing visible, just lungs like a pair of bellows I guess

[johng39]

peterr96 said:

The microphone is currently in the bottom (!) of the binnacle in between the two map reading candles just behind the slotted plastic cover. It pulls out pretty easily in the process revealing the screw that holds on the binnacle
I tried to get some detail of the type of microphone type. If I recall is was a cardoid non-directional. Ideally I wanted to replace it with a directional clip mic.

I'm getting Trinity Engineering to investigate what the AM retrofit is when it goes to them for it's service in a couple of weeks.
What hacks me off most about this is that we complained about the non-usefullness of the microphone from day one... Of course our local AM dealer said that it seemed fine and "they all do that sir".
Subsequently I find out a fix is released.... did we get it offered.... did we hell!

That is annoying Peter. I called Grange the moment I placed my first call and someone complained, they immediately took it in and told me about the warranty fix. They said that only about 50% of people have a problem, so it could be the quality of the microphone as standard that they simply fix with a new one.

[Neil1300R]

krisdelta said:

Neil1300R said:

krisdelta said:

Mine seems to work fine, 2007 V8V - Ive received lots of calls and no ones complained. Maybe I just shout

Have you got a visible microphone on the headlining by the sun visor? If people can hear that will be why - its been upgraded

No - nothing visible, just lungs like a pair of bellows I guess

Obviously driving too slowly with Fuse 22 in then

[steveatesh]

johng39 said:

That is annoying Peter. I called Grange the moment I placed my first call and someone complained, they immediately took it in and told me about the warranty fix. They said that only about 50% of people have a problem, so it could be the quality of the microphone as standard that they simply fix with a new one.

I concur - one of the first this I noticed when I got the car and my dealer told me it was a known issue with SOME cars and the fix was a different microphone.
From a technical point of view, how can they manufacture a microphone where a large percentage don't work properly? I know through variation you can expect a small number to not work, but a large percentage?

[brakedwell]

There is nothing wrong with the microphone, it is obscured by the rear view mirror and does not pick up your voice if you don't duck down, lean towards it and shout loudly! My dealer is fitting another microphone on the driver's A pillar during the next service. Meanwhile I will continue to use my excellent Parrot Mini-kit.

[AWV12]

johng39 said:

+2 It is a warranty item and I had one in my V8V & V12V

+3 same in my previous V8, and has to be done now on my DBS (same problem....nobody can hear you on the other side.......)