Apple Maps and Car Bluetooth

Recently I have been having trouble getting my Apple Maps App to give me verbal directions while I’m driving and connected to Bluetooth audio, instead it just dings. This issue popped up all of a sudden, and the only thing that I can think to have changed since the last time I drove my car was the latest software update: iOS 14.7.1.

Here are some more specifics about the situation. Before the issue, when I would drive with directions on, the directions would lower the volume of my Bluetooth music that was playing and say the direction. Now instead it just lowers the volume to make the dinging noise as if I was on a phone call. Before the issue, when I was on a phone call, the dinging noises would be made as to not speak over conversations while driving. Now it makes the dinging noise for both phone calls and listening to music. If my phone only dings when I’m listening to music, I can’t know which way I am supposed to go without looking at my phone, which is not very safe.

I drive a 2015 Toyota Corolla which does not have Apple CarPlay, so I have to use Bluetooth audio for phone calls and music when I drive. Something particular that happens when I turn on the Maps with no music in the background is that my car thinks it is a phone call, and then comes through my speakers like a phone call, which is very loud and painful to ears. So the easy solution is to play music, and then Siri talks over the music when it’s time to give a direction. However, this solution is no longer working since I am no longer receiving directions (not much of a solution technically because I prefer to listen to my music when I drive anyway). Something else I discovered with this new issue is that I have the same problem when there’s no music playing (the directions come through like a phone call), but when I play music and then pause it, Siri says the directions like normal and with no dings. Before the current issue, when I would pause my music, my car would either again treat the directions like a phone call, or it would give the directions and automatically play my music again.

Not sure what may have caused the sudden change in performance of my car Bluetooth feature and Apple Maps, but I suspect it was the software update.

Also I looked into the volume settings for Siri and I have her set to “Loud Volume.” Another interesting thing is that when I change her to “No Volume” and back to “Loud Volume” instantaneously, she will say the next direction over my music like I’m used to, but then all subsequent directions revert to the dinging.

I found this forum from 2018 which seems to be describing the same issue, but I did not have this issue 3 years ago like this person did, mine started yesterday. Forum: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8555688

I have also tried powering down my phone and reconnecting the Bluetooth pairing between my car and my phone. I am running out of trouble shooting ideas. Would appreciate some help, thanks.