iPod strangeness, 2012, four

I just picked up my new 2012 Blizzard pearl, four, at the dealer's.

When I plug in my iPod (Nano, 4th generation if that matters), music works fine, but if an audiobook is selected, the speed is too fast and it sounds like Alvin and the Chipmunks. If it starts with a music track, I can successfully navigate to the book track I want, and it will start where I left off and play correctly. However, when the car is shut down and turned on again with the audiobook still selected, the same problem comes back.

I can work around it by manually navigating to a music track before I start the car, but that is a pain. I can also plug the aux cable into the headphone jack and it works fine. I just want the USB/iPod interface to work right.

Has anyone experienced this problem. The audiobooks are level 3 audio from Audible.

I don't use audiobooks myself on my iphone 4 but from the troubleshooting and symptoms you say, I would think the most likely issue is the USB support in your iPod nano. I would search online to see if anyone else is having the same issue in ANY car with USB support. Apple IMHO is not very fast in admitting issues and somewhat slow in fixing them. You may also want to try a different Apple device such as an iPhone with the same audiobook just to guarantee it has nothing to do with the audiobook (i.e., if the iPhone exhibits the same behavior it is likely the audiobook but still not guaranteed).

I don't have any other iDevices, but I can try it with other audiobooks on the same iPod. The strange thing is that the music plays perfectly, and if I access the music first, I can then navigate to the book and it works until I shut down again. I'm thinking it may have to do with the bitrate of the file.

Sharol

Removed - double post

Did you check to make sure that the 2X was not pushed by mistake? I suffered through this on my Prius for a day before I put my reading glasses on and saw the small indicator that I had pushed by mistake. It toggles between 1X, 1/2X and 2X as you press it and on my Iphone it was on the upper right side, just below the progress bar. Very hard to read in the car without my cheaters.

Yes, I checked it, but maybe the car is turning it on??? It is hard to get to the settings from the audio config screen, but I think I'll take a shot at it. Good idea. Thanks.

Sharol

Not quiet the same, but, I just got a 2012, and I plugged in my iPod into the usb and the head unit saw it fine, I press the icon and the music played, but upon further listening it sounds as if the music is just a tad slower then normal. I have heard PF's Dark Side a thousand times on every system, and never heard it slow like this. Very odd.

Are you using the latest firmware on your device? If it's old, there could be compatibility problems. The car should just be relying on what the device is sending it to play.

Yes, the device is current. IT is a Gen 4 iPod Nano. I know the Gen 3 ones (older squareish configuration) work because I have one that works fine. I know the Gen 5 Nano (the first ones with the camera) works because I borrowed one from a friend. The problem is I can't find anyone who has the Gen 4 one who also uses Audible files, so I can't find out if it is a problem with my device or if all the Gen 4's have the same problem.

My plan is to wait for the next generation of Nanos and buy a new one when they come out. If it doesn't work, I'll return it. I really like toys, so it will give me an excuse to get a new one.

I've had the exact same problem playing audiobooks in my Prius V. First time I tried to listen to one, I got the chipmunk speed, but when I went to the dealer to have it looked at, it played fine (of course!!). This morning, the audiobook started out just fine, but halfway through my drive, the screen went black, the system looked like it rebooted (Toyota logo showing), then the iPod reconnected and the book was back to chipmunk speed. I'll try your work-around, but I'd rather find a permanent fix. (I also have the 4th gen Nano; audiobooks downloaded from library)

My gen4 Nano shot craps, so I bought a gen5 (Ebay, refurb). Problem solved. It seems to be in the firmware of the Gen4 Nanos. I never did find a way to use the Gen4 without starting out with a music file.

I am having the same chipmunk problem with an iPod classic (120 GB) and a brand new 2012 Prius Two....

Just taken delivery of a GENiii T-Spirit (in the UK) and have the very same problem! Glad (and disappointed) to hear that it is not just me that has the problem. Good to hear that switching to a music track will fix the error (I'd been switching to several different podcast tracks at which time it went back to normal.

I wasn't aware of a 2x 3x etc button (may not appear on the european spec. touch and go system.... but does sound like an explanation.

I have the same problem with my new 2012 Prius 2, using a GEN4 Ipod classic with the latest version of Itunes. Podcasts are at least double speed after turning the power off and resuming a podcast. Has Toyota or a dealer commented on this?

Not to my knowledge. My iPod 5th works fine with it. If I use straight, unprotected mp3 files for a book, that works too on the Gen 4. I had hoped that software upgrade a few months ago would fix the problem, but it didn't.

My Ipod Classic works so bad that I gave up and plugged it into the aux input instead. Podcasts are a joke since you can't navigate from one to the next. It will list the title wrong and replay something you already heard. It becomes impossible to know what you are hearing. Very frustrating. I have tried unplugging, turning the radio off etc. but the mistakes keep happening. It's great when they advertise features in a car that you like and our looking forward to but then they don't work. Thanks Toyota.

Sometimes the Bit-Rate of the file is causing this action to happen. I have seen this with MP3 files that had a high bit rate. You can reduce the bit-rate on files by running them through a audio program.

Correction to my previous - my Ipod is a current, or 6th generation model, so even the latest and greatest seems not to work with podcasts. Is there ANY ipod that actually will play speech/podcasts at normal speed after turning the car off with the ipod plugged in, and then turning the car back on and trying to listen to the podcast?

I have several issues. I mainly listen to podcast. With my iPhone most of the time if I stop and get out and get back in, my podcast will show it is playing on the system but the sound is coming out of the phone. The only solution I can find is activating Siri and then the audio will come out the car. I have also tried to stream over Bluetooth and I have issues where music works fine but no audio will come out when streaming a podcast.

I have an ipod that plays normal music but plays a "chipmunk" audiobook in my 2012 Prius but normal playback in a 2012 Honda CR-V. No change was made to the Ipod. This makes me believe there is an issue with the Prius sound system. Has anybody found a solution?