Infotainment system/screen crashing and connection issues with CarPlay

[Johnny Rocket]

For those interested in this problem, I did a few tests today - ready to take our van to VW in 2 weeks so we can be specific about the mode of failure.

Test 1. Conditions: Driving with CarPlay on, and Google Maps selected and a route started. Outcome: Display becomes pixelated within a 3 minutes, and will not clear even if another app is selected. The screen clears only if the engine is turned off and key removed, then restarted.

Test 2. Conditions: Engine turned on with CarPlay on, and Google Maps selected and a route started, but vehicle stationary. Outcome: Display remains clear for the 10 minutes of the test.

Test 3. Conditions: Driving with CarPlay on, and Google Maps selected but a route NOT started. Outcome: Display remains clear for the 10 minutes of the test.

Test 4. Conditions: Driving with CarPlay on, and Apple Maps selected and a route started. Outcome: Display remains clear for the 10 minutes of the test.

Test 5. Conditions: As Test 4, Driving with CarPlay on, and Apple Maps selected and a route started. Outcome: Display remains clear for the 10 minutes of the test. Then, Google Maps selected and a route started. Outcome: the screen pixelated within 3 minutes.

Test 6. Conditions as Test 2: Engine turned on with CarPlay on, and Google Maps selected and a route started, but vehicle stationary. Outcome: Display remains clear for the 10 minutes of the test. THEN van driven with Google Maps still working. Outcome: the screen pixelates almost immediately.

So the conclusion I’ve arrived at is that CarPlay becomes unstable when using Google Maps, whilst using route navigation, and when the vehicle is moving. So the fault is something to do with the Google positional data. Each time the infotainment screen pixelates, my phone becomes very warm, as if it’s working very hard.

Great piece of work - thanks!
We've not done a journey since the 4-update package and with my wife's iPhone 12 navigating yet (my Gen. 1 SE doesn't misbehave!), so I can't report on whether it's cured pixellation pain for us yet!

 

[GrahamB]

For those interested in this problem, I did a few tests today - ready to take our van to VW in 2 weeks so we can be specific about the mode of failure.

Test 1. Conditions: Driving with CarPlay on, and Google Maps selected and a route started. Outcome: Display becomes pixelated within a 3 minutes, and will not clear even if another app is selected. The screen clears only if the engine is turned off and key removed, then restarted.

Test 2. Conditions: Engine turned on with CarPlay on, and Google Maps selected and a route started, but vehicle stationary. Outcome: Display remains clear for the 10 minutes of the test.

Test 3. Conditions: Driving with CarPlay on, and Google Maps selected but a route NOT started. Outcome: Display remains clear for the 10 minutes of the test.

Test 4. Conditions: Driving with CarPlay on, and Apple Maps selected and a route started. Outcome: Display remains clear for the 10 minutes of the test.

Test 5. Conditions: As Test 4, Driving with CarPlay on, and Apple Maps selected and a route started. Outcome: Display remains clear for the 10 minutes of the test. Then, Google Maps selected and a route started. Outcome: the screen pixelated within 3 minutes.

Test 6. Conditions as Test 2: Engine turned on with CarPlay on, and Google Maps selected and a route started, but vehicle stationary. Outcome: Display remains clear for the 10 minutes of the test. THEN van driven with Google Maps still working. Outcome: the screen pixelates almost immediately.

So the conclusion I’ve arrived at is that CarPlay becomes unstable when using Google Maps, whilst using route navigation, and when the vehicle is moving. So the fault is something to do with the Google positional data. Each time the infotainment screen pixelates, my phone becomes very warm, as if it’s working very hard.

I like your systematic approach and the results are broadly similar to my day to day experience. The key differences for me are: 1. When googlemaps goes haywire it can be retrieved immediately by switching out to the Discovery Pro main menu and back again. 2. Applemaps last slightly longer but eventually go haywire in the same way as Google.

I do agree that screen breakup is triggered more quickly when a route is running, but I have seen it go at other times. I think possibly your 10 min test of Applemaps was not quite long enough.

My experience also tells me it is getting worse now. I first saw this about 100 miles in to a long journey and that happened a few times. Now it takes only a couple of miles for Googlemaps to fall over.

 

[GrahamB]

Assuming your iOS is up to date and GMaps is up to date too, I'd try a GMaps removal, iPhone shutdown and restart, use CarPlay fo 10 mins using AppleMaps, then reinstall GMaps.
I use CarPlay and a mix of AMaps,GMaps,Waze on my T6 Cali and my car and have at time experienced quite a few Waze bugs, but no issue with the other two navigation apps

This is an interesting idea that I havent tried (ie reinstall of GMaps). But what difference does it make to run Applemaps before the reinstall?

 

[Hawthorn37]

Assuming your iOS is up to date and GMaps is up to date too, I'd try a GMaps removal, iPhone shutdown and restart, use CarPlay fo 10 mins using AppleMaps, then reinstall GMaps.
I use CarPlay and a mix of AMaps,GMaps,Waze on my T6 Cali and my car and have at time experienced quite a few Waze bugs, but no issue with the other two navigation apps

I’ll gladly try this!

There is a lot of posts about pixelation on the Apple Community forum too., and mainly from owners of VAG cars/ vans. It looks like Seat and Skoda as well as VW have the problem going back to 2020. I’ll post a link.

Pixelated screen using Apple CarPlay - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

 

[edocali]

This is an interesting idea that I havent tried (ie reinstall of GMaps). But what difference does it make to run Applemaps before the reinstall?

probably not needed, just re-exercise the GPS interface before reinstall

 

[Cwcltd]

I mentioned last week that I drove from Hereford to Keswick and the whole infotainment system played up; I drove back down over the weekend but fully disconnected CarPlay, and it made no difference, still turning itself on/off. I actually switched the system off so it just showed the clocks, and even that played up. It’s heading to VW Hereford in the morning.

 

[Mansfieldman750]

Assuming your iOS is up to date and GMaps is up to date too, I'd try a GMaps removal, iPhone shutdown and restart, use CarPlay fo 10 mins using AppleMaps, then reinstall GMaps.
I use CarPlay and a mix of AMaps,GMaps,Waze on my T6 Cali and my car and have at time experienced quite a few Waze bugs, but no issue with the other two navigation apps

I have followed your suggestions, have an 800 mile round trip to Scotland next week, will see if it’s done the trick.

 

[Hawthorn37]

Assuming your iOS is up to date and GMaps is up to date too, I'd try a GMaps removal, iPhone shutdown and restart, use CarPlay fo 10 mins using AppleMaps, then reinstall GMaps.
I use CarPlay and a mix of AMaps,GMaps,Waze on my T6 Cali and my car and have at time experienced quite a few Waze bugs, but no issue with the other two navigation apps

It’s a rubbish afternoon here, so I gave this a go and been testing for the past hour or so. I removed Google Maps and Waze. Shutdown and restarted my phone. Then drove using Apple Maps for around 20 minutes, all good. Then reinstalled Google Maps. Restarted CarPlay. Drove another 10 minutes on Apple Maps (ok) then started Google Maps from CarPlay. Pixelated within 2 minutes. I stopped, and installed Waze. Started CarPlay with Waze and with 2 minutes it was pixelated again. Finally, drove for around 20 minutes on Apple Maps - no problems (and actually the Waze commentary was happening in the background).

So for now, I guess we will just have to learn to love Apple Maps again !!

 

[andyinluton]

.

So for now, I guess we will just have to learn to love Apple Maps again !!

You could always try the built in nav? If you've got we connect set up correctly the traffic info etc is good.

 

[Hawthorn37]

You could always try the built in nav? If you've got we connect set up correctly the traffic info etc is good.

Fair point. We have been trying it over the past few trips. We do find that the turn advice is a bit late in its delivery - twice missed a turning. But we should persist.

 

[GrahamB]

You could always try the built in nav? If you've got we connect set up correctly the traffic info etc is good.

I use the built in Nav. Tbh forced to now because of the CarPlay issue. But its routing algorithm is poor in my experience compared to GMaps. Apple is somewhere in between but still reliant on good CarPlay implemetation of course.

 

[edocali]

It’s a rubbish afternoon here, so I gave this a go and been testing for the past hour or so. I removed Google Maps and Waze. Shutdown and restarted my phone. Then drove using Apple Maps for around 20 minutes, all good. Then reinstalled Google Maps. Restarted CarPlay. Drove another 10 minutes on Apple Maps (ok) then started Google Maps from CarPlay. Pixelated within 2 minutes. I stopped, and installed Waze. Started CarPlay with Waze and with 2 minutes it was pixelated again. Finally, drove for around 20 minutes on Apple Maps - no problems (and actually the Waze commentary was happening in the background).

So for now, I guess we will just have to learn to love Apple Maps again !!

Shame it wasn’t a sw reinstall fix.
Are you using wired or wireless CarPlay?
If you have both modes in the T6.1 just try the other one from what you’re using.

My T6 only has wired Carplay and my solution to the too frequent disconnections was to use a Carlinkit dongle and if necessary just charge the phone from the cigarette lighter socket.

 

[Hawthorn37]

Shame it wasn’t a sw reinstall fix.
Are you using wired or wireless CarPlay?
If you have both modes in the T6.1 just try the other one from what you’re using.

My T6 only has wired Carplay and my solution to the too frequent disconnections was to use a Carlinkit dongle and if necessary just charge the phone from the cigarette lighter socket.

Unfortunately it behaves exactly the same on Bluetooth and on the USB cable.

I did an extended run this evening using Apple Maps and it was fine. So we will be using that plus giving the VW nav a go. Could it be Apple have placed a bug in CarPlay to exclude Google Maps ?!

 

[edocali]

Unfortunately it behaves exactly the same on Bluetooth and on the USB cable.

I did an extended run this evening using Apple Maps and it was fine. So we will be using that plus giving the VW nav a go. Could it be Apple have placed a bug in CarPlay to exclude Google Maps ?!

It’s unfortunate that 3 vendors are involved (VW Appple and Google). Perfect scenario for any of them claiming it’s one of the other two’s fault.

I personally think you ought to file a bug with Google for both apps (waze is owned by google).
Good luck with that though.
I am a beta tester for Waze and if you join the program you might have the opportunity to get it fixed . Maybe. Just maybe.

 

[Hawthorn37]

It’s unfortunate that 3 vendors are involved (VW Appple and Google). Perfect scenario for any of them claiming it’s one of the other two’s fault.

I personally think you ought to file a bug with Google for both apps (waze is owned by google).
Good luck with that though.
I am a beta tester for Waze and if you join the program you might have the opportunity to get it fixed . Maybe. Just maybe.

Someone on the Apple Community forum reckoned it might have something to do with the screen refresh rate Google maps runs 60fps and the VW head unit runs at 30fps.

 

[edocali]

Someone on the Apple Community forum reckoned it might have something to do with the screen refresh rate Google maps runs 60fps and the VW head unit runs at 30fps.

CarPlay is seen by iOS as a secondary screen (try get a screenshot of your phone and be surdprised).
The operating system should be able to arrange different refreshes on different displays (macOS does that).
The Carlinkit dongle has IIRC a set table refresh rate in the advanced menu …

 

[Ch1pbutty]

It’s unfortunate that 3 vendors are involved (VW Appple and Google). Perfect scenario for any of them claiming it’s one of the other two’s fault.

We have a Kenwood unit with carplay, no issues with IPhone or google maps etc.

…My money is on VW being at fault.

 

[andyinluton]

Fair point. We have been trying it over the past few trips. We do find that the turn advice is a bit late in its delivery - twice missed a turning. But we should persist.

First time I've used "find the nearest fuel station" as I was running on fumes, was impressed to see the them listed in price order with the cheapest first.

 

[Hawthorn37]

We have a Kenwood unit with carplay, no issues with IPhone or google maps etc.

…My money is on VW being at fault.

We have a Volvo with CarPlay, no issues.

 

[markab]

VW infotainment systems are junk, wireless CarPlay never stable on our Van, had both the head unit and some other boxes replaced. Weconnect and connected services also junk. Often shows the Van unlocked and doors open when they aren’t.

Our Renault on the other hand, wireless CarPlay works everytime, the app services are also more stable.

It’s nothing to do with iPhone or apple its VW’s poorly designed systems that clearly no one in VW actually uses otherwise they would be ashamed of them selves.

Was the same on our Passat as well.

 

[Cwcltd]

My T6.1 (2020) Coast has been with VW Hereford for two days getting the Infotainment sorted out, and now they want to keep until early next week; they get so far loading the latest firmware, then the system crashes and starts all over again. Hereford have provided their usual good service, but the comment from @markab is spot on, the VW system is junk.

 

[Johnny Rocket]

My wife has now had the screen pixelation syndrome again, with it going black and white too, just a few minutes after a WhatsApp message notification, as is often the case.

Fixed by a single key-off / key-on cycle at the first opportunity, which in the past didn’t always resolve it.

So the 3 fix suite we had last week, as well as an over-the-air update which isn’t listed, is not yet a fix.

Good job VW don’t have an aircraft division ;-/)

 

[Hawthorn37]

My T6.1 (2020) Coast has been with VW Hereford for two days getting the Infotainment sorted out, and now they want to keep until early next week; they get so far loading the latest firmware, then the system crashes and starts all over again. Hereford have provided their usual good service, but the comment from @markab is spot on, the VW system is junk.

Ours is going in to Sheffield 14-Feb. It’ll be good to know if Hereford have any success!

 

[WelshGas]

This is the company that writes the Infotainment software for VW.

CARIAD – Automotive Software for Volkswagen

At CARIAD, we believe that software has the potential to reshape the automotive experience for everyone, everywhere. Find out how!

cariad.technology

The in-house Infotainment hardware is developed by a former Blackberry R & D section formerly incorporated into VW in 2014.

Who makes VW infotainment system?


Volkswagen Infotainment was founded in 2014 as a 100 percent subsidiary of Volkswagen AG. A completely operational development team was formed by a transfer of undertakings of BlackBerry's European development center.

 

[Johnny Rocket]

This is the company that writes the Infotainment software for VW.

CARIAD – Automotive Software for Volkswagen

At CARIAD, we believe that software has the potential to reshape the automotive experience for everyone, everywhere. Find out how!

cariad.technology

The in-house Infotainment hardware is developed by a former Blackberry R & D section formerly incorporated into VW in 2014.

Who makes VW infotainment system?


Volkswagen Infotainment was founded in 2014 as a 100 percent subsidiary of Volkswagen AG. A completely operational development team was formed by a transfer of undertakings of BlackBerry's European development center.

Well, if they wanted to ‘reshape the automotive experience for everyone, everywhere’ then they’ve made a truly cracking, if somewhat niche, start . . .