Android Auto Issues

[jeanloup]

Hi Folks,

I hope it's ok to post a new thread, I saw a few related posts to what I wanted to talk about but not all in one thread.

A bit of background first. My car was delivered almost a year ago and hasn't been serviced yet. I'm getting a servicing in about 2 weeks so it's possible some of the issues I'm having will be corrected with a software update (one can hope...). My phone runs Android 12 and given it's gonna be 3 years old soon, is unlikely to get any newer versions of Android now.

So what I've been experiencing lately is more and more it will take 2 or 3 minutes for Android auto to properly start up. We're talking Windows XP levels of booting up here. I use Waze for maps and nowadays 60 to 70% of the time the app will tell me it's having trouble loading maps until it does a minute or so later. So generally Android Auto has gotten more and more sluggish as time goes by and I really only use 3 apps beside waze (Google Podcasts, YouTube Music and Audible) so it's not like it's expecting to open a whole range of apps at once. I'm just wondering if this is something other have noticed with Android Auto as I'm not sure if the issue is with the car, with my phone or both.

And then of course there are the other issues people have reported here, the black screen which won't boot Auto at all, even after getting out of the car, locking it up and getting back in (the best method I can think of for turning it on and off again). The worst is the crash in the middle of a book chapter or podcast which won't restart until you unplug the phone and then unlock it to plug it back in, it's doable when you have a passenger but on your own it's only safe to do when the car is stopped. I keep hoping Android Auto will have updates on the phone which will address those but they always come back at some point. Not sure there's anything that can be done with those.

 

[flapajack]

I have a Carlinkit wireless AA dongle plugged into my Trophy permanently. Have to admit it works brilliantly. Usually by the time I ushered in the dog/kids AA is fully up and running before I engage drive. The phone stays in my pocket.

Yes it does cost a bit but it's only once-off and the convenience of not having to plug in the cable is priceless. Silver sellers on eBay have it for as little as under £50 so not too bad.

My phone doesn't have wireless charging so that functionality is not being used but my next one definitely will.

 

[Martinonline]

I think you need to check the car with a different phone. My phone has Android 11 and has none of the problems you specified. Do you know how many and what apps are working in the background?

 

[jeanloup]

I think you need to check the car with a different phone. My phone has Android 11 and has none of the problems you specified. Do you know how many and what apps are working in the background?

Typically by the time I leave for work, there's barely anything running in the background

 

[Bibber]

Do not plug in your Phone when also activating the R gear (reverse camera)! That is the cause for the black screen.

Either :
1) plug in your phone, wait for AA, and then activate the R gear.
Or
2) First drive reverse and put it in 'D', then plug in the phone.

 

[jeanloup]

I don't drive a trophy so I don't have a reverse camera unfortunately

 

[ProfMartin]

Hi Folks,

I hope it's ok to post a new thread, I saw a few related posts to what I wanted to talk about but not all in one thread.

A bit of background first. My car was delivered almost a year ago and hasn't been serviced yet. I'm getting a servicing in about 2 weeks so it's possible some of the issues I'm having will be corrected with a software update (one can hope...). My phone runs Android 12 and given it's gonna be 3 years old soon, is unlikely to get any newer versions of Android now.

So what I've been experiencing lately is more and more it will take 2 or 3 minutes for Android auto to properly start up. We're talking Windows XP levels of booting up here. I use Waze for maps and nowadays 60 to 70% of the time the app will tell me it's having trouble loading maps until it does a minute or so later. So generally Android Auto has gotten more and more sluggish as time goes by and I really only use 3 apps beside waze (Google Podcasts, YouTube Music and Audible) so it's not like it's expecting to open a whole range of apps at once. I'm just wondering if this is something other have noticed with Android Auto as I'm not sure if the issue is with the car, with my phone or both.

And then of course there are the other issues people have reported here, the black screen which won't boot Auto at all, even after getting out of the car, locking it up and getting back in (the best method I can think of for turning it on and off again). The worst is the crash in the middle of a book chapter or podcast which won't restart until you unplug the phone and then unlock it to plug it back in, it's doable when you have a passenger but on your own it's only safe to do when the car is stopped. I keep hoping Android Auto will have updates on the phone which will address those but they always come back at some point. Not sure there's anything that can be done with those.

Hi
If I have Android Auto running, with the Google Maps navigation screen operating, how can I get the car radio to operate? Not the radio on my phone, the car radio. I only seem to be able to see the media options on my phone.
Is there an Android Auto setting or a car infotainment setting that I'm missing?
Thanks

 

[jeanloup]

If my DAB radio starts playing before Android auto starts it'll usually continue to play unless I start a podcast or something else from Android auto. I don't listen to the radio much at all but you can give that a go.

 

[Rolfe]

You need to go back to the home screen and tap the audio arrow back three clicks to return to radio. Your car recognises a bluetooth connection from the phone and thinks you want to play music from the phone. It therefore switches away from radio to bluetooth (BT) audio.

 

[siteguru]

FWIW mine does not do that when I connect AA ... it continues to play the radio.

It may be that (if this happens) you have AA configured to auto-start music on connection.

 

[soupy768]

For me with the pre facelift MG5 you just press the SRC button and cycle through until you get the source you want.

 

[Rolfe]

FWIW mine does not do that when I connect AA ... it continues to play the radio.

It may be that (if this happens) you have AA configured to auto-start music on connection.

If you have bluetooth switched off then the radio will continue to play, I think. On the other hand, you have R33. On the third hand, you may be right. How would one change that?

 

[jakeellis01]

Do not plug in your Phone when also activating the R gear (reverse camera)! That is the cause for the black screen.

Either :
1) plug in your phone, wait for AA, and then activate the R gear.
Or
2) First drive reverse and put it in 'D', then plug in the phone.

I experience this a lot.... anyone knows if this bug was fixed with the new update? I'm on an old R22.